A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 18

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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 18

No, was it even worry to begin with? Someone who truly worried wouldn’t speak in such a way.

As if having dragon blood made being sick a crime. It’s not like Jayden wanted to be sick.

When helping wouldn’t even be enough, those words only burdened the young patient.

But the woman didn’t stop.

“Really getting a fever for no reason. Nothing’s getting better at all. It’s exactly the same as three years ago. This isn’t some kind of contagious disease, is it? Ha, what’s to become of me.”

Her voice had gotten quieter so I couldn’t hear the exact conversation, but judging from the atmosphere I could sense, it definitely wasn’t pleasant words.

I pretended not to notice the presence inside and deliberately knocked on the door loudly.

Knock knock.

“Young Master, are you inside? It’s Viola. May I come in?”

When I deliberately raised my voice tone to call Jayden, the sharp voice inside abruptly cut off.

After a moment, the door burst open along with irritated footsteps.

“Can’t you hear us talking? How rude to knock on the door like that without any manners.”

The face that appeared was familiar. A blonde woman in a fancy dress. Taller than me with sharply upturned eyes.

It was exactly that person I had encountered in Jayden’s bedroom not long ago.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was a guest. It’s time for the Young Master’s treatment, so I was in a hurry…”

I apologized, drooping my eyebrows like a figure-eight as if truly sorry.

But she had no intention of accepting the apology, frowning while waving her fan in front of her nose.

“…Apothecary?”

Once again, she looked me up and down from head to toe. An unpleasant gaze as if appraising cheap goods.

Eventually, after confirming the medicine bag in my hand, she snorted.

“I wondered what that strange smell was. You must be that new commoner apothecary I heard about?”

Ah, was the herb scent too strong? I’d gotten used to it from being stuck in the apothecary all the time, so I didn’t notice.

I do like this bitter grassy smell though.

Certainly, noble young ladies who are more accustomed to the floral scents of perfume might find it off-putting.

I closed my bag again and greeted her awkwardly.

“Ah, yes. I’m called Viola.”

The woman looked me over from head to toe once more, then raised one corner of her mouth. Though I wasn’t sure, I could tell it wasn’t a welcoming expression.

“Hmph.”

Though I was slightly intimidated by her fierce eyes that matched her glamorous face, I tried to maintain my composure.

“But you are…”

“Celia Dorn. I’m the Young Master’s personal attendant.”

As soon as she confirmed my status, she lowered her speech and emphasized her surname particularly strongly.

I had suspected it. She really was a personal attendant.

Dorn was a name I had heard during my days as a noble young lady. Come to think of it, didn’t Count Dorn’s family have a youngest daughter?

Just as I was lost in thought, she narrowed her eyes and asked with a fake smile.

“I heard you have a child. You must have suffered a lot being unmarried and alone.”

Hmm. Whether she was consoling me for my hardships or encouraging more suffering, her tone was ambiguous and unpleasant, but I answered lightly for now.

“Not at all, what hardship? I’m only happy to have such a lovely daughter.”

As if displeased with my answer, cracks appeared in her forced smile.

“Then you should just raise that lovely daughter. Why are you showing off in front of His Grace the Duke? Hmm?”

“Pardon?”

“I was wondering if you might be having such naive thoughts… dreaming of rising in status with a child in tow.”

At her smile as if she had figured out all my thoughts, I was actually bewildered.

I’d felt this before, but following the flow of conversation felt quite overwhelming.

“Rising in status…?”

I had certainly been promoted from a rural apothecary to the Duke’s family’s dedicated apothecary. But what the woman was saying didn’t seem to mean that.

What has all this been about since earlier? When I questioned back, unable to understand the torrent of words at all, she clicked her tongue mockingly.

“Didn’t you learn as a child not to covet trees you can’t climb?”

“What do you…”

“The future Duchess Ashern is watching closely, so be careful with your actions.”

Future Duchess? Does that mean Cain is engaged or something? That can’t be right.

Not only at the start of the original work, but throughout the entire story, Cain was a bachelor who never took a wife.

…Could it be that I changed the original plot and something’s different?

But if so, the engagement should have been widely known at least. It would be Duke Ashern’s engagement, after all.

What on earth?

“…That doesn’t make sense.”

I muttered quietly to myself without realizing it. Whether she heard me or not, Celia shouted angrily.

“What doesn’t make sense! How dare a mere commoner disrespect me?”

Just then.

Cough cough! Hack.

Violent coughing sounds came from inside Jayden’s room.

“Y-Young Master?”

Hack. Cough cough.

What’s this? His fever went down, and there’s no reason for him to cough? Did something else go wrong?

Right now, Celia and whatever else didn’t matter.

“Sorry, but this is urgent! Please move aside!”

“What? A mere commoner doesn’t know their place and dares to give orders!”

Celia fumed at me angrily, but this wasn’t the time to waste on such things.

I hurriedly headed toward Jayden’s room.

Unable to contain her anger, she glared at me from that spot for a while before disappearing far down the corridor.

* * *

“Young Master, are you alright?”

I rushed urgently to Jayden. That coughing sounded quite serious…!

As I approached the bed, Jayden was sitting with his back against the wall.

But contrary to my worry, his complexion wasn’t bad.

“When did the coughing start? Your fever should have gone down.”

Unlike me asking with an anxious heart, Jayden was perfectly calm.

“I’m not coughing.”

“What? Then that sound earlier was…”

I asked back in confusion, but Jayden’s answer remained the same.

“I said I’m not coughing.”

Ahem.

After clearing his throat lightly, he quickly turned his head away. Like someone embarrassed.

I was still bewildered.

His voice was certainly clear. If his bronchial tubes were bad, it wouldn’t sound like that.

Then that sound earlier was…

‘Could it be. Did he help me? Because it seemed like I was in trouble?’

Jayden had been glancing over here as if gauging my reaction since earlier.

Only then was I certain.

‘What. This is so touching.’

Honestly, I was worried he might feel uncomfortable around me, but it seemed he had opened his heart to me a little.

Children really are angels after all.

It felt like receiving an unexpected gift. I was so moved that I lightly covered my mouth.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

“I didn’t help you.”

“I haven’t said thank you for helping me yet though.”

Jayden’s eyes widened in shock as if he belatedly realized the flaw in my words.

His tone was picky, but his true feelings were completely transparent.

What should I do with this adorable child?

“Anyway, I’m telling you it’s really not like that!”

“Yes, I understand.”

“No, I’m saying it’s really not.”

“I said I understand too.”

When I only agreed with words and looked at him with a warm smile, Jayden was horrified.

“For now, would you like to sit here?”

Unlike yesterday when he was rebellious, the boy hesitated for a moment but then followed my words.

I examined Jayden’s condition.

Mm-hmm, his fever is fine as expected.

Even after Jayden fell asleep, I came to check on him every hour, but there were no particular abnormal signs. The medicine seemed to suit his constitution well.

‘For future treatment… hmm.’

Just as I was organizing my thoughts, I felt Jayden keep glancing at me.

More precisely, at my left forearm. It was exactly where I had been injured yesterday, but because I was wearing long sleeves, the condition wasn’t visible.

‘He must be very worried.’

The child seemed nervous as he fidgeted with his fingers inconspicuously. He’s a child who isn’t honest, but should I help him out a little?

“Young Master. You have something you want to say to me, don’t you.”

“Huh? No? Not really. It’s, it’s not like that?”

He immediately played dumb, but his expression was honest. The child’s red eyes trembled.

“Hmm, is that so? I understand, then. I’ve finished everything I need to do, so I’ll be going now.”

When I got up from my seat without regret and pretended to pack my bag, Jayden urgently opened his mouth again.

“Uh, uh, w-wait!”

“What’s wrong? You said you had nothing to say to me.”

“No, no. That, that’s…!”

The boy grabbed me, unable to stay still.

That’s right, well done! I waited for him. Eventually.

“S-so, sor…”

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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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