I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 37

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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 37

 

Cassian kept feeling restless.

 

It was because he kept picturing Damia writing an affectionate reply to someone he didn’t even know.

 

‘No, I only came here because I’m worried about Damia’s safety.’

 

The door was half open. Cassian cleared his throat softly as if to announce his presence.

 

He expected at least Romi to come out, but there was no response.

 

Knock knock.

 

Even when he knocked directly, it was the same.

 

“Damia.”

 

Even when he called her name, it was as quiet as a tomb. Standing still only made him feel more anxious.

 

‘The door was open anyway.’

 

He hesitated for a moment, but eventually stepped inside.

 

It was a room that received plenty of sunlight. Cassian squinted at the sunlight streaming through the window.

 

‘No one’s here.’

 

The room was perfectly organized, as if reflecting its owner’s personality.

 

There was hardly anything that could be called belongings, and it was excessively neat.

 

It felt as if she had no intention of staying long, as if she didn’t want to leave any traces even after leaving.

 

He felt strange, but Cassian held back and turned to leave. After all, it was rude to look around someone’s room when they weren’t there.

 

‘What’s that?’

 

Something was lying on the floor. It was a thin piece of paper.

 

Cassian reached out unconsciously. He couldn’t just leave something that disrupted the orderly scene.

 

It was a letter. From the looks of it being half-filled, it seemed to be the last page.

 

Cassian had no intention of interfering with Damia’s private affairs. He found it unseemly how other young nobles his age constantly meddled with their fiancées.

 

He placed the letter on the table and was about to turn around immediately.

 

[…the promise we made…]

 

If only the words in the letter hadn’t caught his attention.

 

[You’ve already forgotten the promise we made, and it’s a bit hard for me to admit that I was the only one who was sincere.]

 

He really had no intention of reading it. But perhaps due to his keen eyesight, the next sentence automatically entered his vision.

 

A promise? What kind of promise did they make?

 

Only he was sincere? What was that supposed to mean?

 

The content seemed quite serious. Cassian’s gaze slid down to the last line.

 

[With love,

 

Arsene.]

 

Love? Who was Arsene?

 

His neck seemed to stiffen.

 

He thought he shouldn’t read any more, but it was hard to look away.

 

[Please come visit Rodion too.

 

This place is perfect except for the fact that you’re not here.]

 

The moment he read that sentence, Damia’s voice came clearly to mind.

 

‘I got a letter from a friend who recently moved to the Kingdom of Rodion.’

 

Damia’s only friend who had moved to Rodion.

 

He hadn’t been particularly interested. He had vaguely thought it would be a girl.

 

He never imagined that childhood friend would be a cunning guy who pressed his selfish feelings into neat handwriting.

 

His grip tightened on the letter.

 

* * *

 

“Young Duke, wait a moment!”

 

A few days later, Damia quickly chased after Cassian who was heading to the training ground.

 

As if pretending not to hear, his pace quickened even more.

 

“I know you heard me!”

 

Only then did Cassian stop.

 

He slowly turned around. His reluctance was clearly visible.

 

“…What is it?”

 

Lately, Cassian had been blatantly avoiding Damia.

 

Their meal times together had decreased, and days of sharing tea had become rare.

 

Reading books together in the library or taking walks in the garden had also disappeared.

 

It was behavior uncharacteristic of the boy who used to insist on helping Damia tend to the garden, stubbornly staying even when she said it was fine.

 

Even when the Countess arranged occasions, Cassian would slip away with various excuses.

 

“Well…”

 

Perhaps from running, she was short of breath. Damia caught her breath while staring intently at Cassian.

 

“Did you block me from sending letters outside the Viscount’s Mansion?”

 

“Yes. Why, is there a problem?”

 

Are you calling that an answer right now!

 

Damia’s anger flared up at his indifferent response.

 

She could have overlooked him avoiding her lately. But this kind of unreasonable spite was hard to tolerate.

 

“Why all of a sudden? I should at least know the reason.”

 

“We caught another spy.”

 

“What? Really?”

 

Cassian nodded.

 

“I’m trying to strengthen security. Someone might intercept letters and extract information.”

 

“But…”

 

“So I’d appreciate your cooperation even if it’s inconvenient.”

 

It didn’t seem to be mere spite after all, as there was a more reasonable reason than expected.

 

“And it’s not like you can’t send letters at all. Didn’t you hear from the butler?”

 

“What?”

 

“You can send them after I review them.”

 

Damia’s grip tightened on the reply letter she was holding for Arsene.

 

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I’m going to read the contents thoroughly, it’s just a procedure to check if there’s anything that could be a security problem.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Of course. Do you think I want to read other people’s letters one by one?”

 

Cassian glanced at her hand and said bluntly.

 

“It’s just that the current situation is special. I’m busy enough with more important matters than that.”

 

There was no contradiction in his words.

 

Yet she kept remembering how he had pestered her to show him Arsene’s letter a few days ago.

 

“I’m sorry, Young Duke. Since you’ve been avoiding me lately, I thought you were blocking my letters because you were displeased about something.”

 

Cassian, who was about to argue back, shut his mouth tight. He looked somewhat guilty.

 

“If it’s for such official reasons, I don’t think you need to review this letter.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It’s completely private content I’m sending to my friend. There’s really no important information in it at all.”

 

Cassian’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

 

“A completely private letter?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Since there was nothing suspicious about it, Damia was quite confident.

 

“Still, give it here. I’ll review it first before sending it.”

 

“That’s a bit… difficult.”

 

Cassian extended his hand, but Damia unconsciously took a step back.

 

It was a letter to Arsene. She didn’t particularly want to show it to him.

 

“Why? Even information that seems trivial to you could be dangerous.”

 

“It’s really a private letter. It only contains content that wouldn’t matter if anyone saw it.”

 

“Then why isn’t it okay for me to see it?”

 

She was at a loss for words. As Damia only moved her lips, he stepped closer.

 

“You’re sending it to a friend? Which friend?”

 

“My childhood friend.”

 

“Ah, that one and only friend of yours?”

 

Cassian let out a bitter laugh. Before she knew it, he was staring intently at Damia.

 

“The one who moved to Rodion?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Letters going abroad need to be even more carefully checked. If you want to send it, hand it over.”

 

His words sounded reasonable enough.

 

Damia looked down at the hand holding the letter for a moment. It wouldn’t matter if she showed it to him. There was nothing worth hiding.

 

“Here.”

 

Damia finally placed the letter on Cassian’s palm.

 

“…”

 

Cassian seemed more surprised than anyone.

 

“Really? You’re saying I can read it?”

 

His voice was deeply subdued. His red eyes wavered as he stared at the envelope in his hand.

 

He seemed to be trying to suppress his desire.

 

‘Is this really something to be so conflicted about?’

 

Damia tilted her head in confusion.

 

“Never mind.”

 

Cassian slowly closed his eyes and opened them again, then turned his head away as if refusing.

 

“Young Duke?”

 

“If you want to send it that badly, do as you please.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“But wait a few days. I need to arrange some things first.”

 

He seemed somehow hurt.

 

“The guy who’ll receive that letter should have at least that much patience.”

 

Cassian left an cryptic remark and walked away.

 

* * *

 

“Your skin is so fair and smooth that any style would suit you perfectly.”

 

“Miss, you have such delicate features that I didn’t notice before, but looking at each feature individually, they’re incredibly striking!”

 

“You really look like a fairy!”

 

Damia was trapped in a prison of compliments, receiving an endless barrage of admiration.

 

This was because Elena Sarkis had summoned the most popular designer of the moment to the Duke’s mansion.

 

In front of the House of Sarkis, even the lofty pride that had made nobles wait in line naturally seemed to lower itself.

 

“Our new daughter is quite pretty indeed.”

 

Elena smiled proudly at the continuous stream of admiration that flowed as naturally as breathing.

 

“Silver hair and violet eyes – you won’t even need elaborate dresses or excessive jewelry!”

 

“Still, it’s better to have too much than too little.”

 

Elena gestured with her hand.

 

“Bring everything. Don’t leave out a single item.”

 

Cheers erupted from the boutique staff.

 

Such a sudden shopping spree!

 

‘Did Mother notice after all?’

 

While everyone else was excited, Damia bit her lip thoughtfully.

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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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