I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 214
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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 214
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Marine looked down pitifully at the rabbit sleeping in the stable.
Whatever hardships it had endured while being dragged to the capital, the rabbit had been sleeping all day since arriving at the Duke’s estate.
Though she was diligently wiping away the bloodstains on the rabbit’s fur with a wet towel, the bloodstains already carved into her heart would not be easily erased.
“Rabbit, sister is sorry…”
No matter how much she apologized, it never felt like enough, and her heart ached.
That’s when it happened.
“Marine.”
“Gerald.”
Marine, whose eyes were swollen from crying, looked up at Gerald.
“You haven’t eaten anything all day?”
“I don’t have an appetite.”
Marine shook her head with a faint smile.
Unable to force her to eat, Gerald set down the plate containing sandwiches and sat beside her.
“Why won’t it wake up?”
Marine looked at the rabbit with a face full of worry. Gerald’s gaze followed hers.
“I don’t understand why the rabbit keeps having such difficult things happen to it. Maybe it’s because it’s with me…”
Marine’s voice trailed off with a choked expression.
Gerald gently patted her back.
“The rabbit wouldn’t think that way.”
“Do you think so?”
“If it could just stay by your side, it could endure any pain. If the rabbit feels the same way I do.”
Marine bit her pink lips slightly and shook her head with a sad expression.
“Even so, how can I keep watching the people I love suffer? In that case, I’d rather—”
Gerald carefully covered her mouth with his large hand.
Marine’s eyes widened in surprise. She had always been the one to cover his mouth, but this time her mouth was covered.
“Don’t say the same things just because you’re close with Dia. The men who have to hear those words feel their hearts breaking.”
When Marine looked at him with puzzled eyes, Gerald told her that Dia had decided to break up with the Crown Prince.
Marine quietly looked at Gerald’s face. His high nose bridge and chiseled jawline were sharper than usual. While she had been grieving over the rabbit, he too had suffered emotionally, and his face showed the strain.
She didn’t mind being pointed at and called a witch. She wouldn’t be hurt by something that wasn’t true.
But if her beloved family was hurt and suffered because of her—could she continue to watch that?
Marine gently removed the hand covering her mouth and carefully stroked his large hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong.”
He interlaced their fingers and held her hand tightly.
Marine nodded vigorously and summoned what little strength she had left.
Right, let’s stop being sad anymore. I need to show a strong side in front of someone who cares for me this much.
“That’s right! It’s all the Emperor’s fault. What a terrible person! Just go to ruin!”
Marine cursed the Emperor while glaring in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
Gerald relaxed his lips as he watched her trying to cheer up. She always told him to watch his words, but this time she seemed truly angry.
“How about reading a book to the rabbit?”
Gerald advised her, knowing that caring for Bunny Bunny would help her gain a little more strength.
“Ah! That’s right. I was so distracted I didn’t think of that. I should read a book so it doesn’t hurt and has good dreams.”
Marine’s face brightened as she jumped up from her seat. She seemed to feel better thinking she could help Bunny Bunny even a little.
Marine stopped as she was about to leave and turned back to Gerald.
“Thank you, Gerald.”
Gerald smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
After Marine left the stable, only Bunny Bunny and Gerald remained.
“…You did well.”
Bunny Bunny probably couldn’t hear since it was sleeping, but he meant it sincerely.
Shortly after he opened the door and left, Bunny Bunny’s ears twitched slightly.
* * *
The Emperor frowned as he read through the protest letters sent by the nobles, then grabbed them with both hands and tore them to shreds.
Three weeks had passed since blocking the Duke’s Estate.
As he intended, rumors that the Western Duke’s fiancée was a witch swept through the capital. Public opinion demanding that the Western Duke hand over the dangerous woman to them also grew.
However, after the Western Duke announced he would withdraw from Western Trade, the nobles’ voices began to diminish.
And their protests turned toward him instead of the Western Duke.
“What kind of conspiracy are these people plotting now? Have they all gone mad together?”
The Prime Minister who brought the nobles’ protest letters bowed his waist.
“There are many nobles who benefit from Western Trade.”
“Then they should side with me and pressure the Western Duke more! Do you think the Western Duke would be so defiant if his fiancée fell into my hands!”
Bang!
The Emperor slammed the desk, unable to contain his anger, his face turning bright red.
“I apologize.”
The Prime Minister bowed his waist once more.
“Arrest and imprison everyone who sent these protest letters!”
At the Emperor’s unexpected command, the Prime Minister raised his face and hurriedly expressed opposition.
“Your Majesty, that cannot be done.”
“Are you also defying my orders?”
“No, Your Majesty. Please look at the last page.”
Beneath the torn protest letters was another piece of paper.
It was densely filled with the names of nobles. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that more than half of the nobility was listed there.
“Ha.”
The Emperor let out a hollow laugh and leaned back in his chair.
“What is all this?”
“Western Trade is such an important matter, that’s why.”
“What do they want from me?”
The white-haired Prime Minister pressed his lips tightly shut.
Most of the nobles were demanding the Emperor’s abdication, but he couldn’t convey those words.
The Emperor pressed hard between his throbbing brows. This damned headache was getting worse by the day.
He had thought he could manipulate the Western Duke to his liking by pressuring him with public opinion.
When he ascended to the throne, he had relied on the power of public opinion, so despite knowing it was a double-edged sword, he had been confident.
But that had been his mistake.
He had thrown them the Western Duke and his fiancée to tear apart, but instead the nobles were turning to bite him.
“Tsk. Bring me a way to change the Western Duke’s mind.”
The Emperor spoke as if taking a step back.
Then heat flared hotly in the Prime Minister’s blue eyes.
He had caused the trouble himself, yet was telling him to bring a solution.
The Emperor’s former brilliance had disappeared, leaving only an impatient and reckless ruler.
What on earth had the Emperor been thinking when he provoked the Western Duke?
With just a little thought, anyone could see it was a dangerous gamble.
Witches had only existed in storybooks to begin with.
He too had seen the Western Duke’s fiancée communicating with demon beasts at the hunting festival, but that alone wasn’t enough to brand her as a witch.
According to rumors circulating in the marketplace, that demon beast had originally been the Lady’s rabbit.
If one assumed that demon beasts also possessed reason, then a rabbit following the Western Duke’s fiancée was within acceptable bounds.
As proof of this, the academic society studying demon beasts was eager to invite her.
“You may withdraw.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the Prime Minister opened the door and left the office with a dejected expression, the Crown Prince was standing right in front of him.
“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince—”
“Thank you for your service.”
The always courteous Crown Prince cut him off and brushed past him.
“Crown Prince, what is the meaning of this!”
The Emperor’s angry voice could be heard through the closed office door.
The Prime Minister hurriedly left the area before the Emperor’s fury could splash onto him.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
Alexpert greeted with a stern expression.
“I clearly forbade you from entering my office.”
Every word from the Emperor was filled with rage.
“I had to do this because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to see Your Majesty. I apologize.”
Alexpert’s golden eyes stared directly at the Emperor.
It was as if he was ready to rebel.
The Emperor glared at the Crown Prince with venomous eyes.
“Is simply saying you’re sorry enough?”
Even at those sharp words, Alexpert asked the Emperor defiantly for the first time.
“Why on earth did you make up something that never happened?”
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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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