Chapter 74

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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“Hello, young lady.”

Roanna smiled gently at the cute girl.

The girl, clutching a book tightly in both hands, set it down on the ground and hurriedly performed a noble curtsy.

“Hello, Viscountess Schwenz. I’m Rubiana Adria.”

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Adria. How did you know I’m Viscountess Schwenz?”

“You look just like Teacher Marin.”

“You’re very good at saying the right things, young lady.”

Roanna praised her with kind eyes.

“It’s cold out here. What are you doing?”

Rubiana’s cheeks flushed slightly at the praise as she asked.

“I’ve been cooped up in my room for so long that I felt stuffy. I don’t have the energy for a walk, so I’m just resting here in front.”

“Oh, I interrupted your rest. I’m sorry.”

“No, not at all. Do you like books, by the way?”

At her question, Rubiana paled and hastily hid the book behind her back.

“No.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m sorry.”

Rubiana shook her head weakly, looking like a drenched puppy.

“No. You can laugh at me if you want.”

“Why would I laugh at you, young lady?”

“Because I’m a noble lady who likes books...”

“Young lady, my daughter at your age would stay up all night reading books and sleep in every morning. She liked books more than making friends and turned down invitations to tea parties from other young ladies every time.”

“Teacher Marin did?”

Rubiana’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes.”

“And that was okay with you?”

Rubiana asked earnestly, her face full of hope that it might be.

“To be honest, I was worried at first. About my daughter who preferred books over friends her age. But do you know how wonderfully she reads?”

“Yes, I know!”

Rubiana nodded vigorously with her clear eyes.

“Listening to the stories from the books my daughter reads makes all my worries fly away. And I wish she’d read even more.”

Roanna whispered as if sharing a secret.

Rubiana’s excited eyes sparkled.

“You’re right. I love it when Teacher reads to me too. I want to become someone who reads books as well as she does.”

“If you love books like that, you’ll get there, young lady. How about it? Would you read to me?”

“Really? I can read to you, ma’am?”

Rubiana asked in a voice full of anticipation, as if she’d stumbled upon unexpected good fortune.

“Of course. I’d be delighted.”

“Yes!”

Rubiana sat down beside Roanna and opened the picture book.

Recalling how Marin had read to her, Rubiana read the fairy tale softly and steadily.

Roanna listened attentively to the story from the newly befriended cute girl.

* * *

***

Marin lightly knocked on Ferido’s door.

“Come in.”

Hearing Garnet’s voice, she entered, and Ferido lit up with joy, toddling over quickly to hug her.

‘Teacher!’

“Ferido, did you eat something tasty again today?”

‘Yes. I had two sandwiches today. And a muffin too.’

“Really? That’s impressive.”

“Hmph.”

Marin looked up at the snort from somewhere and saw Garnet glaring at her with dissatisfied eyes.

“Hello, young lady.”

“Hmph.”

Garnet turned her head away sharply and snorted again.

It was admirable how she stuck around Ferido despite her dislike, unable to leave him alone.

How hard it must be to endure something you hate.

“Ferido, did you do the homework I gave you yesterday?”

‘Yes!’

Ferido hurried to the desk and showed her the paper. He’d only known simple words before, but lately he was learning sentences.

“I live in the Duke’s Castle. Wow, you did so well.”

‘I want to go home. How do you write that? I miss Mom and Dad so much. How do you write that?’

Ferido, who hadn’t been able to speak for so long and felt frustrated, now poured out words endlessly since she could understand him.

“We can learn that today, then.”

Marin smiled brightly, hiding her poignant gaze.

Sitting beside Ferido, she wrote down the sentence he said, and the child read it with his eyes before copying it underneath.

Garnet crept closer with a haughty expression, curious about what Ferido was writing.

Garnet read the neatly written letters and scowled.

The child already missed his parents so much—why teach him to write something like that?

Garnet glared sharply at Marin.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Alright. Ferido, keep copying. I’ll talk with your sister and be right back.”

‘No.’

“‘No,’ he says.”

Marin relayed Ferido’s words to Garnet exactly.

Ferido glared at Garnet with narrowed eyes.

Garnet looked down at Ferido with a wronged expression.

“Why?”

‘Don’t bully Teacher Marin. I can only talk with Teacher. What if she stops coming because you bully her?’

Garnet looked at Ferido with frustration before sighing deeply.

“What did he say?”

“He says don’t bully me. He’s worried I won’t come here anymore if you do.”

Marin conveyed Ferido’s worry directly.

“No, Ferido. Even if your sister bullies Teacher, I’ll still come see you, so don’t worry.”

Marin gently soothed him, stroking his dark hair.

Garnet’s eyes widened at Marin’s words.

Why was it a given that she was the one bullying this teacher?

‘Really?’

Ferido looked up at Marin with anxious eyes.

“Of course, really. Shall we go now? Young lady.”

Garnet looked back and forth between Ferido and Marin with a bewildered face, then turned her head away sharply.

“Hmph, fine. Just keep doing what you were doing.”

“Really? Ferido, your sister says it’s okay. Shall we finish our lesson?”

***

‘Yes!’

Ferido beamed happily.

* * *

Marin finished the letter lesson and read a fairy tale book to Ferido. The child became absorbed in the story with an intrigued gaze.

Her eyes drifted to the child’s pale skin.

He was sleeping and eating well now, so his cheeks had filled out, but he still didn’t look completely healthy. He occasionally went for walks with his sisters, but children needed to run around outside.

“Ferido, want to go outside?”

‘Why?’

“There’s a flower I like that I want to show you.”

She couldn’t say, ‘You need vitamin D.’

Ferido looked at Garnet standing behind him with a thoughtful face.

Garnet nodded silently.

She must have been concerned about Ferido staying indoors most of the time too.

‘Okay.’

“Good. It’s cold outside now, so let’s dress warmly.”

Marin wrapped a warm scarf around Ferido as he stood. With the long scarf wound around several times, only his cute face poked out.

“Let’s go.”

Taking Ferido’s hand and leaving the room, Garnet followed behind.

They left the annex and walked quite a distance to the garden where mandelsong bloomed.

Mandelsong grew well even in harsh soil and winter, unaffected by the weather.

‘Here?’

“Yes. It’s Teacher’s favorite flower lately.”

Marin pointed to the mandelsong, with its small yellow petals layered one upon another.