Chapter 87

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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“Marin?”

“Yuria, how did I get here last night? Please, don’t tell me His Grace the Duke brought me.”

“His Grace the Duke brought you here, miss. I’m sorry.”

The kindhearted Yuria spoke honestly, her face full of uncertainty.

“No. Why are you sorry? It’s just that I stuck my nose in the hangover soup…”

“Hey now, daughter.”

“Mom, what am I going to do? Last night, I…”

“Daughter, you can’t just cut off there and leave me hanging?”

Roanna teased her playfully, but Marin buried her nose in the pillow again, her face drained of all hope for life.

“I need some time alone to reflect.”

“Alright. Get some rest.”

“Please rest, miss.”

Roanna’s voice was full of mirth.

Once the two had left, Marin recalled what she had done the night before.

“You damn finger, groping around where it doesn’t belong! Huh? You really going to act up without your master’s permission?!”

Marin chomped down hard on the finger that had poked and rubbed the duke’s chest.

This unruly little guy needed a good scolding.

“You too! How dare you touch his head? Huh?”

She slapped the palm that had tapped the duke’s head.

“If you’re going to get that drunk, you should at least lose your memory! Why do I remember everything!!!?”

Marin clutched the pillow and screamed as she kicked wildly at the blankets.

The enormity of what she had done last night made even her upset stomach feel painless.

The one tiny silver lining was that she hadn’t uttered the heroine’s name.

“How am I supposed to face the duke now? I just want to vanish like dust. Please.”

Round teardrops welled up in Marin’s eyes and trickled down.

* * *

In the training grounds, Garnet swung her wooden sword, sweat dripping from her brow.

She inwardly cheered at the news that Marin wouldn’t be coming out due to her hangover.

She had started late, but she didn’t want to lose to Marin. She wanted to catch up to her as quickly as possible by training even harder.

“Tch. She’s going to hurt her wrist like that.”

Yubis strolled over with a sullen expression.

“What?”

Garnet stopped swinging her sword and looked at Yubis.

He was the same age as her, but his large build made him seem far more mature. That irked her.

The way he always frowned at her didn’t help.

“Didn’t hear me? Then worry about your wrist hurting.”

“Hey!”

Garnet stomped up to him, bristling.

She was tall for a girl, but he had a whole head on her. That made her even moodier.

“Why?”

Yubis asked, making no effort to hide his annoyance.

“Why do you hate me?”

***

Garnet fixed Yubis with a sharp glare.

“Want me to be honest? Or say what you want to hear, miss?”

Yubis slung his scabbard over his back and gripped it with both hands, still speaking in that irritated tone.

Garnet was dumbfounded.

What kind of guy was this?

“Do both.”

“Don’t feel like it.”

Garnet glared daggers at him.

“Be honest.”

“A well-raised young lady swinging a sword as a hobby rubs me the wrong way. And you snapping at our Marin miss? That doesn’t sit well either.”

“You…”

Garnet was at a loss for words at his blunt answer and just stood there blankly.

“What? You asked for honesty.”

Yubis grinned like a mischievous kid.

“Tch.”

Garnet couldn’t retort since she had brought it on herself, so she whipped her head away.

“Why learn the sword anyway?”

“Hmph. Why should I tell you?”

Garnet snorted.

“See? That’s why I don’t like you. I’m out.”

As Yubis turned to leave, Garnet watched his back with a panicked expression. Without Butler Sebas around, she had to learn from him.

“Hey. Finish what you were saying earlier.”

“Watch your wrist!”

Yubis shook his wrist dismissively behind his back.

Oh no, he can’t really leave.

“…To protect! I’m learning to protect!”

Yubis stopped dead in his tracks.

“Because I couldn’t protect our parents, I want to protect what’s left—my siblings. That’s why I’m learning to protect.”

Yubis turned around, his eyes widening in surprise as he stared at her.

Garnet bowed her head deeply to hide her flushed face. Thankfully, her thick blonde hair covered it.

It was only the second time she had said this to anyone after her master, so it embarrassed her.

If Yubis mocked her dream, she wouldn’t be able to meet his eyes.

“Same here.”

“…What?”

Garnet cautiously lifted her head and stared at Yubis.

“I started with the sword to protect my big sis too.”

Yubis tapped the sword he held.

“You two get along?”

“Of course. We’re orphans—just me and sis.”

“…Me too. Now it’s just us left.”

“Huh? His Grace the Duke’s there, isn’t he?”

Yubis squinted as if she’d said something absurd.

Garnet shot back coldly, her face angry.

“That man’s not family. You don’t know anything.”

“You said you want to protect.”

Yubis’s red eyes bored into Garnet’s green ones.

“Yeah.”

“Who’s His Grace the Duke? House Vines. And House Vines…”

“…Protects.”

Garnet continued blankly, as if in a daze, without realizing it.

***

Only then did Yubis chuckle softly.

“You get it. Who do you think protects this western region from monsters? No, not just the west—this whole empire. His Grace the Duke knows protection better than anyone.”

“…”

Garnet’s green eyes trembled nonstop.

* * *

Garnet sought out Dia’s room with a dark, thoughtful expression.

“Sis.”

Dia was doing embroidery by the sunlit window.

Her beautiful sister. Kind and mature. The one she’d wanted to emulate her whole life but could never match.

“Yes, Garnet.”

Dia looked up with a bright smile and welcomed her.

“Where’s Perido?”

“With Ruby. What’s wrong?”

“Sis, I…”

Garnet bit her lip. Guilt twisted in her gut. Was it okay for her to say this?

“Garnet, what’s going on?”

Dia set aside her embroidery and looked at her with worried eyes.

“I want to become a knight.”

Dia’s deep green eyes widened.

After a long silence, Dia tapped the chair opposite her.

Garnet hesitated, then sat down in front of her.

“I want to become the family head.”

Garnet’s eyes also widened in shock at Dia’s words. She’d had no idea Dia thought that way.

Huh? Then what about Perido?

She’d assumed the youngest would be the next count.

Garnet’s lips twitched as she fumbled for words, her face confused.

Dia burst out laughing.

“What? You’re joking?”

“No, I’m serious. But your face made me laugh.”

“Sis, then Perido…”

As Garnet’s voice filled with worry, Dia gently took her hand.

“Before our parents died, I never once thought about becoming family head. But now it’s just us left. As the eldest, I felt I had to protect my siblings. But women can’t become family head. That’s the empire’s law.”

Garnet silently met Dia’s kind eyes.

Their dreams were different, but the reason behind them was the same, so she could fully understand her sister.

“I feel the same as you, sis. I want to protect our family.”

Garnet confessed her true feelings honestly.

“Yeah. I figured.”

Dia spoke warmly, stroking Garnet’s hand softly before continuing.

“The empire’s law prevents me from becoming family head, but you’re different. Female knights don’t exist in the empire yet, but there’s no imperial law saying they can’t.”