A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 4

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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 4

“Post an announcement. We’re recruiting a healer.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At Cain’s sudden words, Conrad responded immediately despite his confusion. His master often had aspects that were difficult to understand anyway.

“And….”

Uncharacteristically seeming to contemplate, Cain paused for a moment. Then finally.

“If a woman with pink hair visits the ducal mansion, report it to me.”

“Yes, understood. Are there any other distinguishing features?”

“Well. Her hair is fluffy….”

Fluffy? Conrad momentarily doubted his own ears at the strangely cute-sounding word coming from Cain’s mouth.

However, Cain himself wasn’t in a situation to care what irreverent thoughts his aide might be having.

His mind felt strangely stuffy. Whenever he recalled the woman’s face, something kept trying to come to mind but wouldn’t.

A squirrel? It seemed similar, but… no. It was more of a soft, fluffy feeling than that….

“A chipmunk?”

“Pardon?”

Hmm. Cain hummed with satisfaction. He had finally identified the source of the déjà vu he’d been feeling.

Her soft hair with slight curls looked exactly like a chipmunk’s tail fur.

‘And her appearance too….’

He recalled how she had scolded him with wide, round eyes like she was dealing with a child, not even knowing who he was.

What an absurd woman, even thinking about it again. The corners of his mouth naturally curved upward.

“She looks like a chipmunk.”

Without an ounce of fear.

“Pardon?”

What, what? A chipmunk? Conrad looked confused.

He tried imagining a chipmunk with pink fur in his mind, but it only led him deeper into a maze.

However, instead of adding further explanation, Cain simply went on his way. It was behavior befitting an indifferent dragon.

* * *

The next day.

“Oh? So that was really true?”

I rubbed my eyes at the announcement posted on the ivy-covered wall.

[The Ashern Ducal Mansion is recruiting skilled healers to work.]

It definitely wasn’t there until yesterday. A new poster had been put up overnight. It was exactly as the man had predicted.

‘If I meet the application requirements, there’s no reason not to do it, right?’

Just as I was carefully reading the poster, Catherine beside me opened her mouth wide and made a fuss.

“Huh? What’s this? Why is the ducal family recruiting people? I’ve lived here for 10 years and this is the first time I’ve seen such an announcement.”

Catherine was a friend I’d made while staying in the village. Since Hailon Village was her hometown, she often came to visit her mother, and we became close because we were similar in age.

“Wow, they don’t even need a letter of recommendation? They must be recruiting quite urgently.”

“Right? Did someone suddenly quit or something?”

Even I thought it was strange. Exclusive noble families go through thorough background checks and introductions even when hiring maids.

But recruiting a healer, not just any maid, in this manner was quite unconventional.

With this, I could apply too….

The Empire has something called a healer qualification exam.

An exam that verifies basic healing arts and medicine preparation abilities.

After passing this, depending on one’s choice, they could become a physician who mainly deals with people, or like me, a pharmacist who studies medicine more deeply.

‘Usually people choose to become physicians, but anyway, I’m still a healer.’

Just as I was lost in thought, Catherine clapped her hands loudly. Then she looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.

“Anyway, this worked out well! You’re going to apply, right? You came here looking for a job.”

“I am going to apply, but don’t get your hopes up too much. Honestly, it’ll be hard to get in.”

This was a position as the ducal mansion’s dedicated healer. Realistically, it would be difficult for someone like me with not particularly long experience to get the position.

But I wasn’t discouraged.

‘It doesn’t matter anyway!’

My real purpose from the beginning wasn’t a job but getting a chance to meet Cain. I wouldn’t lose anything by applying and getting rejected.

But Catherine seemed to misunderstand my reaction and patted my back encouragingly.

“Hey, with your skills you’ll definitely get in! Don’t you remember? You completely cured my mother’s chronic illness last year?”

“That wasn’t a serious illness to begin with. Anyone could have done it, not just me.”

Catherine shook her head.

“Sigh…. This is why geniuses are. Even modesty is a sin, a sin.”

Melody, who had been listening quietly, also shook her head following her example.

“Melody thinks what auntie said is right too, doesn’t she? Your mom is really amazing, isn’t she?”

“Woo woo!”

Melody puffed out her chest triumphantly. She looked proud as if she had been praised herself.

Puhup.

Those two really get along well. As I burst into laughter without realizing it, Catherine pushed my back with a stern expression.

“This isn’t the time to laugh. I’ll take care of Melody, so hurry up and go apply.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“Good jobs always attract crowds. Don’t underestimate the unemployment crisis in the city.”

“Woo woo!”

Despite being a child who doesn’t even know what unemployment means, Melody nodded as if those words were right.

And so, a little later.

I was on my way straight to the ducal mansion, carrying only the necessary documents.

‘But thinking about it again, the timing is really exquisite.’

The Ashern ducal family didn’t really need pharmacists or personal physicians to begin with. Being dragon-blooded, their regenerative and healing abilities were on a different level from ordinary people.

Of course, that didn’t mean they were invincible.

‘Rather, there are unique diseases that only affect them.’

But anyway, such things couldn’t be completely solved through medicine or pharmacy.

So I never even imagined a job posting for a dedicated healer.

‘I was lucky in many ways.’

It was all thanks to that man giving me advance notice. Somehow I ended up receiving great help.

If I ever run into him again, I should definitely thank him then.

‘…Come to think of it, what was his identity?’

If he was just an ordinary monster hunter, he wouldn’t know the internal affairs of the ducal mansion.

Hmm, so he must be a knight after all?

The ducal family’s Silver Dragon Knights were famous for subjugating monsters not only around Winterwald but throughout the Empire. If he was one of their members, everything would make sense.

But just as I was recalling the man in my mind.

“Huh?”

I felt a strange sense of incongruity. Why? I couldn’t remember his face at all. I was sure he had a very impressive appearance.

The facial features I had properly looked at were blurry as if seen through fog. I couldn’t even remember his voice. As if I was under some kind of spell.

“Maybe it’s because I’m nervous.”

No, that doesn’t seem right for something this strange. Could it be….

Just as I was imagining other possibilities.

Perhaps because my steps had unconsciously quickened, I had already reached my destination.

“Wow.”

An exclamation naturally escaped me. What towered before my eyes was closer to one massive fortress than a mansion.

No wonder people keep going on about Ashern, Ashern.

I heard that if you bound together all the property documents he owns, it would surpass an encyclopedia and create an entire library.

The antique and magnificent exterior was beautiful, but at the same time, it exuded a suffocating sense of intimidation. My shoulders involuntarily hunched at the sight of the fierce guards protecting the tall iron gate.

But I can’t back down after coming this far.

I haven’t done anything wrong, so let’s go in confidently!

I clenched both fists tightly and approached the main entrance.

However, the moment I faced the disciplined guard standing before the gate, I lost all the confidence I had just moments before.

“H-Hello…! I, I came to apply as a healer…!”

As expected of people guarding the great Ashern Duchy, their eyes were fierce.

Even though I hadn’t done anything, I felt guilty for no reason and glanced around nervously.

The colleague standing beside him showed a similar reaction. Soon the two began whispering with grim faces.

“I think it’s her, right?”

“Definitely.”

What, what? Did I do something wrong?

I haven’t caused any trouble yet…! I was getting more anxious in the tense atmosphere when it happened.

“Could you please wait here for a moment? We’ll call someone to guide you.”

“Ah, yes! Thank you.”

Contrary to my worries, I received a polite response. As I nodded in relief, the guard went inside the iron gate and immediately grabbed a servant.

“Quickly inform Lord Conrad. That squirrel… Ah, right. Tell him the squirrel lady has arrived.”

“Excuse me? A squirrel?”

“There’s such a thing, so hurry! It’s His Grace the Duke’s order!”

People moved busily beyond the bars saying something, but I couldn’t hear clearly from the distance.

Besides, I was too nervous for anything to register anyway.

Whew. Hah. I took deep breaths frantically.

Meanwhile, the guard returned with a neatly dressed servant.

The servant immediately guided me inside.

After walking for quite a while through tall, long corridors, I finally arrived at what seemed to be a reception room.

“The interviewer will be here shortly, so please make yourself comfortable.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The interior of the reception room was even more splendid than the exterior, but I couldn’t take it in. My nervousness was intensifying.

‘I really need to do well from now on… I wonder what kind of person will come.’

Hopefully one of the Duke’s close associates would come.

That way it would be easier to ask them to let me meet His Grace.

Don’t stutter from nervousness, definitely greet them brightly, what else do I need to be careful about…

I was running interview(?) simulations frantically in my head, fidgeting with my fingers while waiting, when it happened.

Click. Finally, the door opened.

Without realizing it, my breath stopped completely.

It was because the person who arrived was someone I had never imagined.

Hair that shimmered like silver thread, and beneath his coolly swept bangs, a serene forehead was revealed. The eyes positioned below were red like blood.

The man’s face was beautiful, but conversely, it was so inhuman that it sent chills down my spine.

With such distinctive features, I couldn’t help but recognize him the moment I saw him.

‘There’s no mistake.’

Cain Ashern.

That man who becomes Melody’s father in the original work.

For some reason, no less than the main character of the original work had personally graced me with his presence.

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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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