Chapter 59

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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And that sight appeared to others as a very affectionate couple.

Susan, who had been watching them with jealous eyes, turned her head toward Christine standing beside her.

“Lady Christine. Where is your fiancé?”

“Over there.”

In the direction Christine pointed, a man was standing.

A man with short green hair was staring obsessively at the duke's fiancée.

Christine's expression darkened, consumed by jealousy.

“Lady Christine, I'm saying this out of consideration for our friendship. Wouldn't it feel better to strip away that wicked woman's mask, the one deceiving His Grace the Duke?”

Susan gently took Christine's hand, as if truly concerned for her.

Christine clasped Susan's hand in return, her face filled with emotion.

The jewels she had offered to the young ladies just to join this circle had been enormous in number. And yet, they had often ignored her. Until the duke's fiancée appeared.

Now, she finally felt like she could stand proudly among them.

“I think you're right.”

Meanwhile, Ommanda, standing behind them with a champagne glass in hand, smirked.

She could clearly see what scheme Susan was plotting.

The social circles of the western duchy were divided between men who followed Susan and those who followed her.

This was a chance to see Susan taken down, so she planned to simply watch.

You had to pick your battles.

This was exactly why a woman shouldn't fall in love.

Blinded by love, Susan couldn't read the duke's attitude.

Just moments ago, hadn't the duke moved his fiancée—who seemed weary—to a quiet spot away from the crowd to rest?

More than that, from the duke's demeanor at the dress shop, she had sensed he would cover for his fiancée no matter what she did.

And now Susan was trying to use Christine to poke at that. She intended to just sit back and watch Susan crumble.

“I truly hope Lady Christine finds happiness.”

“Yes. I have to find my own happiness. I'll make that woman who toyed with my fiancé apologize.”

Christine spoke as if she had been brainwashed.

Susan smiled encouragingly and placed a wine glass filled to the brim in Christine's hand.

Christine blinked in surprise as she reflexively took the wine glass.

“This is...”

“You never know when you might need it.”

Susan beamed and gripped Christine's hand tightly around the wine glass.

Christine gave a slight nod and headed straight for the duke's fiancée, still clutching the wine glass.

* * *

After the duke left her side, Marin worked hard not to lose the smile on her lips, unsure who might be watching her from where.

*I'm hungry. I want to take off these shoes.*

She glanced at the food table right beside her.

Towering piles of colorful chocolates. Cakes in various shapes. Canapés topped with cheese and cherries on crisp crackers. Salads with cool cucumber slices, sweet whipped cream, and roasted cherry tomatoes. Tangy fruits in tiny cups the size of a finger joint.

Marin sneaked a peek at the foods and secretly swallowed her saliva. She hadn't eaten anything since morning except water.

*Should I just eat one? Will they criticize the duke's fiancée for eating something like this?*

Most of the noblewomen at the party ate nothing at all. At most, they moistened their lips with wine or champagne.

Young noble ladies in particular were ashamed to open their mouths and eat anything at a party. They thought it would be a disaster if they suddenly needed the restroom.

Marin tried to avert her eyes from the table, but the foods danced temptingly in her light green eyes.

***

*Think of the duke's reputation. None of the other young ladies are eating.*

*Gurgle.* Her stomach churned as she kept debating whether to eat or not.

Marin looked down at her belly with pitying eyes and steeled her resolve.

*Fine. Just one.*

Marin sidled up to the table, hiding her arms behind her back, and snatched a small chocolate.

Returning to her spot, she covered her mouth with her fan and quickly popped the chocolate into her mouth.

The rich dark chocolate, full of flavor, melted in an instant. They had brought in a famous pâtissier from the capital for the party, as expected.

It was so delicious it made her eyes light up.

The problem was that after one, her appetite only grew stronger.

*Whatever.*

She was about to go all in and press close to the table when someone called out from behind her.

“Marin, you look stunning today.”

At the mocking voice, Marin gritted her teeth to keep from scowling.

Hearing that voice again—the one she wanted to forget—killed her appetite dead.

*She never wanted to hear this voice again.*

Marin took a discreet deep breath and slowly turned around.

Short green hair. Eyes slanted longways at the corners. Brown eyes full of greed. Thin lips.

Gebium Norman.

His gaze, cold as a snake, scanned her face.

“You...”

Marin's expression hardened stiffly.

She was floored. How could this man stand so boldly before her?

“Long time no see, Marin. I'm Viscount Norman now. My father passed the title to me.”

Gebium stared piercingly at her, proudly introducing himself.

Marin gripped her fan tightly. Otherwise, she might slap that face.

*Guess the duke was right about me being a fighter.*

“No.”

Marin said lowly, her expression icy.

“What do you mean?”

“Not 'long time no see.' You should be on your knees, begging and apologizing.”

“Ha, what?”

Gebium twisted his lips viciously.

“If you're not going to apologize, I have nothing more to say to you.”

As she turned to leave, Gebium blocked her path.

He took a step closer, and her body tensed instinctively.

Noticing her reaction, Gebium's eyes gleamed cruelly as he sneered.

“So, you've become the duke's fiancée and think you're all high and mighty now? You, who used to beg like a dog?”

Marin stared at him with emotionless eyes. It was true, just as he said—she had once been like that.

* * *

Right after her father died in the carriage accident, dozens of debt collection notices flooded their home.

After failing in a shipping investment, he had made another reckless one to cover it.

To pay off her father's debts, she sold everything they owned and moved to a shack. With not a penny left, she had to do whatever it took.

Marin visited Viscount Norman's estate to ask for a job from him, an old friend of her father's. She saw them building an even more lavish annex beside the main house.

They had invested in the same ships, yet her father went bankrupt while Viscount Norman's house grew richer.

Viscount Norman, taking pity on her plight, offered her a position as governess for his seven-year-old youngest daughter, Catherine.

Marin accepted with deep gratitude.

And so, she went to the viscount's estate five days a week.

After finishing lessons and walking through the garden to head home, Gebium called out to her.

***

“Lady Schwenz.”

“Hello, Young Lord Norman.”

Marin stood still, watching Gebium approach.

She had occasionally run into him when her father was alive, but they had never properly spoken.

“Here, take this.”

Gebium held out a picnic basket.

“What is it?”

“Food. Catherine said you've been barely eating lately.”

“......”

Marin's face flushed red. She bowed her head silently.

Hearing her situation from a noble peer her age made the shame flood in even more.

“Come on, take it. You can't skip meals just because your house fell on hard times.”

Gebium took her hand directly and placed the picnic basket in it.

Marin stared blankly at the basket in her hands. A delicious aroma wafted from inside.

*Don't pity me. I don't need this.*

She bit her lower lip hard.

The image of Roanna, pale-faced and bedridden without even a bowl of soup, flashed in her mind.

“......Thank you, Young Lord Norman.”

Marin slowly parted her lips and bowed her head in greeting.

“What's this between us? And from now on, call me by name.”

As he patted her shoulder encouragingly, his hand lingered there quite a while.

Marin didn't want to call him by name, but in her position of needing help, she couldn't refuse.

“Yes. Lord Gebium.”