I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 65

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 65

“It’s more serious than I thought.”

Alec’s report far exceeded Cassian’s expectations.

This was despite Cassian already rating Damia’s business acumen quite highly.

He knew she made things like soap, sachets, and oils together with Romi.

‘I thought it was just a hobby, but it was more serious than I expected.’

It was truly surprising.

‘The amount that she and Romi can produce together must be limited, right?’

Besides, Cassian’s medicine had never been delayed during this time.

“You know that ointment that works amazingly well on wounds from monster bites these days.”

“Ah, the one that’s traded secretly among mercenaries?”

“Yes, the ointment that our knight order also keeps in stock. The one that was damn hard to get because of limited quantities.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Do you know where that ointment can be obtained?”

Even though there were only two of them, Alec lowered his voice.

“You know that mercenary the young lady often calls? The one who’s supposedly that maid’s brother.”

“Ah, Luke?”

“Yes, well, that Luke was distributing that ointment.”

“…What?”

“That’s not all.”

Cassian had only known Luke as a mercenary who occasionally served as Damia’s escort.

Or he thought he was an errand boy used instead of Romi when there were materials to obtain secretly from the Viscount.

But that wasn’t everything.

“They say Luke uses the alias L and frequents social clubs that nobles visit.”

“So that’s why he’s been looking more presentable lately. But Alec, do I need to know about a mercenary’s private life?”

“Well… it seems like something Lady Damia instructed. He’s been subtly circulating the young lady’s items, saying they came from Rodion.”

“What?”

“There are rumors in high society that the young lady’s items belong to a noblewoman from Rodion. It’s probably what the young lady intended. They’re quite popular too.”

“Popular? Damia couldn’t possibly meet that demand with just one maid.”

Alec puffed out his chest. He seemed quite proud of the fact he was about to explain.

“She’s maintaining a mystique strategy – reducing quantities and raising prices for scarcity. That’s why everyone’s even more desperate for them.”

“Then the income wouldn’t be much, would it? Making immediate money isn’t the goal?”

“Yes, you’re perceptive. Right now it’s not enough to call it a business, but it’s too substantial to call pocket money.”

“She’s building up the product’s value for the future?”

“It seems so. They’re so hard to obtain that everyone’s desperate, and the reputation keeps growing year by year.”

“…Ha.”

“It seems the young lady plans to start her business in earnest once she comes of age.”

Cassian pressed his temples firmly.

She confessed to him every day in front of him, but behind the scenes she was securing her own interests.

And with quite a solid plan at that.

“About Lady Damia’s childhood friend. They say he’s the son of quite a big shot in Rodion.”

“…Arsene Cadis?”

“Yes, the young lady would say she had a childhood friend in Rodion and occasionally share those hard-to-get items at parties.”

Cassian searched his memory.

Come to think of it, the looks from several young ladies toward Damia lately seemed much more favorable.

“Lady Damia herself is building a reputation for having quite excellent taste. There are also rumors that she has useful connections in Rodion.”

“She’s been preparing step by step. Is she planning to reveal that she was actually that noblewoman if necessary?”

“I’m not sure about that part yet. She might keep using a fictional person as a proxy until the end.”

“She’s expanded the business more than I thought.”

“Yes. Though I don’t know why she insists on Rodion specifically.”

“A noblewoman… from Rodion.”

He couldn’t understand why those words made him feel so terrible.

Cassian had often imagined several futures for Damia after his death.

It would be best if she lived as a wealthy single woman with the vast inheritance he would leave, but the Empire was harsh to unmarried women.

Perhaps exile to Rodion, which was relatively free, wouldn’t be bad either.

She would need a protector to settle in initially, and that childhood friend would be quite reliable.

Crack.

“Young Count?”

The quill pen, unable to withstand Cassian’s grip, was miserably crushed.

“No, I’m fine, so continue.”

“Well… at first I thought there might be an adult in the family cooperating with the young lady.”

“There’s no way. It would be fortunate if the Viscount just doesn’t cause trouble for Damia.”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s unfortunate.”

Cassian bit his lips firmly.

With that young girl struggling so hard, he couldn’t just be childishly disappointed.

He cherished Damia like a younger sister.

‘Right, younger sister.’

Cassian once again rationalized his confusion with that word.

In fact, his heart fluttering in front of Damia yesterday was probably because he realized he had nearly put someone as precious as a sister in danger with his own hands.

So even if he kept his distance, he needed to encourage Damia’s efforts, who was like a sister to him.

“I can’t pretend not to know forever, so I should have a conversation with her. If there are areas I can help with, I’ll handle them in advance.”

“What? Weren’t you planning to secretly watch and support from behind?”

“The monsters’ movements are unusual. Expedition orders might come down soon.”

Cassian’s red eyes grew coldly calm.

“His Majesty has many worries, so once Prince Basili arrives and reports, it will be decided immediately. There isn’t much time left.”

Alec pressed his lips tightly. A moment of silence passed.

“Is that really all?”

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes when I handle matters related to the young lady, I feel like I’m executing a will in advance rather than assisting your fiancée.”

“…What?”

“I don’t want you to become a hero, Young Count. I just want you to live healthy and happy for even one more day…”

“Alec. You’re my aide, not my brother.”

“…I overstepped my bounds.”

“Go.”

As Alec withdrew, silence fell.

The moment when the one who called himself Guanglong had possessed his body still came back vividly.

He should try to find ways to prevent it, but honestly, he couldn’t be sure there would be any results.

They didn’t know that for now, Cassian dying peacefully would be the best thing for everyone.

Perhaps the fact that the sooner it happened, the better.

* * *

It was the moment when he was pouring magical energy into the ritual circle without even noticing the sun setting.

Suddenly the ritual circle was dyed golden, and Guanglong’s eyeball began to writhe.

“Ugh, uuugh!”

Soon a golden flash blazed, and those performing the ritual were all thrown in different directions.

“Wh-what’s happening?”

Viscount Soro gasped and wiped away the sweat pouring down like rain.

He crawled toward the center of the ritual circle as if his collapsed wife and daughter didn’t matter at all.

It seemed his only concern was confirming whether the dragon’s eye, enshrined atop the coffin as a pedestal, remained intact.

“Huff, huff…”

Count Fabron, thrown into a corner of the ritual circle, breathed heavily.

His body remained the same, but his face had sunken like a skull, drained of life in just half a day.

He raised his trembling hand.

The fingertips that had touched the ritual circle while pouring blood as sacrifice were rotting away.

Grayish-white bone was visible between the decaying flesh.

‘Damn it. If I’d been even a little later, I would’ve ended up like that too.’

One of the lower dragonkin who had been today’s sacrifice had already lost too much blood and fallen unconscious.

Death seemed imminent.

“Ah, ahhhhh! This can’t be…!”

Just then, a scream burst from Viscount Soro’s mouth as she approached the dragon’s eye.

Fabron wiped his eyes, swollen with sweat and tears, and stared in that direction.

“…Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped him. The dragon’s eye, supposedly a divine relic, was split cleanly in half as if struck by lightning.

What was truly chilling came next.

Even split in two, the red pupils continued rolling ceaselessly.

It was as if they were searching for the culprit who had ruined the descent ritual.

“No, no!”

Viscount Soro, prostrate on the ground, recklessly reached out as if trying to force the eye back together.

“Ahhh!”

The moment her hand made contact, the acrid smell of burning flesh filled the air.

As her palm instantly turned black with necrosis, the Viscount shuddered and collapsed.

The descent had failed.

Though it was a predictable result given the imperfect conditions, the consequences were far more devastating than expected.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————