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Chapter 29
“Oh, right. The engagement contract.”
The matter he had forgotten suddenly came back to mind.
The reason he had come to Marquis Ponti’s estate late today was to quickly show that document to Damia.
‘I thought I might be overdoing it, but it was good I came. If I hadn’t, things could’ve gone terribly wrong.’
Of course, even if he had missed today, he would have found a way to retrieve Damia by any means necessary.
The Sarkis family’s intelligence network and influence were comparable to that of the imperial court.
But if that had been the case, Damia would have been left trembling in fear, even if only for a few hours—or mere moments.
The mere thought made his heart, already slowed by the curse, sink.
‘I need to revise some clauses.’
Cassian took a long envelope out of his coat pocket.
It didn’t bear the head of house’s seal, but it had the official seal of Cassian, Young Viscount of Sarkis.
It was the most official document a boy his age could provide.
He rose and sat at the old desk.
The cold, hard chair banished any sleepiness.
‘Hmm…’
Cassian opened the engagement contract and picked up a quill. Several parts immediately caught his eye as needing correction.
Even the current contract was favorable to Damia.
He just wanted to guarantee a few more things for his fiancée.
The girl was bright and brave even in poor circumstances.
She needed a real adult to protect her instead of the useless Marquis Ponti, who couldn’t even shield her.
Cassian was willing to take on that responsibility.
He had more than enough money, honor, and power—enough that he wouldn’t even use it all before his death.
‘I think I really do see Damia as a little sister.’
Cassian, who had never had a younger sister, wasn’t sure exactly what that meant.
‘Even if it’s not entirely for that reason… the contract is necessary.’
It was to prevent Damia Ponti, who adored him, from misinterpreting his feelings as romantic affection.
A clumsy conclusion for a fifteen-year-old boy.
[(Temporary) Engagement Contract]
Even though it was a document he himself had written, for some reason, the word “temporary” irked him.
He had been the one who repeatedly emphasized that their engagement was a temporary, fake one.
[Cassian Sarkis (hereafter “Cassian”) and Damia Ponti (hereafter “Damia”) agree on the following prior to the temporary engagement:]
Though he had learned administration by observing the Duchess and the butler, drafting an official document himself still felt awkward.
And a “temporary engagement contract”?
It was an absurd document he would never have imagined before meeting Damia.
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The term of this temporary engagement is limited until Damia reaches adulthood.
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Cassian shall protect Damia as her fiancé, ensuring she is not forced into an unwanted marriage or relocation before reaching adulthood.
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Damia shall actively cooperate in alleviating Cassian’s illness using the ‘remedy’ (or, in unavoidable circumstances, ‘contact’).
The incident where his stalled heart responded the moment he held Damia’s hand was still shocking.
That’s why he had retrieved the contract before leaving the estate today.
And he added “contact” next to “remedy”…
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Damia shall actively cooperate in alleviating Cassian’s illness using the ‘remedy’ (or in extremely unavoidable circumstances, ‘contact’).
Cassian smiled satisfactorily at the restriction on contact.
Damia, who adored him, shouldn’t be touching him indiscriminately.
If he were to get too attached to her in that way, it would be disastrous.
3-1. This ‘contact’ is limited to normal, light circumstances such as holding hands or linking arms while escorting the other in formal settings.
Cassian hesitated but added this clause.
He couldn’t help recalling the moment he found Damia crying in the forest.
Her warm forehead, tears soaking his chest, and the way she sniffled in her prim little way were rather endearing.
So this limitation was necessary.
What if he even secretly wanted to hold onto that warmth forever?
‘What crazy thought is this now?’
His red eyes trembled as if in shock.
Cassian pressed his hand to his forehead and sighed. His large hand partially hid his handsome face.
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Cassian and Damia shall never interfere in each other’s private lives, including any romantic relationships outside of the temporary engagement.
This clause was essential.
Damia had promised not to interfere in his romantic life, but… well.
The girl liked Cassian too much.
Without a formalized promise, her resolve might easily waver.
Just keeping his uncertain life going was already exhausting—he didn’t have time to soothe a jealous fiancée.
And this clause also protected Damia.
She didn’t need to be bound solely to Cassian, who had limited time.
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If Cassian dies during the contract period, the temporary engagement between Cassian and Damia shall automatically terminate.
He couldn’t allow a bright young girl to be haunted by the ghost of a deceased fiancé.
The rest of the contract laid out in detail that even if the engagement were broken due to Cassian’s death, Damia would still receive financial support, including for remarriage or studies.
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If Cassian survives beyond the contract period, the engagement shall be dissolved amicably by mutual agreement.
A miracle unlikely to happen, but a comforting provision.
Wait—if Cassian really lived a long life, would he have to break this engagement?
Her tearful violet eyes, warm forehead, and reddened nose came to mind again.
He wanted to make sure she never cried like that again…
‘No. I’m insane. Don’t be tempted.’
Even if he pitied Damia, it was only because he had come to see her as a little sister.
If he continued the engagement with such ambiguous feelings and married her, she would inevitably be hurt.
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During the temporary engagement, Cassian guarantees the following to Damia:
The list of guarantees went on endlessly.
Flipping through the pages, Cassian smiled in satisfaction.
‘Is it… too much?’
Still, it was better than nothing.
If he had just given her gifts without the contract, Damia would surely misinterpret his feelings romantically.
After reviewing nearly thirty pages of the contract, Cassian added the final clause:
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During the temporary engagement, Cassian shall prioritize Damia’s life and safety above all else.
He recalled her trembling hands and moist, glistening eyes. He gripped the quill tighter.
He never wanted to see that fearful expression again.
At that moment, the sound of deliberate footsteps echoed from afar. Cassian quickly hid the engagement contract in his coat.
“Young Viscount!”
The person at the door lowered their voice to call him.
“Come in.”
At Cassian’s permission, two knights stepped in briskly.
They looked around the shabby room with wide, astonished eyes.
“Is this really a noble family? This looks even worse than the house I lived in before becoming a knight, and I was a commoner.”
“D-Don’t tell me you intend to insult my fiancée’s family?”
“No, of course not! The Young Viscount himself insisted on sleeping here despite his extreme fastidiousness.”
“Cut the nonsense. Did you find the butler?”
The knights’ expressions instantly turned serious. They stiffened and straightened their posture.
“W-Well… we found him, but…”
“Found him?”
“Someone else had already dealt with him. When we discovered the scene, the body was already stiff.”
“Ha.”
The boy let out a hollow laugh.
“Immediately tracked him, but we couldn’t find any trace of the culprit. Apologies.”
Though the story was harsh for a fifteen-year-old, the knights reported it without hesitation.
They seemed to regard Cassian more as a future lord than merely a young master they were protecting.
“But the state of the body was unusual.”
“How so?”
“It… it seemed like it was done by something non-human.”
Cassian’s fingers paused as he tapped the desk.
He suddenly remembered Damia’s words—that she and the coachman looked strikingly alike.
