A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 22

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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 22

Late at night.

For some reason, I couldn’t fall asleep, so I came out to the garden for a walk for the first time.

‘Mmm. The night air feels nice and cool.’

It felt like various incidents had been rushing at me one after another since arriving at the ducal mansion, leaving me mentally exhausted.

‘Just like with Melody earlier.’

Around evening, Melody came running to me with an unusually excited demeanor and hugged me.

“Melody. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

When I asked with a worried voice, the child placed her hands firmly on her hips and huffed proudly.

“Hmph! Woo woo! (I won!)”

She seemed to be boasting about some victory, and when I tilted my head in confusion, Marie and Becky, who had followed behind, explained the whole story.

They had encountered the young lady from the Dorn family on the way – that is, Celia.

“It was almost a bit troublesome, but fortunately Lord Conrad helped us. You don’t need to worry about it!”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

I was relieved for now, but it still bothered me.

‘I can understand if it’s me, but to think she’d do that to Melody too.’

Perhaps my concern showed on my face, as Becky hurriedly added

that she would be even more careful to avoid encountering Celia in the future.

“Thank you. If something like that happens again, could you let me know?”

“Of course!”

Thus the situation was settled for now, but Melody, the actual person involved, still seemed excited and bounced around for quite a while.

After playing with the child who was bursting with energy for a bit, Melody fell asleep earlier than usual, perhaps exhausted from her own excitement.

So today, for the first time in a while, I had some time to myself.

Not wanting to waste this opportunity, I immediately came out to the quiet garden, and now I finally felt a bit peaceful.

I stood still and looked around the garden.

The daytime garden I had seen from Cain’s study not long ago was certainly dazzlingly splendid.

Perhaps because it was night, this quiet and calm feeling appealed to me even more today.

It was just as I was leisurely taking steps.

“You were awake at this hour too.”

At the deep voice coming from behind, I stopped. The owner of such a sweet voice was undoubtedly Cain.

Sure enough, when I turned around, I saw him walking toward me.

“Ah, yes! For some reason I couldn’t sleep well today.”

Hiding my slight surprise, I smiled awkwardly.

“More than that, I never imagined I’d see you here.”

“That’s what I should say.”

“Do you usually take walks at this time?”

“Well, sometimes.”

I was about to ask him another question naturally, but I hesitated.

He’s trying to take a quiet walk – am I bothering him for no reason?

As if to make my worry meaningless, Cain actually came to my side and began walking alongside me.

“How is living at the manor?”

“It’s really wonderful. Everyone is kind, the food is delicious, the bed is comfortable…”

I could go on and on if I listed everything. But I was being sincere.

Certainly my original goal was just to protect Melody. But I liked living here more than I deserved.

But what I like most is definitely that.

“Actually, I’ve become quite close with Young Master Jayden too!”

I boasted proudly at first, but later felt slightly regretful.

That’s right, isn’t it? I’m not the only one who thinks we’ve become close, right?

Mm-hmm, it can’t be. He even let me pinch his cheeks.

Though he’s generally an expressionless man, Cain looked a bit surprised at this moment, as if this was unexpected.

“That kid?”

“Yes! Young Master Jayden. He’s incredibly kind. He even apologized first about what happened recently!”

Ha. Cain let out a small laugh as if he’d heard something amusing.

“You’re the first person I’ve seen who talks about that picky kid like that. Usually people are too busy being scared of him.”

“The Young Master said something similar. I don’t understand it. To my eyes, he’s so very cute.”

“Cute?”

“Yes! Like a baby kitten, I’d say.”

Cain seemed to think of his nephew for a moment, but then looked at me and murmured quietly.

“Well then. If it’s you… that’s more than enough.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I tilted my head in confusion, but Cain didn’t add any further explanation. He just casually shrugged his shoulders.

Using the gentle moonlight as illumination, we slowly strolled through the garden.

Is this the first time I’ve taken a walk alone with someone late at night?

The pleasant night breeze gently tickled my skin.

We were both silent, but strangely, that silence didn’t feel awkward. Rather, it was only comfortable.

Perhaps it’s because I could feel that he was deliberately matching my pace.

I pretended to admire the garden scenery while sneakily turning my gaze to the side.

Under the dim moonlight, strangely only Cain’s face was clearly visible.

‘…The world is really unfair.’

Even in the dark shadows, his appearance didn’t lose its radiance.

The bridge of his nose under his smoothly falling forehead was sharp as if it could cut. His firmly set jawline was both masculine and elegant.

Without realizing it, I secretly admired his face for quite a while as if enchanted.

‘But did I stare too long?’

Ahem. There’s no way that perceptive man wouldn’t have noticed my gaze.

Perhaps because embarrassment rushed over me belatedly, I felt some inexplicable awkwardness.

It was just as I was about to open my mouth for no reason to break this atmosphere, having nothing to say.

“More than that-“

“Is the child well-“

Our words collided simultaneously in mid-air. We stopped in place as if by agreement and looked at each other.

I had spoken to break the awkwardness, but it only became more awkward. It seemed the same for Cain, as I could read slight bewilderment in his red eyes.

What have we two been doing since earlier?

A slight laugh escaped, and the tension completely dissolved.

“Ahaha! Our timing overlapped. Please go ahead.”

“You speak first.”

Cain gestured with his chin, yielding the turn to me, but I shook my head.

“No, I want to hear what Your Grace has to say. I’m curious.”

Then I looked up at him with sparkling eyes. Cain seemed to hesitate for a moment, his lips moving slightly.

Soon he averted his gaze slightly and spoke slowly.

“…Has the child adapted well? Melody, I mean.”

At the unexpected topic, I clapped my hands lightly without making a sound.

“Of course! She’s absolutely flying high!”

“I see.”

“Yes, it’s all thanks to everyone here taking such good care of us.”

I excitedly chattered away, telling him about everything that had happened.

“There are maids named Marie and Becky who really take good care of Melody. The child absolutely adores them.”

“Mm.”

“Lord Conrad also dotes on Melody a lot…”

I had been talking for quite a while when Cain quietly murmured.

“That’s good.”

“Right. It really is wonderful.”

Even on the day I realized my reincarnation, I never thought I’d be able to regain peace so quickly.

I had tried to smile and act composed, but deep down I was very anxious.

But being able to smile so genuinely like this now was surely…

Walking slightly ahead, I lightly turned around.

With the fountain behind me, I lifted the corners of my mouth toward him, filled with gratitude.

“You know, meeting Your Grace that day was the greatest fortune of my life.”

* * *

Watching Viola smile brightly, Cain felt a strange emotion.

How could this woman say such things so casually?

‘Is this why even Jayden couldn’t handle her?’

Neither Cain nor Jayden had immunity to such warmth. It was something they had never experienced before.

Like throwing a stone into a calm lake, she created ripples and then walked ahead with light, cheerful steps as if nothing had happened.

Cain quietly watched her hair flutter like cherry blossoms under the moonlight.

‘This is definitely strange.’

He had always preferred nighttime walks, but only under the premise that he was alone.

It was a time when his mind and body, exhausted from all kinds of stimulation throughout the day, could finally regain tranquility. Having someone by his side would only be a distraction.

But tonight was different.

Even with that squirrel chattering beside him, far from being noisy…

Rather, he found it pleasant, and before he knew it, he was naturally walking alongside her.

Why are you the only one who’s different?

“Viola.”

Cain found himself saying her name without realizing it.

“Yes?”

She smiled brightly, her eyes curving. Cain felt a strange resonance. His chest was somehow pounding.

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

Why did I call her name?

The experience of impulse preceding thought was unfamiliar. Just as Cain was choosing his words in confusion, that moment—

“Oh!”

Like a squirrel discovering an acorn, she gasped in surprise and headed toward the flower bed. He even had the illusion of seeing perked-up ears.

“Wow! This is a rare flower!”

Her light green eyes sparkled.

“There’s a Bosiness flower here. It’s my first time seeing one!”

Cain took two steps toward her and stood right beside her.

“This one, this one! This is the Bosiness flower.”

What she pointed to with great excitement was a small, deep purple flower.

Though he had lived in this manor for a long time, Cain hadn’t even known such a thing existed.

To him, it was just an utterly trivial single flower. But Viola was this happy over something so simple.

“You know flower names well. Do you like flowers?”

Viola, who had been gently caressing the petals, slowly rose from her spot. Then she looked into his eyes and answered.

“Yes, I love them.”

Her eyes curved softly as she smiled lovingly.

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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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