I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 13
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 13
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
Drury’s maid immediately fell to her knees as soon as the door opened.
And with a face stained with fear and tears, she continuously poured out apologies.
“What on earth is this about, Young Lady Soro?”
“The young lady has nothing to do with this! I, I did everything on my own accord!”
The maid was almost prostrate on the floor, pitifully trembling at the shoulders.
She appeared to be roughly two years older than Damia.
“Ha, you’re saying this maid committed all of this?”
“No, Lord Cassian. It’s also my great fault for not properly controlling my subordinate.”
Drury hung her head dejectedly.
“Hah…”
“I’m also so sorry to Lady Damia. You must have been so startled.”
At Damia’s quiet laugh, Drury blinked her eyes exaggeratedly.
“Though I knew nothing about it myself.”
Drury seemed to be very conscious of Countess Sarkis behind her shoulder.
Even though it was clear she was trying to frame the maid, Drury didn’t feel even a hint of guilt.
“This child has bad habits and was too greedy, perhaps because of her origins. It’s my fault for not dismissing her out of pity for her circumstances.”
“I’m sorry! I didn’t know my place and toward the Young Duke’s fiancée… that is… ugh, I was jealous!”
When Drury nudged the maid with her foot, a prepared-sounding apology flowed out.
“I hid a snake in the handkerchief and put it in the basket! I thought nothing serious would happen since it was a non-venomous snake.”
“Sigh, even though she was my maid… I truly never dreamed she would do such a thing.”
“To dare harm the body of a noble lady, I’ve committed a crime worthy of death!”
The maid stared at Damia’s large bandage with terror.
“How did you get a snake that disappeared from the Empire long ago?”
Suspicion leaked from Cassian’s gaze.
“Th-that is… umm…”
Drury stomped her foot at the maid’s sidelong glance.
“I… that is… Ah! I smuggled it from the black market!”
The pitiful maid began to inflate her own crimes more and more.
“What? You’re truly out of your mind!”
Drury shook her head exaggeratedly.
“I’ll immediately expel this child from our family. She probably won’t be cast out with her body intact, so she’ll never be able to work as a maid again.”
“Hii, hiik!”
Whatever deal had been made, the maid trembled violently but didn’t reveal the truth.
Or perhaps she firmly believed she would face even more terrible retribution if she defied Drury’s words.
“Perhaps… do you want a more severe punishment, Lady Damia?”
Instead of answering, Damia approached the maid closely.
Seeing her trembling with fear reminded her of her past life when she was always at Count Fabron’s mercy.
She didn’t want to play along with Drury’s obvious scheme either.
“It’s okay, so lift your head.”
“Yes? Yes…”
While the maid hesitated, Damia quickly organized her thoughts.
‘Even if everything goes according to Drury’s wishes here, this maid’s fate won’t be good anyway.’
Drury didn’t seem like she would be generous to a servant who knew her faults.
Even if she had promised compensation corresponding to the false accusation, there was a high possibility she would dispose of the maid before she could enjoy that reward.
Count Fabron from her past life had been the same way.
‘Managing the herb garden alone was getting overwhelming anyway.’
She had been needing someone to handle errands. Taking in this maid wouldn’t be such a bad choice.
Since she would be saving her from Drury’s clutches, if she became a loyal maid in return, it would be perfect.
Just as Damia rationalized her goodwill with logical judgment, the maid slowly raised her head.
“Child, there’s no need to show excessive mercy for a subordinate’s fault.”
Elena Sarkis, who had been silent, offered advice mixed with concern.
‘Huh…?’
The moment she looked closely at the maid, she heard nothing else.
Damia had seen this face before. Precisely, in her past life.
“…What’s your name?”
“My name? Why do you ask…”
When Cassian sighed with displeasure, the maid quickly prostrated herself, erasing her bewildered expression.
“R-Romi.”
Damia barely swallowed her gasp. It wasn’t just the face that was familiar. Even the name was exactly as she remembered.
“Leave this maid behind.”
And those words came out of her mouth without her realizing it.
The several justifications she had thought up to avoid Drury’s suspicion became useless in an instant.
“…What?”
“Come to think of it, I think it would be better if I punished her directly.”
Damia answered while barely suppressing her pounding heart.
“I’ll have to give her a terrifying punishment that someone as noble as Young Lady Soro couldn’t even imagine.”
“Damia? Why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“…Miss?”
Bewilderment could be felt in the voices of the Sarkis family.
But securing the maid came first for now.
Since she was someone who would become famous enough to fill the newsletters before long.
“That’s the only way my anger will subside a bit. If by any chance the boat had capsized, even the Young Duke would have been in danger, right?”
“Lord Cassian would have maintained his balance himself, so he would have been fine…”
“Sigh, I can’t maintain composure like Young Lady Soro when it comes to the Young Duke’s matters.”
“…What?”
“As his fiancée, I can’t just let this slide. To dare nearly put the Young Duke in danger!”
Drury flinched at Damia’s exaggerated outcry.
“I definitely need to keep that maid by my side and continue tormenting her!”
Drury’s pupils wavered. She seemed conflicted about not wanting to leave behind a source of trouble.
“Yes, it would be better to do as my granddaughter says.”
“…If Lady Damia insists that much… I, I have no choice.”
Drury hesitated for a long time but reluctantly agreed to Elena’s words.
“Thank you, Young Lady Soro. I’ll have to interrogate that maid to the end about where she got the snake.”
“…She confessed to smuggling it, so is there really a reason to dig deeper?”
“I must uncover the black market smuggling routes and punish them severely. The skin of this snake happens to be quite useful for my herb garden too.”
Drury’s pretty face contorted as she had unintentionally become helpful.
“And…”
Damia took the snake out of the basket and slowly approached Drury.
“Wh-what are you trying to do right now?”
The snake was gently rubbing its face against Damia’s finger.
But the moment it got close to Drury.
To be precise, the moment Drury twisted her body and the scent of strong perfume spread through the room.
Kyaaaak-!
“I’ll have to gradually find out why this gentle creature reacts so hostilely specifically to your ladyship’s scent.”
* * *
“Aaaahhh!”
Drury burst into the Soro Viscount’s study with her eyes blazing red.
“Drury Soro!”
Drury stomped her feet and pushed past her father who tried to block her way.
Heading straight for the aquarium, Drury pulled out a blindingly red snake with her bare hands.
The snake writhed in terror, but didn’t dare bite the girl.
“Put it down immediately!”
Drury paid no heed to the Viscount’s shouts. She slammed the snake to the floor as if to make a point.
“What’s the problem this time!”
The red snake convulsed a few times before going limp. The strange radiance that had surrounded its dark red scales faded away like a lie.
It was a creature he had smuggled in with great difficulty, avoiding others’ eyes. Deep wrinkles formed on the Viscount’s forehead.
“Cassian kicked me out! That dying wretch who should be groveling!”
“Drury!”
The girl fumed and trembled with rage. She seemed unable to stay still due to her surging anger.
Despite her angelic appearance, Drury was cruel and violent. Though she hid it in front of others, she easily lost self-control and was extremely impulsive.
For a typical noble young lady, this would have been nothing but a major flaw, but the Viscount secretly welcomed this aspect of his daughter.
‘It’s proof that she carries the Family’s blood thickly.’
Their ancestors were far more wicked and magnificent beings than those pathetic humans.
“How dare he treat me!”
While the Viscount was momentarily distracted, Drury’s face turned bright red. The girl, unable to contain her anger, roughly lifted her skirt hem.
“He ignores the gifts I send him, but treasures trash like this!”
Crash!
The glass bottle shattered into pieces as it hit the floor.
“Did you steal the Young Duke’s belongings again… Ugh!”
The Viscount, who was about to point out his daughter’s kleptomania, covered his nose.
He glared at the purple liquid flowing from the bottle with a terrifying gaze.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————