I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 29

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 29

 

“Oh, right. The engagement contract.”

 

The business he had forgotten suddenly came to mind again.

 

The reason he had visited the Ponti Viscount’s Estate so late today was because he wanted to show Damia those documents as soon as possible.

 

‘I thought I might be overreacting, but I’m glad I came. If I hadn’t come, something terrible could have happened.’

 

Of course, even if he had missed today, he would have found some way to get Damia back.

 

The information network and influence of the Sarkis Family Estate was powerful enough to rival the Imperial Court.

 

But if that had happened, Damia would have trembled alone in fear for days, or even just a few hours.

 

Just imagining that made his heart, already slowed by the curse, feel like it was sinking.

 

‘I need to revise the clauses.’

 

Cassian took out a long envelope from his inner pocket.

 

It wasn’t the family head’s seal, but it bore Cassian’s official stamp as the Young Duke of Sarkis.

 

It was the most official document the boy could provide at his age.

 

Cassian got up and sat at the old desk.

 

The chair was cold and hard, making his drowsiness disappear.

 

‘Hmm…’

 

Cassian unfolded the engagement contract and picked up a quill pen. He could see several parts that needed to be revised.

 

The current contract was already favorable to Damia.

 

It was just that Cassian wanted to guarantee a few more things for his fiancée.

 

The girl was intelligent and spirited despite her harsh environment.

 

In place of Viscount Ponti, who couldn’t serve as any kind of shield, she needed a real adult to protect her.

 

Cassian was willing to take on that role.

 

After all, he had more than enough money, honor, and power to spare. More than he could use before dying.

 

‘I think I really do think of Damia like a younger sister.’

 

Cassian thought this, though he had no younger sister and didn’t know exactly what that felt like.

 

‘Even if it’s not just because of that… the contract is definitely necessary.’

 

He needed to draw a line so that Damia Ponti, who had a passionate crush on Cassian, wouldn’t misunderstand his feelings as romantic affection.

 

It was a clumsy conclusion, even for a fifteen-year-old boy.

 

* * *

 

[(Temporary) Engagement Contract]

 

Even though it was a document he had written himself, somehow his gaze kept lingering disapprovingly on that word “temporary.”

 

Even though it had been Cassian himself who had emphasized several times that their engagement was temporary and fake.

 

[Cassian Sarkis (hereinafter ‘Cassian’) and Damia Ponti (hereinafter ‘Damia’) agree as follows prior to their temporary engagement.]

 

Although he had learned administration by watching over the Countess and butler’s shoulders, directly writing official documents was still awkward.

 

Especially a “temporary engagement contract.”

 

It was an extraordinary document he had never imagined before meeting Damia.

 

[1. The contract period for this temporary engagement is limited to until ‘Damia’ reaches adulthood.

 

2. ‘Cassian’ will protect ‘Damia’ as her fiancé so that she will not be forced into unwanted marriage or relocation before she reaches adulthood.

 

3. ‘Damia’ will actively cooperate in alleviating ‘Cassian’s’ condition through ‘treatment’ (or ‘contact’).]

 

The incident where his dying heart had reacted as soon as he held hands with Damia was still shocking.

 

So today, he had taken out the contract he had already written before leaving the Count’s mansion.

 

And he had added ‘contact’ next to ‘treatment,’ but…

 

[3. ‘Damia’ will actively cooperate in alleviating ‘Cassian’s’ condition through ‘treatment’ (or ‘contact’ only in very unavoidable situations when ‘treatment’ is impossible).]

 

Cassian smiled with satisfaction at having placed restrictions on contact.

 

Damia, who liked him too much, shouldn’t try to touch him at any time or place.

 

It would be terrible if he ended up developing feelings for that girl.

 

[3-1. However, this ‘contact’ is limited to extremely normal and light categories that occur when escorting one’s partner in official places, such as holding hands or linking arms.]

 

Cassian, who had been hesitating, added a detailed clause.

 

Because he inadvertently remembered the moment he had found Damia crying in the forest.

 

The girl’s warm forehead, the tears that had soaked his chest, and even the way she sniffled despite her prim appearance had been quite cute.

 

That’s why such restrictions were necessary.

 

What if he became greedy and wanted to hold onto that warmth forever?

 

‘No, what crazy thought am I having now?’

 

His red eyes trembled finely as if in shock.

 

Cassian sighed while pressing his forehead. Because his hands were so large, about half of his handsome face was covered.

 

[4. ‘Cassian’ and ‘Damia’ will absolutely not interfere in each other’s private lives. Private life includes all romantic relationships except for the temporary engagement.]

 

This was an essential clause.

 

Damia had declared she wouldn’t interfere in his romantic relationships, but… well.

 

That girl liked Cassian too much.

 

Without a written promise, her resolve might easily waver.

 

Just maintaining his life, not knowing when it might end, was overwhelming enough without having time to console a jealous fiancée.

 

And this clause was also for Damia’s sake.

 

Damia didn’t need to be tied down only to Cassian, who had a limited time to live.

 

[5. If ‘Cassian’ dies during the contract period, the temporary engagement between ‘Cassian’ and ‘Damia’ will automatically terminate.]

 

He couldn’t let a young girl with a bright future ahead be bound to the ghost of a dead fiancé.

 

Below that was densely written content about how even if this engagement was terminated midway due to Cassian’s death, he would spare no expense in providing Damia with various financial support including remarriage or studying abroad.

 

[6. If ‘Cassian’ survives beyond the contract period, ‘Cassian’ and ‘Damia’ will amicably break off the engagement through mutual agreement.]

 

Such a miracle wouldn’t happen, but it was quite a sweet assumption.

 

Wait, if Cassian really did survive for a long time, would this engagement necessarily have to be broken?

 

The violet eyes wet with tears, the warm forehead, and the reddened nose tip came to mind again.

 

He wanted to make sure she would never cry again for the rest of her life…

 

‘No. Am I crazy? Don’t be bewitched.’

 

Even if Cassian felt sorry for Damia, it was only because he had come to think of that girl like a younger sister.

 

If he continued the engagement with such ambiguous feelings and ended up getting married, he would surely hurt Damia.

 

[7. ‘Cassian’ guarantees the following matters to ‘Damia’ during the temporary engagement period.]

 

Countless guarantee clauses continued endlessly.

 

Cassian, who had been turning through the documents one after another, stroked his chin with a satisfied expression.

 

‘Is it too… much?’

 

No, it was still better to write it down like this.

 

If he brought gifts and gave them to her without a contract, Damia would obviously misunderstand Cassian’s emotions romantically.

 

Cassian, who had been carefully examining the contract that was nearly thirty pages long, added a final clause.

 

[47. ‘Cassian’ prioritizes ‘Damia’s’ life and safety above all else during the temporary engagement period.]

 

The image of the girl’s trembling hands and moistening eyes came to mind. His grip tightened on the quill pen.

 

He never wanted to see such a terrified face again.

 

Just then, disciplined footsteps could be heard from afar. Cassian quickly hid the engagement contract inside his coat.

 

“Young Duke!”

 

The person who arrived at the door called out to him in a greatly lowered voice.

 

“Come in.”

 

With Cassian’s permission, two knights strode in.

 

They looked around the shabby room and opened their eyes wide as if finding it fascinating.

 

“Is this really a noble family’s house? It looks more worn down than my house where I lived before being knighted. I was of commoner origin, wasn’t I.”

 

“Sir, surely you’re not trying to insult my fiancée’s family?”

 

“No, how could that be? You’re the one with severe mysophobia, yet you’re willing to sleep here.”

 

“Stop the useless chatter. Did you find the butler?”

 

The two knights’ expressions instantly became serious. They straightened their backs with military precision.

 

“Well… we did find him, but…”

 

“You found him but?”

 

“Someone had already gotten to him. When we discovered him, he was already a stiff corpse.”

 

“Ha.”

 

The young boy let out a hollow laugh.

 

“We immediately gave chase but couldn’t find any trace of the culprit. We apologize.”

 

Though it was rather cruel information to share with a fifteen-year-old, the knights showed no hesitation in their report.

 

They seemed to regard Cassian more as a future lord than a young master they needed to care for.

 

“But the condition of the corpse was rather strange.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well… it looked like he was killed by something non-human.”

 

Cassian’s fingers, which had been tapping the desk, suddenly stopped.

 

Damia’s words about how Cassian and the coachman looked exactly alike suddenly came to mind.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————