I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 76

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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 76

“Of course, it’s all just ridiculous rumors anyway.”

Berta burst into laughter.

“The Young Count even caught a demon alive recently, so no one believes it.”

It seemed the fact that Cassian had a terminal condition hadn’t leaked out.

“It’s probably a story made up by some pathetic fool driven mad by jealousy. There’s no evidence whatsoever.”

“I suppose… that must be it?”

“Such rumors usually spread through word of mouth at gatherings like this.”

Berta swept the banquet hall with a knowing gaze.

“I think he probably attended to warn people and, if possible, catch the culprit behind it all.”

“Ah, I see.”

“That’s why I was even more surprised.”

Berta leaned close to Damia’s ear and lowered her voice.

“His mind must be complicated with all sorts of important matters… yet the Young Count seemed to have taken a liking to you at first sight.”

True to her affectionate nature, Berta playfully poked Damia’s side.

She didn’t seem to have noticed Damia’s true identity at all.

“But… I heard he has a fiancée.”

“Ah.”

Berta closed her lips, then burst into laughter.

“The difference in their circumstances is so great that there’s almost no possibility of them actually getting married.”

‘So that’s how it looks to others.’

Even though she already knew this fact, hearing it from someone else’s mouth felt strange.

“…I see.”

Just then, Romi waved from afar. It was a signal to leave.

She must have noticed that Damia’s expression had hardened.

“The carriage must have arrived. My cousin is saying we should go now.”

“Oh my, already?”

“We forced ourselves to come because we were curious about the Midnight Greenhouse. I’m getting tired now.”

Damia smiled gracefully and rose from her seat.

It was perfect timing for an exit.

“Wait a moment.”

If only it weren’t for Cassian rushing over urgently right in front of the exit where everyone’s attention could easily be drawn.

“I’ll escort you.”

“Pardon? I’ll decline. Our carriage has already arrived.”

Romi, standing beside her, was visibly tense. Romi covered her face visible below the mask with her fan.

“It’s late and dangerous.”

“I don’t spare money for my safety. I’ve hired capable guards.”

“I have more to say. Things I’m curious about too.”

“Then I should tell you that clingy men aren’t attractive.”

Murmuring sounds rolled in like waves from the surroundings.

As if he wanted to become the protagonist of a scandal that would shake up the Western Social Circle, Cassian showed no signs of backing down.

“There’s something I want to confirm. Just the two of us.”

“I said I would decline.”

Cassian stood diagonally as if blocking the exit entirely.

“Haa…”

Damia glanced around. Her irritation was slowly rising.

She was also worried that someone else might recognize Damia’s identity at this rate.

‘He has no idea how much trouble I could cause him if I put my mind to it right now.’

Perhaps she needed to give him a proper blow to make him come to his senses.

“Your kindness is excessive for the price of one kiss.”

Damia deliberately spoke in a clear voice. The surroundings fell silent as death.

“What, what… just now…!”

Taking advantage of Cassian’s flustered moment as he blushed, Damia pushed him aside and ran outside.

“…I said stop right there!”

She heard Cassian shouting a beat too late, but Damia didn’t look back.

* * *

“What on earth happened?”

Even though his aide Alec was demanding an explanation, Cassian didn’t answer.

He was leaning against his office desk, only staring out the window.

“Young Count?”

“…”

“You need to say something so I can understand what’s going on!”

Frustrated with his tight-lipped lord, Alec even raised his voice.

“There’s nothing to understand.”

“Pardon? Are you serious? Do you know what kind of rumors are spreading wildly outside right now?”

Instead of answering, Cassian only frowned.

“Didn’t you say that everything from Rodion – food, clothing, goods, even people – was not to your taste?”

“I did.”

“Then why… no, what were you thinking?”

Alec pulled at his hair.

“In the midst of serious demon troubles, you suddenly hit it off with a foreigner! What kind of woman is she!”

“That never happened!”

Cassian slammed his hand on the desk. Though he looked much more mature on the outside, his sulking expression was unmistakably that of a boy.

“You didn’t visit the Midnight Greenhouse to build friendships, did you!”

“Of course not.”

“You know about those embarrassing rumors going around lately.”

“Yes. That I’m weak and cracks have appeared in the Empire’s shield that has been solid since the founding?”

A sneer crossed Cassian’s lips.

“Now we’re going to add the shameful rumor that you fell for a foreign woman at first sight and even gave her your clothes!”

“Who fell for anyone. It’s not like that.”

Cassian rubbed his temples. He really had a headache.

“What do you mean it’s not like that!”

Normally, Alec wouldn’t have pressed Cassian this hard.

He had watched Cassian since he was very young and sometimes acted like a cousin, but he always maintained clear boundaries.

But this time, he seemed too agitated to do so.

“Your clothes came back like this, didn’t they! Along with a letter!”

Alec shook the neatly packaged returned clothes.

Then a pink card that had been tucked between the clothes fell to the floor.

“Why did you give her your clothes in the first place? And why is this card this color? It looks exactly like a secretive and intimate relationship!”

“Give it here.”

“This won’t do. I need to see exactly what it says with my own two eyes.”

“I said give it to me.”

“No! This won’t do. Isn’t Miss Damia too pitiful… huh?”

Before Alec could pick up the fallen card, Cassian snatched it like lightning.

“What are you doing right now? Why is the Young Count picking up something that fell on the ground? Please think of your dignity!”

As Cassian clutched the card preciously, Alec exploded in frustration.

“Don’t tell me you’re doing this because you’re worried I might steal a peek at that card?”

Alec pounded his chest as if he was exasperated.

“Even if it’s not a real engagement… aren’t you being too harsh to Miss Damia?”

Cassian quickly shoved the card deep into his pocket.

Damia hadn’t done anything particular, yet somehow everyone from his mother to his aide had started taking Damia’s side one by one.

“Everyone’s making a huge fuss saying that the person who never paid attention to young ladies his age has finally found a match.”

“Wait, didn’t you say that Midnight Greenhouse was a secret salon? How is it managed that rumors spread all over the West!”

“That just proves how completely smitten the Young Count was with a woman he’d never seen before!”

Alec shouted back defiantly.

“That woman saved someone that day and is incredibly beautiful, plus quite wealthy they say… but that alone can’t surpass Miss Damia!”

Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t yet heard the story that the woman was a noblewoman from Rodion who had only existed in rumors.

‘If he had heard that, Alec would have figured out her identity too.’

Cassian let out a sigh of relief.

“Alec.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“What you’re talking about isn’t just ‘that alone,’ is it? And why do you know so much detail? You actually found it interesting and kept looking into it, didn’t you?”

“I did not!”

Despite his denial, the corners of Alec’s mouth twitched.

“Ha, fine, whatever.”

He didn’t even have the energy to respond seriously anymore. Cassian sat down in his chair weakly and shook his head.

“I never thought the Young Count wouldn’t show loyalty to Miss Damia.”

“…”

“Still, if you’ve met someone who attracts your heart that much… ha, maybe I should be supporting you too.”

“It’s not like that.”

Cassian denied it flatly and sank deep into his chair.

“Actually, I thought the Young Count had already made up his mind since you always couldn’t take your eyes off Miss Damia.”

Cassian closed his eyes completely.

“…I’ve told you countless times that’s not it.”

“Someone who doesn’t let anyone close to him only looks after Miss Damia, so how could I not misunderstand?”

“…”

“But that person appeals to your heart even more than that?”

“No.”

Cassian gripped the card tightly in his pocket.

“Then why are you acting like this? Even now your ears have turned red.”

Cassian finally opened his eyes wide.

“You do realize that you’re different from usual right now, don’t you, Young Count?”

So, that was really the problem.

The fact that Cassian had truly felt his heart flutter that day, in that moment.

That was a terrible truth he couldn’t deny.

Because…

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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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