I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 33
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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 33
‘Even though I sent an invitation and she didn’t come, did the Viscount put her under house arrest or something?’
There were rumors that she wasn’t feeling well, but it was likely just an excuse.
No matter how non-venomous it was, putting a snake in a picnic basket was shocking.
I never imagined she would be so reckless.
‘Not seeing her makes me even more anxious.’
Since I didn’t know how she might rampage again, I wanted to keep watch and observe her movements.
“Oh my, Lady Damia has such a wonderful fragrance.”
Just then, a red-haired girl approached. It was Vivian, the daughter of Count Rosen, who was a couple years older than Damia.
“Did you put on perfume?”
“Oh, no.”
“Then what is it?”
Damia glanced behind Vivian. The girls who usually belonged to Drury’s Group were hovering around Damia.
“It’s not perfume, just soap.”
“What? You said soap?”
Damia pulled out a translucent lace pouch. Inside was a piece carved in the shape of a lisianthus flower.
“Would you like to take it out and see? You can keep it too.”
Vivian carefully opened the pouch she had received. A subtle and sweet fragrance spread around them.
“It’s so pretty!”
“I want to see it too!”
The girls who had only been peeking flocked toward Damia.
“Where did you get this? It’s too pretty to be soap!”
Around this time, luxury soap from the eastern regions was trending among the nobles.
Soap made with olive oil mixed with fragrances came in various colors and scents, but the shapes were monotonous.
In fact, soap didn’t need to be pretty. Most nobles bathed with servants attending them, and they didn’t even care about the shape of soap held in their servants’ hands.
Damia had targeted that gap.
To capture the attention of girls who had everything, something they’d never seen before would be the most reliable approach.
“My friend sent me a gift from the Kingdom of Rhodion.”
“Is this kind of soap trendy in Rhodion? That place really has everything!”
“No. I had my maid trim it into this shape. The fragrance was so nice that I wanted to carry it around.”
“Really? How did you think of that?”
Instead of answering, Damia smiled.
‘Well, it’s because this kind of soap becomes quite popular about three years from now.’
So it was something that didn’t exist in the world yet. It was natural for the girls to have sparkling eyes.
“Can I get one too?”
“It looks more special than a sachet!”
In fact, it was soap that she and Romi had made together from start to finish. Though production had been suspended since moving to the Duke’s mansion.
“I’ll share some with the rest of you next time. I didn’t bring many.”
Damia handed out lace pouches to a few nearby girls.
“Can I get one too?”
“I want one too…”
When their turn didn’t come, the remaining girls looked dejected. The reaction was much more enthusiastic than expected.
‘I had no intention of selling them at all.’
Since it was cottage industry work, mass production was impossible from the start.
I planned to share them little by little with the young ladies I’d grown close to, then wait for similar items to become trendy later.
Having a reputation for good taste was the most reliable investment in high society.
“By any chance… does Lord Cassian also like this fragrance?”
Vivian’s green eyes sparkled with curiosity.
‘Sarkis Young Duke certified soap?’
Though Cassian would never allow it, it seemed like I could make a big profit.
Just as Damia’s lips were about to curve up at the sweet fantasy.
“The Kingdom of Rhodion?”
“Young Duke?”
So quietly that she didn’t know when he had approached, Cassian was standing right in front of her.
Vivian straightened her back in surprise, and the surrounding young ladies held their breath.
“Lord Cassian! It’s so sad that this is the last tea party of the year.”
“Summer will come again anyway.”
“So… you’re saying I shouldn’t feel sad about it?”
As if his mind was elsewhere, Cassian nodded indifferently.
Vivian’s smile stiffened awkwardly, but Cassian didn’t seem to notice.
Still…
‘These two seem to suit each other quite well.’
Unlike her glamorous appearance, Vivian had a delicate side.
Even in her previous life, she had quietly lingered around Cassian, and only after he died did she find a suitable match and marry.
‘Did she really have an unrequited love for Cassian?’
Vivian might be a better match for Cassian than the unreasonable Drury.
Though that would be under the premise that he escapes his terminal fate and lives long.
Damia pretended to go get a drink and subtly stepped back.
Having distributed the soap, this was enough for today.
“It’s my birthday soon, could you possibly attend my party?”
Vivian’s excited voice could be heard. As expected, it was wise for a fake fiancée to tactfully withdraw at this point.
“Are you going to drink more juice? If it’s alright, shall I bring some for you?”
Just then, an unknown young noble blocked Damia’s path.
His flushed cheeks were boyish, but his voice was too thin and lacked strength.
Most importantly, his appearance was far from satisfying Damia’s discerning aesthetic sense.
“No, it’s fine.”
She gestured for him to move aside, but the Young Boy pretended not to notice and sent her a subtle look.
‘Why is he being so bothersome?’
Just as Damia barely swallowed a sigh.
“Where are you going?”
Her spine stiffened at the pleasant baritone voice. This time Cassian had called out to stop her too.
He had definitely been surrounded by young ladies, so when had he started watching this way?
“Oh, I was going to rest near the Lakeside for a moment.”
If she used the juice excuse, she felt like she’d be caught. Damia quickly thought of another excuse.
“Then I’ll take you there.”
“What? It’s right over there though?”
Despite her roundabout refusal, Cassian strode toward Damia.
“Since you seem busy, how about I escort the Viscount’s daughter?”
When Damia looked troubled, the unknown Young Boy stepped forward as if he had misunderstood something.
Cassian looked at the Young Boy with displeasure.
“You’re just a kid.”
“…Excuse me?”
“It’s not your place to interfere in the first place.”
Cassian treated the Young Boy like he was invisible and naturally extended his arm to Damia. It was an escort request that seemed to have no consideration for refusal.
“Let’s go. I was getting tired anyway.”
“You said you were tired?”
Until just a moment ago, he looked so energetic that it was hard to believe he was terminally ill?
“I also have something to discuss privately.”
Damia reluctantly placed one hand on Cassian’s arm.
His lips curved slightly.
* * *
Even though it was late summer, the sunlight was dazzling.
Damia’s silver hair fluttered in the cool breeze. The girl’s hair seemed to sparkle more than the summer lake.
“….”
Though Damia had a youthful appearance, when she kept her mouth closed, she had a cool impression.
Cassian tensed his toes. He couldn’t understand why he was suddenly feeling nervous.
“Shall we sit here?”
As Damia brushed off her skirt and was about to sit down, Cassian quickly blocked her.
“Wait a moment.”
Cassian quickly pulled out his handkerchief and spread it wide in the shade.
Damia’s violet eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh my, thank you.”
Damia’s bright smile made his stomach churn again.
“Don’t… don’t misunderstand again.”
“Yes. It’s not special treatment, just fulfilling your duty as a fiancé, right?”
“I was worried about the dress, not you. It’s quite expensive.”
Words that hadn’t passed through his brain tumbled out of his mouth.
‘What kind of idiotic thing did I just say?’
Cassian glanced sideways to gauge Damia’s reaction. The girl’s slender shoulders trembled slightly.
‘She must be angry, right? She’s not going to cry, is she?’
“Ahaha. Yes, yes, I understand.”
Far from crying, Damia burst into laughter instead.
It wasn’t the reaction he had expected. It felt like she was treating him like a child.
“You said earlier that you had something to tell me privately, right? Please feel free to say anything.”
Damia playfully changed the subject as she settled on the handkerchief.
Cassian bit his lips tightly. It was difficult to gauge his fiancée’s true feelings.
“You said you had no objections to the clause prohibiting interference in private life, right?”
“Yes, of course. Please sit down, Young Duke.”
Cassian took a seat next to the girl. Sitting together on one handkerchief, they were close enough for their shoulders to touch.
“Why that clause all of a sudden? Are you perhaps going to praise me?”
“…What do you mean.”
“Oh come on, you know what I mean. I tactfully slipped away earlier, didn’t I?”
“So you did it on purpose after all.”
Even though he didn’t want to be conscious of it, the refreshing scent coming from Damia kept making his mind complicated.
Could it be that soap fragrance she had shown off in front of the other young ladies earlier?
“You didn’t need to deliberately leave like that.”
“Huh?”
“I’m telling you not to overdo it. It’s enough if you just don’t interfere.”
Cassian was being completely sincere.
When he saw Damia quietly stepping back earlier, it felt like a corner of his heart was being stabbed.
“Hmm?”
Damia tilted her head.
He thought she would be moved, but instead she looked like she didn’t understand what he meant.
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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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