A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 13

“Oh no…! I can do it myself!”

But as if he couldn’t hear my voice at all, he took the tweezers away from me. At the same time, he grabbed my wrist and began treating it.

Not knowing what to do in this embarrassing situation, I slightly lowered my head and looked down at his hands.

His quick movements seemed rough and bold at first glance, but were surprisingly delicate.

‘He’s unexpectedly gentle.’

Considering his dragon blood trait and his tightly pressed lips, he seemed like an indifferent person.

He carefully removed the fragments one by one, seemingly being considerate so I wouldn’t feel pain.

I quietly held my breath.

Ugh, this is awkward…

This was my first time receiving treatment from someone else. During my time at the Marquis’s Mansion, I always had to take care of myself.

And of all people, it had to be Duke Ashern.

“Bag.”

“Ah, yes.”

Startled, I immediately handed him the bag I was holding in my right hand at his natural commanding tone.

He immediately took out disinfectant and cleaned the wound.

It was a flawless, textbook treatment procedure.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t he wander the empire from childhood to subjugate monsters?’

His skill wasn’t without reason. Meanwhile, it was time to apply the ointment. I belatedly remembered one fact.

“Ah, wait a moment! The ointment is in my pocket.”

“Pocket?”

“Yes… I put it in here earlier.”

I gestured with my eyes toward the small pocket near my left waist. Cain’s brow twitched slightly.

“You want me to take it out?”

Flush. My cheeks instantly turned red as a beet. No. That’s not what I meant…!

It seemed like he had misunderstood, so I was about to hastily explain.

“Oh, no. That’s not what I meant!”

“Never mind.”

Cain curtly cut off my words and reached into his coat, taking something out from his inner pocket. A familiar silhouette.

It was the ointment I had given him as a gift.

* * *

Cain opened the lid as if it were nothing.

The ointment that had been full when I first gave it to him was now half empty.

Oh my. For some reason, my heart felt warm and fuzzy.

‘…He’s been using it well.’

Of course, that’s what I gave it to him for. But after realizing it was Cain, I naturally thought he would have shoved it away in some corner.

For someone like him, a Sword Master with dragon blood, an ointment I made would be insignificant.

Did he like it? It’s already decreased by that much.

I felt unexpectedly recognized for my abilities.

Cain familiarly scooped up plenty of ointment with his index finger and brought it toward my forearm.

Mmm…

‘This is somewhat embarrassing.’

Is it because this is my first time being treated by someone else?

It felt strangely ticklish too.

I felt like I might be making a strange expression, so it was difficult to face him directly. I pretended nothing was happening and stole a glance at him.

I could see him concentrating on me with his head lowered.

The line of his sharp, distinct nose bridge was wonderful. I knew it already, but it was a handsome appearance I could never get used to.

That was the moment.

Finally, his finger touched my skin. Cain slowly but clearly stroked my forearm. I unconsciously tensed my shoulders.

A man’s hand, different from mine, covered in calluses.

The sensation of that hand felt through the sticky ointment was unfamiliar. It was a strange feeling.

‘It’s just treatment.’

Why am I acting like this?

The heat in my cheeks that had been burning since earlier showed no signs of subsiding.

Ugh. This won’t do.

I eventually turned my head away.

‘Indeed, a handsome face is bad for the heart. He wouldn’t make a good doctor.’

Absolute rest is essential for patients, after all.

With a face like Cain’s, instead of giving patients peace, he would obviously only increase their heart rate.

Of course, since he’s a duke and not an aspiring doctor anyway, it doesn’t matter.

While I was lost in thought, I felt the uncomfortable pain in the wound subside considerably.

When I sneakily checked the condition, it seemed the treatment was gradually reaching its final stage.

I decided to continue the report I had paused.

“About Young Master Jayden.”

As I slowly began, Cain nodded as if he was listening.

“I want to observe his condition a little longer for now. His fever could rise again at any time.”

“Come to think of it, you said Jayden’s fever went down.”

“Yes! That’s right. Fortunately, the fever reducer worked well.”

“Impressive. That’s usually impossible to do.”

“It’s thanks to you giving me the opportunity.”

Hmm.

Cain seemed lost in thought for a moment, then spoke.

“You must know. That ordinary medicine doesn’t work on dragon blood.”

“Yes, of course.”

It might sound like a penalty at first, but it was originally closer to a blessing. Medicine and poison are separated by a paper-thin difference, after all.

Just like medicine, most poisons had no effect on dragon blood either.

Medicine not working wasn’t a problem. They were people who usually didn’t get sick in the first place.

‘But for Jayden, that was a curse.’

When afflicted with Tamuthar disease, the power within the body runs wild and destroys the body. At first, it simply causes coughing like a lung disease, but after just a little time passes, severe high fevers repeatedly rage.

Even when suffering as if flesh were being torn by the rampaging energy, there’s nothing that can be done. Because dragon blood means painkillers and fever reducers don’t work.

I was lost in thought when Cain, still seeming to ponder something, tapped the ointment container and spoke.

“This ointment also showed meaningful effects on me.”

“Really?”

I see. So that’s why he’s been using it well.

It wasn’t that he used it out of courtesy, but because it actually had medicinal effects. My lips curled up with pride.

‘Hmm, but that’s strange.’

The fever reducer was specially made for Jayden, but the ointment I gave Cain wasn’t particularly like that.

‘A very small amount of pointed-leaf grass was included… Is that why?’

I was pondering when he spoke.

“That’s why I’m asking. You seem to know about dragon blood to a remarkable degree.”

“Ah, yes. There was a book about dragon blood at the Debroy Estate. It was a very old ancient text…”

“Do you know the ancient language?”

I sheepishly scratched my head slightly. Could I say I know it at this level?

“I don’t know the pronunciation accurately, but I can interpret it.”

“That’s also self-taught?”

“Yes. When I was staying at the Marquis’s Mansion, there wasn’t much to do. Other than reading books, there wasn’t really… That’s also how I came to read that ancient text.”

The library at the manor was like a refuge for me as a child.

It had been a bustling place when the previous Marquis was still alive. After his passing, everyone stopped visiting. The remaining family members weren’t particularly fond of reading.

I used to often sneak into the library to hide from my family’s eyes.

Now it was just a hazy old memory.

“Hmm. An ancient book from the Marquis’s Mansion. You probably don’t have it with you now.”

“Yes. It’s probably still at the Manor. Oh, but don’t worry! I know all the contents.”

I had read that book so many times I’d lost count.

‘Fifteen times, maybe?’

Actually, back then it was just because I had no other books to read. Now it had become incredibly useful knowledge.

“Can you tell me the book’s title?”

“That much I can certainly do.”

Taking the pen Cain offered, I slowly began writing down the title.

‘The title was incredibly long…’

Searching through my memories, I wrote out each letter of the ancient language one by one. Unlike the relatively simplified modern script, ancient language was extremely complex. I wrote carefully to avoid making any stroke errors.

After quite some time.

『Analysis of Mechanisms and Principles of Pharmacological Reactions That Act Specifically Within Dragon Blood Physiology』

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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