I Proposed Because You Were Terminally Ill - Chapter 81

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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 81

“I’m being sincere. I’m genuinely worried about my fiancé who’s become the subject of rumors with another woman.”

“Hmm.”

“Isn’t she a remarkably caring fiancée? It’s heartbreaking.”

It was a bit embarrassing to say such things about myself, but I felt that wronged.

‘Even if it’s a contractual relationship, where else would you find a fiancée as generous as me!’

Cassian should have felt at least a shred of guilt toward her.

“Well, I’m not sure if my fiancée would truly be heartbroken over rumors about us.”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

“It seems we’ve seen everything here.”

He changed the subject with a sigh.

Would just thinking about his pure-hearted fiancée be exhausting?

“I heard there’s a lake outside. Wouldn’t you like to see it?”

Cassian seemed to want to focus solely on properly escorting the woman before him.

‘Once he finds out my identity, his attitude will completely change, won’t it?’

Though I felt unnecessarily disappointed, Damia shook her head slightly. This wasn’t the time for sentimentality.

“There’s a lake here too?”

“Yes. You should be able to take a boat ride as well.”

“Oh my, really?”

“It’s one of the most popular attractions in the West.”

After learning that Damia enjoyed boating, Cassian would often take boat rides with her on the lake at the Viscount’s Mansion.

Though he had never brought her here.

‘To think he’s showering a strange woman with kindness he never showed his fiancée.’

The back of my throat felt strangely prickly.

“Then have you been here with your fiancée before?”

Cassian’s eyebrows twitched, but Damia pretended not to notice.

“…No.”

“She must not like boating?”

“…I do know that she likes it.”

Having asked a question I already knew the answer to, I received a clearly troubled response.

“I see. So it’s the Young Count who isn’t affectionate.”

Cassian bit his lips tightly. He seemed to be holding back something he wanted to say.

“Let’s go to the lake.”

Anyway, seeing him uncomfortable made me feel my mischief was enough for now.

‘I have nothing to say either. I’m deceiving Cassian right now too.’

Besides, if the glass greenhouse was this beautiful, I was curious how stunning the lake would be at night.

“You said you had something important to tell me today. Will you share that story at the lake?”

Cassian silently extended one arm. When I placed my hand on it, he naturally matched his pace and led Damia.

It was as good as a silent affirmation.

‘He’s not really going to confess to me, is he?’

Cassian’s profile, which I glimpsed sideways, seemed tense and rigid. Damia’s heart pounded anxiously.

* * *

“Wow, it’s truly beautiful.”

Cassian stole glances at Damia’s face while rowing.

Damia had appeared wearing a mask again today. Her hair was jet black, and her voice was husky.

‘Does she really believe she’s hidden her identity from me with just that?’

Damia seemed quick-witted at times but had careless aspects too.

Perhaps his acting skills in pretending not to recognize her were better than expected.

Or maybe…

‘Does she think I’m so indifferent that I wouldn’t even recognize my fiancée’s face?’

How low must her expectations of her fiancé be for such a misunderstanding to be possible?

‘She said she had a crush on me.’

Damia didn’t seem to have any real intention of interfering with Cassian’s private life, nor did she appear particularly jealous.

He couldn’t understand why his stomach felt so bitter. No, now he thought he might know.

“What did you want to tell me?”

He recalled the memory of taking a boat together on the lake at the Viscount’s Mansion.

Though their relationship had grown much closer than it was two years ago, the inexplicable thirst remained.

“…Young Count?”

Cassian stopped rowing and looked directly at her.

“If I leave this time, we won’t be able to meet for a while.”

He couldn’t remain lost in thought forever. Cassian brought up what he had prepared to say.

“Oh my, really? I won’t be staying in the Empire long either, so that’s unfortunate.”

Damia reached her hand outside the boat. Thanks to the unusually bright moonlight, her delicately crafted profile was clearly visible.

Each time the lantern reflected on the water surface rippled, Damia’s purple eyes deepened further.

He simply couldn’t look away.

‘When did she become so beautiful? No, she was always pretty, but.’

“Where are you going? Are you visiting the capital?”

“Officially, only the trip to the capital has been announced, but it will actually be a military campaign.”

“A military campaign? Again?”

Damia turned around in shock. The boat tilted slightly and swayed.

“They say the situation near the border is much more serious than in the West.”

Cassian tried to sound as calm as possible, pretending it was nothing.

“It’s an imperial command. We can’t ignore the danger, and someone must take responsibility.”

“That responsibility… you have to bear it? You haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony or officially inherited your title yet.”

She seemed truly flustered.

“Even if House of Sarkis is called the Empire’s shield… this is a bit too much…”

Damia could only move her lips for a long time without continuing her words.

“The Empire has no military force greater than the Sarkis Knight Order. Especially when dealing with demons.”

“Still… do you really have to personally lead the campaign?”

“That’s the reason His Majesty the Emperor tolerates a private army of this size, and the price of our covenant with the Imperial Court.”

“…A covenant?”

Damia swallowed nervously.

“Wait, Young Count. Why are you telling me such important matters? We’re not that close, are we?”

Even with more than half her face covered by the mask, her confusion showed clearly.

“I judged there was no reason to hide it. You’ll find out eventually anyway.”

“But I’m not even your fiancée… why bother telling someone who’s practically a stranger?”

Damia looked very confused. Whether it was his wishful thinking or not, she also seemed a bit hurt.

“That’s because…”

He wanted to confess everything honestly.

That he had actually noticed who she was from the beginning.

But he couldn’t ruin everything because of a momentary impulse.

Cassian bit the inside of his mouth hard. He was terminally ill and couldn’t promise Damia a future.

So he had to continue pretending not to recognize her identity.

Then at least he wouldn’t have to make pathetic excuses about why he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“I wanted to tell you first before you heard it from anyone else.”

“Young Count…”

“The campaign might be lengthy, so today might be our last farewell.”

“Since I might return to Rodion before then?”

“…That’s right.”

Actually, that wasn’t what he meant. He truly thought it might be the last time.

His heart was reaching its limit day by day.

After this indefinite campaign, he might never return.

That’s why he couldn’t hold onto Damia’s ankles even more.

“Why are you telling me such things? I’m probably not the most important person to you, Young Count.”

“You may not be the most precious person, but you’re the one I’m most concerned about leaving behind.”

He thought this level of honesty should be acceptable.

“…Me?”

Familiar faces like Mother and the retainers flashed through his mind, but they had been preparing for his death for a long time.

However, this girl who had invaded his life without warning one day two years ago was different.

The closer he got to her, the more he wanted to keep her by his side longer. The terminal condition he had willingly accepted sometimes became miserable because of Damia.

Perhaps it was time to give his emotions their proper name.

Throwing away all the excuses about her being like a sister or a benefactor.

“Are you serious? We haven’t even known each other that long.”

No, two years was enough time.

“I haven’t particularly helped you in any way, Young Count.”

No, there had been more than enough.

Even without the treatment or physical contact, he would have eventually set his eyes on Damia.

Two years ago, perhaps it had been that way from their very first meeting.

The bold girl who wore a shabby dress yet kept her back straight as she made that sudden marriage proposal.

He had been curious from the start. He couldn’t look away.

“So you really did fall for me at first sight.”

Damia’s voice trembled faintly.

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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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