I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 18

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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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Chapter 18

“Young Duke, we’re in the same boat. We even agreed to write up a contract.”

“I know.”

“A contract-based engagement is much more reliable than emotions that could waver at any moment. Show some responsibility.”

“…What?”

Oops. Was that too cynical for a temporary fiancée who supposedly likes her partner?

‘I shouldn’t have pretended to have a crush on him from the start.’

It seemed to have lowered Cassian’s guard, but continuing the act was exhausting.

“You’ve been so different lately that I’m confused. I might even misunderstand.”

Damia deliberately lowered her gaze and tried to put emotion into her voice.

“Why have you been paying so much attention to me lately? Don’t tell me you suddenly like me and can’t take your eyes off me?”

Though she said this, Damia thought of more realistic reasons.

Was someone targeting her?

Or perhaps some action of Damia’s had aroused Cassian’s suspicion.

“That’s obviously… no.”

“Then what?”

“You’re mistaken. I’m the same as always.”

Cassian avoided her gaze. For an answer that came after hesitating for so long, it was too ordinary.

“I understand.”

Damia replied curtly. Given his stubborn attitude, now was the time to back down.

“But don’t interfere using my safety as an excuse. I’ll arrange my own escort.”

“What? Where would you find one?”

The carriage made a creaking sound and stopped. It seemed they had arrived at the town.

“It’s a secret. This is what they call a lady’s private life.”

Damia smiled brightly and stood up from her seat.

“Wait. I’ll help you down.”

“I’m fine.”

“You might miss your step.”

Being so overprotective while claiming he was the same as always.

Damia shook her head slightly.

“Get out!”

Thanks to taking a hired carriage without revealing their identities, the driver didn’t know who they were.

Damia opened the door herself and jumped down lightly. It was a very graceful landing.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m really just fulfilling my duty as a fiancé.”

Cassian, who followed behind, said urgently.

“Aren’t you being too kind for a fake engagement? Did you perhaps forget that we have a contractual relationship?”

“That can’t be. Any normal man of the Empire should show this much courtesy to a lady.”

“You called me a child, not a lady.”

“A knight must protect not only ladies but also the weak.”

How shameless of him.

Damia’s gaze became even sharper as she stared at Cassian.

“Really? I thought you were going to ask me for some difficult favor.”

“What would I have to ask you for?”

Cassian replied arrogantly.

Though he was somewhat annoying, the Young Duke was generally a very satisfactory employer.

She wanted to grant any request as long as it wasn’t too unreasonable, but…

‘He refuses even when I set things up for him, so there’s no need to go out of my way to be kind.’

Whatever Cassian’s true feelings, it didn’t seem like he would break this contract.

As long as the contract terms were met, the Young Duke’s change in attitude didn’t matter.

Having organized her thoughts, Damia felt quite refreshed.

“Then we should keep some distance between us.”

“…What?!”

The Young Boy’s face contorted as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Didn’t you say you had a crush on me?”

“Yes, I did say that.”

It didn’t seem like particularly sincere acting, but Cassian’s belief remained firm.

“Then wouldn’t you be happy if we spent more time together?”

“I thought so at first too.”

“But?”

“Obsessive men don’t seem attractive at all.”

“Not attractive? Me?”

As if shocked, Cassian had a dumbfounded expression.

It seemed like he had never imagined hearing such words in his life.

“Why are you so surprised? As I thought… you’ve come to like me?”

“Don’t misunderstand! I’m not doing this because I like you…!”

“…Not because?”

“…It’s just ingrained kindness coming out naturally.”

Damia suppressed a sigh. It was getting tiresome to appease someone who kept being stubborn.

“Miss! The driver told me the way to the Guild. I’ll guide you!”

While Damia was silent, Romi, who had finished her errand, came running.

“Guild? Why are you going there?”

“To hire a real escort.”

“What?”

Instead of answering, Damia smiled sweetly.

* * *

“For what reason did you, did you look for me, Miss?”

Damia looked up at the man before her. He was the one they had stopped by the Guild to bring along.

Round brown eyes and brown curly hair. A face full of freckles and a seemingly large-boned build.

“My brother isn’t very smart, but he works well. His name is Luke.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll… be of any use.”

The man called Luke scratched his cheek awkwardly.

‘He’s humble despite supporting his family through mercenary work.’

At Damia’s smile, Cassian coughed disapprovingly.

“First, sit down quickly and eat this, Luke.”

It was an outdoor seat at the Dessert Shop on the Outskirts of the Square. Damia pushed a cake toward Luke.

“Yes… please, speak comfortably.”

“Then I won’t be modest.”

Romi had introduced Damia as the new young lady she had come to serve.

Even though his sister’s new master had changed from a marquis’s daughter to a viscount’s daughter, Luke nodded nonchalantly.

‘He’s exactly the person I was looking for.’

Romi had said her brother was honest and faithful, though not quick with calculations.

It was the perfect condition for a thirteen-year-old noble lady to use as a proxy.

“I want to ask you to escort me occasionally. I’ll pay you appropriately.”

“Pardon? Do you need a separate escort? Don’t most families usually have their own security personnel?”

That would be true for a typical noble family, but it didn’t apply to the poor Ponti Baronial House.

“I need various things, so I have to come to town often. Actually, I’m very interested in gardening.”

Damia pointed to the luggage placed under the round table. It was full of seedlings, seeds, plant nutrients, and such.

“But my father doesn’t approve of my hobby.”

“Ah, I see.”

Luke nodded as if he understood.

“I’ll usually have Romi run errands, but sometimes I need to come to town myself like today.”

“Should I escort you during those times?”

“Yes.”

Damia smiled. Luke’s real usefulness was as an agent rather than a guard, but she couldn’t reveal all her cards in front of Cassian.

‘I’ll call him to the manor later under the pretext of escorting and talk properly then.’

She had only stopped by the town to get rid of the suddenly appearing Cassian, but meeting Luke while she was out could be called a harvest.

“Are you serious?”

Then, Cassian, who had been silent with his arms crossed, spoke up.

He had his hood pulled deep down because of his conspicuous red eyes.

In the Belotea Empire, red eyes were a rare mark symbolizing the bloodline of the Count Sarkis family. He had to hide them to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

“You refused when I offered to assign you a knight, but now you’re hiring a mere mercenary.”

He really lacks social skills!

And right now we agreed to hide your identity and stay quiet!

Damia lightly pressed Cassian’s wrist. It meant to be quiet.

“You…”

She expected him to shake her off or rebel, but Cassian seemed momentarily speechless.

“Um… is the situation dangerous enough that you need an escort? If so, would I be able to handle it?”

Luke’s brown eyes wavered. He looked worried about whether he might get involved in something dangerous.

“No. As you can see, my fiancé is just being overly protective of me.”

Luke glanced at Cassian, who was emitting a terrifying aura even with half his face covered.

“There’s nothing particularly dangerous, but he keeps insisting I need an escort.”

Luke chewed his lips nervously.

“Hmm…”

“Just do what you’re told!”

Unable to watch any longer, Romi shouted. Luke, who had been hesitating for a while, gave in to his sister’s pressure.

“…I understand, Miss.”

Luke accepted Damia’s proposal.

“I’ll be counting on you from now on. This is a gift.”

“Pardon? A gift?”

“It’s an ointment I obtained with difficulty through my father. I thought you might need it since you’re a mercenary.”

Cassian frowned slightly, but Damia pretended not to notice and smiled.

“Thank you, Miss.”

“You can share it with your colleagues too.”

That was actually an ointment made from herbs Damia had grown herself.

It was excellent not only for ordinary injuries but also against the poison of monsters that would soon appear in the west.

Most monsters had disappeared with the death of the mad dragon, but according to her memories from her previous life, wolf-type monsters would briefly run rampant during this period.

So this ointment was bound to sell like hotcakes.

Before that, she planned to spread word of mouth through Luke.

“I’ll contact you soon. You can come to the Ponti Viscount’s Estate.”

“Yes, please take care, Miss.”

Damia stood up from her seat.

“Let’s go now too, Young Duke.”

“What was that ointment?”

“Just something we had at home that I brought as a gift.”

Cassian didn’t seem to believe her words at face value.

But perhaps because he too had much to hide, he couldn’t press Damia further.

‘This is enough.’

She rather liked this appropriate sense of distance.

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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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