I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 197
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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 197
“May I ask what you intend to do with the Western Duke’s Fiancée?”
A sinister smile formed on the Emperor’s lips.
“It depends on the Western Duke’s attitude. Whether he’ll try to protect his fiancée or abandon her.”
“It’s Vines, isn’t it? He’ll try to protect her.”
Undisguised dissatisfaction seeped into his voice.
“Well, let’s wait and see. I’m quite curious myself. But Duke, are you also interested in that fiancée?”
The Emperor’s cunning eyes gleamed toward the Southern Duke.
“Of course not.”
Smith hid his true feelings and laughed as if it weren’t the case.
All he had gained from offering a box full of diamonds was confirmation of what he already knew – ‘the Emperor wants that woman.’
Though not yet widely known, demon beasts had begun appearing one by one in the Southern Region as well.
Their numbers were still small, so they weren’t difficult to handle, but soon they might multiply like in other regions.
That’s why the moment he heard about the Western Duke’s Fiancée, he wanted to get his hands on that woman.
If she truly could communicate with demon beasts, it would be of great help. And it could also deal a significant blow to the Western Duke who would lose his fiancée.
This would truly be killing two birds with one stone.
However, since the Emperor was openly coveting that woman, he had to wait and see for now.
* * *
Finally, after completing a month-long journey, they arrived at the ducal manor in the Capital.
As before, Butler Canolam was waiting outside with the servants.
Gerald, who got out of the carriage first, took Marine’s hand to help her down.
“You must have had a difficult journey. Your Grace, Lady Marine.”
Marine smiled brightly at Butler Canolam’s greeting.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Butler Canolam also smiled gently.
“Since you must be tired from the long journey, we’ve prepared everything so you can rest immediately.”
“Thank you.”
The servants each approached the carriages and hurriedly unloaded the luggage.
Roanna got out with Yulia’s support.
“Mom, you worked hard.”
“Hard work? Traveling by carriage with you felt like a dream.”
Marine smiled at Roanna’s affectionate words.
Thanks to the diamond carriage, she had overcome her trauma and could even take carriage trips with her mother.
It was all thanks to Gerald.
Oliver approached and spoke to Roanna.
“I’ll guide you to your room.”
“Please do.”
Roanna followed Oliver into the manor.
“Lady Marine, you can use the same room as last time.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
Marine naturally went up to the fourth floor room she had used before.
Just as she was about to enter her room, her eyes met Gerald’s as he was entering the room next door.
She had forgotten due to fatigue, but only then did she remember that the two rooms were connected.
As her face instantly turned red, Gerald leaned against the door and looked down at her with a meaningful gaze.
“Marine, what are you thinking about again?”
“What? What do you mean what am I thinking about?”
Marine turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
“Shall I try to guess what you’re thinking right now?”
He, who had been standing askew, came closer in just one step.
“…”
Marine looked up at him with wide, surprised eyes.
His heated gaze slowly swept over her round forehead, cute nose, and pink lips.
“You’re probably thinking about my clothes right now…”
“Gerald!”
Marine quickly covered his mouth like lightning and looked around. Fortunately, there was no one nearby.
My clothes? That she was trying to undress him!
She had absolutely never had such thoughts, not even a tiny bit.
How embarrassing, really.
She had only thought that since the rooms were connected, Gerald might come over. Truly.
His eyes, with his mouth covered by her hand, curved gently.
“When did I ever say I’d undress you!”
Marine whispered so only Gerald could hear while continuing to look around.
Gerald caught her hand and lowered it, then tilted his head and spoke slowly near her ear.
“I was about to say that you probably want to dust off my clothes right now, but you were thinking of undressing me?”
In an instant, Marine’s light green eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.
“…”
“How were you planning to undress me?”
Gerald asked subtly while gazing hotly at her reddened face.
“I wasn’t. I never thought such things.”
“You just said you were going to undress me, didn’t you? In your head.”
Marine hurriedly covered her head and backed away.
“Your Grace, this is troubling.”
“What is? And why are you suddenly calling me Your Grace?”
When Marine returned to her formal speech from when she was his aide, dissatisfaction appeared in Gerald’s eyes.
“Somehow it feels like we should maintain some distance right now…”
Marine mumbled while avoiding his gaze.
“Marine, don’t you know about five steps?”
When he took one large step forward, the distance between them that had grown apart instantly became close again.
Marine, who had been looking down at his feet, covered her mouth pretending to yawn.
“Ah. Why am I so tired? I’ll rest now. Your Grace should rest too.”
Marine, who had put on an awkward act, quickly opened her room door.
Gerald chuckled as he watched Marine’s figure disappear like an arrow.
She really was so cute.
He glanced down briefly and opened his own room door. Stimulated by her words, he also needed to rest.
* * *
The ducal manor office.
Gerald, who had been looking at documents, raised his head and gestured to Oliver to open the door.
Oliver followed the familiar command.
When he opened the door, he came face to face with Butler Canolam’s surprised expression, who had been about to knock.
“Your Grace, the Duchess of the East and her grandson have arrived.”
Butler Canolam quickly erased his surprised expression, lowered his hand, and stepped back.
“Welcome.”
Oliver politely greeted the Eastern Duchess and guided her inside.
Eastern Duchess Edena took her grandson’s hand and entered the office.
Gerald rose from his seat and gave her a slight bow.
“You’ve arrived?”
“It’s been a while, Duke Vines. This is my grandson Nezart. As I mentioned in my letter, my grandson wanted to meet the Duke, so we came to visit.”
“Hello.”
A young boy who appeared to be around Peridot’s age bowed his head with a nervous expression.
The child with dark brown hair and blue eyes greeted them, then quickly hid behind the Duchess’s dress.
“I see. You wanted to meet me?”
When the child looked up at Edena, she met his eyes and smiled kindly as if encouraging him.
The child gathered courage, stepped away from Edena, and looked up at Gerald.
“I don’t know noble speech very well yet.”
“That’s fine.”
“I have three things I want to say to His Grace the Duke, things I want to ask, and things I want to request. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
Even with his answer, the child still hesitated.
Then Gerald knelt on one knee to meet the child’s eye level. It was a posture he had become accustomed to while spending time with Peridot.
At this sight, Edena’s eyes widened in surprise.
Nezart also opened his eyes wide and looked at the Duke who had lowered to his eye level.
He had only heard that he was a scary person. But here was another adult who had adjusted to his eye level for his sake.
The nanny.
After his parents died, he wandered the streets before ending up at an orphanage. After his parents’ incident, he avoided people, so at the orphanage he became a target for the other children’s bullying.
That’s when the nanny appeared, met his eyes like this, and saved him.
He thought he would live happily with the nanny forever.
“Nezart, from now on you’ll be going to the Eastern Ducal House.”
“What’s the Eastern Ducal House?”
“It’s a very powerful household.”
The nanny stroked his head and smiled broadly.
Nezart liked the nanny’s smile and smiled along.
The nanny was the only person he could trust after losing his parents. When the nanny smiled, he was happy, and when the nanny was sad, he was sad too.
“Would it be good if I went to a powerful household?”
“Of course, it would be good. It means our Nezart will become very strong.”
“Then I’ll become strong! When I grow up, I’ll protect the nanny too. Promise!”
“Yes, promise. Our Nezart. You’re so admirable!”
Nezart was happy being held in the nanny’s warm embrace.
But if he had known that it meant being separated from the nanny forever, he wouldn’t have said he would become strong…
“Your Grace the Duke. What I want to say is thank you for taking care of me.”
Nezart greeted him with sincere gratitude.
The Duke nodded slightly with a stoic expression.
“And…”
The child glanced at Edena, then stepped closer to the Duke and whispered in his ear.
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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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