I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke [Novel] Chapter 90

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
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After having dinner with Roanna for the first time in a long while, Marin paused.

“Who is it?”

“You remember my old friend, Lady Jasmine?”

“She’s back in the Empire?”

She was Roanna’s closest friend, someone Marin had met a few times as a child. She was also the first person who came to mind when their family had fallen into ruin and they desperately needed help.

Unfortunately, she had been away from the Empire for several years, following her husband on diplomatic duties.

“Yes. She returned to the Empire and tried looking for us but couldn’t find us. Then, with your engagement making our family known again, she sent a letter this time.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Marin was genuinely happy that her mother had reconnected with an old tie severed during their time of hired betrothal.

“Lady Jasmine wants to invite us to her southern estate. Since you’ll be heading to the capital soon for Dia’s debutante ball, how about we time it around then?”

“That’s a great idea. The south is warmer than here, so it’d be perfect for some rest. Please enjoy your time with your friend.”

The warm south in winter was far better for Roanna than the cold west in many ways. Before her father passed, Roanna had often spent winters there with him.

Marin had been worried about leaving her mother alone here when she departed for the capital.

“Mom, let’s get you a dress fitted before I go!”

Marin decided to splurge on the money she’d received from the Duke for Roanna’s trip to see her friend.

* * *

She had a dress fitted for the capital trip, trained at dawn, read reports to the Duke, taught lessons to Rubiana and Perido, and at night read him fairy tales to help him sleep.

Fortunately, Perido had learned to sleep on his own without needing bedtime stories.

She saw Roanna off to the south and often had tea times with Dia.

She also dodged Surenne’s invitations to drink.

Then one late night, when Marin entered the study to put the Duke to sleep, she stared at him in surprise.

He had suddenly announced he was going hunting.

“Hunting? In this winter?”

“I need a gift.”

Marin’s eyes widened, and her lips moved soundlessly. A gift for whom that he’d go hunting in winter for it? Fur, maybe?

The Duke rose casually and buckled on his sword.

“I’ll be back in about a week. That should line up roughly with your departure for the capital.”

“You’re leaving right now, this very night?”

“To evade the spies. The knights are already waiting in the forest. Officially, I’m staying here, so have Olive visit daily with me.”

“Ah…….”

What should she say? Come back safe. Don’t get hurt. Catch lots of game?

“Do you have to go?”

Of all the farewell words that could have slipped out, that one stopped him.

Marin bit her lower lip, chiding herself.

“Yes. It’s a gift I absolutely must get.”

A chilling smile touched his lips.

Marin’s eyes widened again. He was giving a gift, yet his face looked so frightening?

“See you.”

“P-please come back safely.”

As his back receded, she whispered low like to herself, and he replied.

***

“Yeah.”

Marin’s eyes widened, then she beamed.

Time flew by, and the day to depart for the capital arrived. Fortunately, the Duke returned late the night before.

In front of the main house.

She had dismissed the servants due to the fuss, but Butler Sebas and Page Head Maid insisted on staying till the end.

“If you feel even a little unwell, you must see the attending physician.”

The butler repeated his words, as if seeing off a granddaughter on a long journey.

“Yes, I know.”

Page Head Maid nodded in agreement beside him.

“And just a moment over here.”

The butler glanced around cautiously before beckoning her aside. As Marin approached, he held out a rolled black leather bundle.

Marin carefully unrolled it.

Inside was a silver dagger slightly longer than her palm.

Marin’s eyes widened as she looked at him.

“Why this?”

“I meant to give it after teaching you dagger techniques, but it’s come to this. His Grace will always protect you, but just in case. I hope you never need it.”

Worry trembled in the butler’s wrinkled eyes.

So Surenne’s secret client had been her teacher.

The dagger was incredibly light. Made that way because she couldn’t handle heavy swords.

“Thank you, Teacher.”

Marin gratefully accepted his kindness.

“If it seems you can’t win, throw it.”

The butler’s voice brimmed with lingering concern.

“Yes.”

Returning to her spot, Marin looked at the butler and head maid.

“Butler, Head Maid. Please take good care of the remaining children.”

“Don’t worry.”

“We will.”

They answered with fierce determination.

Marin smiled back and gripped the sleeping pills she’d gotten from the physician in advance. She planned to take them the moment she boarded the carriage.

Here under the Duke’s influence, she could travel more freely, but from the capital onward, all eyes would be on them.

She’d have to ride in a carriage to the palace for Dia’s debutante ball too.

She intended to practice riding in carriages with the sleeping pills to get used to it.

Yuria, who had been quietly beside her, took the rolled leather from Marin’s hand.

“I’ll pack it in the luggage.”

“Thanks.”

But Yuria’s face stiffened slightly as she packed.

“Yuria, you okay?”

“It’s her first time leaving the west, so she must be nervous. At least Ubis is coming along.”

Several knights had been assigned to escort them to the capital, including Ubis.

Ubis was also tense about visiting the capital for the first time.

“I’ve never been to the capital either, so I feel the same.”

Marin spoke up to ease Yuria’s tension.

“You too, miss?”

“Yeah.”

A faint smile touched Marin’s lips at that moment.

“Teacher Marin.”

Turning at the voice from behind, she saw Dia, Gannet, Rubiana, and Perido all standing there. The children approached and spoke one by one.

“Teacher Marin, have a safe trip. Take good care of our big sister.”

***

Rubiana, her eyes reddened, greeted her in a gloomy voice.

She had cried even when Roanna left for the south. Such an affectionate child.

Gannet followed stoutly.

“Senior, take good care of our big sister!”

“Teacher, please get along well with our big sister!”

Perido placed a hand on his navel and bowed politely.

Marin met the eyes of Rubiana, Gannet, and Perido one by one, then hugged all three tightly. She had grown so fond of them over time.

“Stay healthy!”

“Don’t worry.”

“Waaah, I wanna go too.”

“Ruby sis, I’m not crying, so don’t cry.”

Perido maturely scolded Rubiana while clutching Marin’s skirt hem tightly.

Finding the children so adorable, Marin hugged them tighter, but Dia spoke up with a look that said she couldn’t hold back.

“Teacher, you need to leave soon.”

“Dia, should we take our kids? How can I leave them behind?”

Having grown close to Dia, Marin now spoke casually with her too.

“Teacher.”

Dia called Marin, holding back a laugh.

“Teacher won’t let us go.”

Perido said as he gently released her skirt.

“Yeah, you’re right. I can’t let you go.”

“You’re frustrating—let go already?”

Gannet reverted to his prickly cat mode.

In the end, Marin released the children with reluctant hands.

“Teacher let go pretty quickly, though. Right? She wouldn’t let go of sis till she said she was hungry this morning.”

“Yeah.”

Hearing Rubiana and Perido’s exchange, Marin glanced at Dia, who looked embarrassed and stared off at distant mountains.

But only for a moment—Dia then gazed at Marin with worried eyes.

“Teacher. Will you be okay in the carriage?”

“Thanks for worrying. I plan to sleep right away.”

Dia nodded slightly, as if catching on.

“While you sleep, I can embroider beside you.”

Dia smiled faintly, lifting her rattan embroidery bag.

That was when it happened.

Hiiiing.

With a long neigh, a black four-horse carriage bearing the large House Vines crest approached and stopped in front.