A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 17

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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 17

‘Even lowly peacocks decorate their feathers splendidly to seduce their mates.’

There was no way His Grace would fancy such a tacky woman who was worse than a lowly creature.

In reality, it’s the male peacocks, not the females, that show off their splendid feathers… but unfortunately, Celia didn’t know such facts.

Anyway, what mattered was that the maids’ claims were ridiculous.

“Then that woman must have stolen it, right?”

With logic as natural as flowing water, Celia confidently answered herself.

Meanwhile, Becky and Marie couldn’t help but let out hollow laughs.

Both of them knew. That it was better to quietly hold their breath rather than resist the harassment from those above.

Moreover, that woman wasn’t just any maid but the noble daughter of a Count’s family.

So much so that among fellow maids, advice circulated to reasonably accommodate Celia’s tastes when possible.

But this time, they absolutely couldn’t stand it.

Celia had crossed the line. Not only picking on them but even our angel-like Lady Viola!

Just as Becky was about to burst out shouting, Marie, who was always slow, was half a beat faster this time.

“D-don’t insult Lady Viola…!”

“That’s right! We have nothing to be ashamed of! Don’t speak so carelessly!”

Celia flinched at their confident, undaunted attitude.

“If you have nothing to feel guilty about, just say so. Why are you shouting? How uncouth.”

Soon she brazenly snatched away the jacket that Becky and Marie were holding.

“Anyway, I’ll check this myself, so you better not be lying. I’ll make sure you receive punishment for daring to lie to nobility.”

“Yes! Please do!”

You think we’ll be intimidated by saying that? Becky straightened her shoulders and shouted confidently instead.

“You can check with Lord Conrad. He specifically asked us to take extra care.”

“Lord Conrad did?”

Celia frowned finely as if she couldn’t believe it.

As the Duke’s closest aide, Conrad was a figure who held great real power in this manor. So Celia had also tried to get on his good side.

But each time, he would just send her away with a smiling face, so she gained nothing.

But that Conrad was giving someone special treatment? It was hard to accept.

Eventually, she grabbed a passing servant to confirm the truth.

“Is it true? That Lord Conrad gave such instructions.”

“Yes, he ordered it so.”

When the servant who got caught up in this answered with a troubled face, Becky smiled proudly.

Why did you suddenly treat people like thieves? It was one thing for them, but touching Viola made them more than just angry.

‘Your insides must be twisting, right?’

Thinking she had gotten one over on her, Becky giggled and looked at Marie. Marie also had a refreshed expression as if her long-held frustration had completely cleared.

The position of lady’s maid was originally taken for the honor of serving someone of high status. But the maids all knew that wasn’t Celia’s purpose.

She was openly aiming for the position of the Duke’s wife.

She seemed to think she was being clever in her own way.

If she became Jayden’s maid, she would naturally have more contact with Cain. She seemed to be planning to seduce the Duke in that process…

‘As if that could work.’

A cunning fox could never beat a gentle squirrel. It was the sun, not the wind, that stripped the traveler’s clothes!

With much lighter hearts, Becky and Marie continued their steps to the laundry room.

* * *

As soon as I sent the maids away, I immediately found myself in trouble.

And very, very big trouble at that!

“Mommy! Waaah!”

“Wait, calm down! I just fell down lightly!”

“Hiiing.”

I had been caught with my bandaged arm and made Melody cry. Since this was the first time she’d seen me injured this badly, she seemed quite shocked.

‘This is why I tried to hide it!’

Who would have known that while washing Melody, water I accidentally splashed would wet my sleeve, revealing the bandage hidden underneath.

Ugh. A bitter taste filled my mouth. It was a bit unfair, but this wasn’t the time for that. I hurriedly began comforting Melody.

“It looks bad because there’s a lot of bandage, but I’m barely hurt at all.”

“Woo…”

“I just got lightly scratched while cleaning up broken vase pieces. You don’t need to worry.”

But just as her crying was gradually stopping, Melody, who had been looking down and rubbing her eyes, suddenly raised her head.

“Mommy?”

Her eyes looked serious, as if she had caught a lie.

Oh, wait, did I say I fell down earlier…?

Good memory too. This is why sharp children are troublesome.

* * *

The tears that had been stopping began flowing down again.

Waaah! Waaah! Hwaang!

“Woo! Woowoo! Waaah!”

Which bad person did it!

Even while shedding tears, the child puffed angrily and stamped her feet.

Ugh, this is bad. This means she’s really angry!

“I just made a mistake myself.”

“Woo!”

Lie!

“It’s true though.”

“Woo!”

Don’t believe it!

The child shook her head firmly.

As if demanding to know who the culprit was right now.

But I couldn’t tell her who the culprit was.

“Melody, I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’ll be careful from now on.”

Finally realizing she wouldn’t get the full story from me, the child pouted her lips.

“Woo.”

Hate.

“You hate me?”

“Woowoo.”

No…

The child gently shook her head. Her suddenly honest answer made me smile.

“Aww, good girl.”

When I gently patted Melody’s head, her lips that had been sticking out like a duck’s slowly went back in.

Melody, who had calmed down a bit, stretched out her hand as if demanding I give her something.

“Hm?”

“Woo!”

As if frustrated, the child tapped her chest and grabbed my wrist.

Then she closed her eyes as if trying to concentrate.

“Melody. Are you trying to heal me? Don’t do that. I’m fine. I already applied medicine and it’ll be completely healed by tomorrow.”

“Hmph!”

However, the child was stubborn.

‘I’m really fine though.’

Holy power was a concept similar to blessing. It dramatically increased the target’s regenerative ability by bestowing a blessing upon them.

It was certainly an incredibly useful power, but before becoming proficient, it consumed a lot of mental energy.

‘In the original story, Melody suffered a lot because of that too.’

She was already a child who didn’t have good memories of holy power due to the abuse she suffered at the Temple. It was natural that her mind would become fatigued every time she used holy power.

‘I hope she didn’t overexert herself because of me.’

But if I backed out here, Melody might sulk for a whole week.

‘It would be fortunate if she just sulked. But if she stubbornly refused to brush her teeth…!’

Ugh, that absolutely couldn’t happen.

When I finally stayed still and let her tend to my arm, a brilliant golden light soon flowed from the child’s body. The light immediately enveloped my arm, and the faint pain I had been feeling subsided in an instant.

When I unwrapped the bandage, the gouged flesh had filled back in.

Melody immediately started yawning repeatedly, looking tired.

“Thank you, it doesn’t hurt at all now.”

“Hehehe.”

When had she been crying? Now the child smiled softly as if relieved.

I picked up the sleepy Melody and laid her on the bed.

“Sleep well.”

When I gently stroked her back, the child immediately fell asleep. I smiled as I poked the soft cheek of Melody, who was sleeping so soundly.

‘Melody seems to have already adapted to this place.’

Will I gradually get used to it like this too?

At first, I had many worries about various things. But since there were only good people in the manor, I felt quite at ease.

“Mmm…”

At the sound of Melody’s murmuring, my eyes grew drowsy as well. I fell asleep contentedly.

I had no idea at that time.

That I would encounter an unpleasant person first thing the next morning.

When the morning sun rose, it was time to go to work.

After briefly stopping by the apothecary, I went straight to see Jayden.

Leaving the annex, I eventually reached the third floor of the main building.

I was about to enter Jayden’s room directly when I stopped in front of the door.

It was because I could hear what sounded like conversation from inside.

‘Oh. There’s already a visitor.’

The walls were thick, so I couldn’t hear the conversation clearly. It would be natural for anyone who wasn’t a dragon-blood with sensitive senses to not be able to hear it.

I stepped back to wait outside.

But that’s when it happened.

A woman’s voice leaked through the crack in the door.

“When on earth will this illness be cured? Hah, they said you were dragon-blood, but aren’t you weaker than common street children? If Young Master would recover quickly, Count would be more comfortable…”

I frowned at her irritated tone.

‘What’s this? Even if she’s worried, why is she speaking like that?’

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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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