Chapter 18

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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"His Grace the Duke requests your presence now."

Olive hurriedly cut her off.

"Why?"

Marin blinked her eyes wide and asked.

"Well."

"Is it just me again?"

Marin looked up at him with frightened eyes.

"Yes. Just you."

Olive gave her a gentle smile, as if it were no big deal.

"Understood."

Marin let her shoulders slump as she turned away, then glanced back at Olive.

"But how do you communicate with His Grace the Duke?"

"It's a secret."

Olive smiled warmly and pressed a finger to his lips.

"Oh, a secret. I'll be off then."

Marin drooped her head dejectedly and headed toward the dark corridor.

Ah, I don't want to go.

She had crossed the line of her own accord just moments ago. But now that she had to go alone, she really didn't want to.

Marin stood before the office door, her face tense with anxiety. She took a deep breath and was about to knock when a low voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Marin lit a candle and entered the office.

In the pitch-black space, like a sea where not even an inch ahead was visible, Duke Vines sat alone, like a solitary island.

"Hello."

"Do you think a blind man like me could be well?"

"......No. I'm sorry."

Man, what a talent for twisting words like that.

"Come closer."

"Yes."

Marin secured her view with the candlelight and walked over to the duke. He was lounging lazily in his chair.

"Set the candle nearby."

Marin glanced around and gently placed the candle on an empty bookshelf. She stood there blankly when the duke spoke again.

"Closer."

"Yes."

She clutched the book to her chest and stepped a little nearer to him.

The candle's yellow flame illuminated Duke Vines's handsome silhouette.

"Hand."

When he extended his large hand, Marin naturally placed her own hand in his palm, like an obedient puppy.

And silence fell.

It seemed like his shoulders trembled faintly, but it must have been her imagination.

"You're here for a wrist check, aren't you?"

"Oh, sorry."

Then just say "wrist" clearly from the start.

Her face flushed red as she tried to pull her hand away, but the duke gripped her wrist.

"Still the same."

***

"You're eating well these days."

"Your palm is swollen."

Only then did Marin realize her palm was swollen. It must have happened after the "lesson" from the landlord couple.

"Oh...... I didn't notice."

"Who did you hit?"

"Me? I'm not that violent."

Marin widened her large eyes innocently, as if hearing this for the first time.

"I heard you hit someone."

"No, who would spread such a false rumor......"

"The butler."

"Ahem. Sometimes, in unavoidable situations, people can turn fierce."

Marin quickly changed her tune.

"You switch words fast."

"You could've told me you already knew everything."

"Are you lecturing me? To me?"

He asked in a languid voice.

"Of course not. How could I dare? Absolutely not."

Marin shook her head so vigorously it nearly whistled.

"What's that book?"

Does this guy really not see? How did he know I was holding a book?

"I picked it thinking it might help Your Grace sleep. I was going to ask anyway—do you have any books you find boring?"

"Why?"

"Boring books make the best sleep aids."

The duke pondered for a moment before blurting out.

"......Fairy tales."

"Fairy tales?"

"Is that so surprising?"

"No, not really......"

A land of dreams and hope. Huh? Isn't that what fairy tales are? Beautiful stories like that. What a guy with zero emotion.

"Especially the happy endings. I hate them."

"Yes, I suppose so."

His emotions are so dried up, he'd burn better than dry kindling.

Marin grumbled inwardly as she looked at the duke's face. Knowing he hadn't slept, he looked even gaunter.

Even without emotions, he should still sleep well.

"I didn't prepare any fairy tales today, so I'll bring some starting tomorrow."

"Fine."

"Um......"

"What?"

"When will you let go of my hand......?"

His broad shoulders twitched.

This time, she saw it clearly.

Her captured wrist had been uncomfortable, so she'd kept noticing, but he seemed unaware he was still holding someone else's wrist.

The moment he released her hand, Marin clutched her book and spoke up.

"Um......"

"What?"

"May I ask why you called for me?"

"......"

She could see the muscles in his jaw tense.

Was that a dangerous question?

Marin anxiously gauged the duke's reaction.

***

"......For an inspection."

"Yes?"

"Did you forget I said wrist checks every day?"

"Oh....... Yes."

Of course she hadn't forgotten, but she hadn't expected him to summon her just for that.

You're kidding, right?

Marin eyed the duke suspiciously and opened her mouth.

"Um......"

"No more 'um.' Speak all at once from now on."

"Yes. Then may I go now?"

"You're not reading the book?"

"I heard Your Grace was tired today. Shall I read to you?"

"Go ahead."

"Yes."

The sound of her footsteps retreating slightly from him echoed. She must have moved near the candle.

In this dark space, the letters wouldn't be visible otherwise.

The swish of her skirt hem. The rustle of turning the first page. The deep breath she took. The flick of a strand of hair behind her ear. The gulp of her swallow. The irregular thump of her tense heartbeat.

A space that had been solely his own was now filled with her sounds.

"I'll start. People live repeating their daily routines every day. But from today, I didn't want to live like that anymore. I shouted into the air. I want to do something special."

It seemed to be a novel.

Like reading a report, she lowered her voice to the utmost, enunciating clearly and steadily as she began reading the book.

The pain had been especially severe today, so he hadn't wanted any visitors. He had been enduring it alone when he heard it.

Her faint voice.

 

"Don't cross over here—it's a warning."

 

It was accurate. It was a warning not to cross.

The corridor with dark curtains over the windows. That was exactly the limit of what he could hear.

But realizing it was a warning, she boldly crossed that line anyway.

And her voice came clearer still.

 

"I'm sorry......"

 

At that, he quietly summoned his shadow. Kay prostrated himself right in front of him.

 

"Tell Olive to bring Temporary here."

"......"

 

Kay bowed his head in acknowledgment and vanished.

 

* * *

 

What was she sorry for?

He was curious.

What had this woman done that she needed to apologize to him for?

Now that he had called her, he couldn't bring himself to ask. Not without revealing his secret.

Grasping her puffy hand, he realized anew how thin she was, how fragile.

He hadn't known a person's hand could swell like that from hitting someone once.

She really was a strange woman.

"I climbed the mountain. The mountain greeted me. Long time no see. I told the mountain. I'm looking for something special."

***

When she voiced the dialogue, her tone shifted to an acting voice. Strangely, it didn't grate on him.

Why was this woman's voice so pleasant to listen to?

Before he knew it, his thoughts about her had turned to her voice. Focusing on it, his whole body gradually relaxed.

Even the sensations he had tightly bound within himself grew quiet, captivated by her voice. It was impossible, yet he concentrated solely on her voice without realizing it.

His body floated as drowsiness flooded in. The moment his mind grew hazy, he shouted sharply.

"Stop!"

It was like being doused with cold water—his senses snapped awake. The instant they did, his sensations began assaulting him madly.

"......Temporary. What did you do to me?"