Chapter 85

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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“Lady Borandi, are you all right? I was convinced those ridiculous rumors about Lady Air couldn’t be true. To pin it all on you with lies!”

The young ladies clustered around Lady Borandi shot Susan venomous glares.

“But what is that thing? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

“I know what it is. It’s a patented item from the Northern Duke’s house. My father saw one at the imperial palace and described it in detail. Apparently, if you stand in front of a special stone, it projects an exact replica of you into the air.”

Susan wrapped her trembling arms around herself, desperately trying to pull herself together. She had no idea where that thing had come from, but she had to turn this situation around somehow.

Feigning composure, Susan stiffly lifted her chin.

“I was invited to the Duke’s castle by His Grace himself that day.”

She wove truth and lies together seamlessly. Her father had gone to the castle on business, and she had begged and wheedled her way into tagging along.

“That’s not the issue here! Why did you try to frame me with lies?”

Lady Borandi demanded, her face a picture of incredulity.

“Lady Borandi, someone deliberately set this up to humiliate me. Who do you think it could be?”

Susan turned the tables, playing the victim.

A few of the young ladies glanced back at Marin.

Marin watched the scene unfold with an expressionless face.

Susan’s eyes flashed as she planted herself in front of Marin.

“To drag out something fabricated and humiliate me like this, Lady Schwenz.”

“I only showed exactly what happened that day because you demanded evidence, Lady.”

Marin shrugged and replied.

Look at that calm face of hers. Because of a woman like this, her own reputation was being dragged through the mud.

Susan’s rage boiled over until her eyes burned red. A vein throbbed in her temple.

No matter how much she protested here, she couldn’t silence the people who had seen it with their own eyes.

She could no longer be the flower of Western high society.

Because of this woman.

At last, Susan cast aside her gentle facade.

“Do you think a pathetic wretch like you is worthy of His Grace?!”

“Oh? But Gerald does like women like me. Not young ladies.”

Hearing her own words thrown back at her, Susan’s fury surged to the top of her head.

Susan swung her hand to slap Marin across the cheek.

Marin had already braced herself for the attack, tensing her core and leaning her head back just a fraction.

Susan had put so much force into the swing that she staggered, crashing into the champagne table. Champagne poured down onto Susan’s white dress.

“Kyaaah!”

The young ladies nearby screamed and backed away.

In a panic, Susan stumbled backward, stepping on the hem of her sopping dress and tumbling to the floor.

Sprawled on the champagne-soaked ground, Susan cut a truly pathetic figure.

It was the perfect fall from grace for the flower of Western high society.

* * *

Marin collapsed onto her bed, her face weary. She felt utterly drained, as if she’d come back from a battlefield instead of a mere social gathering.

Knock knock.

At the sound, Marin peeked her head up.

“Yes?”

“It’s Yuria.”

“Come in.”

***

Yuria gazed pityingly at Marin, who had practically merged with the bed.

“Was it rough?”

“The young ladies’ gathering. We just don’t mesh. Not at all.”

“I’ll prepare some bath water for you.”

“Thanks.”

“And the blacksmith sent word. They want you to stop by.”

“Oh?”

Marin bolted upright, her face lighting up with anticipation.

Was the sword already done?

Marin glanced down at her sky-blue dress. It was a bit rumpled from lying down, but not too bad.

“Yuria, I’ll head to the blacksmith and bathe when I get back.”

“Yes. I’ll get everything ready.”

“Mm. Be right back.”

Marin set off for the blacksmith with eager steps.

* * *

She arrived at the blacksmith and knocked on the door, but the clang of hammers inside drowned it out.

Marin pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Surenne.”

“Oh! Miss Marin. Come on in.”

Surenne, still dressed in her short-sleeved work clothes, raised her hammer-wielding hand high in greeting.

Wow, look at those muscles. So cool, sis.

Marin’s eyes sparkled as she approached Surenne.

“Is the sword done already?”

“Yeah. I prioritized yours over the other orders.”

Grinning, Surenne set a long object wrapped in thin leather down on the table.

She unwrapped the leather to reveal a peach-hued scabbard. Fine gold dust had been sprinkled in a wave pattern down the center, making it shimmer like a work of art all on its own.

Surenne slowly drew the sword from the scabbard. The slender blade gleamed so brightly it reflected faces, and a beautiful green opal was embedded in the hilt.

“Wow! It’s gorgeous!”

“You said you’re heading off on a long trip soon, so I rushed it.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“Now that the sword’s done, how about a drink?”

Marin’s mind flashed back to the champagne spilling everywhere at the party.

“Champagne?”

“Nah, that’s just fizzy water.”

“Then...?”

Grinning wickedly like a villain, Surenne pulled a white bottle from under the table and thumped it down.

Marin stared at the white bottle with wide, curious eyes.

“This is the real stuff. Heh heh heh.”

Surenne popped the lid with a crack, and the sharp scent of strong liquor filled the air.

Is it like vodka?

The only alcohol Marin had ever tried was champagne and wine.

She’d always enjoyed it enough to think she held her liquor pretty well.

Was this her chance to test her limits?

Surenne gave her a challenging chin jerk, and Marin mirrored it with a villainous grin of her own.

* * *

Pale moonlight filtered in through the open curtains.

***

Gerald sat in the quiet study, waiting for Marin to come tuck him in.

But after a long wait, her light footsteps never came.

“Kay.”

Kay appeared silently before him.

“Find Marin.”

Kay bowed his head in acknowledgment and vanished swiftly.

Once Kay was gone, the study fell into perfect silence. The familiar quiet felt strangely off.

Mornings were noisy with visits from Marin, Olive, and Perido. Evenings, Marin would come again to read to him.

From morning to night, his time was filled with her.

Lost in thought for a moment, Gerald heard Kay return.

“She’s at Surenne’s blacksmith.”

Gerald’s brow furrowed slightly.

He respected Surenne’s skill, but her rough manners could be off-putting at times.

“Is Surenne keeping Marin there this late?”

“...It doesn’t seem like she’s being kept.”

Kay, who always reported precisely and promptly, hesitated.

“Details.”

“She’s drinking with Surenne.”

“Hah. Guess I’ll have to go myself.”

Gerald rose from his seat, and Kay melted into the shadows.

Gerald headed straight for the blacksmith.

The forge was still some distance away, but he could already hear Surenne and Marin chatting.

“Suurenneee. So I went like this! And then I said it just like this! And that young lady went flop! Like that! Isn’t it hilarious?”

“Kyahahaha. Miss Marin, know how many times you’ve told that story?”

“Hmm? How many times did I say it?”

“A hundred! Kyahaha.”

Surenne slapped the table, roaring with laughter.

“For real? That’s it? Gotta tell it more. Hehehe.”

Both of them were drunk.

Gerald quickened his pace toward the forge.

The blacksmith glowed warmly, as if still lit up inside.

He pushed open the door, and a wave of scorching heat and nose-stinging alcohol hit him at once.

“Hey! Your Grace! What brings you here?”

Surenne welcomed him.

“Who’s that? The Duuuuke?”

There was a clatter and a thud, followed by Marin’s voice.