Chapter 41

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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“Mom….”

Perido rubbed his face against his mother’s embrace and threw a tantrum. Whenever he clung to her like this, she would always pretend she couldn’t help it and take his side.

“Mom has to go soon. Perido, you can count to five hundred properly, right?”

His mother peeled him off with a firm hand.

Perido, suddenly frightened, looked up at her. When Mom called him Perido instead of baby, it meant he had to obey her without question.

Her black eyes gleamed strongly, as if demanding his promise.

“Yes….”

Perido nodded despite himself.

“You’re so clever, my baby. When you go to the secret room, you must never go outside. You must not meet anyone.”

“Until when?”

“Until Mom comes to get you.”

Perido gazed at his mother with an excited expression.

She had said it, so she would definitely come fetch him. His mom was someone who always kept her word.

“Yes. I won’t go looking for my sisters. I’ll wait for Mom. So you have to come quick!”

“Alright. It’s a promise with Mom.”

Perido hooked his pinky with hers.

His mother’s face, beaming with a smile, was different from usual, but her smile was always beautiful.

“Yes!”

His mother hugged him tightly once more.

Her scent—so wonderful.

“You mustn’t make a sound, either. Hide in the wardrobe and stay quiet.”

“Yes, I will. Like hide-and-seek, I won’t make a single noise and stay hidden in the wardrobe.”

“That’s right. My baby always listens so well to Mom. But—if, just in case—Mom is too late, then one person only. You can open the door for that one person.”

“Who? Dia sis?”

His mother’s hand stroking his hair was soft and tender.

Hehe. I wish she would keep petting me like this.

“No. Duke Vines. Gerald von Vines, the Duke. Your uncle will come find you and protect you.”

Her voice burrowed into his ear, somehow filled with pride.

Who was this person that Mom spoke of with such boasting?

“Duke Vines?”

“Yes. You must remember that name, my baby….”

* * *

Mom, when are you coming? I miss you.

Perido sniffled, then startled at his own crying sound, clamped his mouth shut and hiccuped.

Can’t make a sound. Can’t get caught.

Just then, sudden footsteps echoed.

Perido curled up like a snail and froze in place.

Did I make a noise and get found? Mom, I’m scared.

* * *

Gerald ascended the bell tower stairs with the confidence of a man who could see everything ahead.

***

Thump. A faint heartbeat pulsed.

Someone was here. A small child.

A child desperately stifling sobs in a place no one ever sought.

Gerald’s footsteps quickened.

Reaching the bell tower’s topmost floor, he turned toward the sound.

Thud. His foot struck first. Reaching out, he felt rough wood grain. A thick wooden door.

He grasped the handle and gave it a light shake, but it was locked from within.

Thump-thump-thump. The child inside startled; the heartbeat roared.

He could smash the door down in an instant, but he didn’t want to frighten the child further.

“Olive. How can I open this door without scaring the child?”

Olive, arriving late and panting, widened his eyes before swiftly regaining his composure.

“Did young master Perido lock it himself?”

There was only one presence inside. The child must have secured the latch personally.

“Is Perido here?”

Dia, just reaching the top floor, gaped in disbelief.

The two men turned toward her.

Dia shoved past them without waiting for a reply and planted herself before the wooden door.

Bang! Bang!

“Perido! Perido! Are you there? It’s Dia sis! Perido! Answer me! Perido!”

She pounded on the wooden door frantically.

The child’s crying, audible only to Gerald, grew louder. Yet the child remained utterly still, even after hearing Dia’s voice.

“Perido. Perido, please. It’s your sis! Are you there? If you are, just say something! Perido!”

With no response from inside, Dia leaned her forehead sadly against the wooden door.

“Your Grace the Duke. Perido isn’t here. If he were, he definitely would have answered my voice.”

“He might think his family is under threat.”

Dia shook her head vehemently at Olive’s calm explanation, as if it were absurd.

“He’s only six years old. He couldn’t possibly think like that.”

“His sister would have warned him ahead of time.”

Gerald recalled his wise sister.

At those words, Dia jerked her head up and stared hard at Gerald.

“Please break down this door.”

“The child will be terrified.”

“If you won’t do it, I’ll call the servants.”

“Miss, I understand you’re deeply shaken. The young master must be as well. It would be best to give it a little time.”

Olive soothed her kindly.

“I’ve never once seen Perido come here. Are you sure he’s… here?”

Tears welled up in Dia’s deep green eyes.

Olive pulled out a handkerchief with a look of pity and offered it to her.

In the meantime, Gerald thought of his sister.

What had she told the youngest child?

If it were her, she might have said something like this.

Gerald slowly raised his hand and placed it against the wooden door.

Olive and Dia’s gazes turned to him.

“I am Gerald von Vines. Whoever is inside, I will protect you.”

Vines protects.

Dia’s body trembled faintly behind him as she heard his words.

The small child began to stir ever so slightly.

Was there another door inside? A creak sounded as the door slowly opened.

The child’s footsteps approached the wooden door, light as feathers.

How starved must he be?

***

“What are you doing right now….”

Tick. Tick. A sudden metallic clank from inside made Dia’s eyes fly wide as she froze.

The child, too weak, couldn’t work the latch.

Clack. After several failed attempts, the latch finally struck the wooden door.

The three held their breath, waiting for the door to open without startling the child.

Soon, the wooden door creaked open—agonizingly slow, inch by inch.

Through the narrow gap, the child’s small shadow appeared cautiously.

Gerald couldn’t see, but he felt the small child looking up at him.

“…”

The child pointed at him, lips parting to speak, only to cough instead.

Gerald discerned the child’s intent from those tiny movements alone.

“Yes. I am Gerald von Vines.”

Dia, recognizing Perido’s face, cried out in heartfelt anguish.

“Perido!!”

In that instant, the child crumpled like a doll with severed strings.

Gerald scooped up the fainting child before he hit the floor.

Sister, the youngest is safe. No matter what it takes, I will protect your children.