I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

“Count Fabron can’t come today. Originally, he said he would definitely attend even if just to see our father’s face.”

 

“Then I should head back now.”

 

“Wait a moment! He said something urgent suddenly came up and he couldn’t make it.”

 

“What kind of matter?”

 

Vivian pulled Cassian’s sleeve toward her.

 

“I secretly overheard my parents’ conversation… There’s apparently a high possibility of a gold mine in the Ortiga Mountains.”

 

Cassian, who had been about to remove Vivian’s hand, paused.

 

Suddenly a gold mine? He had only been thinking of a copper mine at most.

 

“He was very confident that investing would make big money. I don’t know the details, but there must be solid evidence.”

 

“Oh, really? Then I can’t just sit still either.”

 

“Young Duke?”

 

Cassian removed Vivian with his gloved hand.

 

“I need to go find out the details right away. I can’t miss an opportunity like a gold mine.”

 

“Are you really going to leave?”

 

“Thank you, Lady Rosen.”

 

Vivian looked tearful, but Cassian only gave a picture-perfect smile.

 

With Count Fabron, his target, not even present, there was no reason to socialize with Vivian.

 

Well, learning that the favorable news of a gold mine had gotten mixed into that suspicious mine development business was a harvest.

 

“Oh, tell Countess Rosen something for me.”

 

Cassian, who had finished preparing to leave, stopped as if something had just occurred to him.

 

“I’m not particularly fond of anything that comes from the Kingdom of Rhodion.”

 

“Huh? Are you talking about the dessert?”

 

Instead of answering, Cassian smiled coldly.

 

He didn’t feel the need to correct Vivian’s misunderstanding.

 

Until that scheming childhood friend of Damia’s disappeared somehow—whether through marriage or military service—his preferences would remain the same.

 

* * *

 

“Shall we return to the ducal mansion?”

 

“No, to the Ponti Viscount’s Estate.”

 

It was a sudden change of destination, mixed with some impulse.

 

“Lord Cassian…!”

 

“See you again when there’s a chance, Lady Rosen. Though I’m not sure if there will be such an occasion.”

 

Vivian was practically clinging to the carriage window.

 

Cassian gave her one cold smile and ruthlessly drew the curtains.

 

And as soon as no one could see him, he closed both eyes.

 

The headaches he’d grown accustomed to living with due to the dragon’s curse were getting progressively worse lately.

 

It seemed that unless someone was as close as Damia, they wouldn’t notice, but his physical condition was definitely deteriorating day by day.

 

Perfectly mimicking a young duke was also reaching its limits.

 

‘What am I even going to do visiting the Ponti Viscount’s Estate now?’

 

As soon as the horses began galloping, regret washed over him.

 

After coldly driving Damia away, now he was going to visit her on his own whim.

 

Damia, who liked him too much, would welcome him anyway though.

 

‘Try holding hands with other young ladies?’

 

The suggestion he hadn’t liked kept coming to mind.

 

‘She even seemed unbothered thinking I had held hands with various young ladies.’

 

He was beginning to feel dissatisfied with his fiancée’s excessive consideration.

 

Though Damia had never demanded it, he had never once escorted another girl until now. He wore gloves to all events.

 

He knew he needed to distance himself from Damia. But that didn’t mean he had to endure unpleasant misunderstandings too.

 

They needed to have a proper conversation at least once. It would be good if that could be today, Cassian resolved.

 

Having no idea who he would encounter at the viscount’s estate.

 

* * *

 

As soon as he arrived at the Ponti Viscount’s Estate, he realized something was wrong.

 

The new butler Cassian had installed was restlessly watching his expression.

 

“Y-Young Duke, so suddenly…”

 

“Why are you so surprised? I don’t think I’ve come somewhere I shouldn’t.”

 

This was the butler who always brightened whenever Cassian visited. He tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

 

Had Damia gone out? No, she might still not have returned from the ducal mansion.

 

Could she still be waiting for him there?

 

When his thoughts reached that point, his chest seemed to sting strangely.

 

“Th-that is, the young lady’s friend has come to visit.”

 

That Damia had returned home was a bit unexpected, but fortunate.

 

“A friend? That girl who’s always holed up in the library doesn’t have any friends close enough to visit her at home.”

 

That scheming guy who insisted on traveling all the way to the Empire for Damia’s birthday wasn’t due to arrive yet.

 

“Well, that is…”

 

“Well, I can just go see for myself. As long as she’s inside, that’s fine.”

 

Cassian dismissed the butler’s flustered expression as nothing important.

 

Damia was an incredibly generous fiancée. She was even devoted.

 

Beyond not interfering with Cassian’s private life as per their contract, now she was even trying to encourage his romantic pursuits.

 

Just on the chance it might have some effect on his curse.

 

“I-I’ll go to the young lady first to inform her of your visit, Young Duke.”

 

“It’s fine. I came without notice because I wanted to surprise her.”

 

Damia would obviously be delighted by this surprise visit anyway.

 

“Young Duke! I’ll have Romi bring tea first. She’s tending to the vegetable garden right now…”

 

“No need for formalities, so move aside.”

 

The butler was acting strange today, but Cassian didn’t mind.

 

He was a conscientious person with limited time, so he had to distance himself even now. But that resolve kept wavering.

 

Even while feeling a sense of crisis, the corners of his mouth lifted at the thought of seeing Damia’s face again.

 

“The young lady will need time to prepare before seeing you, Young Duke!”

 

“What’s the big deal now? I’ve already seen her covered in dirt from the herb garden several times.”

 

Cassian had already reached Damia’s room. The door was half open.

 

“…I know… wait…”

 

Just as he was about to knock, he heard an unfamiliar voice from inside.

 

If he peeked his head out slightly, he could see inside the room, but Cassian somehow couldn’t move.

 

He stood frozen and only listened.

 

Was the butler’s particular confusion also because of this strange visitor who had come to see Damia?

 

“Damia.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Do you know how much I missed you?”

 

“I know, you’ve said it several times already. So stop saying useless things and hurry up and play your card.”

 

The girl was having a conversation with some boy. Just the two of them alone.

 

At that trivial conversation, flames seemed to flare up inside Cassian.

 

“I never imagined you would even get engaged while I was away.”

 

The other person’s voice was dripping with regret. At least, that’s how it sounded to Cassian’s ears.

 

“You didn’t even tell me, your childhood friend, until much later.”

 

“I had my circumstances.”

 

His clenched fist trembled finely.

 

It was definitely that scheming childhood friend of Damia’s who had immigrated to the Kingdom of Rhodion.

 

‘Is he really trying to pull something on another man’s fiancée?’

 

Rage surged to the top of his head. Cassian was ready to kick down the door and barge in right now.

 

He had already completely forgotten about the privacy non-interference clause he had personally written into the temporary engagement contract.

 

The butler was stamping his feet anxiously beside him, but Cassian didn’t care at all.

 

“What kind of circumstances are those? Why did you suddenly decide on the engagement?”

 

“I told you. There was a friendship between my mother and Countess Sarkis…”

 

“That’s it? You just went along with the adults’ decision?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Then what about your feelings?”

 

Cassian hesitated at the follow-up question.

 

Actually, Damia’s answer was obvious without even hearing it.

 

That girl had said she was passionately in love with him from their first meeting, so she would probably calmly confess her feelings even in front of her childhood friend.

 

Cassian’s stiff lips relaxed slightly. He tensed his handsome face to keep from grinning.

 

“Think about it, Arsene. What young lady in the world would dislike being engaged to Young Duke Sarkis?”

 

Huh? What did she say?

 

The girl’s reaction felt somehow lukewarm, contrary to his expectations.

 

Something like cold sweat began to seep from Cassian’s palms.

 

“I’m the same as other girls. Being engaged to the Young Duke is fortunate, isn’t it?”

 

“That’s not what I’m asking, Damia. So do you truly like him?”

 

Silence fell in the room. Cassian unconsciously held his breath.

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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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