I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 43
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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 43
“You want me to hold hands with other young ladies?”
“You never know. Oh, first please let go of my hand.”
Cassian stepped back with a flustered expression. He seemed to belatedly realize that he had been holding Damia’s hand for too long.
“When my life is at stake, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
“Damia.”
Cassian lifted his head that had been lowered. His handsome face had already shed its confusion and was filled with composure.
“Did you really believe that I still haven’t held hands with anyone other than you?”
“What?”
“I’m not some little child.”
Cassian let out a soft laugh.
‘What?’
Though it was unexpected, when she thought about it, it wasn’t really that surprising.
Even if he had a time limit, with a face like that!
Damia tensed her facial muscles to avoid showing her surprise.
“Wow, congratulations.”
“What’s with that proud expression?”
“Actually, I was really worried about your mysophobia, Young Duke. It’s a relief to see there’s been improvement.”
Cassian stared at her as if speechless.
“It’s disappointing that it had no effect on the curse. But you haven’t held hands with every young lady yet, so it’s too early to give up.”
“….”
“Let’s try again step by step.”
“What shameless nonsense is that? Are you planning to make me hold hands with every young lady in the West?”
“If it can save the Young Duke’s life, I can’t miss even the smallest possibility.”
When his life is on the line, his fingerprints can wear down a little.
Cassian seemed choked up as he turned his head away sharply.
“That’s enough, now get out.”
“What? Already?”
“I told you. I’m very busy today, and I don’t have time to leisurely chat with you.”
“But it’s been so long since we met…”
“If you don’t leave, I will.”
Faced with his firm order to leave, Damia had no choice but to retreat.
* * *
As soon as Cassian sent Damia away, he began his scheduled activities.
Just as his fiancée had predicted, Cassian visited the Rosen Estate.
“It’s an honor to have you attend the banquet, Young Duke.”
Countess Rosen, Vivian’s mother, beamed with joy on her radiant face.
“Lady Ponti didn’t come with you today?”
“She said she wasn’t feeling well today.”
“Oh my, that’s truly unfortunate. Then perhaps…”
Greed flickered in Countess Rosen’s eyes as she assessed Cassian.
“Could the Young Duke be Vivian’s partner for just today?”
“It’s not even a ball, just a banquet. Is a partner really necessary for such an occasion?”
“Vivian would be so delighted. It happens to be Vivian’s birthday today as well.”
Vivian’s birthday was of no interest to Cassian. The reason he left Damia behind had nothing to do with Vivian at all.
He had only come to visit because there was something he needed to verify separately.
Just as Cassian was about to refuse once more.
“Young Duke! You really came!”
From afar, Vivian came running with a completely flushed face.
“You really came to see me. Lady Ponti was right after all!”
“…What?”
At this unexpected reaction, Cassian froze completely.
* * *
Cassian ended up staying by Vivian’s side throughout the entire banquet.
The real reason he came to the Rosen Estate today had nothing to do with Vivian.
He had planned to briefly greet the hosts and immediately proceed with his original purpose.
But because of one remark Vivian made, Cassian froze in place, unable to move from his seat.
“Damia…”
“Pardon? What did you just say, Young Duke?”
He tried to ask exactly what Damia had said, but his mouth wouldn’t open.
Still, he had to ask. He couldn’t spend the entire day attached to Vivian.
Cassian wasn’t exactly lacking in social awareness. He simply had been born with conditions that never required him to read others’ moods.
Though Damia claimed to have a one-sided love for him, her attitude was definitely different from ordinary girls.
Until now, he had firmly believed it was because Damia had a unique personality, but lately there were times when his certainty wavered.
And whenever that happened, Cassian would unknowingly shrink back.
It was a weakness that didn’t suit the reputation of the Sarkis Family heir who had slain the mad dragon.
“Are you close with Damia?”
The words he finally managed to utter were evasive rather than getting to the truth. This too was unlike Cassian.
“Hmm… I don’t think we could say we’re very close.”
And yet she heard such mysterious strange words from Damia?
“We haven’t really had opportunities to become close. Damia is… not exactly the sociable type.”
Vivian swept her red hair behind her ear. Her green eyes sparkled with vitality.
‘A duchess doesn’t necessarily need to be sociable.’
Even if the Belotea Empire preferred sociable noble ladies.
“Still, the cosmetics and sachets that Lady Ponti distributes are very popular.”
The corner of Cassian’s mouth twitched. He didn’t know why his shoulders lifted at Damia’s praise.
“You know those pretty soaps she used to import from Rodion? They’re still popular.”
Surprisingly, Damia had quite a business sense for her young age.
It was completely different from her father, who was steadily gnawing away at the family’s reputation and racing toward bankruptcy.
“Actually, I was hesitant about today’s banquet because it’s small-scale and it’s to celebrate my birthday.”
Vivian’s cheeks had subtly flushed.
When Cassian’s expression softened while thinking of Damia, she seemed to have misunderstood and gained courage.
“Lady Ponti insisted I should definitely invite the Young Duke, guaranteeing that you would probably come.”
“What?”
“Though I did mention that the Young Duke seemed particularly kind to me compared to other young ladies.”
Since Cassian had never attended any young lady’s birthday banquet before, Vivian seemed to have romantically misunderstood this situation.
Cassian’s grip tightened on his water glass.
There were widespread rumors in society that while he cherished Damia quite a bit, he didn’t consider her a serious prospect.
Could it be that Damia also believed those foolish rumors?
Had she been pretending not to care, but was actually shaken enough by Vivian’s words to be bothered?
“Oh, these are cookies newly imported from the Kingdom of Rhodion. Would you like to try them? Mother specially ordered them.”
Vivian held a cookie in her hand and leaned toward Cassian.
“…From the Kingdom of Rhodion?”
“Yes, I heard rumors that the Young Duke has deep knowledge of desserts. Could you evaluate this one too?”
That was all because of Damia. Cassian wouldn’t even touch anything sweet.
“No, never mind.”
“…Young Duke?”
Cassian suddenly stood up from his seat and looked around.
“I heard you invited quite a lot of guests, but I don’t see the face I was expecting.”
“What? You didn’t come to see me?”
“I should get going now.”
“Al-already? Who are you looking for?”
“Count Fabron.”
The reason Cassian came to today’s banquet was to observe that old man’s movements.
He had also come without Damia because he didn’t want her to encounter the disgusting Count Fabron.
That old fox seemed to be involved in all sorts of dirty business in the Empire, but decisive evidence never surfaced.
The Imperial Court’s trust in Count Fabron was also quite solid. Solid enough that a young duke, not Duke Sarkis himself, couldn’t carelessly trample on it.
Still, by precisely targeting moments when he embezzled taxes or engaged in illegal transactions, he had cut off Count Fabron’s funding sources several times.
“I heard Count Fabron is gathering investors for a new business he’s starting.”
Perhaps because of Cassian’s interference, Count Fabron’s eyes had turned red with greed for new sources of income.
Rumors circulated that Fabron was trying to draw Viscount Rosen, Vivian’s father, into his investment scheme.
I thought he would attend his daughter’s birthday banquet to curry favor.
“I personally have an interest in it too, so I stopped by.”
“Count Fabron’s mine development project?”
“Yes. The Ortiga Mountains are a place rich with potential.”
He spoke loudly as if wanting others to hear. He could feel several people listening in.
This much would reach Fabron’s ears. That greedy old man wouldn’t miss this bait.
“Young Duke.”
Just then, Vivian whispered with her voice lowered considerably.
“This is a secret, but there’s something I want to tell you.”
Her face looked as if she had made some kind of decision.
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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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