68 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke Episode 68
"Ah……."
While the muteness from shock was indeed a mental illness, could having difficulty eating also be considered a mental illness?
"Not just the youngest niece, but her sisters also seemed to have lost a lot of weight."
"Understandably, the young ladies must have been deeply shocked as well."
"That's true."
Mental illness.
She knew all too well that there was no illness more frightening than that.
Loanna had also suffered from a mental illness for a long time, and she herself still hadn't overcome her carriage trauma.
They were siblings who had felt betrayed by the Duke immediately after he became their guardian following their parents' passing.
Their emotional wounds had only grown larger, not smaller.
\ \ \
Marin headed to the library to sort out her complicated thoughts. She hadn't visited the library for a while, having been busy with party preparations and attempting chance encounters with her nieces.
The library was as quiet and serene as always.
She went straight to the shelf where the fairy tale books were kept, and from behind it, a sweet, honey-colored crown of a head peeked out.
Marin softened her footsteps and crept closer.
Rubiana, who looked as cute as a forest fairy, was leaning against the bookshelf, diligently reading a fairy tale book.
Marin pulled a random book from the shelf and quietly sat down next to Rubiana.
Although it was winter, it was cozy thanks to the sunlight streaming in from the window.
Rubiana, who had lifted her eyes from the book, noticed Marin sitting beside her and widened her eyes in surprise.
"Huh? Oh!"
"Hello. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
Marin made gentle eye contact and apologized.
Then, Rubiana shook her head so vigorously her sweet blonde hair swished around.
Soon, the girl, who had been checking her surroundings, realized no one else was there, cupped her hands together, and whispered.
"It's okay."
When Rubiana closed the fairy tale book she was reading, the title became visible.
[The Snowflake Princess and the Seven Elves]
It was a freely adapted version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Sometime ago, Olive had come to her and asked if she could turn the story she had told the Duke into a book. The result of that was now in Rubiana's hands.
"Is that fairy tale interesting?"
"Yes! It's so interesting! Have you read it?"
Rubiana's face brightened as she held out the fairy tale book in her hand.
"Yes. Which part did you find interesting?"
"I love that the princess is so spirited. And all the Elves are kind too."
Rubiana, her face slightly flushed as if excited, happily recounted the story's contents.
Marin looked at Rubiana with a pleased expression, touched that she liked the story she had adapted.
"Do you like books?"
"Yes! No……."
Rubiana shook her head slightly with a dejected face.
In the girl's demeanor, Marin saw her former self.
Noblewomen considered other hobbies more cultured than reading. It seemed this girl had also been taught not to get caught liking books.
"I like books very, very much."
Marin deliberately emphasized it in a more confident voice.
"Really? Is it okay to say you like books like that?"
Rubiana leaned in slightly and whispered in a hushed tone. The girl's light green eyes were filled with unease.
"Of course. It's not something wrong, is it?"
"My former governess told me never to say such things in front of others."
Rubiana whispered hesitantly, lowering her eyes.
"I've heard things like that too. Then, how about this?"
The girl lifted her head and stared intently at her.
"How about you can freely talk to me about interesting books? I'll also tell you when I read an interesting book."
Rubiana's light green eyes sparkled as if filled with stars.
"Is that really okay?"
"Of course. I'm Marin Schwentz."
Marin bowed her head slightly and introduced herself.
Rubiana blushed brightly on both cheeks and shyly returned the greeting.
"I'm Rubiana Adria. Please just call me Ruby. And please speak casually to me."
Ah, so cute.
Fortunately, unlike her sisters, Rubiana didn't dislike her.
"Can I do that too?"
"Of course."
Rubiana, smiling so widely her dimples showed, nodded her head emphatically. The pretty child was even adorable.
"Then, can you call me by my name too?"
"I can't do that."
Rubiana opened her eyes wide as if to ask what she was talking about.
"Why?"
"You'll soon be my... aunt."
"Ah, right."
Marin quickly smiled with slightly trembling eyes.
Awkward. That title.
"May I call you Aunt?"
Rubiana looked at her with expectant eyes.
"Hmm, since I'm only engaged to Gerald-nim for now, how about Teacher Marin?"
"Huh?"
"I've become the governess for Ruby and the youngest, Imsi."
"Really? You'll be our teacher?"
Rubiana clasped her hands together, her eyes full of anticipation.
"If Ruby permits it."
"Yes, I'm fine with it! But my sisters... Actually, Garnet unnie told me not to even speak if I encountered Teacher Marin."
Rubiana soon pouted and hung her head.
Marin gazed at the girl with a complicated look.
She couldn't tell her to ignore her sisters' words, nor should she. For Rubiana, who had lost her parents, her sisters were like parents themselves.
She really needed to persuade the sisters first. But was there no way?
As she pondered deeply, Rubiana continued.
"And Peridot is- Ah, Peridot is my younger sibling's name. Peridot is very unwell right now. Can't speak, can't sleep well. So, teaching Peridot will be difficult for you, Teacher. My sisters also can't sleep well because of Peridot."
"The Adria youngest can't sleep?"
"Yes……."
Ruby nodded with a worried face.
Found it. A way.
\ \ \
Leaving Rubiana, who wanted to finish reading her book in the library, Marin went to the annex.
She slowly climbed the central staircase of the annex and stood in the second-floor hallway.
Dia, who had a strong sense of responsibility, was staying in the very last room, as if protecting her younger siblings.
Holding the fairy tale book in one hand, Marin knocked on Dia's door.
A moment later, a reply came from inside.
"Yes."
It was Dia's soft voice.
"It's Marin Schwentz. Could you spare a moment?"
There was no answer from inside.
Marin stood still in front of the door, prepared to wait all day if necessary until she was told to enter.
Fortunately, the door opened faster than expected.
Dia's deep green eyes asked what the matter was.
"May we talk inside?"
Dia, looking as if she had no choice, opened the door a bit wider and stepped aside behind it.
"Come in."
"Excuse me."
Upon entering the room, she saw large, unpacked luggage bags piled in one corner.
After glancing at them, Marin cautiously broached the subject.
"Are more maids needed, by any chance?"
Dia, her face stiff, looked at the luggage bags, then met her eyes. Sadness quickly settled in Dia's eyes.
"These are my parents' belongings, so I want to handle them myself."
"Ah, I see."
Marin hid her sympathetic gaze and quickly nodded.
"Would you like to sit?"
Dia pointed to the small table and chairs in the room.
"Thank you."
As Marin sat down first, Dia sat opposite her.
Marin quietly observed Dia's face.
She was still beautiful, but her skin looked dry, and there were dark Shadows under her eyes. Evidence of exhaustion.
Didn't she say the sisters couldn't sleep well because of the youngest sibling?
This was probably also the reason the sisters couldn't eat properly.
Of course, there was the grief of losing their parents, but if you can't sleep, your appetite naturally diminishes.
An awkward atmosphere settled in the room.
Marin cautiously opened her mouth.
"Is the room alright? Is there anywhere you're uncomfortable?"
"Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern."
Dia answered calmly and succinctly. Her manners were impeccable, but her tone still felt distant.
Marin stared intently at Dia's face.
Soon to have her Debutante, she was no longer a girl but an adult. She herself had lost her father and brother around a similar time.
She tried hard not to think about the carriage accident, but whenever she saw the Duke's nieces, memories of the past surfaced on their own.
Marin subtly shook her head. Now wasn't the time to dwell on her own past.
Lifting her head, she saw Dia looking at her with indifferent eyes.
"I came because I have something to say."
