I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 79

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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 79

Every time Count Fabron tried to back out, ancient maps and vivid testimonies from miners burst forth from all directions.

It was enough to convince him that the Ortiga Mountains were indeed the legendary gold mine.

Fabron gradually lost any intention of sharing this tremendous opportunity with others.

In truth, he wanted to monopolize it all, but it was too much for Fabron to fund everything alone.

So he excluded small fry like Viscount Ponti and successfully brought in a select few big players, led by Viscount Soro.

Now it was time for him to step forward for full-scale development.

‘The bleeding will be severe.’

But if gold truly poured out from that mine, he would possess such immense wealth that even the Emperor wouldn’t dare treat him carelessly.

‘I won’t have to watch that arrogant Young Count’s face anymore either.’

Fabron’s eyes gleamed with greed. The Young Count’s constant interference in his business was…

‘I’m actually quite visually sensitive. So I’m sorry, but I’m not attracted to you at all, Count.’

There was probably also the influence of Damia Ponti, who had insulted his appearance, which was quite respectable for a middle-aged man.

Those two arrogant people had to pay the price for their insolence.

‘The dragonkin way is perfect for those who don’t know their place.’

Fabron recalled the ‘doll’ he had seen at the Soro Viscount’s Mansion.

A vile smile crept across his lips. It was an excellent and thrilling plan.

* * *

The summer sunlight had ripened considerably. Midsummer had arrived before they knew it.

“Miss, aren’t you hot?”

“I’m fine!”

Damia was riding in the finest carriage sent by Countess Elena, heading to Sarkis Palace.

Elena had even sent along the family’s direct guard knights, saying the world was dangerous these days.

Moreover, she had prepared drinks filled with ice, worried that Damia might be hot.

‘What luxury this is.’

Damia was in very good spirits. It wasn’t just because of the luxury she hadn’t enjoyed in her previous life.

It was because those planted in the Information Guild had brought delightful news to Romi.

‘Fabron is prepared to invest in that mine even if it means pulling out the pillars of his manor.’

A smile kept playing around her lips.

He was now blinded by gold and had lost his judgment.

If only useless pyrite poured out instead of gold…

Damia could repay in this life the mistake her father had made in her previous life, ruining the family by falling for Fabron’s schemes.

“Young lady!”

While lost in thought, the carriage had arrived at the palace’s main gate.

Surprisingly, Elena had come out to greet her personally under the blazing sun.

“…Mother?”

Elena smiled warmly, but even after coming out to greet her, she couldn’t readily continue speaking.

She seemed to be gauging Damia’s mood.

* * *

Upon entering the Countess’s drawing room, a familiar herbal fragrance wafted through the air.

This was because Elena treasured Damia’s gift of sachets so much that she had decorated them throughout the room.

“Why were you waiting outside earlier? The weather is so hot too.”

“I was just happy because it’s been so long.”

Elena smiled elegantly at Damia’s careful question.

“Has everything been well with you? It feels like it’s been quite a while since I’ve seen you.”

“Well, for me…”

Except for causing a scandal with your son at the salon and running away…

“It was the same as usual. How about you, Mother? It must have been busier with the Young Count away for a while.”

“I’m used to that much. Though the magical beast Cassian brought does worry me sometimes.”

Elena frowned mid-sip of her tea.

Indeed, that magical beast looked terrifyingly hideous, like something from a nightmare.

No matter how skilled Elena was at suppressing collateral relatives, having lived her whole life surrounded by beautiful things, such an eyesore must be torture.

“If it’s difficult, how about moving that magical beast somewhere else?”

“Difficult? It’s quite interesting, so I lose track of time watching it.”

“…Pardon?”

“Though my ears do hurt sometimes because it cries loudly when I approach, as if it’s scared.”

“I see.”

Damia nodded, setting aside any awkward sympathy.

It was indeed unreasonable to judge Elena, who had firmly maintained her position as Countess even without the Count, by ordinary standards.

‘Come to think of it, there were rumors that she showed unusual interest in magical beasts.’

Until now, she had thought they were false rumors.

Being so beautiful herself, she probably felt some scholarly curiosity about the hideous creatures at the opposite end of the spectrum.

“Still, I’m glad Cassian returned safely from the subjugation.”

Damia took a bite of the cake that Elena hadn’t even touched.

The Countess, who didn’t enjoy sweets, always prepared the finest desserts solely for Damia.

“That’s true, but… Cassian will soon be called to the capital, which worries me.”

At that moment, the fork slipped from Damia’s hand and clattered against the plate.

“Dear child?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mother.”

“Did you… not know?”

Damia tried not to show her surprise, but couldn’t find words to respond, only moving her lips.

“Didn’t Cassian tell you separately? That he’ll be going to the capital soon.”

“I heard briefly that there was a strong possibility of that.”

“His Majesty the Emperor has given the order. It’s been quite some time since we received the letter.”

Damia’s cheeks stiffened.

Even when Cassian had visited the Viscount’s Manor recently, he hadn’t shown any sign of this.

‘Why?’

At the very least, shouldn’t he have mentioned it since he needed the dragon’s bane antidote?

“Sigh, I don’t know what Cassian is thinking these days either.”

“He must be busy, so he might have simply forgotten to mention it.”

“Still, not telling his fiancée about his whereabouts.”

Elena sighed after gauging Damia’s reaction.

“A boy who never acted this way before, and now strange rumors are spreading…”

It seemed Elena had also heard about the scandal at the Midnight Greenhouse.

“It must be nonsense rumors. A boy who abhors contact with others, what could he possibly…”

Elena seemed to be trying her best to comfort Damia, albeit clumsily.

“They’re all false rumors, so I hope you won’t worry too much about them.”

“Ahaha… It’s fine. I trust Cassian.”

Damia laughed awkwardly. She knew better than anyone that they weren’t false rumors.

“My dear child…”

Elena’s eyes instantly became moist.

“It’s been quite a while since we’ve met in person recently. He probably wants to talk face to face.”

Even though they had met just recently, Damia defended Cassian, even mixing in lies.

Cassian hadn’t yet mentioned breaking the contract, and there were still three years left until the contract’s expiration date.

Three years was also the time remaining until Damia came of age.

Until then, she had to act as the most devoted and flawless fiancée possible.

If the title of Viscount Sarkis’s fiancée disappeared, she didn’t know what other unsuitable marriage her father might force upon her.

“I’ll give Cassian a stern talking-to when he returns. No matter what, that’s not proper behavior.”

“I’m really fine.”

Though she wasn’t exactly pleased, she was half sincere about it.

If Cassian drew such a clear line like this, she wouldn’t have to worry about misunderstanding.

Though doing this now did feel somewhat late.

“Cassian can’t keep making judgments and decisions on his own like before. The future is something you should discuss together with someone precious.”

“Hmm… there’s really no need to go that far…”

“No, just trust me.”

Elena promised to make Cassian consult with Damia on all matters, big and small, from now on.

* * *

A few days later, Elena’s promise was kept in quite a different form.

“A letter arrived from Lord Cassian?”

“Yes, miss. Here it is. It was brought from Vesper Street.”

Romi handed over the letter while watching Damia’s expression.

Cassian had indeed made contact, just as Elena said he would.

‘The problem is he’s looking for that woman he met at the Midnight Greenhouse, not me.’

Damia held the letter in her hand without even opening it.

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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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