Chapter 17

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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They said the landlord couple got a solid slap across the cheek. That skinny woman had the strength to hit someone.

It was unexpected. In his presence, she always acted like a frightened rabbit.

Even while fearing him, she’d said everything she needed to. She definitely had a brave streak.

“I’ll put you to sleep.”

Temporary’s words suddenly came to mind.

When was the last time he’d slept?

He couldn’t even remember.

Even with a body superior to others and senses far more acute, he was still human.

A human who couldn’t survive without sleep.

Ever since going blind, he’d been unable to sleep at all, too busy reining in his rampaging senses.

He’d endure like this until he hit his limit and passed out.

He’d wake after half a day, only to face endless torment again.

Was there any point in holding on like this?

He’d asked himself that.

Should he just die?

Would that bring relief?

His conclusion was no, he couldn’t.

If he died like this without an heir, the duke’s house would crumble quickly under the emperor and the opposition faction.

If he’d known this would happen, maybe he should have tried marriage.

Due to senses more sensitive than most, he’d long abandoned the idea of living closely with someone.

He’d planned to name one of his sister’s children as successor when he got older.

But his sister had only one son. The empire didn’t recognize women as family heads, so he needed another boy to succeed him.

Gerald smiled bitterly.

Would he go mad from the pain first?

Or would his sister have another son first?

* * *

Marin clutched two books that looked as boring as possible and browsed the others.

Her steps paused naturally in front of the shelf gathering natural science books as she scanned titles.

She wasn’t the heroine who could identify herbs just by glancing at roadside weeds.

For an utterly ordinary woman (setting aside her past-life memories), all she could do was remember the novel’s contents as best she could.

Fortunately, she knew the herb name that cured the duke’s eyes, but not its appearance.

She pulled out a book labeled Herbal Medicine and flipped through it page by page.

Whoever made this book was impressive. It was neatly organized with names, illustrations, and effects.

“Mandelsong, Mandelsong.”

Muttering the herb name from the novel, Marin quickly scanned the entries.

“Why Mandelsong?”

“I need it—”

Zero had approached unnoticed and was looking up at her curiously.

Marin snapped the book shut and hid it behind her.

“Why do you need it? That common weed.”

***

“That’s a common weed?”

Marin’s eyes widened.

“Yes. It’s not in that book because it’s not an herb.”

“Was the author of this book you, Mr. Zero?”

Startled, Marin checked the cover again. The author’s name was just ‘0’.

“That’s my signature.”

“You’re amazing!”

“I am pretty great.”

Zero lifted his chin proudly.

Oh, cute.

Marin gazed down at him warmly, then shook her head.

He’s an adult man. Get a grip.

“But Mr. Zero, isn’t Mandelsong an herb?”

“No. It’s just a common weed you see by the roadside.”

Marin fought back a twitch of her lips. This might be easier than she thought—no effort required.

“What does that common weed look like?”

“One moment.”

Zero grunted as he pulled a thick book from the shelf behind her.

She moved to help, as it looked heavy, but he waved her off.

“Here, this.”

Zero flipped open the book straight to the Mandelsong illustration.

“This is Mandelsong?”

“Yes.”

Marin stared at the picture, eyes wide in surprise.

The illustration Zero showed resembled the dandelions from her past life.

Small yellow flowers, long stems, leaves clustered at the base and spreading sideways.

A flower common by roadsides, though she’d never known its name.

“So this is Mandelsong. Is it never used as an herb at all?”

“It has a cool, minty flower scent, but no real effects.”

“Oh…….”

Marin trailed off, unable to hide her disappointment.

As expected, no one but the heroine knew Mandelsong’s effects. And the heroine wouldn’t learn them for a while, so right now, only Marin did.

Zero, beaming with pride at sharing his knowledge, slotted the book back.

Marin unconsciously read another title, and her pupils shook.

“Poisons of Nature?”

Her voice came out strained, as if choked, as she read the title aloud.

“It’s in here because Mandelsong has a toxic component. Just causes stomach upset, though.”

Zero chattered innocently, like a real child.

The confirmation hit Marin like a final blow, and she swayed unsteadily.

“Oh…….”

Poison. Poison.

Using poison on the duke was on a whole different level from lying.

“Are you all right?”

Seeing her face drain of color, Zero asked worriedly.

“I’m fine. I’ll be going now.”

“Come play again.”

Zero waved his arms enthusiastically in farewell.

“Yes.”

She waved back and turned away.

***

* * *

Marin trudged down the corridor, her face troubled.

In the novel, they juiced Mandelsong and fed it to the duke, curing his sight.

So she’d planned to use a tiny amount to ease his pain once she found it.

She wasn’t the heroine, so she couldn’t fully heal him.

She’d thought this way she could at least repay his grace.

But that herb was a common dandelion-like flower—with poison.

Even mild poison causing stomachaches was still poison. Feeding it to the duke, even a little, meant the execution block.

“The heroine really is different.”

Neutralizing that poison to restore the duke’s vision.

She felt sorry for his suffering, but she couldn’t face the executioner’s axe.

“Just wait a little longer, and the heroine will come.”

Marin squeezed her eyes shut.

* * *

“His Grace the Duke says he won’t take reports today.”

“Is he sleeping?”

Olive gave a wry smile and shook his head silently.

Marin clasped her hands tightly in pity. The duke was suffering again today.

“Since it’s your first day moving in, head home early.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Can I read the books I borrowed from the library first?”

“Go ahead.”

Marin bowed to Olive and left the office.

The sun hadn’t set yet, so bright sunlight poured through the corridor windows. The opposite side was shrouded in black curtains over the windows, dark and deep like a sheer cliff.

Marin stopped right at the line dividing the corridor like day and night.

“It’s like a warning not to cross over.”

Muttering to herself, she glanced around.

Human psychology: if told not to do something, you want to try it.

Marin tiptoed one step into the dark corridor like a cat. A long, pitch-black hallway stretched before her.

“I’m sorry…….”

If it weren’t for the poison, she’d have helped him somehow with Mandelsong.

Clutching the borrowed books tightly, just as she turned to go—

The office door burst open.

Startled, Marin jumped back to the bright side.

Olive looked around, spotted her, and approached quickly.

“Miss Marin. You haven’t left yet.”

Caught red-handed like a child doing something naughty, Marin flushed.

“I was just about to…….”

“His Grace the Duke is summoning you now.”