A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 14

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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 14

‘Phew. That was exhausting….’

Cain, who received the paper, quickly scanned the text with his eyes. Unlike me, he seemed proficient in ancient language.

“There’s nothing known about dragon blood, so we don’t know much either. I’m not sure if this book will be of great help.”

It was good news, but also puzzling at the same time.

‘Strange. The ducal mansion doesn’t have this book?’

Seeing how Cain, the head of the family, seemed to be hearing about it for the first time, it didn’t seem like a common book either.

Such a precious thing was just buried away in the dusty library of the marquis’ household. It’s not like someone deliberately hid it there.

Anyway, it was fortunate that it would be helpful.

Soon, Cain pressed the silver bell on the desk. He seemed to be calling for Conrad.

‘I should be able to leave soon…?’

Cain seemed lost in deep thought, still keeping his gaze on the book title. His expression was serious.

The report about Jayden was finished and the treatment would be over too.

It was just as I quickly looked around, reading the situation, and opened my mouth in a small voice.

“Then I’ll be going now….”

“Before that.”

Huh, what a surprise.

‘What? Is there something more left…?’

As our words overlapped, I inwardly calmed my startled heart and smiled casually as if nothing happened.

He, who had put the paper down on the desk, walked toward me. When Cain reached out his hand to me, a heavy weight settled on my shoulders.

Cain’s characteristic refreshing scent subtly stimulated my nose.

Cain had casually placed his outer coat on my shoulders.

“Put it on.”

“Pardon?”

I blinked in confusion.

* * *

Cain looked down at the woman.

As expected.

She looked like she had no idea why.

She certainly wasn’t indifferent.

When did she come running like a squirrel to treat Cain, a complete stranger, just because he was injured.

‘Is she only indifferent to herself?’

“Why the clothes all of a sudden….”

Her eyes, like tender sprouts, rolled around.

“Then you were planning to walk around the manor in that state?”

Ah!

Only after Cain gestured with his chin toward her bandaged arm did she sigh.

“That’s certainly true…. But it looks incredibly expensive….”

She seemed at a loss, as if feeling unworthy. The face that had been blank just moments ago was now busy being flustered. Her expressions were quite varied.

“Clothes are just clothes.”

“Even so….”

Reading the situation, she subtly drew out her words. Her large eyes, as if about to spill over, blinked slowly. Her pink eyelashes were long.

She makes such faces even during simple conversation.

To Cain, who rarely showed emotional changes, Viola’s various expressions were fascinating. Cain quietly observed her.

But seeming to misinterpret his gaze as silent pressure, her delicate shoulders shrank slightly.

“Th, then… I’m grateful for His Grace the Duke’s consideration….”

Only then did she obediently put her arms into the jacket.

But….

At the unexpected sight, one corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

‘It looks like she’s been swallowed by the clothes rather than wearing them.’

Isn’t she a full-grown adult? Or is she not fully grown? He had no idea how small her frame was.

But he soon understood. Well, squirrels are originally small. Though she seems particularly small even for a squirrel.

“That’s better now.”

Cain said, seeing that her arm was completely covered.

Taking that as a signal that she could leave, Viola grabbed the door handle.

‘It should be about time for Conrad to arrive.’

It was while he was thinking about today’s work in his head.

Viola turned around as if something had occurred to her. Her cotton candy-like fluffy pink hair fluttered softly.

Following the breeze, a woman’s distinctive fragrance brushed by. Perhaps because she always handled medicinal herbs. The woman always smelled of grass.

‘Come to think of it, it’s not bothersome.’

To Cain, whose senses were sensitive, the strong perfume scents of nobles were always a torment. But Viola was different.

Between the bitter fragrance, a soft sweetness could be felt. Her unique body scent that added a little more with each heartbeat didn’t stimulate his senses but rather made him comfortable.

Standing hesitantly in front of the door, she seemed to twitch her lips before smiling faintly.

“Th, thank you….”

* * *

“Th, thank you….”

The woman mumbled with her gaze lowered, as if embarrassed to make eye contact.

“For taking care of the clothes, and also for treating me so thoroughly.”

Pointing to her bandaged forearm with her finger, she smiled shyly.

Cain replied indifferently with his arms crossed.

“I recently received some advice from someone.”

“What kind of advice?”

“That small wounds shouldn’t be ignored. They insisted so earnestly.”

A somewhat pointed tone. However, Viola seemed completely oblivious and only widened her eyes and let out an exclamation.

“Wow. That’s right! Yes. You can’t take small wounds lightly because they can become serious.”

She nodded enthusiastically in agreement. Her busily moving head reminded him of a busy squirrel.

Cain was amazed by that innocent reaction.

‘She has no idea it was about herself.’

“You absolutely must not take small wounds lightly! They can get infected and rot. It was fine this time, but next time it could really be serious!”

That day they met on the street. When did she passionately argue while even making ridiculous expressions.

Now that he mentioned that time, her dull reaction showed she didn’t notice anything, making him chuckle softly. He spoke with deliberate emphasis.

“Yes. It was such important advice that I remembered it clearly.”

Cain looked at her intently as if giving a signal.

“Though at the time, I never imagined the person involved would be so indifferent about their own affairs.”

“Huh? Ah…!”

Viola, who had been tilting her head in bewilderment, now seemed to realize and sighed greatly.

“Don’t tell me those were my words? Ahaha…. You have a good memory.”

“It’s fortunate you realized it now.”

Ugh. Somehow…. With her face burning hot, she held her forehead and muttered softly.

“How embarrassing. I should be setting an example, but I’m showing such behavior.”

Viola squirmed in embarrassment.

If he teased her a little more, would she run away to a squirrel burrow?

Cain found himself smiling at the sight, then stiffened his expression in surprise.

Though it was an extremely brief moment, almost instantaneous.

Did I just smile?

He touched his lips. The sensation at the corners of his mouth was clearly different from usual. As if confirming his own question.

‘How strange.’

…There didn’t seem to be any particular reason for it.

Born with the cynical and emotionless dragon blood, Cain fundamentally rarely smiled. Unless it was a sneer, perhaps.

So it must have been a simple mistake.

Knock knock.

Just then, Conrad seemed to have arrived outside and knocked on the door.

“Your Grace, may I come in?”

“Come in.”

The door opened and Conrad entered carrying an armful of documents. He was startled when he belatedly noticed Viola standing there hesitantly.

“Oh my. Lady Viola was here. I hope I didn’t interrupt your conversation?”

“No! Not at all. I was just about to leave anyway!”

She brightened as if she had met a savior. Her eyes lit up like a herbivore that had found a chance to escape.

Soon she turned around and bowed politely.

“Well then, I’ll be going now! Farewell!”

She quickly opened the door and disappeared outside.

Conrad, who had set down his documents with a thud, belatedly caught sight of her retreating figure. But something seemed odd.

“…?”

Wasn’t that His Grace’s jacket just now? It was so generously sized that it was hard to consider it her clothing.

His expression unconsciously hardened, but there was no way to confirm it again. Viola had long since disappeared.

Though momentarily puzzled, Conrad soon shook his head.

‘There’s no way that could be. Haha, how silly of me.’

He must have seen things due to fatigue. After all, Cain wasn’t particularly fond of others touching his belongings.

It seemed that oversized fits must be quite popular among women in their twenties these days.

Conrad cleared his thoughts and stood before Cain. He had a fleeting feeling that Cain’s jacket, which had been hanging by the desk until this morning, seemed to be missing, but it was probably his imagination.

While Conrad was regaining his composure, Cain casually handed him a piece of paper.

“Look into this.”

“Ancient language? Hmm. The title is quite difficult. Is this a…thesis?”

“Who knows. Viola apparently used to read this ancient book often when she was young.”

“Pardon? This, you mean?”

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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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