Chapter 19

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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“......Temporary. What did you do to me?”

“Huh?”

Gerald shot to his feet and strode toward her.

“I asked how the hell you did it!”

She retreated step for step as he advanced. Her breathing grew ragged under his sharp interrogation. The pounding of her heart was loud and frantic.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

She answered in a trembling voice.

“Poison?”

“Huh?”

He clamped down on her shoulders, pinning her in place. He could feel her body stiffen in shock.

Gerald bent at the waist and pressed his nose to her neck, inhaling deeply.

“Eep.”

He felt her clap a hand over her own mouth to stifle a cry.

It was a familiar scent, one he hadn’t caught in ages.

A fragrance he hadn’t smelled since walling himself off from the outside world. Fresh grass damp with dew, mixed with the dry scent of sunlight. And for the first time, the sweet, feminine smell of her skin.

It wasn’t the poison he’d expected. Even this close, there was no trace of it.

“W-why are you doing this?”

He could feel her body trembling beneath his hands, quaking with fear. Gerald lifted his face from her neck, a strange sense of regret washing over him.

“What the hell are you? How is that even possible?”

“What did I do......?”

She sounded terrified, her voice on the verge of fainting.

He stepped back from her slowly, then finally spoke in a heavy tone after a long pause.

“......I dozed off.”

“Huh?”

“You put me to sleep. You’re saying you knocked me out just by reading a book? No poison?”

“Wow! You really fell asleep? For real?”

Her voice brimmed with joy, as if her trembling moments ago had been a lie.

She got excited over others’ business like it was her own.

An incomprehensible woman.

“Yeah.”

“But then why didn’t you keep sleeping and woke up?”

“It bothered me.”

“Huh?”

“Too long since the last time. Felt like if I fell asleep once, I’d never wake up.”

Gerald was startled by his own unguarded words.

That was it. It had been so long since he’d slept properly that the act itself felt awkward.

“Oh, I see. Wait—how long has it been since you last slept?”

She nodded, then asked in a startled voice.

“Can’t remember.”

He couldn’t recall the last time he’d fallen into a proper, genuine sleep without passing out.

“Good heavens.”

Hearing her shocked voice made exhaustion crash over him all at once. He returned to his spot and slumped into the chair.

She scurried after him like a puppy chasing its owner, hesitating nearby.

“Why?”

***

“......Shall I read some more?”

She suggested cautiously.

“No need.”

“But you need to sleep.”

She insisted again, her voice dripping with reluctance, but sleep had already fled, and it wasn’t coming back.

“Tomorrow.”

“......Yes. Understood. Then rest well.”

The soft rustle of her skirt faded into the distance.

Soon the study door opened and closed, plunging the room back into darkness. Just one person gone, yet the study felt darker than ever tonight.

 

* * *

 

Marin emerged into the hallway clutching the book to her chest, her face flushed bright red. By the time she reached the brighter corridor without curtains at the end of the dark hall, she quickened her pace.

Marin knocked briskly at the office door.

“Come in.”

Olive, who had been reviewing documents, greeted her with a pleased expression.

“Miss Marin.”

“Olive!”

Marin held a book in each hand and raised her arms triumphantly like a cheer.

“Hm?”

“I did it!”

Marin beamed, her light green eyes sparkling.

“You did it?”

Olive smiled along with her, utterly baffled.

“His Grace the Duke fell asleep!”

“What?”

Olive jumped up from his chair in shock. The wooden chair toppled backward with a thud.

“Well, technically, he dozed off? Something like that.”

“Tell me everything.”

Olive led her to the tea table in the center of the office.

Marin sat and excitedly recounted what had happened with the duke.

“So how long did he sleep?”

“No idea. His Grace just said he dozed off.”

“His Grace said that himself?”

“Yes.”

Marin nodded vigorously.

“Congratulations, Miss Marin!”

“Is this really something worth congratulating?”

Marin blinked in bewilderment.

“Of course. You did what no one else could.”

Olive stood hurriedly and pulled out 1 gold.

“Here, take it.”

“No! He didn’t fully sleep—it was just a brief doze.”

Marin waved her hands frantically, flustered.

“As they say, the beginning is half the battle. You’ve more than earned it, Miss Marin.”

Marin stared at the proffered gold, then accepted it gingerly.

“Thank you.”

“Please keep up the good work.”

“Yes!”

Marin replied briskly, as if eager for more.

***

 

* * *

 

Olive entered the office with his shoulders slumped in defeat.

Marin watched him with anxious eyes. He met her gaze and shook his head slowly.

“How many days has it been now?”

Marin shot to her feet and demanded.

“One week.”

“Why is he avoiding me when he clearly needs sleep?!”

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

Marin suddenly rolled up her sleeve and thrust her wrist out at him demonstratively.

“Has my wrist gotten thicker?”

“Hmm, hard to say.”

Olive examined her slender wrist intently, then quickly looked away.

She might be posing as a commoner, but she was a noble lady. He couldn’t stare at a noble lady’s wrist for too long.

He wasn’t sure about her wrist, but her appearance had definitely changed.

Her dull, lackluster platinum hair now gleamed with luster, and her gaunt, cheekboned face had softened into gentle curves.

The listless, hazy impression she’d given had transformed with proper nutrition and rest into something far more appealing.

“If I went for a wrist check, would he kick me out right away?”

She twisted her wrist this way and that as she asked.

“He ordered no one to enter......”

“Yeah.”

Marin sat back down, glaring at the fairy tale books on the desk.

She had carefully selected ones that all ended happily. These should be perfect for lulling him to sleep.

“Miss Marin, you can head home early today.”

Marin picked up one of the hardcover fairy tales from the desk, her face crestfallen, and stood.

“Yes. See you tomorrow.”

“Take care.”

It had been a full week without even a glimpse of the duke.

With nothing to report to him, she had no tasks. She’d finished the paperwork backlog days ago, spending the rest of her time reading.

Selecting books to read to the duke was crucial work, but it didn’t have to be done in the office.

Marin walked slowly down the corridor, then turned back to glance at the dark hallway.

No matter how she thought about it, this wasn’t right.

Avoiding her out of fear of sleep?

Marin marched to the entrance of the dark corridor and planted herself there.

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, as if the duke were standing right in front of her.

It was a posture anyone would call insolent.

“Your Grace. Sleep is the most basic need. You’re already in poor health—how are you supposed to live without it? I really didn’t want to stoop to saying this, but......”

Marin glanced around to ensure no one was nearby, then whispered as quietly as possible.

“Coward. Hmph.”

With that, she fled down the corridor as fast as she could.