Chapter 21

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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“May I decide their punishment in the Head Maid’s place?”

The Head Maid nodded slowly.

“They’re maids who let their mouths run wild. If they work mingling with the others, they’ll probably start talking loosely again. It’d be best if they worked somewhere they don’t run into people.”

No sooner had Marin’s words fallen than the maids burst into tears.

“No!”

“Sob.”

A place where they wouldn’t run into people meant nothing but cleaning up after the cows, pigs, and chickens raised in the castle. Even the servants dreaded it because it was so grueling.

“I’m not sure if that will be enough.”

Page Head Maid’s expression darkened.

No matter what Marin’s true status was, the maids had spoken of matters tied to their master’s honor.

It was serious enough that cutting out their tongues and expelling them from the Duke’s Castle would be justified.

The maids were wailing and carrying on in the corner, but Marin’s decision was merciful by comparison.

“If you think that’s not enough, may I suggest one more thing?”

“Yes.”

“Have you heard of mental education?”

The Head Maid furrowed her brows and shot another sharp glance at the group of maids.

“It’s a relic of the past.”

Marin stared straight into the Head Maid’s brown eyes.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the past yet. I have no intention of overstepping your authority, Head Maid. But since I’ve already heard about it, if I don’t stop the abuse of a young maid in the name of education, I’d be an accomplice myself.”

Marin turned her gaze to Yuria, who stood slumped beside her like a wilted flower.

Yuria bowed her head deeply, her red eyes brimming with tears.

The Head Maid nodded slightly, as if she understood.

“I’ll make sure it never happens again.”

“Thank you, Head Maid.”

Only then did Marin shed her resolute demeanor and flash a bright smile.

The Head Maid quietly stared at her, as if the sight was unexpected.

“It seems we’ve wrapped things up, Miss Marin. For now, let’s get you to the physician…”

It was just as Sebas the butler, who had been watching Marin proudly, opened his mouth.

“Good heavens, Miss Marin! Your face?”

Olive appeared out of nowhere and barged in with a shocked look.

“Olive.”

Marin glanced at him in embarrassment. She was already mortified with just Sebas the butler there, and now Olive had to see her like this.

“Let’s go for now. His Grace the Duke is summoning you.”

At Olive’s words, everyone present froze.

* * *

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.”

Olive, leading the way, repeated the phrase noisily.

“Are you all right?”

Marin trailed after him like a chick, peering cautiously.

He stopped dead in his tracks at her question and whipped around to face her.

“Is that what you should be saying to me right now?”

“You seemed really startled…”

***

“Yes, I was very startled. How could a… well, a lady like you get into a fistfight with the maids?”

Olive swallowed the word “lady” and changed tack.

Even if she was pretending to be a commoner, she’d lived as a noble lady all her life—how could she roll on the ground brawling with maids?

All his preconceptions about noble ladies were shattering.

“They’re women too, aren’t they?”

Marin shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“Yes, you’re right. They are women too.”

Olive had nothing more to say and weakly agreed.

“But why is His Grace the Duke summoning me? He’s been avoiding me for a while.”

“I don’t know.”

Olive pressed his temple with his fingers, his head throbbing.

“Are you hurting, Olive?”

“Yes. It hurts a lot. Thanks to someone.”

“I’m sorry.”

Marin bowed her head with a crestfallen expression.

Olive suppressed a sigh as he looked her over.

Her once-neat hair was a tangled mess, like it had been gnawed by rats. Scratches marred her face, and her single dress had its sleeves torn on both sides. Yet she clutched her illustrated fairy tale book tightly to her chest.

The more he looked, the more ridiculous it seemed.

“You don’t need to apologize to me. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The two arrived silently at the study.

“Come in.”

Olive lit the candles and entered first.

Marin crept in after him, using his back as a shield.

“I smell blood.”

Wow, what a nose.

Marin peeked out from behind Olive’s back in admiration.

“Temporary.”

“Yes?”

“Come here.”

“…Yes.”

Marin dragged her reluctant feet forward, her face like a kicked puppy’s.

“What happened?”

“It, uh, wasn’t a big deal.”

Marin feigned nonchalance, pretending it was nothing important.

“Not a big deal, yet there’s blood?”

“It was just a little chat between women, you know…”

The duke ignored her and called on Olive for a straight answer.

“Olive.”

“The maids insulted Miss Marin.”

“Insulted?”

“They said Miss Marin was His Grace the Duke’s courtesan…”

Olive trailed off, as if embarrassed to say it outright.

“So you beat them again?”

The duke’s head turned back toward her.

“Again?”

Marin’s head snapped up. She’d been hanging it in shame while Olive spilled the truth.

“You beat someone last time too. Didn’t you say people can turn fierce in unavoidable situations sometimes? So, what unavoidable situation was it this time?”

“Ah…”

Marin faltered, unable to continue.

***

“Answer.”

“They threw the first punch.”

Pfft. She could see Olive behind her hastily covering his mouth.

Even the heavy black curtain twitched slightly.

No breeze, so why was the curtain moving?

“You’re a fighter.”

Olive fully covered his mouth and stifled a choke at the duke’s leisurely remark.

“No, I’m not.”

Marin pursed her lips, pretending not to hear Olive’s laughter.

“Closer.”

“Yes.”

Marin forced her unwilling legs to carry her nearer to the duke.

When he extended his hand, she offered only her wrist this time.

The duke circled his fingers around it, examining.

“Still the same. Why won’t it grow?”

“It’s fully grown.”

“Look at a tree. Branches can grow more.”

“I’m not a tree branch.”

Rebuke laced her peeved tone.

One corner of the duke’s mouth quirked up. Marin found her eyes drawn to his lips unbidden.

Did he just smile? Or was it sarcasm?

She twisted for a better look, and the torn sleeve grazed the back of his hand.

A deep furrow creased his brow, as if he’d touched something hot.

“Did you tear the dress too?”

Flustered, Marin yanked the ripped sleeve down.

“No.”

“You lied about me being blind… What makes you so bold, Temporary?”

His casual tone felt all the colder.

“I’m sorry. It was a lie. The dress is in tatters.”

Marin tucked in her tail and confessed honestly.

“Your only dress is gone, then.”

Marin whipped around to Olive in shock.

Olive, meeting her eyes, shook his head slightly as if to say he hadn’t spoken.

Marin narrowed her eyes and stared hard at the duke.

He really can’t see?

“I really can’t see.”

“Eek.”

Marin clapped a hand over her mouth.

He’d read her mind.

“Olive, cut out all those maids’ tongues.”

“Yes.”

Marin listened to them, then timidly raised her hand to interject.

“Um…”

“No ‘ums.’”

Marin ducked her head hastily.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace the Duke. I already punished the maids. I’m sorry.”

Her anxious voice echoed softly through the study.

“What punishment?”

“I assigned them to work in the stables.”

“…Merciful.”

***

“No, it’s a harsh punishment. Working there nonstop, the smell will make you want to cut off your nose. No one will come near them. They might live out their lives alone and die lonely…”

As she spoke, Marin wondered if she’d gone too far.

“So, did you win?”