Chapter 31

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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Marin unwittingly let her eyes scan his physique.

The black shirt did nothing to hide his firm muscles.

Does he work out separately in the study? They don't look atrophied at all.

“It's not exactly because of muscles. More like exercise from daily life, I suppose.”

The more she spoke, the more it felt like she was digging her own grave, so Marin clamped her mouth shut and bowed her head deeply.

“That's unexpected. I figured you'd beg me to spare your life for the sake of any possible future or something like that.”

Marin's head snapped up.

Spare my life? That's right! Why hadn't she thought of that sooner?

A guarantee on her life. Call it a life-preservation right!

She should have asked him to at least spare her life in case her lies were exposed.

Restraining the urge to stamp her feet in frustration over the missed opportunity, Marin whispered with a sliver of hope.

“Maybe... a chance to take it back?”

“Do you think there is one?”

“......No.”

Of course not. Luck like that wouldn't come her way.

Tears pricking at her eyes, Marin let her shoulders slump dejectedly and bowed to the duke once more.

“Then I'll be going now.”

“Where to?”

“My room.”

“I'll grant your wish right now.”

“Pardon?”

“Let's take a walk.”

“Pardon?”

Marin blinked vacantly and tilted her head.

“Temporary. You're not thinking the irrational thought that I could go for a walk alone despite being blind, are you?”

Thinking she truly didn't get it, the duke explained in a chilling voice.

“Ah......”

Marin parted her lips slightly, then closed them again.

......She had. An irrational thought.

The duke sometimes made her question if he was really blind, so she'd assumed he could naturally go for a walk on his own.

“Come here.”

“Yes.”

As she approached him slowly, he rose from his seat.

Seeing the duke standing after so long, she shrank back at his great height and massive build.

He was intimidating even seated, but standing, he was like a towering mountain.

“Closer.”

“Yes.”

Marin stepped right up to him, her face tense with nerves.

What now?

Then she suddenly recalled a sight from her childhood: a blind person walking with a companion.

“Your Grace the Duke.”

“What?”

“Would you like to rest your hand on my shoulder?”

The muscles in his jaw tightened.

***

Ah, right—he hated physical contact with others.

“Then shall I fetch a cane...”

“Where's your shoulder?”

“Here. Ah, excuse me for a moment.”

Gently grasping his sleeve, Marin placed his hand on her shoulder.

The heavy, large hand that covered her entire shoulder was surprisingly warm.

“Shall we go, then?”

Marin whispered with deliberate cheer.

“Yes.”

* * *

Marin moved briskly, staying one step ahead of the duke, who was much taller than her.

After descending the stairs to the first floor, she slipped out the back door to avoid people.

A large, bright full moon greeted them radiantly.

“Hold on a moment.”

Marin paused her steps.

“Why stop?”

“I'm thinking about where to go.”

“Take me somewhere you like, Temporary.”

“Yes.”

Marin led the way toward the quietest spot she could find.

After passing the grove, they reached a vast garden carpeted in blue grass.

It was the same garden where she'd found the Mandelsong.

Beneath the enormous full moon, the fresh green grass glistened with night dew, sparkling like starlight.

“Wow.”

An exclamation slipped out unbidden. The garden was beautiful at night too.

“Why?”

“It's so......”

She started to say he must not know since he couldn't see, but trailed off.

His silent compliance in following her so well had made her forget again.

“Why stop mid-sentence?”

“Just... nothing.”

The duke lifted his hand from her shoulder and walked slowly forward.

Stepping on the sparkling grass under the glowing white full moon, he stopped midway. He looked like a painting.

The duke tilted his head as if listening to something, then let out a deep breath.

Then, as if frustrated, he untied the black cloth covering his eyes.

Startled by his sudden action, Marin stared at him with wide eyes.

The duke turned abruptly and faced her directly.

Marin held her breath, gazing at his closed eyes.

His eyelids trembled faintly, then slowly lifted.

His eyes, nearly silver and pure as a fairy's born from white snowflowers, were pristine.

Shocked by their beauty, she gasped.

He walked straight toward her, just like someone who could see.

“Are you scared?”

“Ah......”

Overwhelmed by the duke's imposing presence as he approached in long strides, Marin stepped back involuntarily.

“Do I disgust you?”

“......”

Pressed by his aura, Marin's mouth froze shut; she could only shake her head.

***

“Do I look like a monster?”

Unlike his impassive expression, his deeply sunken voice seemed to confess agony.

As if released from a spell, her lips finally parted.

“No. Not at all.”

“Then why did you back away?”

“......Because you're too beautiful.”

It wasn't something you'd say to a man, but his beauty was so dazzling it overwhelmed her.

“What?”

He looked stunned, as if struck on the back of the head, then furrowed his brow.

“You're so beautiful it startled me.”

“Temporary.”

As he drew even closer, his eyes shimmered like a halo of silver stars, entrancing.

In the novel, he was described as having black hair and black eyes.

So why these eyes? Because he's blind?

Mesmerized, Marin stared into them. They were indeed unfocused, confirming he couldn't see.

“Yes.”

The duke leaned his head close to her face and whispered insinuatingly.

“Are you seducing me?”

“Eeek?”

Marin snapped to attention as if doused in cold water.

“Shouldn't it be the other way around?”

“W-what do you mean?”

Flustered, her face flushing, Marin stammered a question.

“How unfortunate.”

The duke whispered bitterly.

“What on earth......”

Gerald chose silence over an answer.

Sensing his intent, she stood quietly too.

That sharp intuition of hers.

For the first time since going blind, he felt genuine regret.

He wanted to see her face.

He wondered if she truly saw him as a monster.

After the monster attack blinded him, his eyes had changed from black to silver.

No one in the world had silver eyes.

And for good reason—silver was the color of monster eyes.

All the monsters he'd slain had eyes like that.

He'd worried if he'd become a monster himself and hidden the color ever since.

Yet she called them beautiful. She probably had never seen a real monster.

Gerald chuckled inwardly and gazed at the blank white world.

People thought blindness meant total darkness for him, but it was the opposite.

The whole world was blindingly bright.

That's why he always covered his eyes with the black cloth and stayed in dark places—to block even a little of that glaring light.

After applying the Mandelsong, which seemed effective, the eye strain vanished for hours.

That's why he'd readily agreed when she suggested a walk today.

The fresh outdoor air after so long was crisp and sweet.

He could've come out alone without borrowing her shoulder, but he'd brought her along on purpose.

He was curious where she'd lead him.

He caught the scent of Mandelsong nearby. So she'd come here to gather it.

Strangely, time with her was always amusing and relaxing.

It was then.

***

“Your Grace the Duke!!!”

Olive's desperate voice called from not far away.

“It's Lord Olive?”

“I know.”

“Should I let him know you're here?”

“No need.”

Olive was already rushing toward them.

Hiding his irritation, Gerald retied the cloth over his eyes.

“Your Grace the Duke!!! A letter!!”

Unlike his usual self, Olive's voice was rough and trembling.

“Why all the fuss?”

“The count and his wife... they've passed away.”

Olive dropped to his knees, sobbing bitterly.

My sister died?