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Chapter 32
“Are you watching Miss Damia again?”
Cassian Sarkis was spending the summer of his fifteenth year in considerable turmoil.
All because of his temporary fiancée, who hadn’t left his mind all day.
“I’m not.”
“Not? You called me here to report, and yet you’ve been glued to the window the whole time.”
“I was just looking outside.”
“Coincidentally, it’s the exact time when Miss Damia takes her daily garden walk with the Duchess.”
Alex, the knight who had accompanied him to rescue Damia and his loyal aide, stifled a giggle.
“Ah, you’re completely smitten, aren’t you?”
“It’s not like that.”
“You were like this when you went to rescue her too. You said you couldn’t live without her!”
“Shut up. I’ve told you several times that it wasn’t that kind of embarrassing meaning!”
Cassian’s sculpted forehead contorted at Alex’s imitation.
The Sarkis knights were generally very respectful toward Cassian.
But having watched him grow up, they were eager to advise him on matters of the heart, as if he were their cousin.
“The man posing as the coachman targeted Damia. I just keep him in sight to protect her.”
Veins stood out on Cassian’s clenched fists.
He had thought he saved Damia from danger, but it turned out she had helped him, making the situation even more dangerous.
“Hm… That man posing as a coachman probably wasn’t a pureblooded dragon. That wouldn’t be possible nowadays.”
Alex spoke in a serious tone.
He was one of the few close aides who knew the truth—that Damia and Cassian’s engagement was a transaction.
“You’re right. If he had really been a dragon, he wouldn’t have needed to flee because of us.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“He could have wiped out the entire village with a single breath.”
“You mean the rumors about dragon-blooded people living in human guise? So those weren’t just myths. They’re called the dragon clan, right?”
“We need to find that clan somehow. If their power grows any more, it’ll be a huge problem.”
“Yes, we’re doing our best.”
Alex bowed solemnly.
His previously joking demeanor vanished, and his tightly pressed lips looked extremely loyal.
“What about the possibility that Count Pavron is connected to the dragon clan? Even if not, he’s a disgusting man and must be dealt with.”
“Yes. As you suggested before, we’ve planted people in the Count’s estate as well.”
“They’ll pay for daring to touch my fiancée.”
Cassian’s crimson eyes darkened with anger.
Alex’s lips twitched again at the obvious fury.
“You’re laughing now?”
“No… You say the engagement is just a transaction, yet your actions show you’re completely smitten with Miss Damia… Ah, never mind. You’re just maintaining proper gentlemanly decorum.”
Cassian gritted his teeth. Alex half-lowered his tail.
“You only care for Damia as a little sister. Yes, I understand. But for someone without a real sister, do you even know what a true sister is?”
“If you’re going to keep saying useless things, get out!”
“Yes, yes. I’ll handle what you’ve assigned quickly.”
The knight, amused at teasing the Young Viscount, couldn’t hide the laughter in his voice.
‘Hah, a knight giggling like a child over personal matters.’
Cassian swept his black hair irritably.
He only wanted to give Damia the reward she deserved for her usefulness and, being relatively mature compared to her, to protect her well.
Yet, because of him, she had nearly been in danger, so naturally, his gaze lingered on her out of guilt.
‘I’m not actually fond of that girl, but everyone keeps misunderstanding. I need to keep my distance.’
Still, seeing her rosy cheeks and busy wandering around the estate made his lips curl up involuntarily.
‘Yes, I’m just pleased. She’s like a little sister, and I feel proud seeing her regain her health here.’
He forcibly convinced himself of this, closing his eyes and leaning deep into his chair.
Really?
A corner of his mind quietly questioned.
‘Maybe it’s just confusing because I’ve never been this close to a girl my age before.’
Perhaps he needed to get used to situations like this by interacting with other young ladies.
Though he really didn’t want to.
“You look like a fairy, Miss Damia!”
Summer was drawing to a close. Damia had finished preparing for the Duchess Sarkis’s last tea party of the year.
She wore a pale lavender chiffon dress, with her wavy silver hair half-tied and flowing down her back.
Transparent crystals sparkled on her slender, pale neck.
‘Not bad.’
She twirled once for fun, and the maids squealed in delight.
“You came out sooner than I expected.”
As she opened the door, Cassian was leaning against the wall, waiting for her.
Perhaps because it was the last tea party of the year—or because of the Duchess’s insistence—Cassian himself was dressed carefully.
He swept back his naturally straight black hair, revealing a clean and tidy forehead. He looked more mature than usual.
“You look breathtakingly handsome today, Young Viscount.”
Cassian merely raised an eyebrow.
“Your facial structure is truly perfect. I almost feel proud myself.”
Damia, unconcerned by his lack of response, admired him purely.
‘Hmm? Why is he like this?’
As she stepped closer, Cassian, for some reason, avoided her gaze.
“Alright, I see. Then I should compliment you out of courtesy too.”
“You don’t have to, really.”
“You… so…”
Cassian pondered deeply, moving his lips for a long time.
“You seem to have put a lot of effort into this. It doesn’t look bad…”
“…Huh? That’s it?”
He bit his lips nervously, then immediately regretted it.
“Uh… that’s a compliment, right? Anyway, thank you!”
Damia held the hem of her dress and bowed slightly, showcasing perfect etiquette.
Seeing the girl handle even poor praise gracefully made Cassian embarrassed, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.
“No need to thank me.”
Cassian’s ears warmed. He extended one arm, and Damia didn’t hesitate to link arms.
‘She must be shy.’
Damia pressed her lips together to suppress her smile.
He had seemed like a stoic, sky-eyed figure, but today, even he seemed to find Damia quite pretty.
The Sarkis estate garden was beautiful even in late summer.
Damia sipped green grape juice, prepared by the Duchess instead of champagne, and lost herself in thought.
‘But when exactly is the Young Viscount going to die?’
Not that she wished it, of course…
She tried recalling her memories from her past life but couldn’t remember precisely.
She only knew for sure that Cassian had died before reaching adulthood and could not inherit his title.
By that time, Damia had already been trapped in Count Pavron’s estate under the pretext of bride training.
She had little news from outside, and every day felt the same, blurring her sense of time.
‘Cassian took the treatment earlier than in my past life. So he might live longer this time.’
Although he still occasionally coughed blood in secret, he was not in immediate mortal danger.
Today, her gaze lingered on Cassian, who was leaving her temporary fiancée behind and interacting with children his own age.
‘Of course, I want Cassian to safely become Duke… but when will this temporary engagement end?’
And how long will she have to stay at the estate?
“Now that I think about it, Miss Drury doesn’t seem to have come.”
“Oh my, that’s unusual. She always attends the parties at the estate.”
Damia overheard the conversation, impossible to ignore.
Miss Drury isn’t here?
