I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 168
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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 168
Roanna met his serious gaze and nodded slightly.
“Please take good care of my daughter from now on.”
“I will do even better.”
The Duke answered in a firm voice as if making a promise.
Roanna looked at him with pleased eyes and offered him a seat again.
“I’m planning to propose to Marine soon. If possible, I want to give her a gift she likes in a place she likes. So I’d like to ask for the Baroness’s advice.”
The Duke continued speaking stiffly like a carved wooden doll.
Watching the Duke seriously discuss his proposal plans, Roanna covered her mouth with her teacup as laughter threatened to spill out.
She could feel so much love for her daughter within the Duke’s blunt manner of speaking.
How fortunate her daughter was to meet someone who loved her.
“As His Grace knows, what Marine likes most are books. Other than that, I don’t really have any advice to give you. She didn’t like jewelry or dresses like ordinary young ladies, and since she was a child who loved reading books in my room most, I don’t really know what places she might like either.”
“I see.”
“I wanted to help you even a little…”
Roanna spoke with regret.
“Not at all. That was very helpful. Baroness, thank you.”
When a smile appeared on the Duke’s face that had been stiff with tension, the greenhouse brightened.
Roanna realized anew that her daughter, unlike herself, liked handsome men.
* * *
The Empress’s reception room.
Marquis Ligress examined his daughter’s complexion with his eyes.
“Your Imperial Majesty, how has your health been lately?”
At the Marquis’s worried voice, the Empress smiled brightly.
“I’m always the same. You’re well too, aren’t you, Marquis?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Marquis Ligress answered deliberately stronger as if he needed no worry at all.
His daughter, who had been weak since childhood, was becoming more frail day by day while in the Imperial Palace.
When the Emperor was the 4th Prince, he thought it was an excellent marriage in terms of character and appearance. But he had been acting very thoroughly to win the ministers’ favor.
If only he had known beforehand that the Emperor was so greedy and fond of women, he would have definitely opposed this marriage.
“You came because of His Majesty the Emperor, didn’t you?”
The Empress smiled faintly with a calm face.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
The Marquis closed his eyes tightly and bowed his head.
Due to the Emperor’s endless extravagance, the people were starving and the nobles were angry.
The diamond palace being built recently was pouring oil on the boiling public sentiment toward the Emperor.
The Marquis had come because he was worried about that matter.
“The atmosphere among the nobles is not ordinary. Please take care of yourself.”
The Empress’s tired blue eyes turned away from the Marquis toward the window.
The fresh leaves holding dew were lush and green.
Hot summer would come soon, but she didn’t know why it felt so cold.
* * *
Before going to the blacksmith shop, Marine headed to Roanna’s room.
When she knocked on the door, her mother’s gentle voice came from inside.
“Mom. Did you call for me?”
When she opened the door and entered, Roanna, who had been embroidering, greeted her with welcoming eyes.
“Marine.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit you often lately. I should spend more time with Mom.”
“No. It’s good if you’re busy.”
Marine hurried over to Roanna’s side and chattered affectionately.
“Actually, I’m planning to propose to Gerald. So I’ve been working hard making something lately.”
Roanna’s expression changed to one of interest upon hearing Marine’s recent news.
“Oh my. You and His Grace really are a well-matched couple.”
“Why?”
Marine tilted her head and asked, but Roanna only smiled quietly.
“I called you to return this book.”
Roanna handed Marine the book that was on the table.
[Where Do Demon Beasts Come From]
Marine widened her eyes and looked down at the book.
“I found it in the carriage and kept it safe. Elmis said you read that book often.”
“Yes, that’s right. Thank you for keeping it safe. I should read it again after so long.”
“Do that.”
“Mom, I have to go again…”
Marine hesitated, feeling guilty about not spending much time with Roanna.
“It’s okay. Go ahead.”
Roanna smiled kindly.
After hugging Roanna tightly and leaving the annex, Marine carefully stroked the book she had gotten back from her mother.
This book by an unknown author was very precious and grateful to her.
It had helped her get employed at the Duke’s castle and taught her many things about desert demon beasts, like a lifesaver.
Who on earth had written this book?
If only she knew who the author was, she wanted to find them and thank them.
Marine walked slowly while reading the book.
Thump.
“Oh.”
She was so absorbed in the book that she couldn’t see ahead and bumped into someone.
But this familiar solid body was?
When she glanced up, she saw Gerald’s expressionless face. It was an expression she hadn’t seen much of lately.
“Marine.”
“Gerald.”
“Do I need to teach you the basic thing of not reading books while walking?”
The prickly Duke had appeared after a long time. His tone was sharp, but his eyes were full of worry for her.
Since Marine knew it was her fault, she quietly accepted his scolding.
“I’m sorry.”
“What book could it be that you were reading so frantically?”
When she obediently apologized, Gerald asked in a somewhat deflated voice.
“It’s a very precious book to me.”
Marine showed off the book proudly.
“This book…”
Gerald raised one eyebrow and stared down at the book intently.
“Do you happen to know about this book?”
“Of course.”
“Really? Do you also know who the author of this book is?”
“Yes. But why do you have this book?”
“When I first came to the Duke’s Castle, this book was in the Servants’ Reception Room. I read it and got hired by Oliver. And it was thanks to this book that I was able to avoid the monsters in the desert.”
“I see. So that’s why you knew so much about desert monsters.”
Gerald nodded with a face that said the mystery was finally solved.
“Who is the author of this book?”
“The Western Duke.”
“Whaaaat?”
A strange voice popped out because she was so surprised.
The Western Duke? The person in front of her?
Reading her bewildered gaze, he chuckled and continued.
“The 20th Western Duke. Since it was a book made by a Duke, they deliberately didn’t write the author’s name. Only the Family Heads have read it for generations. I saw it once before and left it in the office. Oliver must have organized it without knowing.”
“What generation are you, Gerald?”
“23rd.”
“Ah.”
Marine looked down at the book in a dazed state.
So if it was a book written directly by the 20th Western Duke, wasn’t it like a family heirloom? Such an important book was about to be thrown away, but was discovered by her and returned to the Duke’s Castle?
The book’s author was surprising, but the tenacious(?) vitality of the book that returned like a boomerang was also amazing.
Marine stared at Gerald with sparkling eyes.
“The 20th Western Duke must have been incredibly intelligent.”
“So they say. Although the Vines Family focuses on military force, records show that he was more scholarly.”
“I see. Here.”
Marine held out the book to Gerald.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“It’s a book written by His Grace the Western Duke. Of course it should be returned to its original owner.”
“It was a book that no one except the Family Head could read and was buried away. That book met you and saw the light, so you are its owner.”
“Can I really keep it?”
Marine asked with a bright smile.
“Of course.”
Gerald nodded as if it were natural. As if nothing he gave her was too precious.
Every time she felt his love, a gentle spring breeze blew through her heart.
“I’ll treasure it well. Thanks to this book, I was able to get a job at the Duke’s Castle, so I actually wanted to keep it.”
“I see. I should be grateful to that fate that led you to me.”
“Fate…”
Marine blankly repeated his words as if she had been struck.
All this time, she had thought that if it weren’t for the original story, she wouldn’t have met him.
But even knowing the original story, if it weren’t for this book, she wouldn’t have been able to get a job at the Duke’s Castle.
In the end, this book had truly led her to him.
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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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