I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 252
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Side Story 2 Episode 10
* * *
Empress’s Office.
“I greet Her Imperial Majesty.”
Garnet, who had entered the room, bowed respectfully toward Dia.
“Welcome, Sir Adriana.”
Dia looked at her younger sibling, who had become the Empire’s first female knight, with pleased eyes.
If more female knights emerged after Garnet, they would no longer be distinguished as ‘female knights’ but could proudly be called by their knight titles alone.
And if the ‘law allowing women to become Family Heads’ that she was persuading the nobles about with the Emperor could be enacted, the world she wanted to create as Empress would unfold.
“I heard you called for me.”
“To celebrate your upcoming guard unit initiation ceremony, and there’s something I want to read together.”
When Garnet looked at her with puzzled eyes, Dia smiled brightly and pointed to the sofa.
“Sit down.”
“No, I’m comfortable standing.”
Garnet spoke with a rigid posture.
She had received the first knighthood appointment as a woman. It was an achievement made through skills honed in the Western Duchy’s Knight Order that dealt with demon beasts.
Thanks to that, she could overwhelm her peers who had never even been near demon beasts with an enormous skill difference from the start.
But despite that, most people still didn’t acknowledge her.
The Emperor’s sister-in-law. The Empress’s younger sibling. The Western Duke’s nephew.
She loved her family, but the background surrounding her was an eternal burden.
“Garnet. There’s no one here, so it’s okay.”
“I’m fine too.”
There was no place in the Imperial Palace where no one was present. Especially in front of the Empress. Surely there would be someone protecting her from a place no one could see.
Dia slowly rose from her seat, approached Garnet, and waved a letter conspicuously.
“I really sent everyone away because I wanted to talk with you. And do you know whose letter this is? I wanted to read it quickly, but I got scolded for waiting until your guard training ended.”
“Is it Ruby?”
If it was someone who would send letters to both Dia and herself, Rubiana came to mind first.
Peridot could also read and write now, but he didn’t particularly like writing letters.
“Your senior.”
Dia’s green eyes sparkled with mischief for the first time in a while.
“Aunt?”
Garnet’s rigid appearance crumbled as a smile formed at the corners of her mouth.
“Yes. She said she’d like me to read the letter when I’m with you, so I waited until you came out of the Training Academy.”
“Is it about the baby?”
“Probably so?”
The two sat side by side on the sofa with faces full of anticipation and began reading the letter Marine had sent.
To Her Imperial Majesty and Sir Adriana.
Your Imperial Majesty, are you in good health?
Sir Adriana, congratulations on joining the Imperial Guard.
First, I’ve shown proper courtesy to both of you, right?
From the very first passage, both of them burst into laughter simultaneously.
Ruby still visits the library every day to read books, and lately she’s started writing too. A wonderful author might be born soon.
Peridot is still running around and playing with the village children and Bunny Bunny as always. He’s grown so much taller that he’ll probably be bigger than Ruby soon.
Dia and Garnet looked at each other with wide, surprised eyes. Peridot being taller than Rubiana was unimaginable.
It had been over a year since Garnet came to the palace to become an Imperial Guard knight.
At that time, she had suggested that Rubiana and Peridot come to the Imperial Palace together, but they chose the Duke’s Castle.
Dia also respected her siblings’ opinion, thinking it would be better for the still-young siblings to grow up freely at the Duke’s Castle rather than struggle with life at the Imperial Palace.
“I miss my siblings.”
“I can’t go, but you should visit once before the initiation ceremony.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Garnet smiled bitterly.
She had to be careful with every action as if walking on ice, so she couldn’t make choices easily.
Understanding her feelings, Dia patted her sister’s shoulder and focused on the letter again.
Saessak is growing well by drinking water (breast milk), getting sunlight (love), and sometimes feeling the wind (Sir Gerald’s affection).
“Ugh. The Western Duke’s affection.”
Garnet shuddered as if the mere imagination was frightening.
“Wow! Saessak, even the nickname is so cute. I want to meet her quickly. Should I quit being Empress?”
“Your Imperial Majesty. If you say such things carelessly, His Majesty the Emperor will fall ill with worry.”
Dia made a stern expression at that.
“Whose side is Sir Adriana on?”
“I’m always on Sister’s side!”
When Garnet spoke cutely for the first time in a while, Dia burst into clear laughter and turned her gaze back to the letter.
But our Saessak doesn’t have a name yet.
Sir Gerald and I hope our Saessak grows up to be a very wonderful and brave person.
And we already know such a person.
Someone who always endured for her siblings, was an excellent mother to the children, and protected her child until the very end.
Monica.
We want to name our Saessak exactly the same as that person’s name. Will you two give us permission?
I’ll wait for your reply.
Marine, who loved both of them so much.
The name Monica seemed to burn into their eyes.
At the unexpected name, both of them were momentarily speechless.
Dia’s hands holding the letter trembled finely.
When Garnet took her hand, Dia looked at Garnet with tears welling in her eyes.
“Sister, I’ll give my permission. Actually, it’s not something that needs my permission, but Aunt sometimes touches people’s hearts like this.”
Garnet smiled broadly and stroked the sword Marine had given him once.
Though he hadn’t met his cousin sister yet, he felt like he was already falling in love with the cousin sister who would share the same name as their mother.
Dia smiled and nodded her head accordingly.
As Garnet said, their permission wasn’t necessary. Mother wasn’t the only one who could use the name Monica.
But Marine, who asked for their permission like this and made them think of their mother once again, was so grateful.
“Write the letter quickly. And ask her to draw Monica’s portrait too.”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
The two put their heads together and happily wrote their reply.
* * *
“Peridot.”
When Marine called, Peridot, who had been playing in the garden using Bunny Bunny’s body as a slide, looked up.
“Aunt. It’s not mealtime yet, is it?”
“Can I only see you during mealtimes?”
Marine asked while looking down at Peridot as if he were adorable.
“That’s not it, hehe.”
When Peridot laughed innocently, Marine also smiled and got down to Peridot’s eye level.
“I came because I have something to ask Peridot.”
“Please ask.”
“I want to name the baby Monica, what do you think?”
“I like it!”
Peridot answered quickly without any hesitation.
“Um… is it okay? You don’t dislike it because it’s the same as your mom’s name or anything?”
When Marine asked carefully with worried eyes, Peridot quickly shook his head.
“I like that name. I like it even more because it’s the same as my mom’s name. Actually, I was worried because Aunt kept calling the baby Sprout. My subordinate can’t be teased by other children. Monica is much prettier than Saessak.”
Marine held back her laughter at Peridot’s serious answer.
When they were playing building castle walls before, he said he would make the baby his subordinate, and he had remembered that all this time.
“Peridot will become a good captain. You’re even worried in advance about your subordinate being teased.”
“Hehe. I want Monica to grow up quickly so we can play together.”
“I really hope that happens.”
As she thought before, it would be fortunate if Peridot just didn’t avoid Monica when she asked him to play.
“Huh? Bunny Bunny, where are you running away to?”
While the two were talking, Bunny Bunny had been tiptoeing away quietly to escape, but when caught by Peridot, picked up speed.
Thump thump thump.
“Aunt. I’m going to play Hide and Seek with Bunny Bunny!”
“Alright!”
Seeing Bunny Bunny’s childcare skills improving day by day, it seemed like Monica could be entrusted to it later.
But then, the sound of sniffling came from behind.
When she turned around, she saw Rubiana holding a book.
“Ruby? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Surprised, Marine hurriedly ran to Rubiana.
“I was passing by and saw you, Aunt, so I followed… Monica. Baby… the name is so pretty.”
“Ah, you heard.”
It seemed she had heard the conversation with Peridot.
Marine gently stroked the crying Rubiana’s head.
“I was actually going to ask Ruby too, would it be okay to call the baby Monica?”
“Yes! It’s okay, Aunt! Thank you. I love you!”
Rubiana raised her voice and hugged her tightly.
Marine held the child and patted her while smiling warmly.
“I’m grateful and love you too. Ruby.”
“Since I’ve received everyone’s permission, you’re truly Monica.”
Gerald, who had heard the conversation between Marine and the children from the baby room, whispered softly to the baby in his arms.
“Monica. You must grow up splendidly to match that name.”
Monica, who was resting comfortably in his arms, moved her lips.
Gerald looked at her as if she were adorable, then turned his gaze to the blue sky.
‘Sister. Please always watch over the nephew who shares the same name as you.’
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————