A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 48

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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 48

 

“…Ah, Master.”

 

As his condition worsened, Jayden had stopped his swordsmanship lessons. So it had been quite a long time since he’d faced his master.

 

Instead of smiling happily, the child instinctively hunched his shoulders.

 

Like someone who had committed a crime.

 

“Straighten your shoulders. I told you that dragon blood must always be dignified.”

 

At the stern tone, Jayden hurriedly corrected his posture with a dejected face.

 

Then, as if nothing had happened, Morden returned to his characteristic respectful attitude.

 

“Congratulations on your recovery.”

 

Though it was clearly words of congratulation, Jayden felt a suffocating sense of intimidation.

 

He had been pretending not to know all this time, but there was something that had been continuously weighing on his mind.

 

Jayden squeezed his eyes shut and confessed in a crawling voice, his lips trembling.

 

“I, well… Master. I took medicine…”

 

He took medicine. Even though it was just conveying that simple fact, Jayden’s shoulders trembled violently.

 

Like a young child afraid of being scolded.

 

But an unexpected answer came from Morden.

 

“You did well.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“We cannot afford to lose precious dragon blood, after all.”

 

For someone saying he did well, Morden’s eyes were incredibly cold.

 

“Though you may have lost your pride as dragon blood, you ultimately survived, so it was the right thing to do.”

 

Lost your pride. That meant the dragon blood, who should stand on his own, had dared to depend on something else.

 

At those cold words laden with many meanings, Jayden’s face finally contorted with self-loathing.

 

“…”

 

Toward the boy who couldn’t say anything, Morden asked.

 

“Now that you’ve recovered, we can resume the swordsmanship training you’ve fallen behind on, can’t we?”

 

Jayden’s eyes, which had been hanging low, suddenly widened. Soon he opened his mouth with difficulty.

 

“Training… isn’t allowed yet…”

 

He should say that Viola hadn’t permitted it, that she had asked him to be careful for now.

 

But under Morden’s stern gaze, feeling as if he were committing a sin, Jayden ultimately couldn’t finish his words.

 

“…”

 

Heavy silence descended upon the bedroom. The boy glanced at his master while picking at the innocent blanket.

 

“If you continue to be lazy like this, what will His Grace think of you, Young Master?”

 

His Grace the Duke.

 

Cain Ashern.

 

When that name was mentioned, Jayden’s eyes shook uneasily.

 

Though he looked similar to himself, he was true dragon blood on a completely different level from the half-wit that he was.

 

Gulp. Jayden swallowed dry saliva from nervousness.

 

“It seems you’ve forgotten… but Young Master, you are dragon blood.”

 

“…”

 

“Shouldn’t you become stronger?”

 

Though phrased as a question, the tone was practically coercive. After hesitation, Jayden heavily nodded his head.

 

Finally, Morden’s rigid lips twisted into a cold smile.

 

As if he had finally received a satisfactory answer, he left the room without delay.

 

* * *

 

“Pathetic.”

 

To be born as dragon blood only to grovel like this.

 

At one time, he had held expectations due to his appearance that perfectly resembled his uncle…

 

In the end, Jayden was just a half-wit like his father.

 

‘Did the dragon’s blessing end with Cain Ashern?’

 

Twenty years ago, the day he first encountered Cain. Morden had trembled.

 

‘Beautiful.’

 

And wondrous.

 

Empty eyes that didn’t contain even a speck of emotion. Arrogant and absolute indifference as if he had placed everything in the world beneath his feet.

 

Though he was merely a child, Morden, who had already reached the level of Sword Master at the time, had to break out in cold sweat before Cain.

 

Only after experiencing that overwhelming fear did Morden finally become certain.

 

‘This person is truly the master I should serve.’

 

Morden was the commander of the Silver Dragon Knights and the head of the Banz Count family that had long served the ducal house.

 

To him, the Ashern Duchy that inherited dragon blood was faith, and the retainers who served them were chosen priests.

 

Therefore, for Cain, who was true dragon blood, Morden could do anything.

 

Even if it meant staining his hands with blood.

 

A retainer for dragon blood. That was his very reason for existence.

 

* * *

 

Cain’s study.

 

In the space filled with silence, Conrad’s calm report continued.

 

“We haven’t been able to find a dedicated healer for the knight order.”

 

“Still?”

 

“Yes. Since my last report, I ordered the knight commander to find one quickly, but seeing that the position is still vacant, it appears to be intentional behavior.”

 

Cain stopped turning the pages of documents and fell silent for a moment.

 

Morden, the current knight commander, was a troublesome opponent.

 

The head of the Banz Count family that had served Ashern for generations, and one who had surpassed human limits to become a Sword Master yet willingly chose to become the dragon’s sword.

 

Since he was a knight commander particularly favored by his father, the previous duke, his influence among the retainers was immense.

 

Though the Silver Dragon Knights were under the ducal house, various authorities had been delegated to the knight commander so they could move independently in crisis situations.

 

‘And he’s using that authority to merely fire physicians and block their employment.’

 

No matter how much personnel authority within the knight order was the commander’s exclusive right, this was something that could no longer be overlooked.

 

“Find a healer to take charge of the knight order, even temporarily.”

 

“…”

 

No immediate answer came.

 

When Cain looked up in puzzlement, Conrad adjusted his glasses slightly and opened his mouth with apparent difficulty.

 

“Ah, well, the thing is. It seems Lady Viola has already agreed to help.”

 

Hmm?

 

Hearing a name he hadn’t expected to be mentioned, Cain’s brow furrowed.

 

“Following the recent incident where the knight order received help, it seems Sir Yujin personally requested it.”

 

At Conrad’s explanation, Cain fell into thought for a moment.

 

Squirrels are naturally quick, but still.

 

‘She’s been quite busily moving around the manor.’

 

The knight order training grounds would be quite a distance from the annex where she stayed. When had she gone there again?

 

Cain unconsciously let out a chuckle.

 

Not content with running around like a curious squirrel, it seemed she had already built some rapport with the members.

 

Well, that’s natural given her extraordinary affability.

 

Cain thought of the members.

 

Among them, Eugen Hart was a commoner-born knight that Cain had personally appointed.

 

Though he joined late, he was a skilled individual who quickly rose to third in the knight order with his outstanding talent.

 

Though Yujin appeared easygoing on the surface, he had high walls around his heart due to his pride as a knight.

 

For such a man to request help in such a short time.

 

I could imagine how much the Knight Order members had opened their hearts to her.

 

“Should we find someone else to assign to the position?”

 

At Conrad’s question, Cain shook his head.

 

‘Since she’s already resolved it, there’s no need to interfere.’

 

In truth, there was no one more suitable than her.

 

The position of healer for the Knight Order wasn’t easy.

 

Knights had a completely different level of presence than ordinary people. To treat such people, one needed to know how to handle them to some degree…

 

Wasn’t she the woman who didn’t shrink back even in front of Cain, who had dragon blood? Not to mention her skills were beyond question.

 

Apart from worrying that she might become busier, there were no problems with the situation.

 

‘…I ended up receiving help unintentionally.’

 

However, it wasn’t as if there were no concerns at all.

 

“I hope no unnecessary trouble arises.”

 

When Cain added briefly, Conrad nodded.

 

Even without stating the subject, that was enough for him to understand.

 

‘You’re referring to Count Morden Barns.’

 

Three years since Cain had risen to the position of duke.

 

The past time had been busy with monster subjugation, so he couldn’t pay attention to manor affairs and had simply left the retainers from the previous duke’s time as they were. But now that the situation was settled, he was gradually weeding out those with rotten roots.

 

In that sense, Morden was a figure in the gray area.

 

He had deep loyalty, possessed the traditional standing of a retainer family, and had nearly reached the pinnacle in terms of ability.

 

But there was something unsettling about embracing him as one of Cain’s own people.

 

If he had committed tyranny as he had during the previous duke’s time, Cain would have cut him off with a single stroke. Currently, he seemed to be reading the room and wasn’t completely crossing the line…

 

While he might read Duke Cain’s mood, it was uncertain how he would act toward Viola.

 

Especially since the Knight Order captain seemed to particularly dislike commoners, which appeared to concern Cain.

 

“I will handle that matter.”

 

When a reliable answer came from Conrad, Cain finally nodded with satisfaction.

 

With this, the prepared report was nearly finished, but in fact, the most important main topic was separate.

 

Conrad took something from his chest and placed it on the desk.

 

“Lastly, there is something I must deliver to you.”

 

Cain’s eyes immediately fell upon the letter envelope.

 

The golden eagle seal.

 

That distinctive form was unmistakably correspondence from the Imperial Capital.

 

[There is an important matter, so enter the palace soon.]

 

Cain, who had been quietly reading through the contents, soon murmured softly.

 

“It’s going to be busy for a while.”

 

It was a summons from the Emperor.

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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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