I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 55

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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 55

 

As the orchestra stopped playing, a suffocating silence descended upon the banquet hall.

 

Everyone’s gaze was drawn to the entrance at the shocking sight.

 

Some opened their mouths in disbelief, while others covered their noses due to the scent of blood.

 

“Who dares! How dare an uninvited person set foot in this place!”

 

The knights who were about to rush forward immediately stopped as if by agreement.

 

It seemed they recognized the face of the man standing with the sunlight behind him.

 

“What are you all doing! Stop him immediately!”

 

Despite the Viscount’s urging, the knights hesitated and couldn’t take a single step forward.

 

They seemed to lack the courage to dare stand in his way.

 

“….”

 

Finally, the man stepped onto the red carpet with measured steps.

 

His attitude was indifferent, as if the commotion surrounding him was of no concern.

 

Under the brilliant chandelier lighting, a face on the border between boy and man was revealed.

 

Even with bloodstains splattered on his cheek, he was eerily beautiful.

 

“Young Count…?”

 

Cassian’s red eyes precisely pierced through the crowd to find Damia.

 

The habitual boredom that lingered around his eyes was instantly washed away.

 

“Young Count Sarkis! What is the meaning of this outrage!”

 

Viscount Soro, having confirmed the identity of the uninvited guest, burst into angry shouts.

 

Far from being intimidated, Cassian slowly turned his gaze to stare at the Viscount.

 

“His Imperial Highness the Prince is also present! Sheathe that sword immediately!”

 

Basili’s guard also shouted loudly.

 

Only then did Damia realize that Cassian’s appearance was terribly unsuited for a banquet.

 

As if he had just returned from a subjugation, he wore dust-covered armor instead of formal attire.

 

The dark-colored cloak draped over it was stained with blood.

 

His black hair, which would normally not have a single strand out of place, was disheveled and covered his forehead.

 

The silent banquet hall was filled only with Cassian’s low, rough breathing.

 

Behind him, the Sarkis Knight Order stood in formation like shadows, emanating a sharp, intimidating presence.

 

If not for his unrealistically handsome face, his appearance would have warranted being called an intruder who came to ruin the banquet.

 

“Even if you are Young Count Sarkis, barging into a banquet like this is far too rude!”

 

Complaints poured in from nobles who were gauging Prince Basili’s reaction. However, Cassian merely raised an eyebrow once.

 

He was the sole heir of the noble House of Sarkis, as noble as royalty. This kind of cold reception would have been a first for him.

 

Yet Cassian was not flustered in the least. Rather, he seemed to regard all this commotion as trivial.

 

It seemed that such glares could not leave even a scratch on him.

 

‘I’ve never seen him like this before.’

 

Perhaps it was due to her memories from her past life. Damia seemed to have been unconsciously viewing Cassian as young.

 

Even though she knew intellectually that he was a descendant of the man who slaughtered the Mad Dragon and had been active as a knight on battlefields since his teens.

 

It felt like she was finally facing his true self.

 

“What exactly is the meaning of this, Young Count?”

 

Prince Basili stepped forward. Despite the sharp interrogation, Cassian maintained silence instead of answering.

 

His cold eyes swept over the faces of those filling the banquet hall one by one.

 

The nobles who met Cassian’s gaze hunched their shoulders as if they had committed some crime.

 

“If I was rude, I apologize.”

 

Cassian’s voice when he finally spoke was far too dry for someone offering an apology.

 

“However, today I stand here as the Empire’s shield, so I hope you will understand.”

 

“Haha, the Empire’s shield. You rarely mention that honorable title despite receiving it thanks to your ancestor’s merit.”

 

Basili, who had dismissed his guards and stepped forward, curled up the corner of his mouth.

 

“Some great danger must have befallen the Empire.”

 

At Cassian’s signal, knights brought forward a large sack with dried blood-red liquid stuck to it.

 

Just looking at it seemed to emanate an ominous aura.

 

Cassian snatched the sack and strode along the red carpet with large steps.

 

“St-stop!”

 

The closer he got to the center of the banquet hall where the Prince and Drury’s party were gathered, the more protests poured from all directions.

 

But no one dared to actually block Cassian’s path.

 

Though the sack seemed to contain something larger than a grown man, Cassian swung it around as lightly as a feather.

 

Thud!

 

The sack fell with a dull sound at Prince Basili’s feet.

 

The rough impact caused the loosely tied opening of the sack to come undone.

 

Through the gap, something’s foot protruded with a thud.

 

‘A foot?’

 

At first glance it looked like a beast’s front paw, but for a furry animal, scales densely covered its hide.

 

From the tips of its sharply curved claws, dark red blood that had not yet dried dripped onto the marble floor.

 

‘What is that?’

 

While Damia doubted her eyes, stifled screams erupted from various places.

 

“I have captured the demon beast as His Imperial Majesty commanded.”

 

Cassian bowed his head slightly toward Basili.

 

Though it appeared he was showing courtesy, Damia read unmistakable insolence in his eyes.

 

“Wh-what kind of madness is this!”

 

One of Basili’s close associates shouted with a face gone white.

 

“How dare you bring such a demon beast into my banquet hall!”

 

Viscount Soro also screamed in rage.

 

“Haha.”

 

Even while everyone was shocked, Basili was laughing calmly. No, he was trying to laugh.

 

He seemed to be trying to hide his agitation, but one side of Basili’s cheek was particularly rigid.

 

“Seeing how you came barging in like this as if making a demonstration… it must not have been a situation that could be resolved by just killing a few demon beasts.”

 

“Yes. The situation is quite serious. Upon hearing that Your Highness was in the West, I had no choice but to rush here.”

 

“Ha, what on earth could it be?”

 

Cassian bent down and began to open the sack wide.

 

“Ugh…!”

 

As soon as the sack was fully opened, a nose-piercing stench vibrated through the air.

 

The ladies covered their noses with handkerchiefs, and even the gentlemen frowned and stepped back.

 

Cassian remained calm even in that chaos.

 

Just as he stared directly into Basili’s eyes and was about to pull out the demon beast from the sack.

 

“That’s enough, Young Count Sarkis.”

 

“….”

 

“Even so, today is my fiancée’s coming-of-age ceremony. I’ll hear the report when we’re alone, so why don’t you enjoy the banquet now, Young Count?”

 

At the word fiancée, Cassian frowned.

 

When he glanced in her direction, Drury’s lips trembled. She looked as if she wanted to make some excuse.

 

“With blood on that handsome face… I can’t leave such an honored guest like that. Drury, won’t you lend him a handkerchief?”

 

Drury pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom as if she had been waiting.

 

“I’m grateful, but I must decline.”

 

“Keep it. Refusing a lady’s consideration isn’t proper etiquette either.”

 

Drury approached Cassian with entranced steps and held out the handkerchief.

 

“….”

 

He finally accepted the handkerchief reluctantly. At that moment, Drury flinched at the cold sneer that crossed his face.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness. Refusing consideration wouldn’t be proper etiquette indeed.”

 

Cassian roughly folded the handkerchief and rubbed it against the dried blood on his cheek.

 

Drury couldn’t take her eyes off that sight. Her bright blue eyes swayed violently.

 

As if barely suppressing her greed, her fist gripping the hem of her dress turned white.

 

“Drury.”

 

At the prince’s call, Drury, who had been hovering around Cassian, reluctantly stepped back.

 

That was the moment.

 

Cassian pressed Drury’s handkerchief to his nose and took a deep breath.

 

“…!”

 

Damia’s eyes widened as she witnessed that scene.

 

Cassian stared intently at Drury as she returned to the prince. His expression became terribly distorted.

 

It was as if he was jealous.

 

It was such a brief moment that no one would have noticed if it hadn’t been Damia watching Cassian so persistently.

 

But even that alone made the inside of her throat sting for no reason.

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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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