A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 49

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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 49

 

The healer’s work for the knight order wasn’t as difficult as I’d expected. My main duties were to check in during spare moments to see if anyone had been injured during training.

 

According to Yujin, the vice-captain and other elite members were currently away on a mission.

 

Perhaps because of this, the knight order was proceeding with training-focused activities without any special missions.

 

“Hyah!”

 

“Faster! Don’t show any openings!”

 

For several days, I watched not only the apprentices’ training but also that of the official knights.

 

‘But watching them, I can tell. The atmosphere between apprentice knights and official knights’ training is completely different.’

 

While the apprentice knights were full of passion but still seemed somewhat naive, the latter had a truly battle-like deadly atmosphere.

 

“Senior Yujin, please spar with me!”

 

Sitting on a bench outside the training grounds, I watched the official knights’ sparring matches.

 

Sword energy cutting through the air created fierce winds. Sparks flew each time their swords clashed.

 

There was no hesitation in the swords the knights wielded. As if the opponent before them was an enemy that absolutely had to be cut down.

 

Since it was training that resembled actual combat, injuries inevitably occurred.

 

The knights themselves didn’t mind at all.

 

They all remained calm as if torn skin and flying blood were everyday occurrences.

 

It was clearly a different reaction from the apprentice knights who came running at the slightest scratch.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Sir Craig, unable to withstand the sword energy, fell backward and scraped his arm against the dirt ground. Blood seeped from abrasions across a fairly wide area.

 

Ugh, that must sting. Even if wounds like that aren’t deep, they hurt terribly.

 

“Wait a moment, Sir Craig! I’ll heal that for you.”

 

I reflexively stood up and approached him.

 

However, Craig just roughly wiped his bloodied arm with his collar and gripped his sword again.

 

“Oh, Lady Viola. No need! This much is fine!”

 

“What? But you’re bleeding like this?”

 

Besides, this was a dirt ground. What if he got a bacterial infection?

 

But Craig only answered heartily.

 

“Ah, this much will heal if I just put some spit on it!”

 

His surprising indifference felt familiar somehow.

 

He was exactly like Cain, who didn’t care whether monster blood got into his wounds or not.

 

I knew the knights respected Cain, but they only learned the bad habits?

 

Sigh. This won’t do.

 

I narrowed my eyes.

 

It’s been a while since the nagging queen needs to make an appearance.

 

* * *

 

When I fell silent for a moment, Yujin also stopped sparring and approached Craig’s side.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Oh, Senior Yujin! It’s nothing. Just scraped my palm a bit.”

 

Perhaps misunderstanding my slightly lowered head as being upset, he tried to comfort me.

 

“Come now, Lady Viola. There’s nothing to be sad about. A knight without even small wounds like this? That’s someone who hasn’t trained hard enough.”

 

Is this person serious?

 

It seemed not just Craig but all the knights shared the same thinking.

 

I raised my head and surveyed the knights who were still focused on their sparring.

 

Being an official knight meant they were frequently called upon for subjugation expeditions, unlike the apprentice knights.

 

Looking closely at the bodies of the knights training while sweating, I could see various scars.

 

Face, neck, arms… I could easily spot scars carved regardless of location. There were probably even more hidden beneath their clothes.

 

‘Even Sir Yujin has these kinds of things.’

 

I looked at his arms with sad eyes.

 

Though somewhat hidden by his clothes, I could see a scar running up from his wrist.

 

Jaggedly distorted skin.

 

Even though it seemed like a fairly old wound, it was still swollen and red.

 

‘He was bitten by a monster.’

 

Suddenly, a scene from the original story flashed through my mind.

 

In “Future Saint,” the Silver Dragon Knights were the most reliable shield protecting Melody.

 

They truly cherished Melody. That’s why they did their best to protect the child.

 

But that process wasn’t entirely peaceful.

 

When a horde of monsters attacked Melody due to the Temple’s schemes.

 

In that desperate moment, the knights desperately protected Melody.

 

Thanks to them, the child didn’t suffer a single scratch, but one knight who shielded Melody became unable to ever hold a sword again due to his injuries from that time.

 

‘The exact name wasn’t given, so I didn’t know who it was…’

 

That distinctive scar running up his wrist. It had been briefly described in the original work too. Now I was certain.

 

That ill-fated knight was Sir Yujin before my eyes.

 

Someone who loved swords so much would end up putting down his sword forever while protecting the child.

 

‘This doesn’t feel good.’

 

Since I intervened and changed the flow of the original story, the exact same tragedy wouldn’t occur, but…

 

Sigh. A deep sigh escaped without me realizing it.

 

Ever since living in the rural Hailon Village, I had held a vague respect for the Silver Dragon Knights.

 

Thanks to them subjugating monsters on the front lines, ordinary people like us could live safely.

 

To the people, the Silver Dragon Knights were no different from invincible guardians.

 

Beings who would instantly defeat monsters with their mighty and overwhelming power, different from ordinary people.

 

Everyone was busy praising their victories, but…

 

‘All that protection was achieved by throwing their own bodies without sparing themselves.’

 

Perhaps noticing my gaze lingering on his scar, Yujin quietly covered his wrist with his other hand.

 

He showed an awkward but good-natured smile.

 

“Oh my. I thought I had it covered. I guess it showed.”

 

“…You were bitten by a monster.”

 

“I can’t fool Lady Viola’s eyes. But there’s no need for such sad eyes. I received treatment with holy power too.”

 

Yujin continued speaking as if it were nothing.

 

“For me, it’s a badge of honor. A knight should have one or two scars like this, haha.”

 

Craig and the other knights nodded in agreement with Yujin’s words, but I couldn’t bring myself to nod.

 

I know. That when fighting, there are inevitably moments when you can’t help but get hurt.

 

And that these people have no choice but to become numb to it.

 

But as someone being protected, I shouldn’t take their pain for granted. At the same time, something welled up deep in my heart.

 

“…Your badges of honor are the sweat you’ve shed, not your blood.”

 

“Lady Viola…”

 

Even knowing it was presumptuous, my mouth wouldn’t stop.

 

“To me, the Silver Dragon Knights are people I’m grateful for. Because you protect the safety and happiness of people like me.”

 

“…”

 

“But if everyone knew you protected them while neglecting wounds like this, they’d all be sad. Like me.”

 

The Silver Dragon Knights specialized in fighting monsters rather than people.

 

And the terrifying thing about monsters was the demonic energy they possessed.

 

Whether in the form of blood or saliva, when this entered the body, a person’s body would rot away. The pain accompanying that process was beyond imagination.

 

I looked at Yujin’s scar again.

 

Thanks to treatment with holy power, it seemed he didn’t reach the point of having to amputate his arm, but the scar still remained prominently.

 

‘Even if he calls it a badge of honor, it must often be troublesome.’

 

The same was true for the other knights.

 

“…I wish you would all treat your bodies a little more preciously.”

 

A brief silence fell over the surroundings. Only then did I realize my mistake. I had blurted out what I wanted to say in my emotional state, but I felt a bit regretful.

 

It didn’t seem like something I, a mere outsider to the Knight Order, should have said. Embarrassment washed over me belatedly, and I hung my head low.

 

“Ah, I’m sorry. I think I got too excited. Please pretend you didn’t hear that…”

 

But it was at that moment when I cautiously raised my head again.

 

The knights were looking at me with sparkling eyes.

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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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