I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 22

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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 22

“So did you win?”

Marine finally puffed out her chest proudly.

She didn’t win, but she didn’t lose either. She definitely hit them more.

“I didn’t lose.”

“You should have won. Someone under me can’t settle for just not losing.”

“But those maids are also people under Your Grace.”

The Duke pretended not to hear her words and called Oliver with a calm expression.

“Oliver. The dressing room.”

“Yes.”

Marine listened to their conversation and felt that sense of déjà vu again.

That feeling of being excluded from her own affairs?

“Your Grace. Surely this isn’t about my dress, is it?”

“Oliver. Go out.”

He cleanly ignored her words and ordered Oliver.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Oliver bowed respectfully and went outside.

Marine watched his retreating figure with wistful eyes.

Take me with you too.

After Oliver closed the door and left, an awkward silence settled in the office.

“What are you doing?”

The Duke finally spoke after a while.

“Pardon?”

“Aren’t you going to work?”

“May I read a book?”

“I’m not a coward…”

He said in a strange voice.

Marine momentarily stopped breathing and opened her eyes wide.

Don’t tell me he heard me call him a coward? No way, that can’t be. It shouldn’t be. Please, let it not be.

Marine prayed over and over in her heart.

“I told you I hate repeating the same thing.”

“Yes, I’ll read it now!”

Just as she was about to open the fairy tale book, she realized her wrist was still caught in his hand.

“My hand…”

The Duke naturally released her hand and leaned back loosely in his chair.

“I’ll begin. Once upon a time, there was an emperor praised by the imperial citizens.”

“That’s a lie.”

He pointed out sharply.

Marine pretended not to hear and read the fairy tale book again.

“The imperial citizens loved the emperor very much.”

“False.”

I can’t hear it. I can’t hear it.

“The emperor also loved his people and showed them kindness.”

“Also false.”

Marine looked away from the fairy tale book and stared at the Duke with narrowed eyes.

“Should I stop reading?”

“Why?”

“You don’t seem ready to listen.”

“That can’t be. I’m not a coward.”

“Wow, such a grudge holder…”

Marine whispered to herself in a really very small voice.

She would never forgive whoever heard and tattled to the Duke.

“What?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Continue.”

“The emperor had a very beautiful empress. In their otherwise perfect happiness, there was just one problem. The emperor and empress had no heir. They prayed to the gods every night.”

Marine read up to that point and paused to catch her breath.

Around this time, the Duke should interrupt.

When there was no reaction even after waiting, Marine cleared her voice and began reading the rest of the fairy tale book again.

Please fall asleep.

After reading for a while, she too became absorbed in the fairy tale’s content.

When the beautiful princess was in trouble, she felt sad with her, and when she met the prince from a distant land, she rejoiced with her. At the end, when the princess and prince left together, her heart felt moved.

“And so the two went far away and lived happily ever after.”

Marine carefully closed the fairy tale book.

The already quiet space felt silent. Marine lowered her eyes and watched the Duke’s reaction.

The Duke was leaning against his chair without moving.

Is he sleeping?

I hope he’s really asleep.

“Sleep well.”

Marine whispered in a faint voice, worried her voice might wake him.

Just as she was about to turn around while hugging the fairy tale book tightly, something on his desk caught her eye.

A thin, elongated letter opener made of silver.

No way. Her heart pounded as she quickly checked the Duke’s ear. Fortunately, no blood was visible this time.

Marine looked at the Duke once more with pitying eyes.

What if he uses that again? Should I steal it and hide it?

After pondering briefly, she shook her head. She couldn’t be branded a thief after being called a spy.

Marine looked at the letter opener with regretful eyes before moving away.

* * *

If you ride a horse for ten days from the Western Oman Empire, the endless Sairan Desert reveals itself.

The Sairan Desert, located between the Sanders Empire and Oman Empire, was home to thousands of species of monsters.

Ironically, thanks to those monsters, they were able to establish a treaty not to invade each other’s empires.

A hundred years had passed since that treaty was made. As research on the monsters living in the desert became active, desert trade connecting the two empires also developed accordingly.

The role of blocking monsters coming from the desert fell to the western House Vines. Fighting monsters every season for desert trade was also the role of House Vines.

Duke Gerald and the Vines Knights and soldiers, who had finally ended the long battle with desert monsters that lasted for two weeks, were crossing the mountain to return to their territory.

However, the soldiers sent as scouts had not returned. Those sent to find the soldiers were the same.

Naturally, they were stuck in a place that wasn’t their camp. Anxiety was building among the exhausted soldiers.

Gerald, who had been silently watching this, called a knight from behind.

“Henders.”

“Yes. Just give me your orders.”

Henders, who answered with a nasal voice due to a cold, bowed his waist.

“Whatever situation you see, don’t try to help recklessly. Just quickly assess and return to report.”

“Yes.”

Gerald sent Henders, the quickest and most agile among his subordinates, as a scout again.

And not long after, Henders came running hurriedly with a serious expression.

“Duke, I think you need to see this yourself.”

Gerald dismounted his horse and followed Henders.

As they went deep into the forest, a beautiful flower field soon spread out before their eyes.

Colorful flowers as tall as a person swayed, giving off sweet fragrances. Gerald forcibly numbed his sense of smell due to the foreign scent mixed with the sweet floral aroma that was sharp enough to sting his nose.

“You told us not to act rashly, so we returned as soon as we discovered those who seemed intoxicated.”

The soldiers were dancing merrily in front of the flowers. If they hadn’t been swaying as if drunk, he too would have admired the beauty of the flowers.

Just then, one soldier approached close to a flower.

The flower gently caressed him with its petals as if welcoming the soldier. As the soldier drew even closer, the flower’s red interior split wide open.

It was a monster in the form of a flower.

The monster flower swallowed the soldier whole.

Henders, who had been watching beside him, gasped in shock and breathed heavily.

Gerald stared at Henders beside him. His cold had saved him.

“Go and inform everyone. It’s a monster that uses smell. Have everyone block their noses so they don’t smell the fragrance and stay as far away as possible.”

“Yes.”

Henders quickly covered his nose and answered.

“And have everyone wait at the rear.”

Henders looked at him with wide, surprised eyes.

“Duke, there are too many monsters.”

“Who can fight with one hand while blocking their nose?”

Gerald, who could freely control his sense of smell, drew his sword.

The first thing knights learn when training with swords is breathing technique. Breathing was very important to them.

“They must not smell even a little of the fragrance. If there are any who can manage that, you may bring them.”

“Yes.”

Henders bowed silently and turned to run back. This was only possible because of his unwavering faith in the Duke.

The monster flowers were distributed as if guarding the center. As Gerald slowly approached, the petals swayed gently as if trying to seduce him.

However, when he showed no interest, the flowers began releasing various enticing fragrances.

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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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