Chapter 46
“It seems he fell in love with me after watching me so quietly for all that time.”
“Oh, my goodness!”
Roanna’s voice, previously heavy with constant worry, lifted into a sudden, bright flutter.
Fortunately, she seemed to truly believe that Marin was just being shy.
“It seems he thought of me quite a lot while coming and going from the Southern Region. He said he missed me.”
From this point on, her conscience began to prick at her.
Marin, still covering her face, clicked her tongue at her own deceit. She wasn’t the beauty of the century; there was no way the Duke could have fallen for her. Besides, the Duke was blind; he didn’t even know what she looked like.
“Oh my, how romantic of him.”
“R-right, isn’t it?”
Marin felt a profound sense of relief that she could hide her sour expression. The word ‘romantic’ was entirely foreign to the Duke.
“Marin.”
At Roanna’s gentle call, Marin hesitated before lowering her hands.
Roanna, who had tightly grasped Marin’s hands, stared at her with warm, searching eyes.
“Do you like the Duke?”
“I think he is a… good person.”
She couldn’t lie while looking straight into Roanna’s eyes, so she tempered her words midway. And that much, at least, was the truth. He was the male lead of this world, after all; naturally, he was a good person.
She realized that fact even more today. He was good enough to scheme a fake engagement to protect his nephew, willing to play the villain for the sake of his family.
Roanna shook her head slightly with a pitying expression.
“The Duke is obviously a good person, Marin. That’s not what I mean. What about your feelings?”
Instead of answering, Marin looked around the room.
The warmth, the luxurious furniture, the clean, crisp bedding. And her mother, finally regaining her health.
“Mom, I like it here. What about you?”
“I can leave and live elsewhere whenever I want.”
Roanna wanted her daughter to make choices without the crushing burden of her own existence.
“Mom, did you marry Dad because you loved him a lot?”
“Of course. I fell for his kind nature. He was so gentle and good-hearted that he was often deceived by others, but I still loved him dearly.”
Roanna wore a tender smile, as if drifting through a memory.
As soon as her father passed away, the debt collectors had swarmed. They were bills from failed investments, most of which were likely made because he had been far too trusting. Her father was a good man, but he was naive.
“You were truly lucky, Mom. How many couples in noble families actually marry for love?”
Marin said calmly, a faint, bittersweet smile on her lips.
“Marin…”
Roanna trailed off, her expression distressed.
“Mom, this is a huge opportunity for me.”
Marin knew her situation all too well. She hadn’t had her debutante, so she had no chance to find a marriage partner; with her family ruined, she didn’t have a single coin to her name. She had abandoned the idea of marriage early on.
Her only goal in life was to live comfortably with Roanna.
Although this was a fake engagement that would end in a few months, it was a rare experience. That alone was enough. As a bonus, she could earn hundreds of gold.
Roanna, unable to deny the harsh reality, looked at her daughter with sad, knowing eyes.
“So, you’ll give me your permission, right?”
Marin clung to Roanna’s shoulder, acting affectionately.
“Do as you wish.”
Roanna gently stroked her cheek.
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
Leaning against her mother’s shoulder, Marin closed her eyes and whispered the words, almost as if trying to reassure herself.
* * *
Standing before the Duke’s office, Butler Sebas and Head Maid Page looked at each other with eyes full of questions.
It was extremely rare for the Duke to call both of them at the same time from early in the morning; usually, he relayed all orders through Olive.
“Come in.”
As the Butler opened the office door while holding a candle, the Head Maid cautiously followed him inside.
As they approached the desk, they saw Marin standing beside him, her face tight with tension.
“Your Grace the Duke. Did you sleep well?”
Butler Sebas and Head Maid Page lowered their voices, greeting the Duke in perfect unison.
“From now on, speak in your normal voices. My condition has been fine lately.”
The voice of Butler Sebas, who had worried about the Duke’s health more than anyone, trembled slightly with joy.
“That is such a relief, Your Grace.”
A look of genuine relief flickered across the Head Maid’s face as well.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Marin, standing beside the Duke, opened her eyes wide, hearing this for the first time.
He hadn’t even mentioned it to her. Come to think of it, the Duke hadn’t been covering his eyes ever since he returned from the Southern Region.
If his condition had improved, would he no longer need her reports?
Could she be on the verge of losing her job?
Marin’s light green eyes wavered.
“I am going to get engaged to Marin.”
“Ho, ho, ho, is that so? With Lady Marin… an engagemeeent?”
Butler Sebas, who had let out a hearty laugh, nodded before the weight of the words hit him. He turned aghast.
“…”
Standing beside him, Head Maid Page froze like a statue.
Marin, lost in her thoughts about unemployment, opened her mouth in pure surprise. She hadn’t expected the Duke to speak her name so naturally.
Following the title of ‘fiancée,’ this was the second shock.
“Head Maid! Did you hear what I just heard? The Duke’s en, engagement! Please, pinch me here! To see if what I just heard is true.”
Butler Sebas couldn’t hide his excitement, thrusting his sturdy arm toward the Head Maid.
The Head Maid, finally shaking off her shock, gave him a look of absolute absurdity.
“Marin says she has something to say.”
Both their gazes turned to her simultaneously.
Quickly hiding her surprise, Marin bowed her head slightly.
“I am Marin of the Schventz Viscount Family. There were circumstances, so I have deceived you all until now. I am sorry.”
“Oh, no. Lady Marin— no, My Lady. Please, do not apologize.”
Butler Sebas, who already knew her lineage, hurriedly stopped her.
Meanwhile, Head Maid Page, who hadn’t known, quickly smoothed over her surprise and bowed politely.
“Both of you, congratulations on your engagement.”
“Your Grace! Congratulations… k-khk, on your engagement.”
Butler Sebas hurriedly looked up at the ceiling to swallow his tears. Having served the Duke for a long time, he seemed deeply moved.
“Butler…”
Seeing the butler so truly happy, Marin felt a pain in her conscience that went beyond a mere prick.
Soon, Butler Sebas beamed, his eyes crinkling.
“Lady Marin, congratulations! And from now on, please feel free to speak comfortably to us!”
“Yes. I will.”
Marin put on a smile for the two, trying to make it look as natural as possible.
“By mutual agreement with Marin, we have decided to skip the engagement ceremony. Instead, I plan to hold a celebratory party in a month to announce it to the nobles, so prepare for it.”
Marin nodded silently.
Since some noble families announced engagements through letters, it wouldn’t be entirely strange to skip the ceremony.
On the other hand, Butler Sebas and Head Maid Page exchanged pale, panicked looks. They understood why the Duke would want to skip the ceremony—it was just like him—but no noble house prepared for a major social party in only a month.
Such a significant event usually required at least a year of preparation.
However, it was the Duke’s order. If he told them to prepare the party by next week, they would have to find a way.
“Yes, I understand. Then, to what extent should we send out invitations?”
Butler Sebas cautiously asked. Originally, this was work that Olive should have handled, but since he was currently absent, the burden fell to them.
“All the nobles of the Western Region.”