Chapter 66

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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Suddenly, the Duke's face hardened.

"Come in."

"Hello. Young mas— Gerald."

Marin stepped into the study, naturally assuming only the Duke was there and addressing him as usual, but she quickly changed her words upon spotting Olive and Butler Sebas Chen.

"Young master, huh? It's been a while since I've heard that."

The Duke never missed a slip-up like that.

Marin pouted her lips, then glanced at Olive and the butler while flashing an awkward smile.

Gentle fiancée mode!

"Gerald just looks so young to me that it slipped out. Hehe."

"Pfft."

"Hnng."

She could see the two of them stifling laughs, their shoulders shaking.

Not this either? Ugh. Playing the lovestruck role is so hard.

You have to have dated to know how.

Marin clenched her fists tightly to stop her itchy fingers from clawing at her hair.

One corner of the Duke's mouth twitched upward.

"So, what brings you to someone who looks so young?"

Teasing her again.

"I'm here to work."

Marin grumbled inwardly as she stated the purpose of her visit to the study.

"Work?"

"Yes. Even though I'm your fiancée, Gerald, I'm also the aide's assistant."

Marin glanced at Olive, who stood near the Duke, and continued.

"I stopped by the aide's office first on my way here."

"Is that so? You don't need to do that anymore."

Olive looked at her with a surprised expression.

"Am I getting fired?"

Marin stared at Olive with a face dripping with reluctance.

In truth, since the Duke was no longer sensitive to sounds, she didn't need to read reports to him anymore.

And the money she got from the engagement contract was already enormous.

But the pay from assisting was another income stream. Why not earn from both if she could?

Olive met her gaze with a troubled look, but the answer came from elsewhere.

"Do whatever you want."

"Thank you."

Marin grinned happily, then spotted the papers in Olive's hand.

"Shall I read those for you first?"

"Ah, no, these are fine."

Olive awkwardly hid the papers behind his back. The butler Sebas Chen standing beside him also suddenly stiffened.

Top-secret documents or something?

Marin quickly tamped down her curiosity.

"Out."

The Duke turned his head toward the two and gave the order.

"Yes."

"I'll come see you later."

***

Once the two had left, the study fell quiet.

"Your Grace the Duke."

"Just stick to one form of address so you don't slip up like that again."

"Yes, got it."

"You seem like you have something else to say?"

"Um, do you know that your nieces and nephews are staying in the same annex as me?"

"Yes. They wanted to stay in the annex."

"Oh...."

Marin trailed off hesitantly. The nieces and nephews probably hadn't realized someone else was staying there.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"No, I'm fine, but I think your nieces and nephews might be."

Marin voiced her honest thoughts.

"It's their choice. Don't worry about it."

I'm worrying a ton about it, though.

Marin swallowed her inner complaint and changed the subject.

"So, when should I start as their tutor? Just the third niece and the youngest nephew?"

"...I'm making you do too much."

What was with that apologetic look?

She had reached the level where she could read expressions on the Duke's emotionless face.

Good job, me!

"Well, yeah, I guess. Mornings assisting Olive, afternoons tutoring, evenings reading to you, and in between playing the fiancée. Oh, and I'll get paid separately for tutoring. It's different from the fiancée role."

His mouth softened slightly at her bold tone.

"Trying to make a killing this time?"

"You bet. Opportunities like this only come once in a lifetime."

When Marin replied proudly, the Duke lifted his head as if looking right at her.

If he could see, he'd be staring right through me, right? Won't he open his eyes a little?

She wanted to see those pretty eyes again.

Open your eyes. Open your eyes.

"What are you thinking now?"

"Ah! Did I say that out loud?"

"You did. Temporary always does that when she's quiet."

"No, I didn't."

Marin swallowed a sigh and quickly denied it. Luckily, she hadn't actually voiced it, so she was safe.

"There's still something you haven't said."

"Yes, go ahead."

"The youngest, Perido, is mute. He was with my sister almost to the end and took a big shock."

"Oh...."

Marin recalled Perido from last night's party.

The boy's face had been gaunt as he kept trying to hide behind his sister's skirt in fear.

"So it might be hard to start tutoring him right away."

"Then I'll take it slow and ease in."

"Do whatever you want."

"Yes."

"...Anything else?"

The Duke asked hesitantly, as if wavering.

Marin tilted her head and thought. Was there more?

"Nope."

"Good."

"It's good that I have nothing else to say?"

"Yes."

***

Gerald's stiff shoulders relaxed at the fact that the trash didn't exist in her mind.

It felt like the tie choking his neck had loosened. Relief washed over his entire body.

But the moment he recognized that emotion in himself, his body tensed right back up.

Why? What was she to him that he felt this relief?

Gerald turned his head toward her. He couldn't see, but that made her presence feel even more vivid.

Her fresh scent, her sweet voice, the soft beating of her heart.

"Gerald, am I talking too much by any chance?"

She'd been mulling it over on her own and asked in a sulky voice.

His rigid body slowly relaxed, a smile naturally forming on his lips.

Right. Did he really need to worry about what she was to him? She'd always be right there by his side like this.

"You just realizing that now?"

"Wow, yeah, I guess I am. Have I been that chatty...."

Her grumbling mutter was as refreshing as a little bird chirping.

Gerald leaned back deeply in his chair, savoring her voice.

* * *

Perido took a spoonful of soup and set it back down.

"Perido, eat a little more. You didn't eat anything yesterday either."

The child shook his head and blankly stared out the window.

"The West's food is just no good."

Garnet, who had torn off a bit of bread, grumbled and set it down.

"I think it's delicious?"

Rubiana sliced the soft bread, slathered it with plenty of butter, and popped it in her mouth.

"Then you eat a lot."

Garnet moved the steak from her own plate to Rubiana's.

Dia, who had been forcing down some soup, felt it like sand in her mouth and soon set her spoon aside.

"Why is everyone having such a hard time eating?"

Rubiana looked worriedly at Dia, Garnet, and Perido, who had all noticeably thinned out.

"Yawn. I keep telling you, the Western food just doesn't agree with us."

Garnet yawned widely as she grumbled. Dark shadows ringed her eyes.

"Garnet sis, sleepy? Go take a nap."

Garnet rolled her eyes at Dia and shook her head.

"Nah, I'm fine."

"Yeah, Garnet. I'll stay with Perido, so go sleep."

"You haven't slept properly either, sis. I'll stay with Perido, so you go first."

Perido just stared out the window with empty eyes, even as his sisters kept pushing each other to rest first.

"You two sleep. I'll stay with Perido."

Rubiana declared spiritedly, but her sisters lightly ignored her. Hng.

* * *

As Marin left the Duke's study, she ran into the Duke's nieces and nephews at the entrance to the path leading to the annex. They were out for a stroll.

They were still dressed in black mourning clothes.

"Hello."

Not expecting to run into them like this, Marin hurriedly bowed her head slightly in greeting.