Chapter 11

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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* * *

Marin looked down at the picnic basket with a proud expression. She had obtained a round cheesecake, bread, and even beef.

The duke's order to fatten her up was more beneficial the more she thought about it. Thanks to that command, she could now provide hearty meals for her mother as well.

Roanna's illness was a sickness of the heart.

She had lost her husband and eldest son in an instant, and even their home and fortune. For a woman who had always been frail, the shock was indescribable, and her mother was losing strength day by day.

That was why she needed tonics to restore her vitality and nutrient-rich food. It was the only way to keep her condition from worsening further, and the reason Marin had to earn as much money as possible.

Upon arriving home, Marin discovered that the door to their hut was wide open. Startled, she rushed inside and found the house in complete disarray.

An overturned chair lying on the floor. Trash scattered everywhere. Broken dishes here and there.

"Mom."

Her grip loosened, and the picnic basket dropped with a thud. Marin hurried straight to Roanna's room and flung open the door. Her mother was not there.

"Mom, where are you?!"

"Marin..."

A faint voice came from her own room.

"Mom!"

Marin quickly threw open the door to her room.

"Mom..."

At the sight of Roanna in a state she could never have imagined, tears welled up in Marin's eyes.

Her mother was clinging tightly to Marin's vanity with her slender frame. Her hair was disheveled, as if someone had yanked it out.

"Mom, why? Why..."

Tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.

"It's something you treasure, isn't it? This was the only thing I could do. I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about? What?"

Marin stood rooted to the spot, sobbing.

"Because I'm your mom, but I just make you suffer while I'm sick and can't even help."

"..."

That's not true. She wanted to say that just having her mother by her side gave her the strength to endure, but her throat was choked, and no voice came out.

So she just shook her head vigorously, as if making a buzzing sound.

Her mother always blamed herself, but in truth, the one feeling guilty was Marin.

On the day of the carriage accident, her mother's condition had been poor.

They could have waited a few days until her mother recovered and then set off together. There had been plenty of time before the debutante ball.

But it was Marin who had urged her father to leave early, eager to get to the capital and sightsee.

If they hadn't left that day, they could have avoided the carriage accident.

Yet her mother had never once blamed her for it.

That made her feel even more guilty, and she wanted to treat her well—to alleviate her own guilt, even a little.

Marin rushed over and embraced Roanna.

She was so thin that she fit perfectly into her arms. Thinking of her frail mother struggling to protect her cherished memories brought fresh tears to Marin's eyes.

"Mom..."

"It's okay. It's okay."

At her mother's gentle patting, Marin broke down crying like a child.

After crying for a long time, Marin, her eyes swollen, asked Roanna what had happened.

"The landlord's wife came by. She said if we don't pay the rent by tomorrow, we have to leave immediately."

"What? Rent isn't due for another four days."

Roanna struck her chest with a pained expression.

***

"Mom..."

Marin grabbed her mother's hand to stop her.

"That woman misunderstood you as her husband's mistress. She needs to make some sense. She came in a rage, threw trash everywhere, and smashed things."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I should have handled it..."

"Why are you sorry? I'm your mom. But because I'm weak, I couldn't even stop her. All I could protect was this vanity. I keep living on, just burdening you like this."

"Mom, don't say that. Everything will be okay."

Marin swallowed back the tears threatening to fall again and gently stroked her mother's back.

* * *

"Mom, I'm going to the duke's castle."

After barely getting Roanna, who had no appetite, to eat, Marin stepped outside. It was already growing dark.

The hut was at the foot of the mountain. At night, beasts could come out, so they rarely went outside.

But if she didn't do something, they'd be evicted from their home tomorrow. She had to resolve it somehow.

Whenever moonlight peeked through the clouds, she quickened her pace.

After a long walk, the duke's castle came into view, its high spires illuminating the outer walls with torches.

Marin hurriedly knocked on the castle gate.

Instead of opening the massive main gate, knights emerged from a side door.

"Who are you?"

The middle-aged knight scanned her with sharp eyes, given the late hour.

"I'm Marin, working under Aide Olive. I need to see him urgently. May I come in?"

"Working under the Aide?"

The middle-aged knight eyed her suspiciously and asked again.

"Yes."

Marin looked at him with pleading eyes.

"I've heard nothing about it. Hey, Yubis. Do you know her?"

The middle-aged knight called to a younger knight behind him.

"No, I don't."

The red-haired young knight glanced at her face and shook his head.

"Not under Aide Olive?"

"I don't know."

"What do you know?"

"Nothing."

"What? Hey! Come here."

"No thanks."

The young knight darted back inside the castle.

The middle-aged knight and Marin stared at each other awkwardly after watching the scene in bewilderment.

"He's still young, a real rascal."

"Yes. Sorry, but if the Aide is busy, could you at least call Butler Sebas?"

At the mention of the butler, the middle-aged knight's attitude grew a bit more polite.

"You know the butler?"

"Yes."

"Understood."

She heard him go inside and relay the message to another knight.

Marin waited anxiously outside the castle.

Soon, Butler Sebas Chen emerged with a welcoming smile.

"Miss Marin."

"Butler!"

Relieved that she could finally enter, Marin called out loudly.

"Why are you waiting out here instead of coming in?"

***

With Butler Sebas Chen's appearance, the tense middle-aged knight replied in a straightened tone.

"Her identity wasn't confirmed, so I didn't let her in."

"I've been away for a few days, so this happened. Miss Marin, I'm sorry."

Butler Sebas Chen apologized sincerely. The middle-aged knight behind him flinched visibly.

"No, it's fine. More importantly, I have an urgent request for the Aide. Can I see him now?"

"Of course. Come in."

Marin followed Sebas Chen to the servants' reception room she had visited before.

"Wait here, and the Aide will come."

"Yes. Thank you so much."

"From now on, come in anytime you want. I'll make sure the guarding knights and soldiers know."

As he spoke kindly, the muscles in his arm twitched.

It wasn't her imagination that emphasis was placed on "make sure," was it?

Marin quickly bowed her waist in gratitude.

"Thank you for your consideration."

Sebas Chen replied with a smile and left.

Shortly after, Olive rushed in. He was dressed more casually than during the day.

"Miss Marin. What brings you here so late?"

Marin stood from her seat with a resolute expression.

"Aide Olive. Please help me."

She bowed deeply, her forehead nearly touching the floor, and pleaded with him.

"Miss Marin, lift your head."

Startled, Olive hurriedly said. His eyes showed surprise at her unexpected action.

"I..."

"First, let's sit on the sofa and talk."

Olive gently cut her off and guided her to the sofa.

"I know it's only been a day on the job, so I can't get my weekly pay yet, but could I get an advance?"

"An advance?"

Olive's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes. The landlord says if we don't pay rent by tomorrow, we have to leave immediately. I could live in some abandoned warehouse, but my mother is ill. So, I'm imposing on you despite knowing it's rude."