A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 28

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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 28

 

In truth, Celia had been in a constant state of indignation. It was because she kept hearing good stories about Viola from here and there.

 

A mere commoner who always talks back to me without fail, yet acts friendly with other people.

 

Everyone must have been fooled by that hypocritical mask.

 

Even the perceptive Conrad had been covering for that woman, hadn’t he?

 

But Celia’s rage wasn’t simply due to her personal animosity.

 

Rather, there was another clear reason.

 

After receiving a sharp reprimand from Conrad to exercise restraint, Celia had been living quietly in her own way.

 

But during that time, she happened to overhear a shocking conversation between the maids.

 

“You know that squirrel lady… I heard she might actually be a princess from somewhere?”

 

“Really? You’re talking about Lady Viola, right? Ah, but honestly, I kind of thought so. She has this untouchable dignity about her.”

 

Squirrel lady?

 

At first, she couldn’t understand the situation due to the mysterious title, but only after hearing the name that followed could she tell who the conversation was about.

 

Celia snorted. What? A princess from somewhere?

 

It seemed she wasn’t just pretending to be kind, but was even going around impersonating royalty. No wonder people treated her so well.

 

Now that all the reasons fell into place, she felt completely refreshed.

 

‘How ridiculous. As if such a lowly commoner unwed mother could be a princess.’

 

Celia suddenly recalled Viola’s appearance.

 

Her straight, upright posture. Her smooth skin without a single blemish. And her attitude of speaking clearly without avoiding eye contact.

 

For a mere commoner… no, honestly, though she hated to admit it, it was true that she had more noble bearing than most aristocratic young ladies.

 

Her conduct was even refined and natural, as if she had learned noble etiquette deep in her bones.

 

Gasp. Celia tensed up.

 

Could it really be…? Was she actually the hidden child of royalty or high nobility from some country?

 

However, she soon shook her head vigorously.

 

While foolish maids might be deceived by appearances alone, they couldn’t fool her, a true aristocratic young lady.

 

‘Besides, she’s bold enough to impersonate royalty. She wouldn’t have started without a plan.’

 

She must have learned it somewhere by watching over someone’s shoulder. To deceive people about her status, gain their favor, and ultimately secure the position of duchess.

 

What a cunning scheme. But no matter how much a person of lowly birth struggled and made a fuss, they couldn’t match her, a young lady of the noble Count Dorn’s family.

 

Stupid maids. As expected, their lowly origins made them easily fooled by pretty words.

 

Wait. At that moment, there was a shocking possibility that crossed her mind. Could it be…?

 

‘Is the apothecary thing all a fraud too?’

 

With the audacity to impersonate royalty, she was certainly woman enough to do that and more.

 

My goodness. Now everything seemed to make sense.

 

She had heard that becoming a certified healer was as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.

 

Since vast knowledge and expensive tuition were required, medicine and pharmacy were essentially the exclusive domain of nobles with money and power.

 

But… where would a poor commoner, moreover a woman abandoned by her husband, get the money to study such things?

 

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

 

Celia trembled pitifully at the shocking truth she had just realized.

 

A sense of mission surged within her.

 

I must expose it. I must tear off that woman’s disgusting mask that everyone is being deceived by.

 

If I could just do that… perhaps this time His Grace the Duke might finally notice me.

 

After all, I would have caught an unprecedented con artist who tried to deceive the Duke’s family!

 

‘Yes. Now is the opportunity.’

 

Cain had barely been at the manor due to repeated monster waves.

 

So she too had wasted time without opportunities to seduce him…

 

Unlike the gloomy past, he was currently staying at the manor.

 

This time, she had to achieve something and imprint her existence on him.

 

‘But how do I find evidence?’

 

She had to give up on investigating within the manor. Since receiving the warning last time, she could feel butler Conrad watching her actions.

 

Celia wasn’t careless enough to move openly under such surveillance.

 

As a young lady of a high noble family, she naturally knew how to see the bigger picture better than commoners.

 

Then a good idea occurred to her.

 

‘Father!’

 

Unlike Viola who was abandoned even by her husband, she had a reliable father who would pluck stars from the night sky if she wanted.

 

Celia immediately sent a letter to her father. Her father, a renowned count, would surely be able to find out something.

 

Fortunately, Viola had a distinct characteristic.

 

Her rare pink hair.

 

She asked her father to secretly inquire whether there were any royalty with pink hair in foreign countries.

 

Her father, who had often traveled as an envoy, couldn’t be more reliable.

 

‘Commoners have never been abroad, so they would believe lies about being a princess from a distant foreign land.’

 

But she couldn’t fool the eyes of a true noble like herself.

 

Not long after, Celia was able to receive a reply from her father.

 

[How dare a lowly commoner upset our beloved daughter.

 

Don’t worry, my jewel.

 

This father investigated thoroughly, and except for the late Imperial Princess, there are no pink-haired royalty even if you search distant foreign lands.

 

Commoners are like vermin who lie as easily as eating, and this father is so proud of our Celia for seeing through that.]

 

Ha! I knew it would be like this. Celia rejoiced. The lies were being exposed one by one.

 

‘The apothecary thing must be a complete lie too.’

 

But unfortunately, according to her father’s continued investigation, it was true that she had a healer’s license.

 

‘That can’t be right.’

 

Celia frowned. There was no way a commoner who had never properly studied could pass an exam that even nobles failed in droves.

 

‘Could she have bribed the examiners?’

 

When had she looked down on her as a poor, penniless commoner? Without any evidence, Celia began to spread the wings of delusion as she pleased.

 

Unfortunately, there was no one to stop Celia, who had already fallen into her own logic. Even her father was currently covering for and agreeing with his daughter.

 

Even after that, she didn’t stop investigating.

 

Then today. Finally, a decisive clue was found.

 

She discovered that the Gamjongcho that Viola had recently brought into the manor was not a medicinal herb but a poisonous plant containing deadly toxins!

 

‘She really was a con artist!’

 

Her father said it was an incredibly potent poison with no possible antidote. A dangerous poisonous plant that could cause instant death if consumed.

 

As soon as she learned this fact, Celia immediately stormed into Viola’s apothecary.

 

“Um, what brings you here…?”

 

Completely ignoring Viola who approached with greetings, Celia headed straight for the work table.

 

Coincidentally, the sinister poisonous plant she had only heard about was placed on the table.

 

Grab.

 

Something that shouldn’t be touched with bare hands – Celia foolishly picked it up, intoxicated by her sense of victory.

 

“Ha, I knew it!”

 

Openly handling poisonous plants in this manor! Who was she planning to target with that!

 

Viola, startled by her sudden action, urgently tried to stop her.

 

“Wait, Lady Celia! You mustn’t touch that! It’s dangerous poison…”

 

Did she think I would fall for such intimidation? Celia deliberately gripped the poisonous plant tighter.

 

She couldn’t meekly hand over the decisive evidence.

 

“Stop pretending to be kind! You fraud!”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I heard everything. This is an extremely dangerous poisonous plant, right? You’re going to make medicine with this? Ha. What would have happened if it weren’t for me? Everyone being deceived by such a con artist!”

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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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