Chapter 77

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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Tap. Tap.

The child was exhausted. There was no strength left in Perido's hand as he struck the duke.

The duke knelt on one knee and carefully embraced the child.

"I'm sorry I came."

"I hate Mommy. You didn't keep your promise. I hate Mommy. You said pinky promises have to be kept no matter what."

Perido sobbed pitifully, his cries hitching.

"Perido. Your big sister... your mother kept her promise."

"You said she'd come if I waited quietly without saying anything. But she didn't."

"Your mother wrote me a letter. She told me about the promise she made when she gave birth to you all—a promise she'd keep for life. And she did keep it. So don't hate your mother. Hate me instead. You can hate me anytime."

"Waaah. I want to see Mommy. Mommy."

Dia stifled her tears as she watched the duke awkwardly comfort the child.

Marin quietly wiped away her tears while gazing at the duke's face, which seemed to long for his own sister.

* * *

Garnet gathered the carrots to one side of her plate and covered them with celery.

Rubiana, who had been watching, let out a sigh.

"Garnet sis. Eat your carrots too. Perido's learning from you."

"Oh? Then you call me sis, sis."

"Fine? Then from now on, call me sis."

"What?"

Garnet yanked one of Rubiana's neatly braided pigtails.

"Eek, Dia sis. Garnet sis is bullying me."

Rubiana complained to Dia, who was quietly eating. Perido, who had been nibbling on his bread bit by bit, suddenly set it down with a thud, his face resolute.

"I'm going to see the duke."

Garnet and Rubiana froze at Perido's voice.

"Perido..."

Garnet stared at him in disbelief, her expression blank.

"Perido! Are you okay now? Perido's talking! Dia sis! Garnet sis! Perido's talking!"

Rubiana jumped up from her chair and bounced around excitedly.

Dia looked down at Perido with calm eyes.

"Why do you want to go to His Grace the Duke?"

"...Just."

Perido averted his gaze from Dia's eyes and answered after a long pause.

"Alright. Let's ask Teacher Marin."

"Yeah!"

At the mention of Marin's name, Perido nodded vigorously with a delighted face.

Garnet and Rubiana exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding.

Perido had finally spoken, but Dia's reaction was underwhelming.

Dia spoke calmly to her siblings' puzzled looks.

"I already heard yesterday."

"Why didn't you tell us?"

Garnet asked curiously.

"You were asleep. I thought Perido would tell you himself today."

***

Garnet and Rubiana nodded dazedly at Dia's explanation.

It was good news that Perido was speaking again.

"But sis. Why does Perido want to go to that guy?"

Garnet asked sharply, belatedly recalling Perido's words amid her joy.

"Garnet sis. I already answered that."

Perido replied as if wondering how she didn't know, making Garnet feel inexplicably wronged.

"Y-yeah, you did. Still, don't go there. Don't get close to that guy."

Perido stared at her with round eyes, then sighed heavily.

"Why, what."

Garnet pressed him, feeling even more aggrieved.

"Garnet. Let's eat."

Dia urged gently.

Garnet pouted and pushed the carrots on her plate even further to the side.

Dia pretended not to notice and spoke up.

"And from today, let's stop wearing mourning clothes."

"Why?"

Garnet's head snapped up.

"You've worn them too long. It's time to move forward."

Families typically wore mourning clothes for about a week after a loss. But they had been wearing theirs for months already.

Dia gazed down at the crown of Perido's head as he munched on bread again.

Honoring their parents was important, but helping the remaining children escape their grief sooner was more so.

Garnet watched quietly as Dia looked at Perido, then replied.

"Got it, sis."

Rubiana nodded slightly as well.

* * *

Marin opened her door and immediately spotted Dia and Perido standing there.

"Oh, good morning. You two."

"Good morning, Teacher Marin."

Dia bowed her head in greeting. Her black hair cascaded smoothly over her face. Such fine hair she had.

"Good morning, Teacher."

Perido let go of Dia's hand and bowed at the waist.

Oh, how cute.

Marin stroked Perido's head and looked at Dia.

"But what brings you here so early in the morning?"

"Perido wants to see His Grace the Duke. Could you look after him?"

"Perido, why do you want to see His Grace?"

Perido glanced at Dia, then approached Marin. He cupped his hands over his mouth and stood on tiptoe, so Marin bent down to his level.

"I want to apologize to the duke for hitting him yesterday. And... he looks like her."

"Like who?"

Marin whispered into Perido's ear, cupping her hands.

"...Mommy."

Marin straightened up and stroked Perido's head once more.

Dia seemed curious about their whisper but didn't ask.

Marin took Perido's hand firmly.

"I'll take him."

"Thank you. For yesterday, and today."

Dia bowed politely again.

"No need. It's on my usual route anyway. You look exhausted. I'll keep Perido with me all day, so rest up."

***

"Ah... You don't have to go that far."

"I want to. It's fun being with Perido."

"I like it too. Sis, rest today. I'll play nice with Teacher."

Perido said maturely from the side, having overheard.

Marin stroked his head again, touched by his thoughtfulness.

Dia bent down to meet Perido's eyes.

"Alright. I'll do as Perido says. Be good in His Grace's room."

"Yeah."

Perido grinned and nodded big.

"Please take care of him."

"Of course, young lady."

"And just call me Dia."

"Oh, may I?"

"Yes, Teacher."

"I will. Dia."

The two met each other's eyes and smiled.

* * *

Holding Perido's hand on the way to the duke's study, Marin found Olive already waiting at the door.

"Lord Olive."

Olive's eyes lit up upon seeing Perido with Marin.

"Good morning, miss. And young master."

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

Perido mimicked Marin's words exactly, making Olive's eyes widen.

Perido giggled at his surprised face.

Olive perfectly hid his shock and handed Marin the report.

"Today's report for you to read."

"Yes."

Marin took it and glanced at the study door.

They should have heard the call to enter long ago, but it was silent.

"He's not in?"

"He is."

"...Come in."

The duke's voice came right then.

Olive lit the candle adeptly and paused as he opened the door.

He stood at the threshold without entering, so Marin peeked through the open gap and widened her eyes in shock.

The study was bright.