A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 51

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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 51

 

It seems his hardships as an aide are quite considerable.

 

Ahaha. While I couldn’t help but feel bitter knowing his feelings all too well to just laugh it off, my words about being okay weren’t a lie.

 

“You really don’t need to worry about it! And actually, I’m not doing this for free.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Conrad’s eyes widened momentarily with a puzzled look.

 

I glanced around and whispered quietly so only he could hear.

 

“It’s a secret, but Sir Eugene promised to spend a day playing with Melody later. Hehe.”

 

During our time living in Hailon Village, the neighborhood children would talk about the Silver Dragon Knights until our ears were sick of it.

 

Thanks to that, the Silver Dragon Knights were nothing short of heroes to the children.

 

And such a hero would personally play with her? I couldn’t let this opportunity slip by.

 

Hehehe. I smiled wickedly like a scheming witch.

 

It wasn’t like I helped the knights with this in mind, but it was still a proposal I had no reason to refuse.

 

But Conrad’s reaction to my words was strange.

 

“Huh.”

 

His mouth fell open and he made an expression of genuine envy.

 

“Lady Viola. That’s not compensation. That’s a reward, isn’t it?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“A chance to play with Miss Melody all day long!”

 

Ah, right.

 

This person was Melody’s notorious number one fan in the original story too.

 

Conrad clicked his tongue for quite a while as if his stomach hurt, then cleared his throat and composed his expression.

 

“Ahem, hmm. Anyway… I understand your personal circumstances, but I feel too sorry to just receive help like this.”

 

He continued speaking.

 

“This is also an extension of official duties, isn’t it? So I’d like to make it a formal request and at least provide you with proper compensation.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Unlike me who was flustered, he had a very calm expression.

 

“Since entirely new duties have been added, I’d like to make it three times your current allowance…”

 

“W-wait a moment! That’s way too much! I’m already receiving more than I deserve…!”

 

It wasn’t something I did for money in the first place. Besides, receiving too much usually leads to trouble.

 

When I hesitated, thinking that a good deed might lose its meaning, Conrad looked even more troubled.

 

“Is that so? Well then… I can’t force you, Lady Viola…”

 

Huh?

 

I was inwardly surprised by how easily he seemed to give up, when that moment came.

 

He pushed up his glasses and muttered quietly.

 

“It’s fine. Ashern will simply remain known as a wicked family that doesn’t even pay for labor…”

 

Ugh, I knew it!

 

When I glanced at Conrad’s face, there was a subtle madness lurking in his eyes that he pretended to cast down sadly.

 

Come to think of it, something similar happened before.

 

‘Back then, I eventually gave in to that madness and went along with Conrad’s wishes.’

 

I had to tearfully accept his proposal before Conrad could escalate further.

 

But I had no intention of giving in as easily as last time.

 

“Sigh… Fine. I’ll do as you say.”

 

“Really? That’s an excellent choice!”

 

“Yes. But three times is still too much!”

 

Conrad, who had brightened for a moment, looked shocked.

 

“The knight order isn’t just one or two people, so three times is appropriate!”

 

“No way! I refuse that! Two times! Let’s make it two times!”

 

“That’s too little. If I report this, how could I face His Grace? I would become a useless aide—”

 

Conrad pretended to be weak, but I couldn’t fall for his sympathy-inducing tactics again this time.

 

I shouted firmly.

 

“Two times!”

 

At my stubbornness, he groaned as if in pain and then shouted.

 

“2.5 times! Let’s compromise at this point!”

 

“Then I won’t take anything at all!”

 

“Th-that’s the one thing…!”

 

At my extreme move, Conrad staggered while clutching his glasses in apparent agony.

 

He soon muttered with a face full of defeat.

 

“Ugh, two times. Fine. Let’s make it two times.”

 

“Good.”

 

I quickly accepted before he could change his mind.

 

Phew.

 

At least that was fortunate.

 

And so I officially took on the job of treating the knights.

 

After that, I was extremely busy for a while.

 

While continuing Jayden’s treatment, I would go to the training grounds in between to look after the knights, and spend time with Melody in the evenings.

 

It was rewarding and enjoyable, but equally mentally draining day after day.

 

Even though I wasn’t particularly weak physically, lately I would just collapse as soon as my head hit the bed.

 

Yawn. I struggled to suppress the overwhelming yawn and wiped away the tears that formed at the corners of my eyes.

 

‘Come to think of it, Cain and I were supposed to take evening walks regularly…’

 

It wasn’t easy to overcome the fatigue.

 

In the end, we were only able to make plans again after several days had passed.

 

Late at night.

 

When I arrived at the fountain, our meeting place, I saw a familiar silhouette already waiting there.

 

“You’ve seemed quite busy lately.”

 

Cain, standing with his back to the moonlight, spoke indifferently.

 

“Ah, I’m sorry…”

 

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. Come to think of it, we hadn’t been able to take walks for quite a while.

 

It seemed like the first time since we went clothes shopping together before.

 

“You’ve been well during this time, right?”

 

“There’s no reason I wouldn’t be.”

 

His tone was slightly more prickly than usual.

 

I wondered if he might be disappointed that I kept postponing our meetings, but then I shook my head inwardly.

 

‘Really, what ridiculous imagination.’

 

I must have been tired. Making such wild guesses.

 

“Maybe because it’s been so long since we came out? I feel good.”

 

As I was making random small talk out of awkwardness, Cain spoke as if tossing out words.

 

“That’s unfortunate. Something came up, so I probably won’t be able to take walks together for a while.”

 

“Oh my, you must be busy these days too, Your Grace.”

 

“For now.”

 

I nodded earnestly.

 

Had our busy periods coincidentally aligned perfectly?

 

As soon as I thought that, he immediately added.

 

“…Though it wasn’t so busy that I couldn’t manage one evening walk.”

 

His voice trailing off sounded strange.

 

Was it just my imagination that his words kept sounding like small complaints or expressions of disappointment?

 

I drooped my eyebrows and apologized for now.

 

“Ah, I’m so sorry!”

 

At my momentum as if I was about to prostrate myself on the ground immediately, he chuckled softly.

 

In the slightly relaxed atmosphere, I cautiously raised my head and asked gently.

 

“So what kind of official duties will you have for the time being…?”

 

“I have to go to the Imperial Palace tomorrow.”

 

“The Imperial Palace… you say?”

 

It was a familiar word, but perhaps because I heard it from him, it felt strange, so when I asked again, he explained.

 

“His Majesty summoned me. I’ll probably need to be away for about two weeks starting tomorrow. There are matters to handle as well.”

 

I nodded with a curious feeling.

 

If it was the Emperor’s invitation, he would travel by warp.

 

Even so, the fact that the schedule was two weeks meant there must be quite a lot of matters to handle.

 

While I was lost in thought, Cain naturally guided me not to our usual walking path, but to the back of the garden.

 

Instead of flower beds cultivated with low flowers, it was a place where tall trees were planted.

 

It was then, as I was obediently following him, that Cain stopped walking and suddenly asked.

 

“Do you see that tree over there?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Where Cain pointed, there stood a single tall tree.

 

Bright light green petals were gently scattering in the wind. It was a dreamlike scene, as if snow was falling.

 

“I suddenly became curious. What might be the name of that tree?”

 

“Ah…”

 

I looked up at the tree in a daze. That was a variety with a very short blooming period.

 

Just last week, it seemed the buds hadn’t even burst yet. When did I see it?

 

“It’s a tree called Nokwusu. The petals are green, so it’s fascinating, right? But these aren’t actually petals.”

 

“Then?”

 

“They’re leaves. The shape is similar to flowers and the color is pretty, so many people mistake them…”

 

I wanted to show him in detail, but the tree was too tall. Cain seemed to read my gaze and asked.

 

“Are you trying to break off a branch?”

 

“No! There’s no need to do that. It would hurt the tree.”

 

Hmm. There should definitely be some around here.

 

I looked around the ground. As expected. There were fallen branches nearby.

 

“Ta-da!”

 

I picked up a branch and smiled brightly.

 

Small white granules hidden among the light green leaves became visible. I held out the branch to Cain and explained.

 

“The branches are rather weak, so they break easily even in the wind.”

 

“…”

 

“Can you see? If you slightly open these leaves, the small thing inside is the real flower. It’s incredibly fascinating, right?”

 

Cain looked back and forth between the branch I held out and my face, then burst into soft laughter.

 

“Is that so.”

 

Seeing those slightly upturned corners of his mouth, a smile spread across my face without me realizing it.

 

Mmm. Good…

 

Even though I was tired, I was glad I came out after all.

 

Following the gently blowing night breeze, the wafting flower fragrance tickled my lungs.

 

My troubled heart felt much more settled.

 

“Look more closely. The flowers are really tiny.”

 

When I held the branch out further, Cain silently took it and inserted his finger between the leaves as I had done.

 

It was just as I was watching that scene with satisfaction.

 

Suddenly, the smooth black silk wrapping around his large, rough hands caught my eye.

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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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