I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 73

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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 73

‘Just how long has he been watching?’

Damia’s steps toward the wetland garden located in the abandoned theater’s underground waterway came to an abrupt halt.

Cold sweat beaded on her palms, but Damia desperately forced the corners of her mouth upward.

“I’m glad it was impressive.”

It was a husky, mid-low tone completely different from Damia’s usual voice.

Cassian’s eyebrows twitched.

‘I’m really glad I took that medicine.’

She hadn’t known the side effects of the vocal cord nodule treatment would be this useful.

It was also fortunate that she had temporarily separated from Romi. No matter how naturally innocent Romi was, it would be difficult for her to maintain composure in front of Cassian.

“I wasn’t trying to provide an entertaining spectacle for you, sir.”

“…That’s not an Imperial accent.”

“It seems you’re better at other things than hearing. Considering you didn’t hear me say I was from Rodion earlier.”

“That sarcastic yet direct way of speaking is also typical of someone from Rodion.”

Damia bit her lip slightly.

‘Actually, aside from the accent, it’s not that different from my usual way of speaking.’

In this life, her decision to speak her mind even if it meant being sarcastic had coincidentally become similar to Rodion’s way of speaking.

‘I suppose it saved me the trouble of acting.’

Of course, it was a bit unsettling.

She couldn’t tell whether Cassian had noticed Damia’s identity and was being sarcastic, or if it was truly pure observation.

“I heard this place only invites those close to adulthood.”

Cassian’s red eyes gleamed sharply.

It was a persistent gaze as if trying to see through the face behind the mask.

‘Has he figured out who I am, or not?’

Damia bit the inside of her lip firmly. If she showed panic or clumsiness here, it would be over.

“It’s a pleasant misunderstanding, but I am strictly an adult.”

“Ha.”

“Oh my. Did my answer disappoint you, sir? Ah, don’t tell me…”

Damia widened her eyes as if realizing something.

“You look quite young yourself… Could it be you approached me because you wanted to mingle with peers?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Did the other gentlemen not include you in conversations because you’re young? How terrible of them.”

“Who’s treating who like a child right now…!”

Perhaps feeling the sharp gazes around them, Cassian hastily shut his mouth.

But his raised voice had already been enough to draw attention.

Everyone was glancing at the two of them with curious eyes.

“If we continue staying together like this, strange rumors might start spreading.”

Damia subtly took a step back. This was her chance to escape this suffocating situation.

“It was a brief conversation, and we didn’t understand each other at all, but I’ll consider it enjoyable nonetheless.”

Cassian’s sculpted face crumpled. Damia smiled brightly and immediately turned around.

Though she seemed to have provoked his temper, having wounded the proud Young Count’s pride, he wouldn’t follow her any further.

Damia quickly walked toward the left corner of the stage where the chandelier light didn’t reach.

“Oh my, are you going to see the wetland garden? You have quite unique tastes.”

“Are you going alone? I heard it’s quite eerie.”

Passersby made comments, but Damia responded with eye smiles and quickened her pace.

Soon, a sign from the theater days reading “Staff Only” came into view.

Damia casually passed by that notice and pulled back the thick velvet curtain behind it.

‘The stairs are narrow and steep.’

Clutching her dress hem, she quickly descended the spiral staircase.

It was the staff-only staircase that actors used when the theater was operational.

With each floor she descended, the fishy smell of water grew stronger.

‘It’s exactly as I heard in my previous life.’

Damia had risked coming to the Midnight Greenhouse today partly because of the wetland garden.

Just as she was about to hurry down the stairs with an excited heart.

“Stop right there.”

Damia’s body stiffened at the cool voice.

‘Why did he follow me all the way here!’

“Oh my, did you follow me all the way here?”

Damia barely managed to act nonchalant, suppressing the urge to look back.

She still had to go much further down. The wetland garden Damia was looking for was a space connected to the theater’s underground waterway.

“I said stop.”

Regular footsteps followed from behind.

“Don’t tell me you fell for me at first sight? Why do you keep following me?”

“Let’s say it’s similar.”

She thought he would give up and return by now, but he was persistent.

“Are you serious? I don’t get that feeling from your tone at all.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not showing any signs of trying to impress me. You’re not even being shy!”

Only meaningless bickering continued. She had unintentionally ended up guiding Cassian to the wetland garden.

“Ah…!”

Finally, she reached the bottom floor. The ground was soaked with moisture.

Though it was called a garden, it was a place everyone avoided due to the damp chill and eerie atmosphere.

There was no one managing it either.

‘I’ve only heard rumors, but this is my first time actually seeing it.’

The moss covering the ceiling and walls glowed fluorescently.

Under that strange lighting, sharp-leaved ferns grew tangled together haphazardly.

The sound of water dripping echoed from somewhere. It felt exactly like entering a cave.

‘This really isn’t an ordinary garden.’

Cassian’s footsteps could no longer be heard, as if he had finally given up and returned.

With her tension relieved, Damia became captivated by the scene before her.

‘Wait, I need to collect soil first.’

Damia crouched down and removed her gloves. She grabbed a handful of the damp soil with her bare hands.

Among the earthy smell, there was a pungent, sharp fragrance.

Moreover, transparent particles like finely crushed glass powder were mixed in the soil, subtly reflecting light.

‘There must be some secret in this soil.’

The wetland garden had nothing but wastewater, no sun or wind.

Yet the plants grew excessively lush. Though all the plants glowing fluorescently was a bit eerie, they overflowed with vitality.

Damia hurriedly put soil samples into her pouch.

Some component in the soil must be acting as a special fertilizer.

‘It might be the luminous soil mentioned in the ancient texts.’

If this soil was truly ‘luminous soil,’ it might produce the effects she had dreamed of.

For instance…

“What are you doing there?”

A groan-like sigh escaped from between Damia’s lips.

The Young Count had actually descended those narrow stairs and entered this damp, shabby space, even bending his waist.

It was behavior uncharacteristic of Cassian, who was usually fastidious to the point of near-obsession with cleanliness.

“To follow me all the way here… did you really fall for me?”

Damia stood up, brushing the dirt off her hands.

“Or perhaps you came to see this garden? This is called a garden, but as you can see, there’s nothing particularly worth seeing.”

“Is that what’s important right now?”

“Pardon? I don’t understand what you mean.”

Damia tilted her head in confusion, then parted her lips slightly.

“Ah! If you’d like to continue our acquaintance, please contact me through the agent on Vesper Street.”

“…You’re really saying it’s not you?”

Cassian stared at her intently.

Damia secretly swallowed her dry saliva. He was indeed suspicious of her identity.

“Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else? This is our first meeting… Ah!”

“Watch out!”

As Damia tried to step away, she slipped on the moss that had accumulated on the wet floor.

In that moment, Cassian quickly approached and caught Damia around the waist.

His firm arm supported her.

“….”

Their gazes locked at close range. The red eyes behind the mask were too vivid.

The warmth from his large hand wrapped around her waist seemed to constrict her heart.

‘No. Get a grip.’

Damia instinctively reached out to push against his shoulder.

‘Huh?’

Surprisingly, Cassian also seemed extremely tense, his entire body rigid.

“Um… thank you for helping me.”

“…You should, let go.”

When the firm muscle touched her palm, Damia also froze.

Their gazes became entangled in the air once again.

“….”

If she showed too much agitation, her identity might be discovered. She might have already aroused enough suspicion.

Damia bit her lip tightly.

Lately, Cassian had begun treating her like a little sister and being overprotective.

If she were discovered like this, that irrational interference might become even worse.

Moreover, she didn’t want to reveal her asylum plan to Rodion to Cassian yet.

‘I should act in a way that I would never do even if I died and came back to life.’

Damia made a firm resolution.

“You want me to let go?”

“Yes.”

Damia moved closer to Cassian and slowly curved up the corners of her mouth.

“Be honest. You haven’t been able to take your eyes off me this whole time.”

His red eyes shook mercilessly.

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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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