A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 5

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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 5

I involuntarily gasped as the heavy pressure of dragon blood weighed down on me.

They say ordinary people find it difficult to even make eye contact.

The original work’s description didn’t seem to be an exaggeration at all.

‘To think I’d meet Cain like this.’

Unlike my head that had frozen stiff from tension, my body accurately performed the task I had rehearsed countless times in my mind.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace…!”

“You know me?”

At the heavy yet sweet voice that pierced through my ears, I barely lifted my head to face him.

‘But…’

He really was handsome.

Even without the dragon blood, it seemed no one would be able to meet the eyes of that unrealistic appearance.

Come to think of it, I feel like I saw a handsome man like this recently too. Is it just my imagination?

But now wasn’t the time to think about such things. I hurriedly answered his question.

“I-I think there would be fewer people who don’t know you…!”

I ended up spouting nonsense due to my nervousness, but fortunately the Duke didn’t take issue with it.

“Sit down for now.”

“Y-yes!”

Cain lightly nodded and sat on the sofa across from me. I also awkwardly followed suit and took a seat, but honestly the situation didn’t feel real.

‘I came to meet Cain in the first place so it’s good for me, but why?’

Something was strange to just consider it pure luck. It was like the chairman showing up to interview a low-level employee.

I pretended to look at the table while sneaking glances at him.

Cain sat with his legs crossed, scanning through documents with a leisurely gaze. The interview began right away.

“Looking at this, your resume is quite simple. There’s no record of studying at an academy either. Did you have a teacher?”

Ugh. He’s hitting hard right from the start.

“I… self-studied!”

“Self-studied?”

Cain’s eyes narrowed slightly. It was clearly a suspicious look.

I understand, but there’s nothing to find even if you’re suspicious… because it’s true.

Remembering the ancestors’ saying about speaking straight even with a crooked mouth, I squeezed out courage and opened my mouth.

“Yes… Due to circumstances, I didn’t have the opportunity to learn elsewhere.”

Pharmacy wasn’t a very accessible field of study. So it was common to learn through apprenticeship or attend an academy. After that, you’d take a national exam to prove your qualifications.

But I skipped the former process.

‘More precisely, the Marquis family didn’t give me the opportunity to learn anything, so it was skipped for me…’

“Hmm.”

Very fortunately, Cain didn’t dig deeper. Instead, he only asked a few more simple questions after that.

I secretly wiped my sweaty hands on my skirt hem due to nervousness and answered sincerely. They were mostly straightforward questions about healing arts or herbology knowledge, so they weren’t difficult.

For a while.

Thud. Eventually Cain put down the documents he was holding on the table.

“Let’s wrap up the interview here.”

Ugh. At words that were essentially a result notification, I squeezed my eyes shut.

‘I failed after all, right?’

This was supposedly an interview for the Ducal Mansion, so it couldn’t end this easily. It seemed to end quickly because I was a failed candidate.

It’s disappointing but can’t be helped.

Getting a job wasn’t my original goal anyway.

‘Right, now that the interview is over. Time to state my real purpose!’

As I made that resolution and took a deep breath to relax.

“I’d like you to start work immediately from tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

“You passed.”

“Me…?”

Why…?

At the unexpected response, I made a stupid expression and pointed at myself with my finger.

But I haven’t even shown you anything yet…?

But before I could resolve my confusion, Cain took out a pen from his jacket and scribbled on the documents.

“This salary should be sufficient.”

My eyes naturally widened at the unexpectedly large number.

“Uh… so this is monthly pay?”

“It’s weekly. Do you prefer monthly salary format?”

I couldn’t help but sigh. I’d heard that Ashern Ducal Mansion was a good place to work, but this exceeded expectations.

‘Wow. This is why they say to work for a noble house.’

How much is all this?

With this money, I could change Melody’s little outfits every day, stack expensive macarons like a tower, and also…

I tried imagining various other things, but unfortunately my ideas quickly ran out. They say only people who’ve had money know how to spend it well.

In any case, it was a tempting amount.

But…

“No, the salary is fine. More than that…”

It’s okay, Viola, you can do this!

Think of rabbit-like Melody waiting for you…!

My heart pounded rapidly.

I steeled my resolve hundreds of times in my mind and opened my heavy mouth again.

“Before I speak, I earnestly request that you dismiss the others…”

Cain tilted his head slightly as if surprised. A subtle crack appeared in his plaster statue-like face that had no expression.

“If you’re trying to pique my interest, you’ve succeeded.”

He spoke in a low voice and soon gestured to the servants.

In an instant, only he and I remained in the reception room.

Cain gestured with his chin as if to say go ahead and speak.

My mouth went completely dry.

I didn’t know what treatment I’d receive after saying these words. Since this was ducal family secrets, my life might even be threatened.

But I couldn’t propose a contract without speaking first.

After checking my plan one last time, I clenched my fists.

“I’d like to propose different terms.”

“…”

“I’ll treat your nephew, that is, Young Master Jayden’s Tamutaru disease. In exchange, please protect the young saint candidate.”

Ha. A short laugh broke the silence. Cain’s eyes, which had held even faint interest, became cold as ice.

“Were you a spy?”

Ah, no I’m not?

* * *

Cain Ashern had two nephews.

Their names were Noah and Jayden.

They were children left behind when his brother and sister-in-law died in an unexpected accident.

Though he lived as a duke now, in fact until a few years ago Cain never expected he would live such a life.

It was because of his constitution that inherited dragon blood particularly strongly even among the Ashern direct line.

His very existence made people afraid.

So from a young age, he naturally chose a life of traveling around the empire fighting monsters rather than staying at the mansion.

However, when his brother who was the heir died and his father suddenly passed away on top of that, the situation changed overnight.

The ducal title suddenly thrust upon him. And two young nephews who had no guardian other than him.

None of these were situations I had hoped for, but Cain silently carried out his duties.

Day after day, he dealt with monster waves occurring throughout the empire, protecting not only the duchy but the entire empire.

People feared yet respected their strong ruler.

But his nephews didn’t turn out as expected.

To be honest, Cain wasn’t particularly comfortable with either Noah or Jayden.

He had always found young children difficult. Beings who would cry and run away even when he didn’t approach them couldn’t possibly be comfortable to deal with.

Nevertheless, he had made considerable effort. Even if he wasn’t the best guardian, he had done his utmost.

Despite being so busy with monster subjugation that he barely had time to set foot in the manor.

Thanks to that, his young nephews had grown little by little.

Though they still feared him as their uncle…

‘It doesn’t really matter.’

He was accustomed to gazes that feared him. Rather, it would be more accurate to say it felt awkward when they didn’t.

That’s probably why it was.

Why this woman before him kept catching his attention.

“Tsk! Please stay still.”

How absurd it was to see that gaze pretending to be stern, as if scolding a child.

Though he had dragged her to the manor afterward under the pretext of the ointment, thinking back, it might have been just an excuse.

From the beginning, Cain had been intrigued by her.

‘A pharmacist with this level of skill is rare.’

Perhaps that’s why, even after returning to the manor, her fluffy pink hair somehow lingered in his mind.

But he swore he never imagined she would catch his attention again in this manner.

Much less that she would dare mention Jayden’s illness.

“Spies these days have no fear. To dare make such a proposal before me.”

A mocking smile naturally curved Cain’s lips.

“So, where did you hear it?”

“Wh-what…?”

“I’m asking whose lackey sent you.”

The woman’s eyes widened.

When had she boldly proposed a deal? Now she was completely overwhelmed by his presence, visibly trembling.

The color drained from her pink lips.

“N-no. It’s absolutely not like that…”

“Not like that?”

“Ugh, y-yes…”

Even while suppressed by his aura, she struggled to speak.

Cain sneered.

‘A lie without even sincerity.’

The fact that Jayden had contracted Tamuthar disease was information he had been keeping strictly confidential.

As it was his nephew’s fatal weakness, he had thoroughly hidden the secret.

It would be impossible for an ordinary individual to find out. She was definitely a spy sent by someone.

‘Did the Temple send her? Or perhaps the Imperial Court?’

This wasn’t the Emperor’s usual method though.

But without that level of power, it couldn’t be explained.

While he considered various possibilities, the woman still showed no intention of confessing.

“I-it’s really not like that!”

Still trembling, she only continued to deny it.

“In this situation, do you think just claiming it’s not true is enough?”

When Cain took another step closer, she gasped and inhaled sharply.

“You might as well insist you figured it out yourself.”

He muttered as a warning. The woman who had been trying to look at him hung her head low.

She’s going to cry. It was rather impressive that she had held out this long.

But that was the exact moment.

“Yes! Th-that’s right! That’s it!”

“What?”

Cain’s brow furrowed at the unexpectedly bright voice.

“Exactly what you just said! I… deduced it!”

She suddenly raised her head and looked up at him.

Though her body was still trembling as if struggling against his aura, her sprout-like eyes gazing at him were perfectly sincere, as if speaking the truth.

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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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