I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke Episode 12

I heard she was a fallen noble lady, but a sick mother. Did she look for work because of these circumstances, even lying about being a commoner?

Oliver fell into contemplation.

He could advance her money anytime. However, he couldn’t make decisions about her himself.

Strictly speaking, her superior wasn’t him but Duke. Of course, she and the general servants didn’t know this.

The few special positions that Duke directly hired were all under Duke’s management. So everything about her had to be reported to Duke first.

“I think I need to speak with Duke first.”

“With Duke?”

He could see her light green eyes widen in surprise.

“Yes. All decisions about Miss Marine’s treatment are made by Duke.”

“Yes…”

She answered quietly with a dejected expression.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Marine followed Oliver as they walked toward what felt like the Demon Lord’s den.

Since it was night, candles were lit one by one along the dark corridor walls. It was brighter than during the day, but the shadows flickering from the candles felt more desolate and frightening.

Soon Oliver arrived in front of Duke’s office and stood quietly. Come to think of it, he had never knocked on the door.

No matter how sensitive Duke was to sound, could he hear sounds from beyond the door?

“What is it?”

…He could hear it.

“Miss Marine says she has something to tell you.”

“Come in.”

“Miss Marine.”

Oliver lit a candle on the candlestick and held it out.

Marine looked at Oliver with wide eyes.

“Aren’t you coming in with me?”

“He only called for Miss Marine.”

“Did the words ‘come in’ have that kind of meaning that only I was called?”

Oliver smiled instead of answering and handed her the candlestick as if to encourage her.

Marine steadied her trembling hands, then opened the office door and went in. And she apologized first.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I’m really sorry for visiting you so late at night.”

“So what’s the matter?”

Duke urged her as if telling her to get to the point quickly.

“I’d like to get an advance on my salary.”

“…”

There was no response from Duke.

“I’d like to receive some money in advance…”

Marine explained in simpler terms with an awkward expression.

“Why?”

“The landlord said if I don’t pay rent by tomorrow, he’ll kick me out of the house.”

Marine closed her eyes tightly and confessed honestly. Being kicked out was more frightening than confessing her poverty.

“If I advance you money, what will Temporary do for me?”

“Pardon?”

At the unexpected question, Marine’s eyes flew open as she asked back.

“Tell me the reason why I should advance you money.”

Marine racked her brain to find that reason.

What should I say?

Tears quickly welled up in her light green eyes.

What should I do. I can’t think of anything. If I get kicked out, where will I take Mother?

Her gaze wandered here and there before landing on the wine glass on the desk.

Suddenly she remembered what Oliver had said.

That Duke didn’t sleep well.

“I’ll put you to sleep.”

“…What?”

Duke’s husky voice cracked as if surprised.

“I read reports well, but I also read books well. When I read books, Mother sleeps well. I’ll put you to sleep too, Your Grace.”

Marine spoke ramblingly as thoughts came to her mind. Her tears had already dried up completely.

“How did you know I can’t sleep?”

Is it okay to say I heard it from Oliver? Or not?

As she hesitated and pondered, he spoke instead.

“Oliver?”

“Yes. But Oliver didn’t mean anything bad when he told me…”

“Good.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s sleep.”

His languid voice brushed past her ear.

Marine’s face turned bright red in an instant. It was the right thing to say, but when he said it so briefly, it felt strange.

“How long does it take from the castle to your house?”

“About an hour.”

“You’ll need to move.”

“Pardon?”

At the unexpected suggestion, her voice rose slightly. Surprised by her own loud voice, Marine quickly covered her lips with her hand.

“Oliver.”

Duke called out in a low voice.

Oliver, who had been outside the door, understood perfectly and slipped into the office.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Move Temporary’s house to the annex tomorrow morning.”

“Yes.”

Marine slightly raised her hand and carefully interjected.

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt while you two are talking. I live with my mother.”

“Move together.”

“Yes, understood.”

This somewhat familiar sense of déjà vu of being excluded from something that was her own business.

Ah, it was like this with the wrist incident too.

“Miss Marine, shall we go out?”

“Yes. Your Grace, thank you.”

Marine politely greeted Duke and left the office.

As she walked down the corridor following Oliver, he spoke first.

“Shall we go to the administrative office?”

“Yes.”

They returned to the administrative office where she had been working just a few hours ago.

As Marine sat on the sofa in a daze, Oliver took out 1 gold from the safe and held it out to her.

“Here it is. But if you’re moving houses, you don’t need the advance, do you?”

“I need to pay the last month’s rent.”

It was a large sum of money she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Marine received the 1 gold with trembling hands. With this money, she could buy her mother’s favorite food and medicine to her heart’s content.

Marine carefully held the 1 gold in her hand, then held it out to Oliver again.

“Um, could you possibly exchange this for silver?”

“Of course.”

Oliver held out a pouch containing 100 silver.

Marine hugged the money pouch tightly to her chest, moved her lips hesitantly, then spoke with difficulty.

“Thank you. And…”

“Please speak.”

Oliver asked with his usual gentle smile.

“Do I really have to come live here?”

“Didn’t you make that deal with His Grace?”

“To be precise, I said I would help His Grace sleep.”

“Yes, that’s right. And His Grace sleeps very late. How will you return home every night?”

The path home was certainly dark and dangerous. Doing that every night would definitely be too much.

“I’ll arrange a carriage for you tonight.”

“No! I don’t want a carriage. I’ll walk.”

Marine refused immediately with a pale face. Her fingertips trembled violently. Her vision became blurry and dim.

She hadn’t ridden in a carriage since the accident. Their declining finances meant they couldn’t afford one anyway, but just thinking about it made her break out in cold sweat like now.

Oliver was carefully observing her reaction, but she was too panicked to notice.

Marine clenched both hands tightly, trying to regain her composure.

“Then, since it’s dangerous to send you alone at this hour, I’ll go with you.”

“What? No, I can’t trouble you like that.”

Surprised by his words, she came to her senses and waved both hands in refusal.

Oliver stood up and asked naturally.

“You can ride a horse, of course?”

“Yes, I can.”

Her light green eyes trembled. The answer came out first, followed by the thought.

Do commoners these days naturally know how to ride horses?

“I’ll assume you can ride.”

Oliver declared definitively with his eyes curved like crescents.

Marine had no choice but to nod.

Things proceeded quickly after that.

Following Oliver to the stable, they borrowed two horses. Riding the horses home, they arrived in no time.

After arriving in front of the house, she dismounted with Oliver’s help.

“Is this the place?”

Surprise was evident in Oliver’s voice.

“Yes.”

Marine looked at the shabby cabin with fresh eyes. Still, it was a grateful space that had served as shelter for her and her mother for several years.

“Then I’ll be going now. I’ll send a carriage tomorrow morning.”

“The carriage is fine…”

Marine tried to refuse with a pale face, but Oliver gently stopped her words.

“You said your mother is here, right? Wouldn’t a carriage be more comfortable for your mother? You can leave the horse you rode today here and ride that horse back.”

Oh no. In her fear of carriages, she hadn’t thought about how to bring her mother along.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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