Chapter 64

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Only two people remained on the empty dance floor.

Marin gazed at the duke's closed eyes and gently placed her hand against his. He softly wrapped his arm around her waist.

As Marin took the first step, the duke naturally followed her lead.

She didn't need to guide him at all—he was an excellent dancer.

"Thank you."

"……."

"I wanted to see that guy kneel before me."

"What else do you want?"

"I've already had my revenge."

Marin let out a stifled giggle, unable to hold back her laughter.

"I'll admit it. You handled it perfectly."

A faint smile graced his lips as well.

The sight of the two smiling at each other as they danced made them look like the perfect ideal couple.

Nobles began to follow their lead, gathering on the dance floor and starting to dance.

Marin subtly glanced around at the nobles enjoying their dances. Fortunately, it seemed she'd succeeded in shifting the mood.

The duke expertly spun her around once before leading her again.

"Why are you so good at dancing?"

Marin asked, her eyes wide.

"I'm good at anything that involves the body."

He whispered slowly into her ear. Her earlobe heated up in an instant.

"Ah, yes. Ex, excellent."

He burst out laughing at her flustered compliment.

The surrounding nobles couldn't hide their shocked expressions at the duke's laughter.

It was clear the duke had fallen hard for his fiancée.

That was when it happened.

"Aide Olive Lion and the young masters and ladies of House Adria have arrived."

At the unexpected arrival, everyone's gazes turned toward the entrance.

As the duke and Marin stopped dancing, the orchestra halted its performance as well.

Marin looked up at the duke with worried eyes. As always, his face remained impassive.

The duke took a step forward, and the nobles parted like the Red Sea.

The closer they got to the Arena Hall entrance, the clearer the nobles' whispers became.

"Oh my, look at them. How pitiful."

"They're still in mourning clothes."

"It's only been a short while since the count and countess passed."

"And yet they throw such a lavish party like this. No matter how bad things were between His Grace and his sister, this is too much."

"Those rumors must have been true. They were like enemies."

Marin's hand on the duke's arm tightened involuntarily. She'd expected this, but hearing the misunderstanding firsthand hurt even though she wasn't involved.

She wanted to step in and say something, but she couldn't, which made her chest ache.

Lost in thought, she gripped harder without realizing, and the duke tilted his head down as if looking at her hand.

"Don't mind them."

The duke whispered softly into her ear.

"……Yes."

Marin tried to steady herself. She felt sorry for making him worry more.

Upon reaching the entrance, they finally came face-to-face with the duke's nephews and nieces.

***

Marin inwardly marveled at the children.

The eldest, Dia, had glossy black hair that sparkled under the lights and deep forest-green eyes, giving her a refined beauty.

Next to her, the second, Garnet, had luxurious blonde hair like melted gold and vibrant green eyes that evoked a splendid rose.

The third, Rubiana, had soft blonde hair and pale green eyes, resembling a doll meticulously crafted by an artisan.

Finally, the youngest, Perido, had black hair and black eyes, bearing the strongest resemblance to the duke.

Even in their black mourning attire, all four couldn't hide their radiant appearances.

Olive, standing a short distance from the children, approached the duke.

"Your Grace, we're back."

"Good work."

Olive's gaze shifted to Marin, whose hand rested on the duke's arm.

Marin gave him an awkward smile and a nod.

Olive nodded back in kind when—

"May I ask what sort of party this is?"

Dia scanned the opulent party hall before turning her eyes to the duke.

"It's a party to celebrate my engagement."

"……Your engagement?"

Dia stared at the duke with a stiff expression.

"Ha, he's lost his mind. An engagement?"

Garnet muttered sharply enough for everyone to hear.

"Garnet."

Dia called her name in warning, and Garnet pouted, whipping her head away.

The duke ignored his nieces' reactions and introduced Marin.

"Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Lady Marin Schwenz, daughter of Viscount Schwenz."

Marin slightly furrowed her brows, shooting the duke's profile a dissatisfied look.

You could at least say something like 'thanks for coming all this way.'

No matter that they were pretending publicly to be distant from his nieces, he was playing the part too perfectly.

Marin inwardly cursed the duke before turning her gaze to the nieces and nephews before her.

Dia was staring at the duke with an inscrutable expression. Garnet was too busy glaring daggers at him.

Then her eyes met Rubiana's pale green ones.

Rubiana, looking at her with eyes full of curiosity, flashed a shy smile with dimples in her cheeks.

It was so adorable that Marin smiled back. She was grateful for Rubiana, the only one among them showing interest in her.

Perido, clutching Rubiana's hand tightly, was also staring up at the duke's face.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Marin Schwenz. You must be tired from the long journey."

Marin spoke to them on the duke's behalf, pouring her heart into her words.

"……I'm Dia Adria. Congratulations on…… your engagement. We're tired from the long trip—may we go ahead and rest?"

Dia's emotionless gaze lingered briefly on Marin before dropping. The duke's fiancée had greeted her kindly, but she couldn't bring herself to smile and respond in kind.

"Yes. Olive, take them to the annex."

"Yes. Young masters, young ladies, this way."

Olive said gently, his eyes crinkling softly. During the trip west, he'd switched to addressing them as young masters and young ladies.

Dia stared for a moment at the duke, still with his eyes closed, then turned away coldly.

An engagement celebration party, of all things. When their parents had died just recently.

Did Aide Olive know about this? Had he kept it from them all this time despite knowing? Did they have to hold the party on the exact day they arrived?

If it was planned long ago, they should have avoided this timing and summoned them earlier. What was the duke thinking? Was he ignoring them? Disrespecting their late parents?

A surge of betrayal welled up.

She couldn't tell if this bitter emotion was directed at the duke, at Aide Olive for keeping it secret the whole way here, or at the fiancée who seemed blissfully unaware and kind.

Beside her, Garnet glared fiercely at the duke with an agitated face.

"Garnet, let's go."

"No. Wait a minute."

Garnet shook off Dia's hand and stepped forward.

She placed her hands on her hips and sneered at the duke.

***

"Your Grace. You've never once come to see us—but no, you only came after our parents…… died?"

Garnet's voice trembled faintly as she mentioned her parents. She quickly steadied it and continued.

"You're throwing such a grand party on the day we arrive? Does this mean you see us as beneath contempt, that we're not family?"

"……Think whatever you want."

Dia stared at the duke in shock.

It would have been better if he'd ignored Garnet's words.

Saying it in such a public place meant he wasn't acknowledging them as his nieces and nephews.

"……Thanks for being honest!"

Garnet raised her voice higher, as if to hide its tremor.

She spun around, grabbed Dia's hand—the one she'd shaken off—and whispered lowly.

"Sorry, sis. I got worked up again."

"It's fine. Let's go."

"Okay."

Olive gave the duke a silent bow and quickly took the lead.

Dia walked at the very back, shielding her siblings like a guardian. She held her back straight, enduring the nobles' piercing stares.

Just as Dia exited the hall, the orchestra's music resumed inside the party venue.

Her tightly clenched fist trembled as she watched her little siblings' small backs walking feebly ahead.

She could trust no one now. She alone had to protect them.