Chapter 15

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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“Then I’ll head back to my post. The servants will move your luggage inside.”

Sebas the butler, who had been standing behind, said with a smile.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you, Butler.”

Roanna and Marin hurriedly expressed their gratitude.

“I didn’t do much, but you’re so polite. Well then.”

Sebas, receiving the formal bow, turned and walked away.

“Would the two of you like to follow me?”

Olive spoke gently.

“Yes.”

Supporting Roanna, Marin entered the annex. The corridor was adorned here and there with expensive-looking porcelain and vibrant flowers.

The annex was far more spacious and luxurious than expected. Marin wondered if this was really the servants’ quarters.

“For now, this room can be used by Miss Marin’s mother. It gets the best sunlight.”

Olive flung open the white door and stepped back.

As soon as Marin and Roanna entered, their eyes widened in surprise, and they exchanged glances.

Sunlight poured through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. A chandelier sparkled in the light. Gold wallpaper. A spacious, comfortable-looking bed. The room was beautifully arranged with high-end furniture.

“Is this really the servants’ lodging?”

Roanna whispered in Marin’s ear, her face stunned.

“It doesn’t seem like it, does it?”

Marin, equally flustered, looked around the room before turning to Olive.

“Mr. Olive. It feels like we’ve come to the wrong place.”

“Don’t you like it? Shall I show you another room?”

“No? Ah, no. It’s not that we don’t like it...”

Marin trailed off, her face full of bewilderment.

“The entire third floor of this annex has been cleared out exclusively for Miss Marin and her mother, so feel free to look around all the rooms and pick whichever one you like.”

Olive explained kindly with a bright smile.

Marin’s lips parted in shock.

The whole third floor for them?

There were at least five rooms at a glance.

“Mr. Olive. Is this really the servants’ annex?”

Marin finally voiced the question that had been nagging her the whole time.

“Of course not.”

Olive shook his head with a beaming smile.

“Right? I thought so too.”

Marin nodded, then pressed on with the burning question.

“But then why am I here?”

Olive gazed at her with eyes that seemed to ask why she’d say something so strange.

“Miss Marin isn’t a maid, after all.”

“I’m not a maid?”

“You’re the assistant to me, the aide to His Grace the Duke.”

Was that position treated with such immense respect?

Marin swallowed the words that wouldn’t come out and forced an awkward smile.

“Right. I’m the ass. ist. ant.”

She emphasized “assistant” deliberately, but Olive just wore his usual kind smile.

***

“Shall we look at the other rooms?”

“Mom.”

Marin turned to her mother beside her for her opinion.

“If it’s all right to use this one, I’d like this room.”

Roanna whispered cautiously to Marin.

“Yes, Mom. Mr. Olive, is the room next to my mother’s all right for me?”

“Of course. And will you be taking breakfast in your room?”

“Is that allowed?”

Marin asked, startled.

“Naturally. Since you’re the ass. ist. ant to me, the aide to His Grace the Duke.”

Olive echoed her emphasis on “assistant” with a gentle smile.

“Ah... Thank you.”

Marin bowed her head with an awkward smile.

A luxurious room and meals delivered. Being the assistant to His Grace the Duke’s aide was a great job.

“After breakfast, will you come to the office? There’s a contract we need to go over.”

At those words, Roanna clutched Marin’s sleeve tightly with trembling fingers.

Marin patted her hand reassuringly.

“Yes.”

“Then rest well.”

Olive gave a slight bow, pretending not to notice their exchange, and left.

“This room is as nice as the old one. And the bed is so fluffy.”

Roanna’s voice trembled slightly as she stroked the soft bedding in disbelief.

“Mom, I’ll buy you an even better bed than this one.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Roanna shook her head, looking embarrassed.

“I know. I’m just bragging because I’ll be earning a lot of money soon.”

Marin placed her hands on her hips and boasted playfully, drawing a laugh from Roanna.

It was then.

Knock knock. Their conversation halted at the cautious knock.

“Yes. Come in.”

A young maid who appeared about fifteen, with red bobbed hair falling just below her ears, pushed a trolley inside.

“H-hello. M-Miss. St-starting today, I’m Yuria, who will be s-serving you and y-your m-mother.”

Her face turned as red as her hair from the embarrassment of her stammering.

“Hello, Yuria. But I’m not a miss, so please don’t call me that.”

When Marin gently refused, Yuria’s face crumpled in panic.

“Th-then, wh-what sh-should I c-call you?”

“Just Marin is fine. My mother’s name is Roanna.”

“Y-yes. M-Miss Marin. M-Miss Roanna.”

“You don’t need the ‘Miss’ either.”

Yuria’s eyes went wide in alarm, and she waved her hands frantically.

“I c-can’t do th-that. Th-the a-aide and b-butler told me to t-take g-good care of you, M-Marin. I-I’m sorry. I st-stammer in front of p-people I m-meet for the f-first time since I was little. R-really, I’m s-sorry. It’ll g-get better soon.”

“It’s fine. I can understand you perfectly. Right, Mom?”

“Yes.”

At their kind demeanor, the color slowly returned to Yuria’s face.

“I’ll s-set up b-breakfast for you.”

Yuria wheeled the trolley to the tea table and unpacked the food.

Warm pumpkin soup and freshly baked bread. Cheese and ham. Various jams. Dessert in the form of pudding and macarons.

A splendid breakfast was ready in no time.

After finishing, Yuria stepped back, took a deep breath, and spoke slowly to avoid stammering.

“What time would you like lunch? Shall I bring it here too?”

***

“Yes. From now on, please bring all meals here. Breakfast at 8, lunch at 1, dinner around 7.”

“Y-yes. Understood. Just leave the dishes when you’re done, and I’ll clear them. If you need anything, ring the bell by the bed anytime.”

“Got it. Thank you.”

Yuria bowed slightly and left.

As soon as she was gone, Roanna’s expression darkened.

“This is serious.”

“Why, Mom?”

“I was short-sighted. I got caught up in how well His Grace is treating us and forgot what kind of man he is.”

Fear flickered in Roanna’s green eyes.

“You’ve heard the rumors too, right? That he shows no mercy to his enemies.”

“Yes...”

Marin nodded heavily.

“If he finds out we lied...”

As Roanna’s voice trembled, Marin grasped her hand warmly.

“Mom, don’t worry too much. I’ll do my best to be as helpful as possible to the Duke.”

“Will that be enough?”

“Of course. Just trust me. More importantly, let’s eat before it gets cold.”

Marin spoke more briskly than usual to reassure her.

“All right. Let’s eat together.”

Watching Roanna sit, Marin took her seat as well.

Truth be told, Marin felt uneasy too. The boundless kindness, just for being an aide’s assistant, felt off.

Ever since her father died, the only ones who’d treated her kindly were con artists.

But the Duke had no reason to con her.

Marin pushed the worries aside and gulped down the soup.

* * *

Marin entered the office.

“Come on in.”

“Yes. You want to rewrite the contract?”

Marin sat down and glanced at the paper on the desk.

“I added something here.”

She took the contract Olive handed her and quickly read only the part marked as additional terms.