I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 49

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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 49

 

“You’ve been visiting quite frequently lately, Miss Damia.”

 

“Yes, Butler.”

 

The next day, Damia visited the Sarkis Palace.

 

“I’m sorry for coming without notice. Were you surprised?”

 

“Not at all. The Young Duke and Madam would always welcome you. Didn’t they tell you to visit without burden anytime?”

 

The old butler naturally led Damia to the Young Duke’s study.

 

Damia followed a step behind, clutching the basket in her hands tightly.

 

“Oh?”

 

After taking only a few steps, Damia came face to face with Cassian.

 

He seemed to have been at the training ground until just moments ago. His outer coat was carelessly draped over one shoulder, and his shirt clung to his damp body.

 

The hair at the nape of his neck was also lightly wet.

 

He wasn’t exactly undressed, but she felt awkward about where to look.

 

“What brings you here so early in the morning?”

 

“Wow, you’ve been training since this early?”

 

Damia deliberately raised her voice to sound nonchalant. She didn’t want to be caught showing signs of being flustered.

 

“I asked why you came.”

 

Cassian crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. He didn’t look to be in a very good mood.

 

“Don’t tell me you came because you were curious about how that childhood friend of yours is doing?”

 

He’s being particularly persistent today. Damia blinked awkwardly.

 

“For reference, that frail childhood friend of yours is still sleeping. He must be quite lazy.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

“I was thinking of having a sparring match with him. Oh, is he perhaps the cowardly type?”

 

A sparring match with the heir of House Sarkis, known as the Empire’s Shield, would feel like one-sided bullying to the opponent.

 

“Good morning, Young Duke. I’m sorry, but I actually woke up a while ago.”

 

Just then, Arsene appeared from behind. He looked fluffy and clean, as if he would smell like soap if you got close.

 

“Did you come because you were worried about me, Damia?”

 

Cassian whipped his head around. His expression hardened as if he had bitten stone.

 

For a moment, Cassian alternately looked over Arsene’s neat face and himself. His face noticeably reddened.

 

“I should go wash up first.”

 

“What? Young Duke, wait a moment! I have something to tell you!”

 

Cassian swept his disheveled hair back as if annoyed.

 

Then he turned around without being able to continue speaking.

 

“See you later.”

 

His tone was calm, but his retreating figure clearly showed signs of haste.

 

Arsene let out a small chuckle at that sight.

 

“He must be embarrassed because he’s not prepared.”

 

“Right. How unusual.”

 

“Should I have come out without washing too, to match his mood?”

 

Arsene smiled, crinkling his eyes prettily.

 

“It looked good though, what a shame.”

 

“…What did you say?”

 

At the words she let slip carelessly, Arsene’s neat face turned into a tearful expression.

 

But Damia didn’t notice at all.

 

* * *

 

Cassian called the physician to his study. It was because of Damia’s request.

 

As soon as the physician arrived, Damia opened a small box.

 

Inside was a white snake with pretty pink eyes, Ruby.

 

“So you came to see the physician, not me.”

 

Cassian was watching the scene with apparent displeasure.

 

“But at least it’s not because you came to see that childhood friend.”

 

His tone seemed indifferent, but the corners of his mouth were clearly turned up.

 

“Why would I worry about Arsene? You’ll take good care of him, Young Duke.”

 

“Really? Well, it’s not worth your worry anyway.”

 

“Arsene isn’t the type to just take it lying down anywhere either.”

 

“Are you praising that guy in front of me right now?”

 

“What? What are you talking about?”

 

The physician glanced at Cassian, then quickly began clearing his throat.

 

“Ahem, ahem! Are you saying the snake’s condition isn’t what it used to be?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“When I examined it, there was nothing particularly wrong…”

 

The physician slowly stroked his chin.

 

Even though the results showed there should be no problem, Ruby was drooping listlessly.

 

It seemed to struggle just with flicking its tongue.

 

“Do you happen to remember when this started?”

 

“About two years ago, there was a time like this once, but then it quickly regained its energy.”

 

Damia fell deep in thought. It was because she remembered what had happened two years ago.

 

“Are you really sure there’s nothing wrong with the examination results?”

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

The physician didn’t seem to have a clear answer either.

 

At the Young Duke’s dismissal, only Damia and Cassian remained in the drawing room.

 

“Young Duke, I have something to tell you.”

 

Before long, Damia was holding a glass bottle containing the dragon’s bane antidote.

 

And she slowly dripped the antidote onto the listless snake.

 

“What are you doing right now…!”

 

Before the flustered Cassian could finish his words, Ruby began to wriggle vigorously.

 

“Don’t tell me this is…”

 

“Young Duke, do you remember when the dragonkin attacked our house?”

 

“Of course I… remember.”

 

Cassian, who had been watching Ruby lick the antidote, answered a beat late.

 

“It took a long time to purify the demonic energy that had seeped into the manor.”

 

Cassian slowly nodded his head.

 

“Ruby was sick then too. I thought it was because the environment changed… but thinking about it now, I think it was because of the demonic energy.”

 

Even though the physician said there was nothing particularly wrong, Ruby had been ailing. And it responded to the dragon’s bane antidote.

 

Ruby’s health seemed to depend on demonic energy.

 

“The frequent appearance of demons lately might also be because the demonic energy in the West has grown stronger, don’t you think?”

 

“Well, they do say snakes are particularly vulnerable to demonic energy… but this little one might just be faking illness.”

 

Damia carefully stroked Ruby, who seemed to have regained its energy. Ruby coiled around her finger.

 

“But Young Duke, your condition has been getting worse lately too.”

 

“I’m always the same. There’s nothing particularly worse about lately.”

 

“Don’t lie. I can tell just by looking at your face.”

 

“…”

 

“Be honest, Young Duke. You promised to show me your weak side too.”

 

“Are you saying my condition has also worsened because of demonic energy?”

 

Damia carefully nodded her head.

 

Since he was cursed by the mad dragon, he had to be connected to demonic energy in some way.

 

If demonic energy was thickening throughout the West, his body wouldn’t be able to escape that influence either.

 

And indeed, lately the frequency of coughing up blood had been increasing.

 

“If you ever want to hold hands, just let me know anytime.”

 

“…I don’t need it.”

 

Even knowing it was close to medical treatment, his ears felt like they would burn up.

 

“I’m also bothered by Miss Drury’s handkerchief. I should have looked into it more thoroughly at the time.”

 

Cassian’s gaze was fixed on the girl’s pale, slender fingers as she stroked Ruby.

 

Actually, there was something he needed to confess to the girl.

 

“I keep thinking there must be something more. I don’t understand why the magical beasts are suddenly increasing like this either….”

 

“Don’t worry. I was planning to go on a campaign anyway, so I’ll look into it.”

 

“What? What do you mean by that?”

 

“It’s His Majesty the Emperor’s command. He told us to capture magical beasts to assess the situation.”

 

“You’re going personally? No matter how much the Sarkis Knight Order is called the Empire’s shield, Young Duke, you are….”

 

Living on borrowed time.

 

Though Damia never spoke the words aloud, Cassian understood the meaning of her silence perfectly.

 

His stomach churned, but he smiled calmly.

 

“I won’t be able to return for a while, but there’s nothing to worry about greatly. The purpose is investigation, not subjugation.”

 

“Are you really going?”

 

“I’ll bring plenty of medicine too.”

 

He approached the window and pulled the curtains wide open. His eyes narrowed against the streaming sunlight as he looked down.

 

In the middle of the garden, there was a young boy silently looking up at them.

 

It was Arsene Cadis.

 

The two stared at each other without moving an inch. A tension flowed between them as if they had started a staring contest.

 

As if responding to the provocation, Cassian lifted one corner of his mouth.

 

“This won’t do. I’ll have to keep your childhood friend here.”

 

“What? Why would Arsene need to stay here when you won’t even be around, Young Duke?”

 

“His gaze is insolent.”

 

“Are you going to find another ridiculous fault again?”

 

Damia let out a sigh.

 

“Don’t you actually like Arsene? You always try to keep him here.”

 

“Ha, let’s say that’s true.”

 

“Are you serious?”

 

“So just try taking him back again.”

 

Though his tone was playful, his eyes were strangely serious.

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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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