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Chapter 33
‘Even though an invitation was sent, she didn’t come. Did the Marquis put her on strict supervision?’
Rumors had circulated that she wasn’t feeling well, but it was likely just an excuse.
Even if there was no poison involved, putting a snake in the picnic basket had been shocking.
She had never imagined someone could be that reckless.
‘Not seeing her makes me even more uneasy.’
Damia’s behavior could be unpredictable, so he had intended to keep an eye on her to gauge the situation.
“Oh my, Miss Damia, you smell absolutely lovely.”
At that moment, a red-haired girl approached. She was Viscountess Vivian, a few years older than Damia and the daughter of Count Rosen.
“Did you put on perfume?”
“Oh, no.”
“Really?”
Damia glanced behind Vivian. The girls who usually belonged to Drury’s circle were hovering around her.
“It’s not perfume, just soap.”
“Eh? Soap?”
Damia took out a semi-transparent lace pouch. Inside was a piece shaped like a lisianthus flower.
“Would you like to see it? You can even keep it if you like.”
Vivian carefully opened the pouch she received, and a soft, sweet fragrance spread around them.
“It’s so pretty!”
“I want to see too!”
The girls who had just been peeking now crowded around Damia.
“Where did you get it? It’s too pretty to be soap!”
At that time, high-end soap from the Eastern Mountains was popular among the nobility.
Soap made from olive oil mixed with fragrance came in various colors and scents, but the shapes were simple.
In truth, soap didn’t need to look pretty. Most nobles had their baths attended by servants and paid no attention to the soap’s shape.
Damia saw her chance.
To catch the eyes of girls who already had everything, showing them something new was the most certain way.
“My friend sent it from the Kingdom of Rodion.”
“Is this type of soap popular in Rodion? They really seem to have everything there!”
“No, I actually asked my maid to shape it. The scent was so nice I wanted to carry it around.”
“Really? How did you think of that?”
Damia smiled instead of answering.
‘Well, in about three years, this kind of soap will become quite popular.’
So it was something the world hadn’t seen yet. It was natural that the girls’ eyes lit up.
“Can I get one too?”
“It looks more special than a scented sachet!”
In fact, the soap had been made entirely by Damia and Romi from start to finish. Production had stopped after she moved to the Duke’s estate.
“I’ll give some to the others later. I didn’t bring many.”
Damia handed the lace pouches to a few nearby girls.
“Can I have one too?”
“I want one too…”
When their turn didn’t come, the rest of the girls pouted. The response had been far more enthusiastic than expected.
‘I never thought about selling them.’
Being handmade, mass production was impossible.
She planned to give a little to girls she was getting closer to and wait until similar items became fashionable.
Being noticed was one of the surest investments in high society.
“Do you… like this fragrance too, Young Viscount?”
Vivian’s green eyes flashed with curiosity.
‘Sarkis Young Viscount certified soap?’
Cassian probably wouldn’t allow it, but it seemed like it could make a big impression.
Just as Damia’s lips curled with this sweet thought…
“The Kingdom of Rodion, did you say?”
“The Young Viscount?”
Quietly—so quietly that she hadn’t noticed—Cassian stood right in front of her.
Vivian straightened up in surprise, and the other young ladies around them fell silent.
“Cassian! It’s such a shame it’s the last tea party of the year.”
“Summer comes around again anyway.”
“So… you mean we shouldn’t feel disappointed?”
He nodded absentmindedly, as if his thoughts were elsewhere.
Vivian’s smile stiffened awkwardly, though Cassian seemed not to notice.
Still…
‘These two might actually suit each other.’
Despite her flashy appearance, Vivian had a delicate side.
In her previous life, she had quietly hovered around Cassian, and only after he died did she find a suitable marriage.
‘Did she really have a crush on Cassian?’
Compared to the unusual Drury, Vivian might actually be a better match for Cassian—if we assume he survives his current limited lifespan, of course.
Damia pretended to go get a drink and subtly stepped back.
She had already distributed the soap, and for today, that was enough.
“By the way, my birthday is soon. Could you attend the party?”
Vivian’s excited voice reached her ears. It was best for the temporary fiancée to discreetly step aside at this point.
“Do you want more juice? I can bring some if you like.”
Just then, an unknown young noble blocked Damia.
His cheeks were rosy and boyish, but his voice was too thin and weak.
Above all, his appearance fell far short of satisfying Damia’s discerning taste.
“No, that’s fine.”
She gestured for him to move, but he ignored it and kept subtly watching her.
‘Why is he being so annoying?’
Just as she swallowed a sigh,
“Where are you going?”
A pleasing mid-low voice made her spine stiffen. This time, it was Cassian stopping her.
She had been surrounded by the young ladies; when had he started watching her?
“Oh, I just wanted to rest near the lake for a bit.”
She used the juice as an excuse, thinking she might be stopped otherwise, and quickly thought up another pretext.
“I’ll take you there.”
“Huh? It’s right in front of me.”
Even with a polite refusal, Cassian strode toward her.
“You must be busy. May I escort the Viscountess?”
When Damia hesitated, the unknown boy seemed to misunderstand and stepped forward.
Cassian gave him a disapproving look.
“A child meddling.”
“…Excuse me?”
“You have no business interfering.”
Cassian treated the boy as invisible and naturally offered his arm to Damia—as if refusal wasn’t an option.
“Let’s go. I was feeling tired anyway.”
“Tired?”
He had looked vigorous enough that it was hard to believe he was dying.
“I also have something to discuss.”
Reluctantly, Damia placed one hand on Cassian’s arm.
His mouth curved subtly.
Even in late summer, the sunlight was dazzling.
A cool breeze scattered Damia’s silver hair, which seemed to shine even brighter than the summer lake.
“……”
Despite her youth, Damia’s closed lips gave her a cool, composed impression.
Cassian tensed at his toes. He didn’t know why he felt so nervous all of a sudden.
“Shall we sit here?”
As Damia brushed her skirt and tried to sit, Cassian quickly stopped her.
“Wait a moment.”
He swiftly took out a handkerchief and spread it wide in the shade.
Damia’s violet eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh my, thank you.”
Her bright smile made his stomach churn again.
“Don’t… misinterpret this again.”
“Yes. It’s just your duty as a fiancé, right?”
“No, I was worried about the dress. It’s quite expensive.”
The words escaped his mouth before passing through his mind.
‘What nonsense did I just say?’
Cassian glanced at Damia from the corner of his eyes. The girl’s slight shoulders trembled.
‘She must be upset. Surely she’s not crying?’
“Hahaha. Yes, yes, I understand.”
Rather than being upset, Damia laughed.
It wasn’t the reaction he had expected. She seemed to treat him like a child.
“You said earlier you had something to discuss? Feel free to speak.”
Damia playfully shifted the topic as she settled on the handkerchief.
Cassian bit his lips. It was difficult to gauge his fiancée’s thoughts.
“You said you have no objection to the ‘no interference in private life’ clause, right?”
“Yes, of course. Please sit, Young Viscount.”
Cassian sat beside her. Sitting on the handkerchief together brought them close enough that their shoulders touched.
“Why suddenly bring up that clause? Were you going to compliment me or something?”
“…What do you mean?”
“You know. I subtly stepped aside earlier, didn’t I?”
“So it was intentional.”
Even though he didn’t want to admit it, Damia’s fresh scent kept clouding his thoughts.
Was it the scent of the soap she had shown the other girls earlier?
“You didn’t need to step aside intentionally.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, don’t overdo it. Just not causing a fuss is enough.”
Cassian truly meant it.
Seeing Damia subtly step back earlier had made a little corner of his heart ache.
“Hm?”
Damia tilted her head. She had expected to be impressed but instead looked confused.
