Chapter 30
The next morning, Damia packed her few belongings. She was ready to leave quickly.
Cassian suggested she go to the Sarkis mansion because the whereabouts of her butler were still unknown.
Damia clearly remembered the hatred in the butler’s eyes. She had no choice but to accept Cassian’s advice.
She was also afraid of that mysterious figure who looked like Cassian and had pretended to be a coachman. If he came to the Ponti mansion at night, everyone could be in danger.
‘That person seems a little afraid of Cassian and his group,’ she thought.
The Sarkis mansion seemed much safer.
“Damia… are you really going to the Sarkis mansion with the Marquis?”
“Yes, Father. I can’t stay here until the butler is caught.”
Damia’s father, the Marquis of Ponti, grabbed her, worried. But he seemed more concerned about himself than her.
“Even if it’s a fancy mansion, it will feel uncomfortable for you…”
“You were going to send me to Count Fabron’s house anyway. Why say that now?”
He pounded his chest in frustration and stepped closer.
“What are you doing? You don’t actually believe the Marquis will marry you, do you?”
“What if he gets tired of you? Your age and scandal could ruin your value!”
Damia stared at her father, unafraid. The Marquis stiffened. A tense silence fell.
“Miss, the Marquis is calling for you,” Romi said quickly.
Cassian, already in the carriage, was waiting for them.
“Yes. I’m coming,” Damia said, ignoring her father. Some relationships just need distance.
“Don’t worry, Marquis. I’ll take care of her,” Romi said.
“How dare a maid interrupt me!” the Marquis shouted, but Damia didn’t care. She had followed her father’s unreasonable demands enough in her previous life.
Cassian reached out his gloved hand from the carriage. Damia slowly placed her hand on his. He helped her into the carriage.
The boy shone under the summer sun. Damia bit her lip, feeling emotional.
This was the first success Damia had achieved in this life. This connection might even be luck for her. Cassian showed her more care than the contract required.
‘I need to work harder to save Cassian,’ she thought. She wanted to see him shine as the Marquis for a long time.
At the Sarkis mansion, the Marchioness greeted her warmly.
“Mother!” Damia said, hugging her. She was small and delicate, fitting easily into Elena’s arms.
“My dear…” Elena’s voice trembled with emotion.
“Cassian told me something serious happened?”
“No. The Marquis saved me in time,” Damia said shyly. Her purple eyes sparkled like a girl in first love.
Cassian was certain that Damia had fallen for him completely. She had already loved him, and now he had saved her life. He shook his head, unable to stop smiling.
“It’s terrible that the Marquis of Ponti raised such a shameless man, but I’m glad you can stay here for now,” Cassian said.
“Me too, Mother,” Damia said, smiling and linking arms with Elena.
Elena had prepared her room quickly after hearing Damia would arrive.
Cassian noticed their friendly interaction and smiled slightly, then quickly tried to hide it.
He wanted to buy Damia new clothes and feed her sweets to make her plump, but he knew this engagement was temporary. He could not get too attached.
“Will I get lost if I walk alone?” Damia asked.
Cassian showed her around the mansion. Counting the separate buildings, Damia soon became quiet, overwhelmed. Cassian laughed softly.
“Let’s go to the library.”
“The library?” Damia’s eyes lit up. Her cheeks turned rosy.
Cassian was proud of the mansion’s library. Most boys her age only cared about girls, so it was nice to see someone appreciate its true value.
‘What if she wants to live here forever?’ Cassian wondered.
He wanted to show her the library and let her sit in the sunniest spot to review the engagement contract. He wanted to see her amazed and happy, even while reading over thirty pages.
“Marquis,” Damia said, shocked by the contract.
“Why? Is there a problem?” Cassian asked calmly but was secretly nervous.
“This contract seems too favorable to me,” Damia said.
“Do you dislike it?”
“No! Not at all!” She looked for a pen to sign immediately.
“Don’t sign yet. You must read it properly.”
“I don’t need to! I’m so touched! You put my safety first!”
“You’re the only one who can reduce my curse even a little. This is logical, not personal.”
“Yes, yes!” Damia hummed happily.
Cassian expected her reaction but not entirely. Why did he feel slightly hurt?
“Anything else?” he asked.
“Anything else?” she repeated.
“Anything you dislike?”
“…No.”
“Really? Everything’s fine?”
“What else could there be?” Damia tilted her head, puzzled.
“Alright then.” Cassian frowned slightly.
Finally, Damia exclaimed, “Ah! You mean the privacy clause?”
“Yes, that one,” Cassian admitted, pleased.
Damia’s innocent enthusiasm made him smile in a way unworthy of a perfect Marquis. He tried to act serious but couldn’t hide it.
“This clause is especially nice!” she said.
“What?” Cassian’s perfect face froze in surprise.
