I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 57

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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 57

Cassian stood awkwardly in the middle of the Viscount’s study.

Perhaps due to the thick blackout curtains by the window, the interior was as dim as a cave despite it being broad daylight.

“Can you hand over that demon to me? I’d like to show it directly to His Majesty. He’s quite the suspicious type, you know.”

Prince Basili had very naturally occupied the Viscount’s seat. He looked as if he were the master of this manor.

“If you truly need it, I’ll select one of the corpses in good condition to present.”

“A dead one won’t prove its contagiousness.”

“It’s dangerous, Your Highness.”

“Haha, dangerous. Do you think I can’t handle demons worse than a much younger Young Count?”

“…Do you wish for my counsel?”

“Look here, Young Count Sarkis.”

Basili frowned as if asking if he was serious. He looked displeased, seeming to know he was being disregarded.

“I’ll give you the dead one. A living demon is dangerous. I’ve barely managed to sedate it with drugs.”

“Couldn’t you just hand over those drugs along with it?”

“Protecting the Empire from danger is my duty as a shield. Those I must protect include Your Highness as well.”

Despite his delicate face, the Prince was quite skilled in combat. As someone mentioned as the next emperor, the level of his guard knights was considerable too.

So there was no way Basili couldn’t handle just one demon.

But Cassian didn’t want to hand it over.

It wasn’t simple stubbornness. It was because of the unidentifiable unpleasantness that ran down his spine whenever he faced the Prince, and the peculiarity of the captured specimen.

Due to the chaos in the banquet hall, everyone seemed not to have noticed, but that thing was different from other demons.

It wasn’t simply large in size. That thing had intelligence.

Rather than rampaging while swept up in madness, it commanded the group with clear killing intent.

That was closer to ‘evolution’ rather than being corrupted by demonic energy.

He couldn’t hand over such a dangerous mutant alive to the Prince. At least his side needed to understand the situation first.

“Don’t you know how demanding His Majesty is, Young Count? You need to give me a weapon to persuade His Majesty too.”

Basili let out a chuckle, but his eyes weren’t smiling.

“Unlike foolish me, I believe Your Highness will wisely handle the situation even without evidence.”

“So persuading His Majesty is my job. Such stubbornness.”

Basili waved his hand as if judging that scratching at Cassian would yield no results.

“Fine, go back now. You look tired from the expedition.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Cassian gave a brief bow. But even after raising his head, he didn’t leave his spot.

Toward the puzzled Basili, Cassian slowly opened his mouth.

“It seems my fiancée has been involved in an unpleasant matter.”

“Ah.”

Basili let out a short exclamation.

“It’s too much to call it simply unpleasant. An imperial treasure has disappeared, no less.”

“Did Viscount Soro’s daughter point to my fiancée as the culprit?”

“Ah, the suspicion is on the maid’s side, so don’t worry.”

“How could a mere maid steal that ring? From what I hear, there’s no physical evidence either.”

“Well. It’s suspicious why your fiancée would bother to take in a maid that Drury was trying to dismiss.”

It seemed Drury was scheming to get Romi back. Naturally, it wouldn’t be with good intentions.

“Hmm…”

Basili rose from his seat and paced around the study.

“So are you trying to plead for her life to me?”

Vile pleasure oozed from the Prince’s face as he rubbed his chin.

Cassian closed his mouth. Because he felt something was off.

‘It’s strange how composed he is.’

Even though an imperial treasure and engagement ring that Drury had cherished so much had disappeared.

‘If a ring I carefully chose for Damia had disappeared…’

And if Damia had been happy to receive that ring.

When such a precious item disappeared, he definitely wouldn’t be able to remain so calm.

His eyes would roll back and he’d search the entire Empire like catching mice to find the culprit. He might not sleep for three days and nights.

‘No, this might be a bit excessive.’

Cassian cleared his throat as if shaking off idle thoughts.

“I will vouch for both of their innocence.”

“Haha, even the maid?”

“She’s a child my fiancée cherishes.”

“You have an unexpectedly affectionate side.”

Basili’s smile deepened.

“Alright, fine. A contagious demon… Since we discovered a disaster in advance, I can show that much magnanimity.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I’ll appease Drury well, so take the maid and go back. It’s not like I have no idea where the ring went.”

As if the business was finished, Basili’s expression quickly became indifferent.

It was just as Cassian bowed his head and was about to step back.

“The Young Count has quite a lovely fiancée too. She’s quite clever as well.”

Cassian stopped abruptly. He stared intently at the Prince.

It would be proper etiquette to respond that it was ceremonial praise and too much honor. Yet his mouth wouldn’t open.

Separate from the Prince’s praise being unwelcome, it was because that evaluation wasn’t excessive for Damia at all.

No, it might even be insufficient.

‘…Insufficient?’

Cassian started. Once again, his heart was racing ahead of his head, reaching a strange conclusion.

“I’ll relay today’s events well to His Majesty. Perhaps His Majesty will summon the Young Count soon.”

Instead of answering, Cassian nodded. The Emperor’s summons was already expected.

* * *

“Young Count!”

When he returned to the carriage, Damia came running with quick steps.

“Are you alright? You look terrible. Why did His Highness the Prince keep you for so long?”

“I’m fine, so calm down.”

Cassian pushed the flustered Damia into the carriage.

Even after settling into the opposite seat, Damia’s lips twitched as if she had much more to say.

“I’m glad we can return safely. I thought they’d try to detain Romi at least, but surprisingly they didn’t get too harsh.”

It was because he had made a deal with Basili, but he just nodded without explaining.

What he really wanted to confirm was something else.

“What did Drury say to you earlier? It looked like she was threatening you.”

“Um…”

“Don’t try to cover it up just to reassure me.”

The look in Drury’s eyes as she glared at Damia as if to tear her apart was vivid in his mind.

Just recalling that scene again was as unpleasant as his stomach twisting.

‘How dare she.’

Anyway, Damia was his fiancée. No one could threaten Damia.

“I’m not really hiding anything. I have no reason to take her side either. But Drury was dragged away so quickly that I couldn’t see well either.”

Whether sincere or not, Damia seemed composed.

“She seemed to be spouting curses or something, but I couldn’t understand it so it became rather ridiculous. It must have been some petty threat.”

Damia didn’t look frightened at all. Cassian let out a hollow laugh.

Poof.

Then, he felt the sensation of the cushion beside him sinking.

“….”

Cassian’s body stiffened with a start. Damia, who had been sitting across from him, had suddenly plopped down right beside him.

“You know, Young Count.”

Damia looked up at him with an innocent expression.

She was too close. Close enough that he could count each of her long eyelashes.

Perhaps because it had been so long since they’d met, his ears seemed to be burning for no reason.

“Sit a bit farther away.”

Cassian pressed his body tightly against the window.

“How cold of you. I’m just so happy to see you after such a long time. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Damia’s hand reached toward his disheveled hair. It was a very natural gesture, but Cassian instinctively flinched.

“Hmm? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me?”

“Ha! That can’t be.”

Cassian stubbornly replied while avoiding Damia’s eyes.

“There’s blood and dust all over me. Your hands will get dirty.”

“I don’t mind. If you’re really worried about that, I’ll use a handkerchief.”

“…Use it sparingly.”

“I now have enough wealth to freely buy and throw away handkerchiefs, you know?”

That wasn’t what he had meant, but lacking the energy to argue, Cassian pressed his lips tightly together. Damia’s eyes narrowed.

“You are taking the medicine I gave you regularly during the campaign, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then why….”

Damia’s eyes narrowed further.

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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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