Chapter 8

“For someone who is really thirteen…”

“W-what about me?”

“You’re much smaller than I was at that age.”

“…Huh? That’s what you meant?”

It was an unexpected comment, but it didn’t seem like he was suspicious of anything else.

Damia let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“You’re only two years older than me, young duke.”

“A two-year difference is huge. It can never be closed.”

Cassian raised one eyebrow as if he were the only adult there.

“I really am thirteen. As you can see, our family isn’t doing well financially, so I didn’t grow up eating well.”

“You…”

The boy looked like he was about to argue but bit his lip instead. It had been a joke, yet he suddenly looked serious.

Cassian moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, then pushed the plate of cookies toward Damia.

“At your age, you should eat a lot. These are expensive, so hurry and eat.”

“Wow, I was curious about them anyway!”

Damia took a bite of the cookies Cassian had brought as a gift.

The cookie crumbled softly and melted in her mouth.

“Young Duke…!”

“…What?”

“It’s so delicious!”

It was sweet enough to make her eyes widen.

Without realizing it, Damia smiled brightly.

In truth, she loved sweets.

But in her previous life, she rarely got to eat them.

When she was young, the Baron family was poor. And after she married the old count, he hated women who enjoyed food.

“…That’s good.”

Cassian coughed lightly and replied stiffly.

The corners of his mouth seemed to twitch a little.

Huh? He looks a bit proud.

Even the mature young duke still had a childish side.

“Anyway, if you’re thirteen, you should be able to read, understand, and sign a contract.”

Cassian quickly returned to the original topic.

“What? Isn’t that a bit young for that?”

“Something still feels strange.”

“What is it this time?”

“You. You’re small and thin for a thirteen-year-old, but the way you speak is suspiciously mature.”

So he had noticed her way of speaking.

“I didn’t have many friends, so I read a lot of books instead. That’s probably why.”

“You… don’t have friends?”

The boy’s handsome face showed clear shock.

“Well… it’s not that bad. And if it bothers you that your fiancée doesn’t have friends, I’ll make some.”

“Hah. Do you think friends grow if you plant them in the ground? Just because you want them doesn’t mean they’ll appear.”

“Young Duke, you don’t seem like someone who has many friends either.”

“What? You really…”

“So what kind of contract do you want to write?”

Cassian blinked slowly, as if hesitating.

Then he sighed and spoke.

“I have more money than I could ever spend.”

“Ah… I suppose that’s true.”

“I’m not bragging. I mean, I can give you a lot in return for that medicine.”

“Wow, then can I look forward to it?”

“It would be better to put all the benefits in writing. So it’s clear that it’s payment for a deal, not kindness.”

“Why go that far? I won’t misunderstand.”

“I have to. It would be troublesome if you suddenly changed your mind.”

Again with that?

At this point, maybe her acting like she had a crush was too convincing.

“Remember this. Even if you’re someone I can talk to, and even if the medicine you gave me works very well, our relationship won’t change.”

“Okaaaay…”

Was that a compliment or a warning?

“I’m just doing what any decent person would do for someone who helped me.”

“Alright, I understand. If that’s the reason, I’ll sign the contract.”

“You…”

“You know I have a huge crush on you, Young Duke. Since this is what you want, I’ll make sure not to have any unrealistic hopes.”

Cassian’s handsome face twisted slightly.

“Can’t you at least put some sincerity into your words?”

“Huh?”

“It feels like you’re teasing me.”

His intuition was annoyingly sharp.

“That’s impossible, Young Duke. I’m completely sincere.”

“You don’t sound sincere.”

“I told you I am. Aren’t you a bit too suspicious?”

Seeing that Cassian still looked doubtful, Damia decided it was better to change the topic.

“By the way, why are you so worried that I’ll cling to you? Do you perhaps like another young lady?”

“What?”

“You can tell me. I’m good at giving relationship advice.”

“That’s not it. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

It probably is.

In her previous life, Cassian had a fiancée.

Drury Soro—the beloved youngest daughter of the most prestigious marquis family in the west.

As soon as Damia thought of that perfect girl, the weak tea suddenly tasted bitter.

I thought his relationship with Drury might have been emotionless…

But judging from how desperately he insisted she must never fall in love with him, maybe he had truly cared about Drury.

After all, it might be difficult not to like someone as perfect as Drury Soro.

“You can be honest. I won’t interfere.”

“I told you that’s not it…!”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Anyway, these cookies are really good.”

Damia calmly crunched another cookie.

She wasn’t sure why, but it seemed like the embarrassing secret of a teenage boy.

“You really…”

Cassian, who usually carried himself with lazy confidence, looked shaken.

Maybe her indifferent attitude provoked him, because his jaw tightened.

“Here, calm down and try one too.”

Damia was about to hand him the plate of cookies.

“…Ugh!”

Suddenly, Cassian grabbed his chest and bent forward.

“Young Duke?”

Startled, Damia jumped to her feet and ran to him.

Cassian lifted his head with difficulty.

His face had turned pale.

“Are you okay?!”

“H-ha…”

“Should I call someone?”

“…I’m… fine.”

Cassian forced out a few words before coughing violently.

His beautiful face twisted in pain.

“What do you mean you’re fine?! I’ll call a doctor right now!”

Damia panicked.

But Cassian stopped her.

“No. Do you want… people to start rumors that I’m dying?”

“Th-then…”

Not knowing what to do, Damia suddenly noticed the teacup on the table.

The purple medicine inside was still half full.

“Young Duke, at least drink the rest of the medicine!”

She quickly handed him the cup.

He had taken off his gloves at some point, and his bare hand felt like ice.

Cassian slowly drank the remaining medicine.

Damia held his trembling hand anxiously.

After some time passed, Cassian lowered the cup and looked at their joined hands.

“Wait.”

“How do you feel? Are you okay?”

Just as confusion appeared in his eyes—

Dark red blood spilled from his lips.

“Y-Young Duke!”

Damia’s usually calm face filled with shock.

Was the medicine she gave him causing a side effect?

“Hah… why are you… so surprised?”

“You’re coughing… blood…”

She had known he was terminally ill, but she had never truly felt it.

Usually, Cassian looked perfectly healthy and calm.

“This is nothing. I’m already used to it.”

Cassian bent forward for a moment, catching his breath, then wiped the blood from his lips.

“The engagement contract… ugh.”

“Is that really important right now?!”

“I’ll send the contract later. Just wait.”

With his youthful face, Cassian calmly tried to handle the situation.

“Young Duke!”

If his straight shoulders hadn’t been trembling slightly, she might have believed he was fine.

Seeing the pain he endured as someone doomed to die left Damia with a heavy feeling in her chest.