I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 30

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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 30

 

The next morning, Damia packed her few belongings. Preparations for departure were quickly finished.

 

Cassian said it would be better for her to take refuge at the Duke’s mansion since the butler’s whereabouts were still unknown.

 

Damia clearly remembered the resentment that had been burning in the butler’s eyes. She had no choice but to readily accept Cassian’s recommendation.

 

Moreover, she was also afraid of that mysterious being who had been disguised as a coachman and looked exactly like Cassian.

 

If that person came to the Ponti Viscount’s Estate in the middle of the night, it was obvious that not only Damia but all the household would meet a tragic death.

 

‘It did seem like he was somewhat afraid of Cassian’s group though.’

 

The Sarkis Palace appeared much safer in many ways.

 

“D-Damia. Are you really going to enter the Sarkis Palace with the Young Duke?”

 

“Yes, Father. At least until the butler is caught, I’m too scared to stay here.”

 

Viscount Ponti held back Damia, who was trying to leave without hesitation.

 

Father was making a worried expression.

 

Though what he was worried about was probably his own safety, not Damia’s.

 

“That… no matter how luxurious the mansion is, it’s your in-laws’ house, so won’t you feel uncomfortable?”

 

“You were going to send me to Count Fabron’s house, so what are you saying now?”

 

Father beat his chest as if frustrated, then came close to his daughter.

 

“What kind of behavior is this! You don’t naively believe the Young Duke will really marry you, do you?”

 

He began scolding her, whispering in Damia’s ear.

 

“What will you do if the Young Duke gets tired of you? Then your value will plummet to the bottom because of your age and the scandal!”

 

Damia looked straight at her father with both eyes wide open.

 

When his daughter showed no sign of being intimidated, the viscount’s complexion hardened. A dangerous silence flowed.

 

“Miss, the Young Duke is looking for you.”

 

Romi intervened with quick wit.

 

Cassian, who had boarded the carriage first saying he would give them time for farewell greetings with her father, was indeed watching them.

 

“Yes. I’m coming now.”

 

Damia ignored her father and turned around. She didn’t want to deal with him anymore. In this world, there were relationships that needed distance.

 

“Don’t worry, Viscount. I’ll take good care of the young lady.”

 

“How dare a mere maid interrupt without knowing her place!”

 

“Y-yes, I’m sorry.”

 

She could hear her father fuming, but it didn’t bother her much.

 

Following her father’s unreasonable demands out of a desire to be loved was already enough in her previous life.

 

“Here.”

 

Cassian extended his gloved hand to her from inside the carriage.

 

Damia stepped on the footstep and slowly placed her hand on top of his.

 

The Young Duke gently pulled her up, helping her board the carriage.

 

The young boy was shining brilliantly under the summer sunlight.

 

Feeling inexplicably emotional, Damia bit her lip.

 

The deal with him was the first achievement Damia had secured in this life. And this relationship might be greater fortune than Damia had thought.

 

He was showing consideration beyond their contract.

 

‘I should work harder to find a way to save Cassian.’

 

Because she wanted to see him shining as the Young Duke for a long time to come.

 

* * *

 

“Oh my, little bird!”

 

As soon as they arrived at the Sarkis Palace, they met the Countess who had come out to greet them.

 

Color came to her beautiful face that looked as if it had been carved from ice.

 

“Mother!”

 

Damia responded warmly and threw herself into her embrace.

 

Perhaps because she was smaller and more delicate than her peers, she fit perfectly in Elena’s arms.

 

“My child…”

 

Elena’s voice trembled finely as if she were moved.

 

“I heard from Cassian. You had a big incident?”

 

“No. The Young Duke came just in time and saved me.”

 

Damia smiled shyly.

 

With her violet eyes sparkling and fidgeting with her hands, she looked like any girl suffering from first love.

 

Seeing this, Cassian was convinced.

 

Damia Ponti was definitely hopelessly infatuated with him.

 

She had already been passionately in love with him, and now he had even saved her from near death…

 

Cassian shook his head as if he couldn’t stop her.

 

“It’s terrible that Viscount Ponti was harboring such a shameless person, but I’m helplessly happy that you’ll be staying here, even if temporarily.”

 

“Me too, Mother.”

 

Damia smiled brightly and linked arms with Elena.

 

Elena looked surprised but not displeased. Rather, she looked quite proud.

 

“I heard you were coming last night and hurriedly decorated a room for you.”

 

“Oh my, already? Thank you, Mother!”

 

Countess Sarkis gently pulled Damia along, urging her forward.

 

Cassian’s lips curved up slightly at the sight of the two getting along so well.

 

Though he gritted his teeth in surprise as soon as he realized this fact.

 

‘What was I looking at so contentedly?’

 

Cassian roughly ran his hand through his black hair.

 

He was bothered by Damia’s frayed sleeves and wanted to buy her new clothes, and seeing her thin cheeks for a child, he wanted to feed her lots of sweets to make her plump.

 

But it was a relationship that would end someday.

 

This engagement was merely a temporary measure, and no matter how much he thought of Damia as a younger sister, they wouldn’t actually become real siblings.

 

It would be troublesome if he became too accustomed to daily life with Damia around.

 

* * *

 

“Won’t I get lost wandering around by myself?”

 

Cassian guided Damia through every corner of the mansion.

 

Damia, who had been counting how many annexes there were, quickly became quiet as if overwhelmed.

 

Cassian burst into low laughter at her appearance.

 

“Let’s go to the library.”

 

“The library?”

 

Damia’s eyes sparkled. The girl’s white cheeks were tinged with rose color.

 

‘She said she read a lot of books because she had no friends.’

 

Cassian had great pride in the Sarkis Palace’s library.

 

But his peers were pathetic creatures who only got excited talking about girls whenever they gathered.

 

Cassian puffed out his chest proudly, having met someone who would appreciate the true value of that library after a long time.

 

‘What if she says she wants to keep living here?’

 

An emotion that could be either anticipation or worry grew cloudily within Cassian.

 

He wanted to quickly show off the library to the girl and have her sit in the sunniest spot to review the engagement contract.

 

He wanted to see the girl’s surprised yet delighted reaction upon seeing the contract that was over thirty pages long.

 

She would be a little disappointed at the clause about not interfering in private life, like a girl who had a crush on him, right?

 

‘Should I show some kindness and allow just a little interference?’

 

Cassian, his heart swelling with excitement, opened the library door.

 

* * *

 

“Young Duke.”

 

Shock filled Damia’s eyes as she reviewed the contract.

 

“Why? Is there a problem?”

 

Though he tried to sound indifferent, he was actually feeling anxious for no reason.

 

“Isn’t this contract way too favorable to me?”

 

“So you don’t like it?”

 

“No! How could I not?”

 

Damia quickly looked around for a quill pen as if she was about to sign immediately.

 

“You shouldn’t sign carelessly. You need to read it properly first.”

 

“There’s nothing more to read. The more I look at it, the more touching it is! I was really surprised that you’d prioritize my safety above all else!”

 

“You’re the only person who can even slightly alleviate my curse. Don’t take it personally. It was a rational decision.”

 

“Yes, yes, of course!”

 

Damia even hummed a tune while swinging her feet.

 

It was half the reaction he had expected, but not the other half.

 

‘Why do I feel like I’ve been hurt somehow?’

 

The thoroughly excited girl even looked annoying to him.

 

“Isn’t there anything else?”

 

“Huh? What do you mean?”

 

“I’m asking if there are any clauses there that you don’t like or anything.”

 

Cassian thought Damia would be disappointed by the clause in the contract that absolutely prohibited interference in private life.

 

“…There isn’t?”

 

“Really nothing? You mean you’re satisfied with everything?”

 

“What should there be?”

 

Damia tilted her head as if she was genuinely puzzled. At that innocent face, Cassian’s straight brow furrowed deeply.

 

“No, if there’s nothing then that’s fine.”

 

Damia frowned at Cassian’s disgruntled expression.

 

After hesitating for a while, the girl let out a short exclamation.

 

“Ah! You don’t mean this clause prohibiting interference in private life, do you?”

 

“Yes, yes, yes. That one, that’s the one.”

 

Cassian brightened up without realizing it.

 

It was a reaction that didn’t befit the picture-perfect Young Duke, somehow looking rather pathetic.

 

Realizing this fact, Cassian cleared his throat and pretended to choke.

 

“I especially like this clause!”

 

“Wh-what?”

 

It was a completely unexpected answer.

 

Cassian’s sculpted face froze solid with a crack.

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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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