I Got Engaged To The Blind Duke - Chapter 81

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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 81

“So who’s going to use it?”

Marine glanced at Oliver. The quick-witted Oliver gave a slight bow.

“I’ll wait outside.”

“Yes.”

After Oliver left and only the two remained, Surenne’s violet eyes sparkled.

“Lady Marine. Just stand there for a moment.”

She brought out a long measuring tape and began measuring various parts of Marine’s body.

“The sword I’m ordering isn’t for me though.”

Marine said while raising her arms to make it easier for Surenne to measure.

“Yeah, I know.”

Surenne said she understood but didn’t stop taking measurements.

Marine wondered if she should bring Garnet.

“Is it better for the person to come when making a sword?”

“It’s best if the person comes, but then how would you give the sword as a gift… Sorry, sorry. I’m not good with formal speech.”

“I understand. Surenne is from the Sanders Empire.”

The Sanders Empire didn’t have a big distinction between nobles and commoners. To be treated well there, you needed to have money or be strong.

Nobles bowed their heads before wealthy commoners and couldn’t treat powerful commoners carelessly. So it wasn’t a big deal for commoners to speak casually to nobles.

Surenne’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

“Huh? That’s top secret. Who told you?”

Oops. I acted like I knew too much. I can’t say I found out from reading a novel.

“I figured it out from your speech pattern. I’m sorry.”

When Marine sincerely apologized, Surenne burst into hearty laughter as if it was nothing.

“No, no. It’s not something you should be sorry about. My speech is just like this.”

Marine inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

“You can speak comfortably to me.”

“Oh, should we be friends then? You can speak casually to me, and I’ll speak casually to you too.”

“…Friends?”

Her heart raced at Surenne’s unexpected proposal.

“Ah, is someone like me not good enough to be your friend?”

Surenne scratched the back of her light purple hair with an awkward expression.

“No! Let’s be friends! I don’t have any friends, so I really want to be friends!”

Marine shouted hastily. After saying it, she felt a bit embarrassed for being too honest.

Surenne’s eyes widened and she laughed loudly.

“What? I thought you’d be a snobbish noble lady since you’re the Duke’s fiancée, but you’re so honest. I like it. Let’s be friends.”

“I like you too, Surenne.”

When Marine shyly extended her hand, Surenne grasped Marine’s hand firmly with her large hand.

“Oh my, so soft. Lady Marine.”

Surenne turned Marine’s hand this way and that, then stroked it. Surenne’s hands were rough but warm.

“Why are you still calling me ‘Lady’ when we’re friends?”

“Because just calling your name is boring? I call people Olive Oil, handsome alchemist, muscle-packed butler, and so on.”

“Then what about Lord Gerald?”

Marine asked with a curious voice.

“Duke.”

Surenne answered with a firm voice.

“That’s kind of boring though?”

“I have to respect people who pay me.”

“That makes sense.”

When Marine nodded seriously, Surenne patted her back gently while laughing.

“We understand each other. Do you drink a little, Lady Marine?”

“Maybe? I haven’t drunk much before.”

“Then let’s have a drink sometime soon.”

“Yes!”

Indeed, nothing brings people closer than alcohol.

“So whose sword is it?”

“Ah, it’s for Lord Gerald’s nephew. He’s this tall, his arm length is this much. He can’t handle heavy swords yet.”

“Good, good. That information is enough.”

“And this gem, could you put it in the sword handle?”

Marine held out the green-based opal gem, one of the two gems she received from the Duke.

“Wow, what’s this gem? I’ve never seen it before, but it’s pretty.”

“Opal. It’s a gem that will soon shake up the Empire.”

When Marine spoke confidently, Surenne patted her back again.

“Hahaha. Look at my friend’s way with words. Cool.”

“Thanks.”

Being called cool by a handsome beauty made her feel somehow embarrassed. And her back stung.

No matter how much she controlled her strength, getting hit multiple times was something to decline.

* * *

Dia sat on the bed, staring blankly out the window. The day was bright and clear.

Below, she could see the unpacked luggage bags. Inside the bags were items her mother and father had cherished and the dress her mother had prepared for her debutante ball.

When she closed her eyes, she kept thinking of the words the Duke had said to comfort Peridot.

“Your mother told me in a letter about the promise she made when you were born to protect you for life. And she kept that promise. So don’t hate your mother, hate me instead. You can hate me anytime.”

She knew that her mother had often sent letters to the Duke. Though she never received replies.

Had such words been written in those letters?

That she would protect us for life?

Sadness welled up from the bottom of her heart.

Why had the Duke done that? Had he really looked down on their parents and them?

Dia got up from her seat because her chest felt tight.

As she left the annex to take a walk alone, she saw a middle-aged noble woman sitting on a nearby bench.

It was Teacher Marine’s mother.

Dia approached and greeted her politely.

“Hello, Baroness Schwentz.”

The middle-aged noble woman looked up and smiled warmly.

“Oh my, how nice to see you. Lady Dia Adria.”

“Do you know me?”

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Ruby.”

“Me too.”

A smile formed on Dia’s lips. Rubiana was indeed good at making connections.

“Lady, would you keep me company for a moment?”

“Yes.”

As Dia was about to sit down next to her, the red-haired maid standing beside the Baroness quickly approached and spread a blanket on the bench.

“Thank you.”

Dia spoke politely to the red-haired maid she often saw.

“No.”

“Yulia. Since it’s cold today, could you bring us two cups of warm cocoa?”

“Yes, Wife.”

As Yulia entered the annex, Dia quietly gazed at the Baroness. It felt like she had deliberately sent the maid away.

“Lady, would you listen to my story?”

“Yes. Wife.”

“A few years ago, my daughter was on her way to the capital with my husband and eldest son for her debutante ball.”

Dia couldn’t bring herself to meet the Baroness’s eyes and lowered her head.

She knows I’m avoiding the debutante ball.

It seemed Rubiana had told her all sorts of things.

“I was resting at home because I was weak. I planned to follow them as soon as I felt better. I woke up from a nap, and that day my body felt unusually light. Ah, now I can go to the capital to follow my family. So I called for a maid. I asked for cold tea to help me wake up. The maid who rushed to my room handed me the cold tea with trembling hands.”

“Why?”

Dia, drawn into the Baroness’s story, raised her head and asked.

“I was curious about that too, so while drinking the cold tea, I asked the maid why she was trembling. That day, my husband and son went to the sky due to a carriage accident. My daughter was injured all over and couldn’t regain consciousness. I still can’t forget the taste of that cold tea. It felt like swallowing hot fire.”

Dia lost her words and stared blankly at the Baroness’s face. She could feel deep sorrow within her calm voice.

“Ah… I didn’t know.”

“My daughter still can’t ride in carriages.”

“…”

Dia was shocked and lost for words.

She thought of Marine. Always bright and kind, Marine seemed like a noble woman who wouldn’t know what hardship was. She never could have imagined that she had such pain.

“After my husband and son left, our family house collapsed. Because I was inadequate, my daughter suffered a lot.”

“Ah…”

Her heart stirred with late realization. When Marine had brought up money back then, she hadn’t believed it.

“Lady, do you know why I’m bringing up this story?”

“You heard that I don’t want to go to the debutante ball, right?”

“Yes, from Ruby.”

“She’s my younger sibling, but her mouth is too loose.”

“Please don’t scold my cute friend who worries about her sister. I beg you.”

At the Baroness’s gentle words, Dia nodded.

“Not going to the debutante ball is Lady’s choice, but as a parent, I really hope you would go. It’s a burden on my heart. That our daughter couldn’t go to her debutante ball.”

“…”

Dia raised her head and looked up at the sky. Two white clouds floated peacefully in the blue sky.

“Would my parents want that from up there too?”

The Baroness silently held her hand tightly.

Dia slowly closed her eyes at that warm touch.

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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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