I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 45

—————
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 Episode 45

During the employment engagement period, she would stick close to the Duke to reduce danger while earning money.

“Kay.”

At Gerald’s call, a man covered everywhere except his eyes suddenly appeared from somewhere.

Marine was startled and stared at him with wide eyes. She had finally met Kay, one of the supporting characters from the novel.

She knew he existed, but she never thought he would be called before her.

“Assign Shadow El to Temporary.”

“Yes.”

Kay, who answered in a barely audible small voice, turned toward Marine.

Kay was his shadow who protected the Duke at all times.

Though the Duke was strong enough not to need anyone’s protection, the Vines Shadow was said to be an existence that had protected the Duke’s direct lineage for generations.

“My name is Kay. From now on, if you call for El, Shadow El will appear at any time.”

“Yes.”

When she bowed her head following Kay’s polite greeting and looked up, he had already disappeared from sight.

Marine looked around with a bewildered expression.

Where on earth did he hide? He must be somewhere nearby.

As Marine continued to look around, the Duke spoke bluntly.

“Stop looking around. Do you have anything else to say?”

Marine narrowed her eyes and looked at him with suspicious eyes.

Is this person really unable to see?

She believed it because she knew he was the Male Protagonist, but if he hit the mark this accurately as if he could see, others wouldn’t believe the Duke couldn’t see.

“Then when shall we write the Employment Contract?”

“You’re thorough.”

The Duke’s lips curved up as if satisfied.

“Since we’re doing it anyway, it’s better to be thorough.”

“I’ll have it ready by tomorrow, Temporary. No, Fiancée.”

Marine stared at the Duke with wide eyes.

What did he just call me? Fiancée?

Perhaps because it was the first time being called by that title, it felt very unfamiliar and awkward.

Even knowing it was employment, her face became hot and flushed.

As a ruined noble who couldn’t have her debutante ball, she thought things like marriage and engagement weren’t for her.

But although it was an employment relationship, she now had the title of fiancée.

Her heart felt strangely excited and uncomfortable, so Marine answered belatedly.

“…Yes.”

“From the moment we sign the Contract, you’ll have to act like you’re in love.”

He warned her once more indifferently.

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Marine’s eyes widened at the Duke’s plain words.

For the word “counting on” to come from his mouth. She had simply thought it was punishment for deceiving the Duke, but was it actually a request?

Marine felt she could approach this employment engagement with a bit more sincerity.

“Yes. I’m counting on you too.”

* * *

Marine returned to the Annex with drooping shoulders, organizing her confused thoughts.

The novel’s content had changed.

She was a character who didn’t appear in the novel. So until now, she had tried her best not to damage the story.

Even after hearing about the Duke’s terrible pain, wasn’t she unable to tell him about the ingredients for the medicine that could cure his eyes? At most, all she could do was make herbal paste and place it on the Duke’s eyes.

She had been that careful, yet she never knew such an unexpected situation would arise.

“Sigh, is this really okay?”

Marine muttered to herself and was startled, covering her mouth. From now on, she had to be careful even with her soliloquies. She didn’t know where or how the Shadow might be listening.

Marine looked around and whispered quietly.

“Um, El?”

“Yes.”

See? They appear right away like this.

Marine looked at El, who appeared before her, with a troubled expression. El, who had a slightly more slender build than Kay, was also covered in Black Clothes except for dark blue eyes.

“Will you always follow me around from now on?”

“Yes, that’s correct. And I am currently Miss Marine’s Shadow. No one speaks formally to their own Shadow. Please feel free to address me casually.”

El’s voice, speaking gently, was slightly more youthful than Kay’s. A woman perhaps?

“Alright, El. If I go to wash myself…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it well.”

Handling it well doesn’t mean hiding well, does it?

Marine couldn’t bring herself to ask more deeply and spoke with the full intention of telling her not to follow to such places.

“Make! Sure! To! Handle! It! Well!”

“Yes.”

El, who bowed slightly and answered, disappeared in an instant. No matter how much she looked around, she couldn’t tell where she had hidden.

Marine shrugged her shoulders and entered the Annex.

Arriving directly in front of Roanna’s Room, Marine sighed deeply enough to sink into the ground.

This time it was her turn to lie to Mother. When had her life become one of only telling lies?

When she knocked on the door, Roanna answered immediately.

“Yes.”

Marine opened the door and greeted her brightly.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“You came early today.”

Roanna welcomed her with affectionate eyes.

Marine stood there and looked at Mother’s face as if admiring it. The face that had been sunken and clearly showed signs of illness had regained its color and returned to its former appearance.

It was thanks to eating nutritious meals since moving to the Duke’s Castle and Yulia taking care of her medicine on time every day.

Marine carefully examined Mother’s face and was convinced that her choice hadn’t been wrong.

“Mom, I’m getting engaged to Duke!”

“Ma, rine…”

Roanna, who had been sitting on the Bed, covered her mouth with a shocked expression.

“Mom, are you okay?”

Marine hurriedly ran to Roanna, who was in shock.

“What do you mean? En, engaged to Duke?”

Roanna’s green eyes wavered at the unexpected news.

Marine sat beside Roanna and firmly grasped her cold hands.

“You’re very surprised, aren’t you?”

Roanna, with wide eyes, slowly nodded her head.

“My goodness. My goodness. My goodness.”

Roanna repeated the same words as if no other words would come out except exclamations.

“I didn’t know this would happen either.”

Marine met Roanna’s gaze and shared her honest feelings.

“Does he know about our status?”

Roanna asked carefully with frightened eyes.

Marine picked up the water glass from the nightstand and handed it to Roanna.

“Mom, drink some water first.”

“Y-yes.”

Roanna could be seen trying to calm her startled heart as she sipped the water little by little.

Marine took a deep breath and steeled herself for the lie she was about to tell. She would have to tell a story as close to the truth as possible to deceive Mother.

“Mom, it’s true that the Duke found out about my identity. It seems he’s known for a long time.”

The water glass Roanna was holding trembled finely. Her green eyes filled with fear.

“Even though he knew, it seems he was watching over me. I did lie, but I’m not someone with malicious intent.”

This was also the truth.

Throughout her previous life and current life, she had never once been called a bad person anywhere.

“That’s right. There’s no child as kind as you.”

Roanna nodded in agreement with a matter-of-fact expression.

Marine felt relieved seeing that Mother seemed to have calmed down a bit and continued speaking.

“I read reports well for him, and I did quite well with the Duke’s assistant duties too.”

This part was also a truth she could speak confidently about.

“Of course, of course. There’s no child as diligent as you.”

Roanna gently stroked Marine’s hand as if she felt sorry for her daughter.

“After quietly watching over me like that, it seems he fell for me.”

A lie.

Marine covered her face with her palms, pretending to be embarrassed. It was better to hide her expression completely to avoid being caught in the lie.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————