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Chapter 43
“Hold hands with other young ladies?”
“You never know. Ah, but first, please let go of my hand.”
Cassian stumbled backward, a flustered expression on his face. He seemed to belatedly realize he had been holding Damia’s hand for far too long.
“My life is at stake, so what’s there I can’t do?”
“Damia.”
Cassian lifted his bowed head. His handsome face had regained composure, and a calm confidence now radiated from him.
“Did you really believe that I haven’t held anyone else’s hand besides yours?”
“Eh?”
“I’m not a child, you know.”
Cassian let out a short laugh.
‘What did he just say?’
It was surprising, but on second thought, not entirely shocking.
Even if he’s terminally ill… with a face like that!
Damia clenched her facial muscles tightly to hide her shock.
“Wow, congratulations.”
“Hey, what’s with that proud expression?”
“I was genuinely worried about your obsessive tendencies, Young Viscount. I’m relieved to see some progress.”
Cassian stared at her, apparently speechless.
“It’s a pity it didn’t work on the curse. But you surely haven’t held hands with all the young ladies, so it’s too early to give up.”
“……”
“Take it step by step and try again.”
“What a shameless suggestion! You want me to hold hands with every young lady in the West?”
“If it can save your life, I won’t let even the slightest chance slip away.”
With one’s life at stake, a little worn fingerprint is nothing.
Cassian abruptly turned his head, flaring with irritation.
“Enough. Now leave.”
“Huh? Already?”
“I told you, I’m very busy today. I don’t have time to leisurely chat with you.”
“But it’s been a while since we met…”
“If you don’t leave, I will.”
Faced with his firm command, Damia had no choice but to retreat.
As soon as Damia left, Cassian set off for his scheduled engagement.
Just as Damia had anticipated, Cassian visited the Rosen Count’s residence.
“It’s an honor to have you attend the banquet, Young Viscount.”
Countess Rosen, Vivian’s mother, glowed with joy.
“Miss Fonti isn’t accompanying you today?”
“She wasn’t feeling well, apparently.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate. Then perhaps…”
A gleam of desire flickered in Countess Rosen’s eyes as she assessed Cassian.
“Would you, even if just for today, be Vivian’s partner?”
“It’s not a ball, just a banquet. Is a partner really necessary?”
“Vivian would be delighted. And it happens to be her birthday today as well.”
Vivian’s birthday was of no concern to Cassian. The reason he left Damia behind had nothing to do with Vivian.
He was visiting only to check on something important.
Just as he was about to refuse again, Vivian ran up, cheeks flushed.
“You really came to see me, Young Viscount! Miss Fonti was right!”
“…What?”
Taken aback by the unexpected reaction, Cassian froze.
Before he knew it, Cassian spent the entire banquet seated beside Vivian.
In truth, his reason for coming to the Rosen residence had nothing to do with her.
He had intended only to greet the hosts briefly and then proceed with his original purpose.
But a single comment from Vivian left him frozen in place.
“Damia…”
“Excuse me? What did you just say, Young Viscount?”
Damia tried to ask what he had meant, but her mouth wouldn’t move.
Still, she had to ask—he couldn’t be stuck with Vivian all day.
Technically, Cassian wasn’t unaware of social cues; he simply had never needed to care about others’ opinions from birth.
Damia verbally confessed her love for him, yet her behavior differed from ordinary girls.
Until now, he had firmly believed it was because of her unique personality, but lately, he had started to doubt.
And whenever that doubt surfaced, Cassian would subtly withdraw.
It was a fragility wholly incompatible with his reputation as the heir of the Sarkis family who slew the Radiant Dragon.
“Are you close with Damia?”
The words that barely escaped his mouth weren’t a direct inquiry but a roundabout question—a rarity for Cassian.
“Hmm… I wouldn’t say we’re very close.”
Yet she had heard something strange from Damia?
“We haven’t really had the chance. Miss Damia… isn’t very sociable, you see.”
Vivian tucked her red hair behind her ear. Her green eyes sparkled with vitality.
‘A Countess needn’t be overtly sociable.’
Even if the Velotea Empire preferred socially skilled noblewomen.
“But Miss Fonti’s cosmetics and scented sachets are very popular.”
Cassian’s lips twitched. He didn’t know why his shoulders felt a bit proud at Damia’s praise.
“Remember that pretty soap imported from Rodion? It’s still popular.”
Surprisingly, Damia had quite a knack for business for her age.
Unlike her father, who had steadily eroded the family’s reputation and raced toward bankruptcy.
“I… actually hesitated to come today since the banquet is small and to celebrate my birthday.”
Vivian’s cheeks subtly flushed.
Seeing Cassian’s softened expression as he thought of Damia, she misinterpreted it romantically and gained courage.
“Miss Fonti insisted I invite the Young Viscount. She promised he’d come.”
“What?”
“I may have let slip that the Young Viscount seems unusually kind to me compared to other young ladies.”
Cassian had never attended another young lady’s birthday banquet, so Vivian misread the situation romantically.
He gripped the glass in his hand tighter.
Rumor had it in social circles that he cared for Damia, but didn’t consider her a serious partner.
Could Damia have believed that foolish rumor too?
Though pretending not to care, did her words still shake him more than he would admit?
“Oh, these are cookies recently imported from the Kingdom of Rodion. Would you like to try? My mother specially ordered them.”
Vivian leaned toward Cassian with the cookies in her hand.
“…From the Kingdom of Rodion?”
“Yes, I heard that the Young Viscount has refined taste in desserts. Could you give your opinion on these as well?”
It was all because of Damia. Cassian never touched sweets otherwise.
“No, it’s fine.”
“…Young Viscount?”
Cassian suddenly stood, scanning the crowd.
“I heard you invited many guests, but none of the expected faces are here.”
“Huh? Didn’t you come to see me?”
“I need to go.”
“Al-already? Who are you looking for?”
“Count Pavron.”
The reason Cassian had attended today’s banquet was to observe that old man.
He had left Damia behind to avoid forcing her to face the repulsive Count Pavron.
That old fox seemed tied to every shady affair in the empire, yet decisive evidence never surfaced.
The imperial court’s trust in Count Pavron was considerable. Cassian, the Young Viscount, couldn’t trample it recklessly.
Still, he had targeted Pavron’s illicit dealings several times, cutting off his financial resources.
“I heard Count Pavron is gathering investors for a new venture.”
Cassian spoke loudly, as if intentionally, and could feel some ears straining to listen.
This would surely reach Pavron. That greedy old man wouldn’t ignore this bait.
“Young Viscount.”
At that moment, Vivian lowered her voice and whispered.
“It’s a secret, but I want to tell you something.”
Her expression suggested she had made a firm decision.
