77 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke Chapter 77
Thud. Thud.
The child was exhausted. There was no strength left in Peridot's hands as he struck the Duke.
The Duke knelt on one knee and carefully embraced the child.
"I'm sorry I came."
"I hate Mom. She didn't keep her promise. I hate Mom. She said pinky promises must always be kept."
Peridot wept bitterly, his sobs choked and sorrowful.
"Peridot. Your sister... your mother kept her promise."
"She said if I waited quietly without saying anything, she would come. But she didn't come."
"Your mother told me in a letter about the promise she made when she gave birth to you—to protect you for life. And she kept that promise. So don't hate your mother, hate me instead. You can hate me anytime."
"Waaah. I miss Mom. Mom."
Watching the Duke clumsily console the child, Dia wept silently.
Marin stole a glance at the Duke's face, which seemed to be missing his sister, and secretly wiped away tears.
\ \ \
Garnet gathered the carrots to one side of her plate and covered them with celery.
Rubiana, who had been watching this, let out a sigh.
"Garnet unnie. Eat your carrots too. Peridot is watching."
"Goodness? Just call me unnie, call me unnie."
"Really? Then from now on, call me unnie."
"What?"
Garnet grabbed one side of Rubiana's neatly braided hair and yanked it.
"Eek, Dia unnie. Garnet unnie is bullying me."
As Rubiana complained to Dia, who was quietly eating her meal, Peridot, who had been nibbling on his bread piece by piece, put it down with a thud, his face resolved.
"I want to go to the Duke."
At Peridot's voice, Garnet and Rubiana froze simultaneously.
"Peridot......"
Garnet stared blankly at Peridot with a disbelieving expression.
"Peridot! Are you okay now? Peridot is talking! Dia unnie! Garnet unnie! Peridot is talking!"
Rubiana shot up from her chair and jumped around excitedly.
Dia looked down at Peridot with calm eyes.
"Why do you want to go to The Duke?"
"......Just because."
Peridot avoided Dia's gaze and answered after a long pause.
"Alright, I understand. Let's ask Teacher Marin."
"Okay!"
At the mention of Marin's name, Peridot nodded vigorously with a pleased expression.
Garnet and Rubiana exchanged confused glances.
Peridot had finally started talking again, but Dia's reaction was rather underwhelming.
Under her sisters' questioning gazes, Dia spoke with a composed face.
"I already heard yesterday."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Garnet asked with a curious look.
"You were asleep. I thought Peridot would tell you himself today."
At Dia's explanation, Garnet and Rubiana nodded with dazed expressions.
It was a good thing Peridot had started speaking again.
"But unnie. Why is Peridot saying he'll go to that person?"
Garnet, belatedly recalling Peridot's words in her joy, asked sharply.
"Garnet nuna. I already answered that earlier."
When Peridot spoke with a look that said 'don't you know that,' Garnet felt somewhat wronged.
"O-oh, right. But still, don't go there. Don't get close to that person."
Peridot stared at her intently with round eyes, then sighed heavily. "Haa."
"What, why."
Feeling even more aggrieved, Garnet pressed Peridot.
"Garnet. Let's eat."
Dia gently suggested.
Garnet pouted and pushed the carrots on her plate further to the side.
Dia pretended not to see this and opened her mouth.
"And I'd like us to stop wearing mourning clothes from today."
"Why?"
Garnet's head shot up.
"We've worn them too long. It's time to move forward now."
It was customary to wear mourning clothes for about a week after a family bereavement. But they had been wearing them for months already.
Dia looked down at the top of Peridot's head as he messily ate his bread again.
Honoring their parents was important, but helping the remaining child escape sorrow sooner was more important.
Garnet quietly watched Dia looking at Peridot, then answered.
"Okay, unnie."
Rubiana also nodded slightly.
\ \ \
As soon as Marin opened her door, she found Dia and Peridot standing there.
"Oh, good morning. Both of you."
"Good morning, Teacher Marin."
Dia bowed her head in greeting. Her black hair cascaded down, veiling her face. Her hair was so lovely.
"Good morning, Teacher."
Peridot, who had been holding Dia's hand, let go and bowed formally from the waist.
Ah, so cute.
Marin, who had patted Peridot's head, looked at Dia.
"But what brings you here so early in the morning?"
"Peridot said he wants to meet The Duke. Could I ask you to look after Peridot?"
"Peridot, why do you want to meet The Duke?"
Peridot, sneaking a glance at Dia, approached Marin closely. He cupped his hands over his mouth and stood on tiptoe, so Marin bent down herself.
"I want to apologize to the Duke for hitting him yesterday. And...... he resembles her."
"Who?"
Marin also cupped her hands near Peridot's ear and whispered.
"......Mom."
Marin straightened up and patted Peridot's head once more.
Dia seemed curious about their whispered conversation but didn't ask.
Marin firmly took Peridot's hand.
"I'll take him."
"Thank you. For yesterday, and for today."
Dia bowed her head politely again.
"Not at all. It's on my way anyway. More importantly, you look very tired. I'll keep Peridot with me all day today, so rest properly."
"Ah... you don't have to go that far."
"I'm doing it because I want to. I enjoy being with Peridot."
"I like it too. Nuna, rest today. I'll play well with Teacher."
Peridot, listening to the conversation from the side, spoke maturely.
Marin, finding this admirable, ruffled Peridot's head again.
Dia bent down and met Peridot's eyes.
"Alright. I'll do as Peridot says. You must behave quietly in The Duke's room."
"Okay."
Peridot grinned and nodded vigorously.
"Please take good care of him."
"Of course, young lady."
"And please just call me Dia."
"Oh my, is that alright?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"Then I will. Dia."
The two met each other's eyes and smiled.
\ \ *
Holding Peridot's hand and heading towards the Duke's office, Olive was already standing by the office door.
"Sir Olive."
Olive noticed Peridot with Marin and his eyes lit up.
"Good morning. Young lady. And young master."
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
When Peridot repeated Marin's words exactly, Olive's eyes widened.
Seeing his startled face, Peridot giggled.
Olive deftly hid his surprised expression and extended a report to Marin.
"The report to be read today."
"Yes."
Marin, having received the report, looked towards the office door.
They should have heard permission to enter a while ago, but for some reason, it was quiet.
"Is he not here?"
"He is here."
"......Come in."
Just then, the Duke's voice was heard.
Olive, skillfully lighting the candles and opening the door, paused.
As he stood by the doorway without entering, Marin also peered through the open door and her eyes widened in surprise.
The office inside was bright.
