Chapter 80

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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Olive, who had been standing behind him, placed a black box on the desk.

Marin looked away from the report, her eyes full of curiosity as she stared at the black box.

The Duke lifted his head toward her.

"Open it."

"Me?"

"You saved a mine that was about to be abandoned. So go ahead and open it."

"Yes."

Marin carefully opened the black box.

Inside were two gems, each about the size of her thumb, round and polished.

One had an opaque black base mixed with rainbow hues, and the other a green base blended with rainbows.

She picked up the black gem and held it up to the window. As she tilted it, colors sparkled like stars in the night sky, shifting beautifully with every angle.

"Wow, it's pretty."

Ferido, who had seen the gem from behind, let out an exclamation.

"Yeah. It really is."

"I've never seen such a beautiful gem. Mixing all those colors together... The nobles are going to go crazy for this."

Olive murmured in quiet admiration.

"Marin. Name the gem."

"Me?"

Her eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected suggestion.

"It's a gem that's never been seen before. You were the first to take an interest in that ore. You name it."

"Opal. Let's call it opal."

Marin grinned.

The heroine in the novel had discovered it first and given it a different name, but she knew its true name.

"Opal. I like it. Olive."

"Yes."

"Start the mining. From now on, treat that site's security like it's a diamond mine."

"Yes."

Marin put the opal back in the box and set it on the desk. The Duke raised an eyebrow.

"Why put it here?"

"Because it's yours, Gerald."

"You discovered it, and you named it. How is it mine?"

"It's mine?"

Marin smiled like she'd struck gold and picked up the box again.

"You're wasting time on something obvious."

"Yes, yes."

"Answer once."

"Yes."

Olive, who had been watching their exchange from behind, turned his head to stifle a laugh—and locked eyes with Ferido.

Ferido's face was full of dissatisfaction, his lips pursed out like a duck's beak.

"Teacher Marin is your fiancée, Great-Uncle. Ruby-sis said engagements are for people who like each other. Why do you talk to her like that?"

Good job, Ferido.

Marin quickly took the bait.

"How do I talk to her?"

The child propped his tiny chin on his finger, pondered, then spoke slowly.

***

"Um, um... You talk mean to her."

"Pfft."

Marin tried to hold back her laugh but burst out.

Ferido hopped down from the long sofa and toddled over to the Duke.

"Ruby-sis said you have to talk pretty to people you like. Like, 'Oh, you're pretty.' 'Oh, you're kind.' Like that. You try it, Great-Uncle."

"...Do I have to?"

"'Oh, you're pretty.' 'Oh, you're kind.' Like that."

The child was brave and relentless.

"...Oh. You're. Pretty."

When Ferido showed no sign of backing down, the Duke awkwardly mimicked him.

Folks, robots exist in this era.

Marin bit her lower lip hard to suppress her laughter.

"Oh dear, say it more prettily."

The true tutor of this era pointed out the Duke's tone in a cute voice.

"Ferido, do you like cloud candy?"

Out of nowhere, the Duke pulled a basket hidden under the desk onto the top.

Marin stared at him in disbelief.

Wow, sneaky. Bribing an excellent tutor with candy.

"Cloud candy! I love it!"

Ferido threw both hands up in the air.

The Duke smiled faintly, as if he'd known it would work.

He opened the basket lid, took out a piece of white cloud candy, and offered it. Ferido's eyes sparkled as he took it.

"Wow! Great-Uncle can pick clouds too. I thought only Mom could do it. Dad and my sisters can't."

The adults' faces stiffened at the child's innocent words.

"I miss Mom. Hehe."

Ferido tore off a piece of cloud candy, popped it in his mouth, and forced a smile. Tears mingled with the child's laughter.

"Marin."

The Duke suddenly called her.

"Yes."

Marin gave a distracted reply, busy watching Ferido with concern.

"You're pretty. You're kind."

"Y-Yes?"

Marin's eyes went wide at the sudden compliment.

"Ferido, how was that?"

The Duke asked the child lost in sadness. Clutching the cloud candy preciously, the boy slowly shook his head.

"No. You need a prettier voice."

"You're pretty, Marin. You're kind, Marin. Better now?"

The Duke said it a bit faster.

"Oh dear. Slower this time."

The sadness faded bit by bit from the child's face as he focused on coaching the Duke.

Thank goodness. The Duke's sacrifice had distracted the boy.

Marin happily endured the prolonged praise attack from the two with a pleased smile.

* * *

The Duke and Ferido seemed to be getting along better and better.

Leaving the Duke in Ferido's care—no, entrusting the Duke to Tutor Ferido—Marin headed to the smithy with Olive.

Just like in the novel, Garnet was enthusiastic about learning swordsmanship. He was originally supposed to learn from the butler much later, but advancing it was a good call.

Since they'd started, she wanted to gift him a sword perfectly suited to him.

After passing through the Duke's Castle forest and walking quite a ways, a small wooden house came into view, with a large smithy beside it.

***

"Surenne, you in there?"

"Y-Yeah, come in."

Finally, meeting another side character from the novel.

She didn't have much connection to the heroine, but Marin had liked the female blacksmith character.

Opening the smithy door let in a rush of scorching heat. Even in the cold winter, this place felt like midsummer.

One side displayed swords and axes, and the table was piled with tools whose purposes she couldn't guess.

Toward the back door, something huge was covered with a white cloth.

They make something that big in a smithy?

"Olive Oil. How'd the south trip go?"

Surenne, in a sleeveless shirt showing off her solid arm muscles, greeted them warmly.

"It's Olive Lion, ma'am."

Olive corrected her with his usual polite smile.

"Right, right, Olive Oil. You look like it went well."

Ah, the type who doesn't listen.

Marin nodded inwardly and looked at Surenne.

Surenne's curious eyes met Marin's, making her startle and quickly bow in greeting.

"Hello."

"Hey. Hi. I'm Surenne."

Surenne raised one hand in a cheerful wave.

"Surenne. Please greet her properly. This is Lady Marin Schwenz, fiancée of His Grace the Duke."

Olive, standing in the middle, introduced her.

"Oh! Finally meeting you, Miss Marin."

"Nice to meet you."

"But what brings a lady to a dump like this?"

"I'd like a sword suitable for a woman to use."

"Oh. Lots of orders for those lately."

"Who else ordered one?"

When Olive asked curiously, she winked and grinned.

"Secret."

Marin, standing behind, caught sight of Olive's ears turning slightly red.

Oh my. Oh my. Why? Why are they red?

Marin hurriedly averted her gaze and observed Surenne.

Surenne, who had been scratching her itchy ear, shot Olive a sharp look.

"Who's badmouthing me? Olive Oil. You thought bad of me inside for not teaching you, right?"

"I didn't."

Olive let out a sigh-like breath.

Watching the scene, Marin shook her head with a pitying expression.

Tsk tsk. Tough life.