A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 41

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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 41

 

“Wow. Buying new clothes. I’m so excited, right?”

 

I deliberately spoke up to break the chilling silence, and immediately got responses.

 

“Wuu!”

 

“Yeah, I’m excited!”

 

“I see.”

 

And that was the end of the conversation.

 

All three of them only looked at me when talking, not even trying to make eye contact with each other. As if I were some kind of relay station.

 

Sigh. It’s been like this no matter what I say. I told them to talk to each other, so why are they all just looking at me!

 

‘At this rate, there’s no chance for Jayden and Cain to get close.’

 

I should have at least arranged the seating better.

 

When Jayden got in the carriage, he naturally claimed the seat to my left.

 

So I ended up with Melody on my right and Jayden on my left, facing Cain who sat alone across from us.

 

Oh dear, what a mess.

 

Where and how should I even start with this? I was about to give up on starting a conversation and was lost in thought for a moment when it happened.

 

“Viola.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Cain suddenly reached out his hand and leaned toward me.

 

“There’s dust in your hair…”

 

Just as his hand was about to brush my hair.

 

Gasp. Jayden, who had been stuck close to my side, flinched in surprise and hunched his shoulders.

 

His reaction was openly fearful of Cain, as if a beast’s paw was approaching.

 

Cain’s hand paused in mid-air, then simply brushed away the dust and withdrew indifferently.

 

‘This is a disaster…’

 

The atmosphere became even more subdued than before. Will these two even exchange a single word today? They can, right?

 

Ugh. We have a long way to go, a very long way.

 

Finally unable to bear it, I raised my hand high.

 

“I have a proposal!”

 

“Wuu!”

 

I agree!

 

Huh? I haven’t even started talking yet, but Melody cheerfully raised her hand as if agreeing.

 

Not to be outdone, Jayden also hurriedly shouted.

 

“I, I agree too!”

 

I’m telling you, I haven’t said anything yet.

 

But whatever, this is good. Decision made by majority vote!

 

“After we buy clothes, let’s all eat together! Something delicious!”

 

Huh?

 

Jayden had a belated ‘oh no’ expression, but this was exactly why you should vote carefully. It’s too late to take it back now, Young Master.

 

“Is that alright with you too, Count?”

 

“It’s already been decided by majority vote.”

 

He shrugged his shoulders lightly.

 

“Great! Then it’s decided!”

 

We’ll eat something delicious.

 

Meanwhile, the carriage seemed to have arrived at the boutique district as it slowed down and then stopped.

 

“It seems we’ve arrived.”

 

When we got out of the carriage, what spread before our eyes was a glamorous shopping district.

 

The shop windows of the numerous stores sparkled like jewels in the sunlight.

 

“Wow…”

 

Winterwald really is big.

 

It was much more glamorous and luxurious than the area I had toured when I first came here. It seemed to be a street mainly used by nobles.

 

“Even the silk gloves here look so luxurious.”

 

Without realizing it, I stopped walking and muttered in front of a shop.

 

Even though they were men’s gloves that I had no use for, their simple yet sophisticated design caught my attention.

 

While I was standing there dazed, Melody tugged at my clothes.

 

“Mama? Wuu?”

 

“Viola, Viola! This way!”

 

Even Jayden was far ahead, waving his hands at me.

 

“Ah, I’ll come in right away!”

 

What was I doing, really. Pulling myself together again, I followed behind Jayden.

 

And so, the four of us finally entered what appeared to be the largest boutique on the street.

 

Ding-a-ling. The interior we entered with the clear sound of bells was truly another world.

 

Dresses and formal wear displayed on luxurious velvet carpet showed off their elegant forms.

 

Unlike Melody and me, whose eyes were spinning dizzily at the dazzling sight, Cain and Jayden seemed accustomed to it.

 

When the boutique door closed, Cain removed the robe he was wearing.

 

Swoosh. The beautiful silver hair that was revealed in an instant made it clear to anyone that he was the Count of Ashern.

 

The boutique madam showed no particular surprise and instead bowed politely as if she had been waiting.

 

“I greet Count Ashern. I received word in advance.”

 

Ah, now that I think about it.

 

I thought it was strange that there wasn’t a single customer in this huge boutique…

 

‘Don’t tell me he rented out the entire place?’

 

Heok. An unsophisticated exclamation escaped me without realizing it.

 

Cain, who didn’t miss my reaction, turned his head and asked.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Oh, no…! Nothing!”

 

I said that, but my heart was pounding. I just wanted to create an excuse to go out with Jayden, but the scale seemed much bigger than I thought, which was bewildering and yet…

 

‘But still, money is the best!’

 

The children were so excited after all.

 

One way or another, I thought it was good that I brought them out.

 

“Oh my, so cute…!”

 

Before I knew it, Melody was spinning around in front of me wearing a light pink lace dress.

 

The large light green ribbon at her waist looked just like butterfly wings.

 

Heuk. All this time, I couldn’t dress her in clothes like this because I didn’t have money. I was wasting Melody’s beauty…!

 

I was melting from Melody’s cuteness and covering my mouth when it happened.

 

“Viola! Look at this!”

 

The fitting room curtain was drawn back and Jayden walked out triumphantly.

 

Dressed in a pure white shirt with a dark red vest, he looked exactly like a little young master.

 

However…

 

‘Hmm? Something’s strange?’

 

Like a frilled lizard, the boy had his shirt collar turned up high and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Cool, right?”

 

At his sloppy appearance, I held back my laughter and reached out my hand, then stopped.

 

Come to think of it, there was another purpose for coming here…

 

I glanced back and saw Cain, who had been quietly standing with his back against the wall.

 

I brought him here to get close to Jayden, but he was just maintaining silence from beginning to end as if he wouldn’t interfere.

 

We’ve come this far, I can’t just leave it like this.

 

Clapping my hands toward Jayden, I deliberately glanced at Cain.

 

“Wow, Young Master. You look so cool!”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes! Hurry and show the Count too! Quickly!”

 

* * *

 

In truth, Cain had already realized it right after boarding the carriage to go out. Why Viola had proposed such an absurd accompaniment.

 

It seemed that asking him to help choose clothes was just an excuse, and she appeared to want Jayden and him to become close.

 

But that wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

 

Since Jayden would almost faint with fear whenever I spoke to him.

 

I once heard from Conrad that my nephew’s fear of me was due to the strong dragon blood aura he felt from me.

 

After that, I tried deliberately suppressing my aura as much as possible when approaching him, but Jayden still only feared me. It must be because the first button was fastened wrong from our first meeting.

 

Even though they were nephews I had to take care of when my brother and his wife suddenly died in an accident, Cain wanted to fulfill his duty as a guardian.

 

However, he could never replace their parents.

 

A big reason was that upon inheriting the ducal position, he had almost no time to stay at the manor due to the monsters swarming throughout the estate.

 

Of course, even if that weren’t the case…

 

‘Perhaps it was an impossible goal from the beginning.’

 

Cain had been called a monster even by his own mother since childhood.

 

When even his mother feared the child she bore from her own womb, it was perhaps natural for his nephew to be afraid of me.

 

Thus, though I noticed Viola’s intention in proposing to accompany us, I couldn’t fulfill her wish. Because I knew well what my role was.

 

Not to interfere with the children’s enjoyment.

 

Come to think of it, Conrad had once given me advice, saying he would speak out of turn. He said a scary but good boss is someone who keeps their mouth shut and only pays the bill at meals.

 

Though this wasn’t a meeting with subordinates, today my role would be appropriate at about that level.

 

Just leaning against the wall, letting the children enjoy themselves, and quietly handling payment.

 

However, Viola seemed not to have forgotten the goal of our outing.

 

“Wow, Young Master. You look so cool!”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes! Hurry and show the Duke too! Quickly!”

 

She gave me a look as if telling me to respond.

 

‘It would be useless.’

 

No matter what I said, he would obviously just run away.

 

“…Huh?”

 

As expected, when told to show Cain, Jayden, who had been excited, was startled.

 

Normally he would have shrunk back after that, but surprisingly, Jayden began hesitantly approaching him.

 

‘…He listens to Viola’s words surprisingly well.’

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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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