Episode 4
It felt like lying beneath warm spring sunshine.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
At the same time, it felt as refreshing as standing beside a flowing stream while birds sang around you.
It was unlike anything Olive had ever experienced.
It wasn’t like singing, either.
The contents of the book seemed to flow directly into his ears.
Nothing sounded boring.
Even though Marin herself seemed easy to overlook, her voice left a strong impression immediately.
Just as she’d said, she really was someone the duke needed.
“Miss Marin, shall we go together?”
“Yes.”
Marin nodded and hurried after Olive.
Maybe it was because his legs were so long.
Maybe he was simply in a rush.
Either way, he walked incredibly fast.
The corridor seemed endless.
Since the castle was five stories tall, Marin felt like she’d get hopelessly lost if she lost sight of him.
As she followed him, she gradually noticed the area getting darker.
That was strange.
The sun couldn’t have set already.
She slowed down and looked around.
Black curtains covered every window along the hallway.
It felt as though she were being pulled into a dark cave.
Without realizing it, she stopped walking.
When he no longer heard footsteps behind him, Olive turned around.
Marin swallowed nervously and looked around the dim corridor.
Understanding immediately, Olive gave her a bitter smile.
“His Grace is sensitive to light.”
“I see…”
“If you end up serving beside him, I’ll teach you all the things you need to be careful about.”
“Yes! Understood!”
Marin answered energetically.
She still didn’t know whether she’d get the job.
But making a good impression on Olive, who might become her direct supervisor, was important too.
“Shall we continue?”
“Yes.”
As she followed him again, she unconsciously hugged the book she’d read from earlier like a lucky charm.
Olive stopped in front of the duke’s office and took a deep breath.
Then he looked behind him.
Marin was breathing heavily from trying to keep up.
His eyes also landed on the book she was clutching tightly.
“You should probably leave that here for now.”
“Huh? Oh. Right.”
Startled, Marin quickly placed the book beside the office door.
Olive stood silently outside for a moment.
Then a voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Olive gave Marin a look that said wait a moment.
Then he lit one of the candles mounted on the wall, picked up the candlestick, and opened the office door.
The room was dark.
Every window had been completely covered with black curtains.
Even though it was still daytime, the office looked as dark as the bottom of a well.
“Your Grace.”
“What is it?”
The deep voice of Duke Gerald carried a hint of boredom.
“I’d like to hire someone. But I believe this matter requires your permission.”
“Since when do I need to personally concern myself with servants?”
The duke’s tone was indifferent.
Olive bowed even lower.
“You won’t need to concern yourself in the future either. It’s just that this person is… special.”
“Special?”
“Yes. I believe this person should stay by your side.”
“By my side?”
The duke sounded skeptical.
“Yes.”
Olive spoke firmly.
“I think this is someone Your Grace truly needs.”
“A doctor?”
For the first time, a hint of interest appeared in the duke’s voice.
“I’ve already met every doctor worth meeting in the Empire.”
Olive shut his eyes tightly.
For over a year, they’d invited every famous physician they could find.
None of them had been able to restore the duke’s sight.
Feeling guilty for giving him false hope, Olive bowed deeply.
“No. I’m not a doctor. My apologies.”
Silence.
Olive hurried to continue.
“Not a doctor. But someone who can help you.”
His voice became desperate.
“Please. Just meet her once.”
Even if the duke couldn’t see him, surely he could hear the desperation in his voice.
“…Bring her in.”
After a long pause, permission finally came.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Olive immediately left the office.
“Miss Marin. Come in.”
“Y-Yes! Yes!”
She was so nervous that she answered twice.
Following Olive, Marin stepped inside.
The room smelled stuffy, as though it hadn’t been aired out in ages.
Not a single ray of sunlight entered because of the heavy black curtains.
Only the faint candlelight illuminated the office.
Everything beyond the reach of the light remained swallowed by darkness.
And inside that darkness…
The duke sat waiting.
Like a giant shadow hidden inside a cave.
Without moving at all, he radiated an overwhelming presence.
Ah.
So this is the aura of a male lead.
Marin swallowed nervously.
She wanted to run away.
“Miss Marin.”
“Y-Yes?!”
Her frightened voice jumped an octave.
“Here.”
Olive suddenly appeared beside her, carrying a stack of documents.
He handed several pages to her.
“Please do what you did in the waiting room.”
“Okay…”
Marin accepted the papers with trembling hands.
White paper.
Black letters.
Simple.
But the words seemed to float before her eyes.
Cold sweat rolled down her back.
I can do this.
No, I can’t.
No, I have to.
“Miss Marin?”
Olive called her name worriedly.
Marin squeezed her eyes shut.
That’s right.
How could she possibly fool a duke?
Maybe she should just admit she can’t do it.
But just as she was about to give up, she remembered her mother lying weakly in bed.
Roanna’s pale face flashed through her mind.
No.
I have to do this.
Marin opened her eyes.
The trembling slowly stopped.
The letters finally came into focus.
Taking a deep breath, she began reading.
“Urgent report regarding the silver mine discovered in Nairon Territory.
After a year of excavation and analysis, the mineral appears not to be silver, but rather a low-grade white mineral with a cloudy appearance.
In addition, burrowing monsters frequently appear within the mine, making workers reluctant to enter.
Mining experts believe it would be wiser to close the mine rather than continue risking lives.
We respectfully request your decision as soon as possible.”
Marin’s eyes sparkled as she read.
She knew this mine.
It became important later in the novel.
Eventually, after the mine was abandoned, the heroine visited to gather medicinal herbs.
There, she found some strange minerals.
She later turned them into jewelry.
These gems became the latest fashion trend throughout high society.
The abandoned mine wasn’t a silver mine at all.
It was an opal mine.
Opals had never been discovered in the Empire before.
Once people realized what they were, their value skyrocketed.
“What a waste…”
The words slipped out unconsciously.
Why hadn’t she thought of it earlier?
If she secretly went there and collected a few stones herself, she’d become rich.
“What is it?”
“…Huh?!”
Marin nearly jumped out of her skin.
She looked up.
The duke was standing directly in front of her.
She’d become so absorbed in the report that she’d forgotten about him entirely.
At some point, he’d quietly walked over.
He was tall.
Ridiculously tall.
She had to tilt her head back just to see his face.
And he wasn’t just tall.
He was broad-shouldered, too.
Her gaze followed his sharp jawline upward.
Then she saw the black silk blindfold covering his eyes.
Even with his eyes hidden, his appearance was striking.
A perfectly sculpted nose.
Full red lips.
The kind of face that seemed unreal.
As expected of the novel’s male lead.
He looked handsome enough to glow even in the darkness.
“I asked what a waste was.”
Apparently, he’d heard her muttering.
Marin felt her vision go dark.
She needed an answer.
Fast.
Her heart pounded.
What if she admitted she knew the future because she was living inside a novel?
People might accuse her of witchcraft and burn her alive.
Or declare her insane and throw her out.
Think.
Think!
“U-Um…”
Her brain raced desperately.
She felt like a tiny rabbit standing before a giant tiger.
“Olive.”
“Yes.”
Olive immediately answered, tense.
“Have I ever been known for my patience?”
The duke’s lazy voice carried a hint of irritation.
“No, Your Grace.”
Olive shot Marin a sympathetic look.
“So it seems.”
The duke’s cold tone sent chills down her spine.
Marin’s brain worked so hard it felt ready to catch fire.
“It seems you don’t understand what I’m asking.”
His voice was as cold as ice.
Finally, Marin forced herself to speak.
“M-Monsters.”
