I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 5

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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 5

“Hey, what do you mean by fiancée, Young Duke?”

Viscount Ponti, Damia’s father, widened his eyes in disbelief.

“An old count lusting after a young lady to make her his second wife, and a father excited to sell off his daughter.”

His low voice was clearly laced with cynicism.

“Ahem…”

Count Fabron, shameless yet apparently knowing embarrassment, cleared his throat as his face turned bright red.

Damia’s father also rubbed his hands together restlessly.

“As her fiancé, I find such disgusting schemes difficult to overlook.”

“Fiancé? When exactly did you and my daughter…”

“From now on, any disrespect toward my fiancée will be considered a challenge to the Sarkis Ducal House.”

Cassian lightly ignored Viscount Ponti’s mumbling and simply poured out what he had to say.

Perhaps due to the authority of the Sarkis family embedded in that cold warning, the two old men could only move their lips without being able to object.

“Good thing I came to get her. Though I didn’t expect to witness such a disgusting scene.”

“What? You came personally because you missed me so much?”

“…”

“I feel the same way, Young Duke. I’ve been waiting for you all this time!”

Damia naturally acted coquettish and followed the young boy out.

* * *

Cassian first led Damia to his carriage.

Befitting the possession of the Sarkis Ducal House, the most honored family in the empire, the carriage was extremely luxurious.

Neither her father, nor the old count, nor anyone else could stand in Cassian’s way.

Here in the west, no one could go against the power of the Sarkis Ducal Family.

“Um, Young Duke. But where are we going now?”

The two sat facing each other inside the carriage.

The young boy leaned deep against the backrest and frowned his straight brows.

“So it wasn’t an exaggeration that you were about to be sold to the old count.”

“Did you doubt me?”

At his slightly pitying gaze, Damia deliberately held her head up straight.

“This empire is overflowing with young ladies who make up all sorts of stories to catch my attention.”

“But since you came to find me personally, you must have realized my words were true.”

“Right.”

“That medicine was effective, wasn’t it?”

Instead of answering, the young boy slowly swept back his hair.

When his clean, handsome forehead was revealed, Damia unconsciously swallowed.

‘He’s so magnificent I’d pay money just to look at him.’

It felt like her eyes, dirtied by the old perverted count, were being cleansed.

“What exactly did you do?”

“I can’t tell you that right now. You haven’t agreed to my proposal yet.”

“Don’t you think I could get what I want by threatening you?”

“I believe you’re not that ruthless.”

“Too bad. That belief will be shattered today.”

When Cassian smirked sarcastically, Damia’s slightly parted lips pressed firmly shut.

‘So what, is he going to drag me somewhere and threaten me?’

But Cassian Sarkis from her first life never lost his dignity as a high noble until the moment he died.

‘Even when Count Fabron tried to play tricks with those herbs in my previous life, he only went as far as warning him.’

So this time too, he probably wouldn’t resort to despicable acts.

“No. I don’t think my belief will be shattered today.”

“Why?”

“If you intended to threaten me, you wouldn’t have come all the way here personally.”

“You’re surprisingly perceptive.”

Cassian let out a low laugh and readily agreed.

Just then, the carriage jolted slightly.

“Wait, did we already depart?”

It was so quiet she almost didn’t notice, but the carriage seemed to have departed long ago.

“I’ll ask again. Is an engagement with me really what you want as payment for this deal?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“If you want to change the conditions, now is your last chance. I can give you anything you want.”

“All I want is an engagement with you, Young Duke.”

Even if she were to receive money or territory, with her mere thirteen-year-old body, it would all be taken by her father.

Even if the Ponti Baronial House’s finances improved, her father wouldn’t give up the marriage business.

It might be better than Count Fabron, but in the end, she’d have to promise her life to a complete stranger.

‘I’ll secretly save up money until I break off the engagement with the Young Duke, then flee to another country.’

For example, the neighboring Kingdom of Rhodion.

The Kingdom of Rhodion was famous for broadly recognizing the rights of unmarried women as long as they had wealth.

“Why are you so resolute?”

“I told you. I love you, Young Duke.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll be a convenient temporary fiancée. You can use me as an excuse to chase away bothersome young ladies.”

“Wait, temporary fiancée?”

At Cassian’s question, Damia nodded slightly.

“Yes. I thought about it, and I think it would be fine to set a time limit in advance.”

“You said you wouldn’t interfere with my love life, and now you’re okay with a temporary engagement?”

“Yes. I don’t want to be a burden. If you overcome the curse or come of age, I’ll cleanly break off the engagement immediately. Though my heart will be torn, of course.”

“How is that possible if you love me?”

“Because I love you so much, I think I could happily cherish even short memories for a lifetime. I know my place too well to hope for actual marriage.”

She didn’t want to repeat another marriage where one side was disadvantaged and love wasn’t involved.

Since she couldn’t reveal her true feelings, Damia did her best to imitate a devoted girl deeply in love with her first love.

“You…”

Cassian let out a low sigh.

The young boy’s red eyes held a complex light, as if he had much to say.

“What? Oh, is it a bit awkward? If you want, I can be jealous too.”

“…There’s no way I’d want that.”

Cassian frowned as if displeased. He gazed out the window for a moment, lost in thought.

“Those words you just said, you won’t regret them?”

“Of course. I could even swear before God. I absolutely won’t be troublesome.”

“Fine. I’ll accept your proposal. You’ll meet my mother, so prepare yourself.”

Cassian spoke curtly as if he’d finished deliberating.

“Yes, understood. Wait, what? We were heading to the ducal mansion?”

“Yeah. Mother is curious about you.”

Things were proceeding this quickly?

Cassian looked at Damia’s surprised face and smirked with satisfaction.

“So you do know how to be flustered?”

“Y-Young Duke. Wait a minute, this is too fast! I need to prepare myself mentally too.”

“There’s no time. Besides, I quite liked your proposal.”

“What do you mean there’s no time? And why is your personality so impatient?”

“Why? I’m terminally ill, you know.”

A shameless smile appeared on his handsome face.

Damia, left speechless, let out a hollow laugh.

* * *

“I am Damia of the Ponti Baronial House.”

Damia barely managed to finish her introduction without stumbling.

Though it was only a very brief greeting, her back was drenched in cold sweat.

Duke Sarkis had already passed away long ago.

In other words, the only direct descendants left in the ducal house were the Countess and Cassian, the young duke.

‘I wonder if the curse had an influence on the Duke’s death too?’

Because Cassian was young, all sorts of male relatives from collateral lines stepped forward, claiming they would serve as regent for the duke.

And it was Countess Sarkis before her who had protected the ducal house from those dog-like men.

‘She’s beautiful, like she was carved from ice with great care.’

Countess Sarkis’ drawing room was filled only with the most expensive and precious things in the empire.

And the Countess was a cool-impressioned beauty who stood out more than any decoration in the drawing room.

‘She was famous for calmly stabbing people with a dagger while smiling. Especially merciless to those who touched what was hers.’

What Countess Sarkis treasured most was undoubtedly her only son, Cassian.

‘She’s not going to lock me up somewhere for daring to covet Cassian without knowing my place, is she?’

Just imagining it made her knees weak, and she wanted to squeeze her eyes shut.

“I was puzzled when Cassian, who had only lived for his own pride until now, suddenly started talking about engagement…”

The Countess, who had been staring at Damia for a long while, slowly opened her mouth.

At that monotone voice, Damia’s heart clenched tight.

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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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