A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 23

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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 23

“Yes, I like them.”

Her eyes curved gently as she smiled lovingly.

It was just a simple answer. Yet for some reason, the moment Cain met that smile, he felt as if his body had frozen solid.

But Viola added calmly as if nothing had happened.

“Many flowers are also used as medicinal herbs. Of course, even if that weren’t the case, I just like them anyway.”

“What kind of flower do you like most?”

She furrowed her brow as if trying to be careful.

“Hmm… I like too many.”

“If you had to choose?”

“Then it would definitely be dandelion flowers!”

Dandelion?

Cain let out a hollow laugh at the rather earthy-sounding name. He hadn’t imagined this kind of answer.

However, the woman only listed the advantages of dandelions.

“They’re really useful. They have detoxifying abilities so they’re good to use as medicinal herbs. Oh, some countries even eat them as food!”

Usually people would say they liked flowers like roses or lilies. Even at moments like this, Viola seemed to only think about pharmacology. Though that was actually more like her.

‘She’s always such a unique woman.’

And… she was an interesting woman too.

Now he had to admit it.

Cain found Viola intriguing.

The way she reacted with rich expressions even to small things, and how she acted strangely bold despite her small stature.

She was a charming woman that anyone would be captivated by.

While he was lost in thought, she unconsciously turned her head and their eyes suddenly met.

Her tender grass-like eyes gazed at him completely, as if asking if something was wrong.

‘…!’

It wasn’t as if he had improper thoughts. Yet he felt embarrassed for no reason.

At the breathless sensation, Cain unconsciously averted his gaze.

Inside his ribcage clamored noisily. The violently beating heart was unfamiliar. Even when facing house-sized monsters, he had never felt like this.

Perhaps because he averted his gaze, the woman approached him one step closer with a worried look. Cain instinctively pointed at something hastily.

“That flower.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know the name of that flower too?”

A sudden change of topic. But fortunately, Viola obediently turned her head following his fingertip.

The straightforward gaze that had been directed at him was withdrawn. Though this was what he intended, why did he feel inexplicable regret?

Viola lowered herself slightly to examine the flower closely.

“Wow. This is a silver moon flower! I heard it’s an incredibly difficult flower to grow, so the gardener must be very skilled.”

She bent her waist with a bright expression. Her eyes sparkled like a child who had discovered treasure.

“Do you know why this is called a silver moon flower?”

“I wonder.”

“It just looks ordinary during the day, but it changes at night.”

Viola pointed near the petals with a careful touch.

“Look. It’s sparkling as it receives the moonlight.”

Just as she said, the edges of the petals were glowing softly. As if they held a piece of moonlight.

She looked at the flower with wonder, then looked up at Cain with a bright smile.

“It’s truly beautiful, isn’t it?”

“…Beautiful indeed.”

Cain answered quietly as if in agreement, but his gaze wasn’t actually directed at the flower bed.

What came completely into his view was her under the soft moonlight.

His lips moved without him realizing.

“…Could you tell me flower names like today from time to time?”

Though it was an impulsive remark that came out for unknown reasons, worried he might have caused unnecessary burden, Cain hastily added as if to cover up.

“I mean, if we happen to meet again like today.”

“Sure! It’s not a difficult task. Actually, I like talking about plants too. It’s just that I don’t have anyone to talk to about it.”

She chattered on.

“When do you take walks again, Your Grace?”

“…Tomorrow.”

Originally he had no such plans, but there was no need to reveal that fact.

“I was just thinking of coming out tomorrow too… Will we coincidentally meet here again tomorrow?”

A playful voice. It was essentially no different from making an appointment while pretending it was just a coincidence.

He didn’t particularly like word games, but somehow this moment felt pleasant.

When Cain nodded slightly, Viola smiled with her lips curved upward. It was her characteristic smile.

Moonlight descended from the sky. Even under the dim light, the woman’s smile sparkled endlessly. Like petals holding moonlight.

Cain stared blankly at that smile.

Soon he repeated to himself again. That it was beautiful.

* * *

The next day.

I opened my eyes refreshingly and immediately started my day.

‘Hmm. I was worried I’d be tired, but I actually feel fresh.’

I had just planned to get a little fresh air.

I must have walked longer than expected with Cain, because when I returned to my room, quite some time had passed.

‘I hope I didn’t interfere with his busy schedule?’

I shook my head inwardly.

Hey, if that were the case, he wouldn’t have suggested we walk together again today.

Rather than such thoughts, there was a separate problem to worry about immediately.

For example, how could I obtain terrifying poisonous herbs?

“Lady Viola, what kind of help do you need?”

Phew.

I watched Conrad in front of me with some nervousness. I was the one who called him, so why am I so nervous?

“There’s something I absolutely need for treatment…”

“Please tell me anything. There’s nothing Ashern cannot obtain.”

He answered with a ready smile, but my mouth still wouldn’t open easily.

I know, I know.

If you don’t know about Ashern’s capabilities, you’re not even an imperial citizen.

It’s just that this wasn’t that kind of problem.

Because what I was going to ask for was a very powerful poisonous herb!

Sweet reaper grass, nicknamed the sweet death.

This was a very dangerous poisonous herb that tasted sweet but would put someone in a near-death state within 30 minutes of consumption.

‘Roughly the 3rd most favorite poison of assassins.’

So it was prohibited from sale not just at regular herb shops, but basically everywhere.

‘Ugh. What if I say it and he looks at me like I’m crazy?’

But I had to be brave. This was a poisonous herb absolutely necessary to treat Jayden.

“So you see.”

“Yes.”

“Could you possibly obtain some sweet reaper grass…?”

I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted, then carefully opened my eyes only after finishing my words.

But Conrad’s reaction was completely different from what I expected.

“Don’t tell me, Lady Viola. I trusted you, but were you an assassin?”

“What? Oh, no! That’s not it!”

I hurriedly denied the absurd misunderstanding in surprise, but Conrad soon burst into quiet laughter.

“It was a joke. What assassin in the world would ask someone to get poisonous herbs for them?”

“Ah, you scared me. Right. What fool of an assassin would openly ask for something as suspiciously named as Sweet Death?”

“Exactly. Though Black Nightshade would be a different story.”

Conrad smiled with his eyes crinkling behind his transparent glasses.

Ahaha. I laughed along while looking at him.

To casually mention the number one favorite poison among assassins like it was nothing.

‘But… that was a joke, right?’

Conrad, who was smiling calmly with the kindest face in the world, looked terrifying today for some reason.

“In any case, I’ll make sure to get you the Sweet Death. It’ll probably take about two days.”

“Thank you!”

Conrad added.

“I’ll report this separately to His Grace. Even if it’s needed for treatment, it’s still a highly poisonous plant. Reporting such things is protocol.”

“Oh, of course! Naturally.”

I clasped my hands together and smiled gratefully.

‘Honestly, I thought it would be more complicated. To think it would be resolved this quickly.’

Even if not suspicious, I expected him to interrogate me thoroughly. I had even prepared what to say for that.

But Conrad simply accepted my words that it was needed for treatment right away.

He trusts me.

It meant that not only Conrad but also Cain, whom he serves, trusted me.

‘Then I need to repay this trust.’

I clenched my fists tightly.

Great.

Just wait, Jayden.

Now I can make the perfect syrup medicine!

But I would soon learn.

The real problem wasn’t something like obtaining poisonous herbs, but lay somewhere completely different.

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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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