Chapter 14

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
-----------------------------------------------------------------

“So that’s where the money came from—you hooked an old rich guy.”

Oxanda snorted derisively as she glanced back and forth between Sebas Chen the butler and Marin.

Jorno quickly pulled her back. He was intimidated by the butler’s presence.

“We got the money, so let’s go.”

“No. They can’t leave.”

Marin stepped forward to stand beside Sebas Chen the butler and spoke firmly.

All three pairs of eyes turned to her.

Marin met Sebas Chen the butler’s gaze and asked him seriously.

“Where are we right now?”

For a moment, a glint appeared in Sebas Chen the butler’s eyes. But as if testing her, he pretended not to understand.

“What do you mean...?”

“I meant whose mountain this is.”

“It’s the Vines Duchy, so naturally it belongs to House Vines.”

The corner of Sebas Chen the butler’s mouth twitched as if holding back a smile.

“Yes, exactly. But these people took rent from others without permission from the master of the land, His Grace the Duke.”

Jorno, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, hurriedly interjected.

“No! We built that shack ourselves. We only took rent for lending out the shack.”

“So, when you built that shack and started renting it out, did you get permission from His Grace the Duke, the owner of this mountain?”

Sebas Chen the butler’s voice dropped to a chilling low.

“W-Well, um...”

Sweat poured down Jorno’s forehead like a waterfall.

Oxanda, sensing the mood turning strange, quickly chimed in from the side.

“His Grace the Duke said hunters could build shacks to rest in.”

“I know that. This mountain is treacherous, so he permitted simple rest shacks at the entrance. But he allowed them to rest there for free—not to build them and charge rent.”

“It was originally... I built it... to rest here myself...”

Jorno stammered, his face drained of color.

“But who are you to threaten us by name-dropping His Grace the Duke?”

Oxanda snapped venomously.

“I am...”

Just as Sebas Chen the butler was about to respond, a four-horse carriage emblazoned with the large crest of House Vines arrived. Servants soon swarmed in after it.

“Sebas Chen.”

A young servant approached him and bowed politely.

“...the butler of House Vines.”

Sebas Chen the butler acknowledged the servant’s bow with a gesture and continued staring at Jorno and Oxanda.

“Eek! Sebas Chen?!”

Jorno lost his nerve, his legs giving out as he collapsed onto the ground.

Sebas Chen the butler was a very famous figure in the duchy. He had been renowned as the vice-captain of the knight order under the previous duke and was now famous as the butler who had risen from that position.

“D-Darling.”

Terrified, Oxanda called out to Jorno with a face on the verge of tears.

“Take them away.”

“Oh, please, sir! Forgive us just this once!”

Jorno flailed desperately, trying to grab Sebas Chen the butler’s legs, but the servants seized his arms.

“Darling! Darling!”

Another servant roughly grabbed Oxanda’s arm.

***

“Wait a moment.”

Marin, who had been watching the scene, spoke to the servant dragging Oxanda away.

The servant stopped, and Marin approached Oxanda. She snatched the money pouch from Oxanda’s hand, calculated the exact amount, and handed it back.

“You’ll pay properly for laying hands on others without permission.”

Oxanda stared down at her own hand and sobbed pitifully.

“Please spare us! Sir! Sir!”

Jorno wailed Sebas Chen the butler’s name endlessly as the servants dragged him off.

Marin watched them disappear completely. She had successfully gotten revenge on the one who tormented Roanna, but a bitter taste lingered in her mouth.

Seeing firsthand how people who had sinned against the duke were hauled away made her heart pound.

The moment her lies were exposed, she would end up in the same position.

Marin swallowed dryly. She needed to stay sharp.

“How long have you known this wasn’t a place where you could collect rent?”

Sebas Chen the butler smiled amiably as he struck at the core.

Marin hesitated with a troubled expression before reluctantly admitting the truth.

“...From the beginning.”

“And yet you paid rent until now?”

“There’s no place with rent as cheap as this. Even if I reported the landlords to House Vines, it wouldn’t have reached the higher-ups. The landlords have connections helping them. My report would’ve vanished midway, and we’d probably have been evicted. Better to just pay rent and live here.”

Marin gazed at the shabby shack with bitter eyes.

“But why did you change your mind?”

“For me, insults or even beatings—I can forgive those depending on the situation.”

Sebas Chen the butler furrowed his brow and shook his head slightly.

“You shouldn’t forgive that sort of thing.”

Marin gave a small, grateful smile and continued.

“Yes, that’s why I said depending on the situation. But there’s one thing I can never forgive, no matter the situation. That’s when they touch my mother. My mother is off-limits.”

Marin’s light green eyes shone with resolve.

“Is there nothing I can help you with? Have you packed your things?”

Sebas Chen the butler nodded calmly and asked kindly, as if nothing had happened.

“There’s nothing worth packing. I’ll just bring my mother and be right out.”

“Take your time.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Marin bowed hastily and hurried into the house.

Oxanda had smashed all the furniture and belongings the day before, so the only things to pack were a few clothes.

Roanna sat on the bed, clutching the bundled clothes tightly.

“Mom, let’s go.”

“Alright.”

Roanna picked up the light bundle, and Marin carried the vanity that her mother had protected the day before.

As they exited the shack, Sebas Chen the butler quickly approached and took the vanity.

“You didn’t call for me.”

“It’s light.”

“I’ll have it loaded onto the carriage.”

A servant behind Sebas Chen the butler hurried over and took the vanity.

“Thank you. Mother, this is Sebas Chen, the butler of House Vines.”

With her hands free, Marin took the bundle from Roanna.

“Hello. I’m Roanna, Marin’s mother.”

Roanna curtsied slightly with elegant poise.

Sebas Chen the butler’s eyes widened briefly in surprise at her noble bearing before he quickly schooled his expression.

“Yes, hello. I’m Sebas Chen, the butler of House Vines. Miss Marin, may I take that bundle as well?”

“This one’s really light.”

“Ho ho. I’m stronger than I look.”

Marin glanced at his muscular forearms and smiled awkwardly.

***

He certainly looks strong.

Since Sebas Chen the butler kept his hand extended, Marin reluctantly handed over the bundle.

He accepted the light load and quickly scanned the interior of the house through the open door.

“Is there more luggage?”

“No. This is all.”

“Then let’s depart.”

“Yes. Mom, I’ll ride the horse I tied up last night. You take the carriage.”

“Alright. I understand.”

Roanna guessed why Marin couldn’t ride in the carriage and nodded with sad eyes.

“See you at the Duke’s Castle.”

As if already informed, Sebas Chen the butler helped Roanna into the carriage.

The carriage and servants departed, leaving only the shabby shack and Marin behind.

Marin bid a silent farewell in her heart to the shack she had lived in for years, then mounted her horse without regret.

***

Marin rode alongside the carriage, matching its pace.

The thick, towering white gates of the Duke’s Castle stood wide open. The carriage and horse passed through without stopping.

Deep inside the gleaming white Duke’s Castle, they reached an ornate three-story stone annex.

Olive Lion was already waiting out front to greet them.

As Marin tried to dismount, Olive Lion extended his hand.

Grabbing his hand, Marin hopped down from the horse and greeted him warmly.

“Hello, Aide Olive Lion.”

“Welcome, Miss Marin.”

The carriage door opened, and Sebas Chen the butler, who had alighted first, offered his hand to Roanna.

Roanna expressed her thanks with a nod and accepted his assistance to step down.

Marin took Roanna’s hand and led her to Olive Lion.

“Mother, this is my superior, Aide Olive Lion.”

“Hello. I’m Roanna, Marin’s mother.”

Roanna grasped the hem of her dress lightly and bowed gracefully.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Olive Lion.”

A glint appeared in Olive Lion’s eyes, but it was hidden by his smile, unnoticed by anyone.