Episode 1
Silence filled the office as Duke Vines quietly set down his teacup.
Marin, who had been staring blankly at it, flinched.
She forced an awkward smile and picked up her own cup instead.
The gentle scent of tea leaves drifted through the air.
This was her first time having tea alone with Duke Vines, the boss of her boss. She was nervous and uncomfortable, and she had no idea why he had invited her here.
“How’s life at the duke’s castle?” he asked.
“It’s been very comfortable thanks to Your Grace’s kindness. I’m always grateful.”
Marin meant every word.
“You like living here?”
It sounded like he wanted confirmation.
“Yes. I really do.”
Even though the duke couldn’t see her, Marin nodded enthusiastically.
A warm bed, plenty of food, and a generous salary.
The duke’s castle was the best!
“Then let’s get engaged.”
“…S-Sorry, I think I heard that wrong?”
Her voice cracked from shock.
“Are your ears not working properly?”
Duke Vines asked calmly. A black silk cloth covered his eyes.
“N-No, that’s not it…”
Marin trailed off, completely stunned.
Had she really heard him correctly?
“Let’s get engaged.”
“Th-that…”
Hic!
Marin quickly covered her mouth and glanced at him.
The duke remained expressionless, either pretending not to hear her hiccup or genuinely not noticing.
What did liking the castle have to do with getting engaged?
Was he saying she could stay forever?
No, that couldn’t be right.
She shook away the ridiculous thought.
Danger.
Her instincts were screaming at her.
Slowly, she pushed her chair back and started to stand.
“Your Grace, I think there really is something wrong with my hearing. I should probably visit the castle doctor, so if you’ll excuse me.”
“Sit.”
“Yes, sir.”
At his command, she immediately sat back down like an obedient puppy.
After losing his sight in a monster attack, Duke Vines had become extremely sensitive to sound.
He reacted sharply even to tiny noises, so everyone tried to move as quietly as possible around him. Even speaking to him required keeping their voice low.
Apparently, he hadn’t always been like this, but Marin had never known him before the accident.
“Shall we return to the main topic?”
“Yes.”
She answered like a rookie soldier.
“That was a very short answer. Do you understand what I said?”
The duke slowly brushed his fingers across his lips.
“Yeees.”
Of course,e she understood perfectly.
“Short answers are better. And try to sound natural.”
For a moment, it looked like he was hiding a smile behind his hand.
She was probably imagining things.
“Yes.”
When your boss tells you to do something, you do it.
Marin obediently answered and nervously fiddled with her fingers.
The room fell silent again.
Since she had no clue what the duke wanted, she was happy to let the silence continue.
“What do you want?”
Suddenly, he broke it.
“…What do you mean?”
“Lady Marin Schubenz.”
The color drained from her face.
Her breathing stopped.
Even her fidgeting fingers froze.
“You must have wanted something when you hid the fact that you’re a noble and entered the duke’s castle to work.”
“H-How did you… hic…”
Her hiccups wouldn’t stop.
She covered her mouth completely.
Her heart felt like it was dropping straight to the floor.
The duke leaned back in his chair and spoke.
“If you thought you could fool House Vines that easily, should I call that innocence?”
Marin’s mind raced.
He knew.
Her lie had been exposed.
The Vines family was one of the most powerful noble houses in the empire.
And she had deceived them.
She imagined being dragged to prison, tortured, and executed.
How could she get out of this alive?
Trembling like a soaked kitten, she looked at the duke.
His expression revealed nothing.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I just needed money…”
Apologizing was the most important thing right now.
For some reason, his poker face felt colder than usual.
“So you infiltrated the duke’s household because of money?”
He tilted his head slightly toward her, as if studying her reaction.
“…I didn’t infiltrate. I got a job.”
Even while trembling, she corrected him.
If her life depended on his judgment, she had to stick to the facts.
“Was staying by my side also because of money?”
“…I wasn’t sticking to you. I was assisting you.”
She corrected him again, sounding slightly offended.
“And whispering in my ear?”
“…Because Your Grace hates loud voices.”
This accusation was so ridiculous that her voice rose just a little.
Just a tiny bit.
The duke’s lips twitched upward.
But Marin was too busy defending herself to notice.
“So all of that was because of money?”
“Yes.”
“Then how much?”
“…What do you mean?”
Tears of frustration filled her light green eyes.
“Didn’t I already say it? Let’s get engaged. How much would it take for you to agree to a contract engagement?”
“Whaaaat?!”
Her voice shot up again.
The tears vanished instantly.
“Short answers.”
A wrinkle appeared between his brows.
Marin immediately lowered her voice.
“I am apparently too stupid to understand Your Grace.”
She looked at him in complete confusion.
A minute ago, she thought he was angry because she’d hidden her identity.
Now he was talking about engagement again.
What was going on?
“Didn’t you say you liked living here? Congratulations. You’ll be able to keep living in the place you love.”
“Actually… now that I think about it, maybe I don’t love it that much…”
She cautiously watched his expression.
“Really? Hmm. Then if someone deceives the duke’s family, I suppose they end up…”
The moment he started muttering, Marin cut him off.
“But! This castle is the greatest place in the world, Your Grace! Did I ever tell you how much I adore this beautiful, wonderful family and that I want to spend the rest of my life here?”
Even though he couldn’t see her, she put on the brightest smile possible.
A smiling face was hard to reject.
“No. I don’t recall hearing that.”
This time, his smile was obvious.
It was rare to see him smile.
Yet somehow, that smile was even scarier.
Marin licked her lips nervously and thought as fast as she could.
“How strange. I was sure I’d already said it. I’ll serve Your Grace faithfully until the day I die—”
“I don’t need your bones.”
The duke interrupted firmly.
“I need a fiancée.”
Marin froze.
“By any chance… do I have the right to refuse?”
She asked carefully, her eyes trembling.
Please let there be one.
Please.
