A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 40

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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 40

 

Count Ashern’s Study.

 

Cain, who had received the report, let out a small exclamation with a satisfied expression.

 

‘Remarkable.’

 

Since he had been secretly watching Jayden’s condition, he knew it had improved.

 

But the speed at which his illness was improving was truly beyond expectations.

 

How long had it been since Viola came to the manor, and already she was showing such progress?

 

Until now, Cain had done his best as an uncle in his own way.

 

He knew that Tamutarbyo was an incurable disease, but even so, he had struggled to find a way somehow.

 

But the more he tried, the dimmer hope became. Yet Viola had overturned all of that in one fell swoop.

 

It was the moment he finally finished reading the report. Viola carefully explained.

 

“From now on, Tamutarbyo patients can be treated based on this formula.”

 

She had recorded the formula in great detail so anyone could follow it. It seemed she was even worried about future patients who might develop the disease among the Ashern Duchy members.

 

“…There have been several Ashern bloodline members who died from Tamutarbyo until now. If you hadn’t created this medicine, that number would have continued to grow.”

 

Cain paused for a moment, put down the report, and gazed at Viola.

 

“You are not only Jayden’s benefactor but Ashern’s benefactor. Is there anything you want? Whatever it is, I’ll grant it.”

 

He had only said what should naturally be said, but the woman began frantically waving her hands as if startled.

 

“No, no! This was part of the contract from the beginning! I only did what I promised to do.”

 

While he would generally go along with her opinion, Cain firmly shook his head.

 

Viola didn’t seem to properly recognize how much help this treatment method had given the Duke’s family.

 

“Do you want a manor? Or perhaps an estate?”

 

“N-no. That’s too much…!”

 

“Just because I’m emotionless doesn’t mean I don’t know gratitude.”

 

Though dragon blood was said to be emotionless beings, they were certain about relationships of debt and gratitude. If not for that, he couldn’t have reigned as a person of power for such a long time.

 

Viola, who had been troubled and not knowing what to do, denied it again. However, it was a denial about something unexpected.

 

“You’re not emotionless to begin with.”

 

“What?”

 

“Don’t you remember? You treated me here? You lent me your coat too… You’ve been looking after me in many ways since then. How could an emotionless person do that?”

 

“…”

 

“Count, you are a kind person.”

 

Cain was speechless for a moment. Was she sweet-talking him to make him feel good?

 

For that to be the case, there was no wavering visible in her fresh, sprout-like eyes. As if it were pure sincerity.

 

“…If Conrad heard that, he’d fall over backwards.”

 

“No way.”

 

It was serious, but Viola giggled as if she understood it as a joke.

 

However, she soon made a troubled face at Cain’s following words.

 

“Anyway, tell me what you want.”

 

“Ugh, do I have to?”

 

“Yes.”

 

But her eyes, which had been pretending to contemplate, suddenly gleamed with interest.

 

‘…Hmm?’

 

It was just for an instant, but it seemed like the corners of her mouth had slightly risen just now. As if she had caught him.

 

Was it his imagination?

 

While Cain was puzzled, Viola opened her mouth with an innocent face as if nothing had happened.

 

“If you insist… please personally pick out one outfit each before the season changes.”

 

One each? Was she talking about clothes for Melody and herself? Even buying a clothing store wouldn’t be enough.

 

She added with a bright smile.

 

“For Young Master Jayden and Melody!”

 

“What?”

 

“Let’s go out, all four of us!”

 

At my words, Cain made a puzzled expression.

 

“So… that’s what you want?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“You and I taking the children out?”

 

“Yes! Exactly! But additionally, please personally pick out the children’s clothes too.”

 

Cain still had a stiff expression as if he was hearing all sorts of strange requests.

 

Why on earth? Even though he didn’t say it, that question was clearly readable in his eyes. Unable to contain himself, he finally asked out loud.

 

“I don’t understand. Is there any benefit to doing that?”

 

I made slightly sad eyes and spoke wistfully.

 

“Ah, well, I want to buy some clothes for the children… but I’m not confident in choosing clothes that suit them. I wanted to borrow Count’s aesthetic sense…”

 

Cain still seemed unconvinced, but thinking that no other answer would come from me, he nodded for now.

 

It made sense that he wouldn’t be convinced.

 

Of course it was a lie!

 

The reason I suggested the outing was actually because I had another big picture in mind.

 

The so-called ‘I hope you become close!’ operation!

 

The target subjects of the operation were naturally Cain and Jayden.

 

I was thinking of slightly connecting the relationship between these two distant people with this opportunity.

 

Cain, who didn’t know how to deal with children, and Jayden, who was simply afraid of his dragon blood uncle.

 

They certainly didn’t dislike each other, but I couldn’t just watch them remain so awkward.

 

‘I wonder if I’m being too meddlesome…’

 

Seeing Cain’s serious expression, I felt like I might be causing unnecessary trouble.

 

For him, my proposal might actually be somewhat burdensome. Since he was someone who deliberately kept his distance knowing that Jayden feared him.

 

Even so, if I were to give an excuse for pushing through with the request, this was also part of Jayden’s Tamutarbyo treatment.

 

For the body to be healthy, the mind must be healthy too!

 

‘And the person who kept telling me to say anything he’d grant even though I clearly refused was Cain.’

 

I was only at fault for following his words.

 

Erasing my guilt, I emphasized again with a shameless face.

 

“Tomorrow!”

 

“What?”

 

“Looking at the sky, I think tomorrow won’t rain and will be clear. So let’s go out, all four of us. Okay?”

 

Come to think of it, when Jayden and Melody wanted something from me, they used eye attacks.

 

‘Should I try applying it once?’

 

I deliberately looked at Cain with very earnest eyes.

 

Cain avoided my gaze as if troubled.

 

Huh? What’s with this man?

 

Before, he would only sneer. His reaction was unusual.

 

I deliberately opened my eyes even more sparklingly.

 

Cain glanced at me briefly, but confirming that my gaze was still the same, he turned his head away again.

 

“That look… can’t you not do it?”

 

“Huh? What?”

 

When I deliberately pretended not to know and tilted my head greatly, he sighed. Soon he reluctantly accepted the proposal.

 

“Fine. We’ll go out tomorrow.”

 

Yahoo! I did it!

 

‘I should use this often. It’s quite effective.’

 

No wonder when children made this expression, it made you want to grant their wishes. It seemed to be a very powerful attack technique, effective enough to work on Cain too.

 

I left Cain’s study with a satisfied smile.

 

* * *

 

And so, the next day.

 

“Viola. Are you serious?”

 

“It’s a surprise gift. Ta-da. Were you surprised? You said you wanted to go out.”

 

“No, going out is nice. It is, but…!”

 

Jayden, who had heard about the situation, looked up at me with slightly tearful eyes and confirmed once more.

 

“You’re saying we’re going out together with His Grace?”

 

“Yes. That’s right. It’s sooo wonderful. Right?”

 

No, ah, ah!

 

The boy seemed to have a lot to say as he silently opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, but in the end chose silence.

 

He’d been like this before, seeming reluctant to openly say that His Grace was scary in front of me.

 

But he couldn’t hide his uncomfortable expression.

 

Hmm. This won’t do.

 

I lowered myself and spoke quietly to Jayden.

 

“Young Master.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“About His Grace the Count, he was extremely worried about you, Young Master.”

 

“…Huh? His Grace was…?”

 

As if it was unexpected, Jayden’s eyes widened. It was such a natural thing, yet Jayden himself, the person in question, seemed bewildered.

 

The boy muttered in a very small voice.

 

“…I thought he didn’t like me.”

 

Look at this. Children don’t know unless you tell them.

 

Of course, I don’t really know well how Cain thinks of Jayden either.

 

But… one thing was certain. That Cain worried about Jayden.

 

Enough to hire a suspicious woman of unknown identity. He wanted to ease his nephew’s pain.

 

I gently stroked Jayden’s head.

 

“He might seem scary because he’s a bit blunt. But he’s definitely a kind person. Just like you, Young Master.”

 

“…”

 

Jayden still remained silent as if he wasn’t sure.

 

It would be easy to explain more, but as a third party, it was right to step back at this point. The rest was something the two of them had to work out together today.

 

“Let’s go and have fun together today, okay?”

 

Not long after finishing my conversation with Jayden, we heard someone calling for us.

 

The carriage was finally ready.

 

* * *

 

To conclude, it seemed I had thought too lightly of the relationship between Cain and Jayden.

 

‘…Did I do the right thing?’

 

I hadn’t even expected a harmonious atmosphere, but what was this supposed to be?

 

Inside the rattling carriage, only suffocating silence lingered.

 

Please save me, there are four people here but no one is talking!

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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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