Chapter 53

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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I’m doomed. Those two words implied that she had no chance of meeting the good person he’d mentioned.

“Please just call me by name, not Little Duke. And I apologize.”

Zeromian seemed to realize his mistake right away, his face full of regret.

Marin waved the hand the duke wasn’t holding, as if to say it was fine.

Zeromian stared piercingly at that hand before turning his arrows back on the duke.

“An engagement without an engagement ring?”

For the first time, a faint crack appeared in the duke’s consistently cold expression toward Zeromian.

Marin gave an awkward smile and hid her hand behind her back.

“You got permission from Miss Marin’s mother?”

The duke’s cracked expression turned a bit more flustered this time.

Reading the answer in that look, Zeromian snorted.

“I saw that. What kind of engagement is it with a guy who doesn’t even know basic procedure?”

“I got permission.”

Marin stared at him, actually more curious about the duke’s reaction.

Zeromian crossed his arms over his chest and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk. Instead of getting engaged to such a thoughtless guy, how about becoming my disciple?”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll give you anything you need.”

“Kay.”

At the duke’s call, Kay appeared out of nowhere and bowed deeply.

“Yes.”

“Throw that one out.”

Kay nodded slightly in response and approached Zeromian.

“Kay. Didn’t I tell you not to pop out and startle people like that?”

Zeromian scolded him seriously.

“That’s my job, though.”

Kay replied in a voice utterly unaffected.

“What kind of job is scaring people?”

“My job is to carry out His Grace the Duke’s orders. Shall we go? I’ll escort you politely.”

“Which means if you don’t leave politely, I’ll drag you out?”

“…….”

As Kay stayed silent in affirmation, Zeromian irritably tossed his long silver hair back.

“Don’t touch me. I’ll go on my own.”

Kay stepped back slightly.

“You and I, let’s talk again…….”

The moment Zeromian started speaking to Marin, Kay cut in.

“Let’s go.”

He even blocked Zeromian’s gaze toward Marin.

Zeromian flung his silk robe back dramatically and turned to leave.

The study fell silent, as if a storm had swept through.

After a pause, the duke spoke.

“……I’ll get the ring tomorrow.”

His head must have been aching from Zeromian’s commotion, as he pressed his temple with his fingers.

Ah, the ring. She hadn’t even thought of that.

***

It wasn’t a real engagement, after all.

“It’s fine. It’s a fake engagement anyway. You already bought me tons of jewels along with the dress last time. I can just wear one of those.”

Marin replied nonchalantly.

“No. The jeweler’s coming tomorrow.”

“Yes, got it.”

Marin answered promptly. When the boss speaks, you obey.

“By the way.”

“Yes?”

Marin looked from her still-held wrist to the duke.

“How long have you been close with that guy?”

“That guy?”

Marin tilted her head, unsure who he meant.

“Zeromian, you mean? Are we close?”

“We?”

The duke’s furrowed brows openly displayed his displeasure.

“Well, he often kept me company when he was Zero.”

“Kept you company?”

The duke’s expression, mimicking her words, grew as cold as the northern winds.

Marin’s light green eyes trembled faintly.

Had she said something wrong?

The duke kept nitpicking her words, but it had to be her imagination, right?

“I’d run into him occasionally when I was picking books from the library to read to His Grace the Duke.”

“Occasionally? How often?”

“Hmm, once or twice a week?”

Marin answered honestly.

“That much?”

“Is that a lot?”

Marin stared at him with a what-do-you-mean expression.

“Then is it little?”

The duke raised one eyebrow, as if she’d said something ridiculous.

“Did I do something wrong to His Grace the Duke?”

“Are you changing the subject now?”

At the duke’s sharp rebuke, Marin gaped in bewilderment.

No, why are you like this? Seriously.

“Thinking about it, you’re right, Your Grace. It was a lot. So, when will you let go of my hand?”

Marin decided to just accept the situation. She’d have to agree quickly to end this inexplicable interrogation.

Only then did the duke seem to realize he’d been holding her wrist the whole time, and he released it casually.

Marin quickly reclaimed her wrist and rubbed it.

You’ve suffered, wrist.

“So, shall I read the report now?”

“Yeah.”

His tone was still dissatisfied somehow, but not knowing why, Marin got to work.

***

“His Grace the Duke, Miss Marin. The jeweler has arrived.”

Sebas the butler knocked and entered, announcing the visitor from the parlor doorway.

“Let him in.”

A lean, fifty-something man with protruding lips entered and bowed politely.

“It’s an honor. Your Grace the Duke and Lady Fiancée. I am Yoreli Harkers, the empire’s finest appraiser of gems, artisan jeweler, and owner of the premier jewelry shop.”

***

“Long time no see.”

Finishing his lengthy greeting, Yoreli’s eyes sparkled as he beamed proudly.

“To be remembered is the greatest honor for my house.”

“Get on with it.”

“Yes. Understood.”

He clapped his hands, and his employees filed in one after another, carrying bags.

“I’ve selected a hundred top-grade gemstone rings for you. Lady Fiancée may not know, but our shop boasts a three-hundred-year tradition of…….”

“I want to focus.”

“Yes.”

Yoreli snapped his mouth shut.

Marin felt a bit overwhelmed by the dazzling array of jewels sparkling before her eyes.

She’d grown up in a wealthy noble house until her family’s ruin, but she’d never seen so many rings at once.

“See anything you like?”

At the duke’s question, Marin took a deep breath.

So far, she’d talked about the engagement in front of familiar people, but now she had to act lovestruck in front of an outsider.

Marin clenched her fists lightly by her cheeks and tilted her head cutely.

“Will our handsome duke help me? There are too many jewels—I can’t choose.”

At Marin’s coquettish assault, the parlor went deathly quiet for a moment.

Marin’s pupils shook nonstop.

She saw Sebas the butler turn toward the door, his shoulders shaking.

This isn’t right? Really? Did I overdo it?

Marin lowered her hands slightly and ducked her flushed face.

“Ahem. Your handsome self wants to help, but the situation doesn’t allow it.”

The duke covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.

Marin’s earlobes turned bright red.

“Yoreli. If you had to recommend a ring matching my fiancée’s eye color?”

Yoreli, briefly dazed by Marin’s charm, snapped back to attention.

Money! Money’s rolling in. Get it together.

“I’ll find it right away.”