A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 54

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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 54

 

Some time had passed since then, but his anger still showed no signs of cooling.

 

To cool his temper, Morden had left the ducal estate for several days, using his duties as a viscount as an excuse.

 

‘This can’t go on. I can’t stand by and watch even His Grace deteriorate.’

 

Upon returning to the ducal estate, he waited for an opportunity. Now that Cain had left for the Imperial Palace, he had to resolve the situation somehow.

 

Having barely managed to gather his patience at the viscount’s estate, what unfolded before his eyes when he found the training grounds was a truly deplorable sight.

 

“Hey, don’t I look a bit more handsome these days?”

 

“You crazy bastard. The ointment didn’t erase your scars, it erased your conscience.”

 

The one joking around carelessly was Craig. The scar that had crossed his face from battle was nowhere to be seen, and his face was as clean as that of a noble young lady.

 

“When you get married, remember it’s thanks to Lady Viola.”

 

The members’ expressions were brighter than ever, as if pleased with such changes.

 

What did it matter if some disposable shield had scars or not?

 

That wench called Viola had apparently been gnawing away at his sanctuary bit by bit in that short time. Like a bookworm.

 

And Morden was not the type to leave such vermin alone.

 

He just needed to restore everything that wench had ruined, one by one. Before the vermin could grow larger.

 

First… Yes. He had to start with that brat who was making a fuss as if he were some noble young master.

 

Drawing his sword from his waist, Morden threw it straight at Craig’s face.

 

Whoosh- The weapon wrapped in sword energy cut through the air and flew toward Craig’s now-clean face in an instant, but.

 

Clang!

 

With an intense sound of metal clashing against metal, Morden’s sword was deflected. Yujin had appeared before him and blocked the attack with his own sword.

 

“Captain. What is the meaning of this?”

 

“S-Senior?”

 

Craig, having grasped what had just happened, stiffened and called out to Yujin.

 

Yujin glared angrily at Morden while maintaining his blocking stance, but to Morden it only seemed pathetic.

 

Come to think of it, Viola wasn’t the only commoner eating away at this knight order.

 

“Eugen Hart. Are you daring to commit insubordination against me, the captain of the knights?”

 

Foolish ones had to be taught through direct experience.

 

How much time had passed like that?

 

Thud, clatter.

 

Yujin’s sword rolled across the training ground floor. Dropping one’s sword was a knight’s shame, but this was already the tenth time.

 

Morden gestured toward the fallen sword with his chin.

 

“Pick it up.”

 

Morden’s reason for doing this was simple.

 

To completely break the arrogant member who had dared show insubordination to the captain of the knights.

 

Whatever the reason, drawing his sword against the captain was Yujin’s mistake.

 

It was something that deserved punishment according to the knight order’s discipline.

 

Even so, Morden’s current actions were clearly excessive punishment.

 

In truth, though Yujin was of commoner origin, he had now been granted the surname Hart and received treatment equivalent to a baron.

 

A position he had earned by defeating countless noble children with talent alone.

 

However, before Morden, who was steeped in elitist ideology to his very bones, none of this meant anything.

 

To him, Yujin was still nothing more than a lowly commoner who didn’t even deserve to stand in the Silver Dragon Knights.

 

‘Even weeds have something called pride.’

 

Yujin gritted his teeth as he picked up his sword again.

 

“Aaaah!”

 

The move he was now executing contained his entire life as a swordsman.

 

Clang!

 

However, it seemed insufficient to overcome the wall of a Sword Master, as Morden sneered and deflected the sword.

 

With the rough movement, Yujin tumbled across the ground.

 

Morden looked down at that pathetic sight and took a step closer.

 

Crunch.

 

Then he slowly pressed down on Yujin’s wrist with his dust-covered boot.

 

It was a persistent and vicious movement, as if trying to engrave shame and pain where the demon’s scar was located.

 

Ugh. Yujin somehow held back the groan that was about to escape.

 

Finding that sight amusing, Morden sneered and raised his head to warn the members.

 

“Remember this, you are shields for His Grace. Don’t fear the shield getting dented.”

 

Shield. That was Morden’s definition of a knight’s purpose. Consumables that could be discarded when worn out and replaced with new ones.

 

This was probably why he had prevented them from having a dedicated physician for the knight order. Because he found it disgusting to see consumables acting up, wanting to be repaired.

 

But…

 

‘…What’s wrong with repairing a broken shield a bit?’

 

Yujin barely swallowed the retort that had risen to his throat. On a normal day he would have resigned himself to this, but today rebellious feelings stirred within him.

 

It was because he now knew there was someone who would be sad if he got hurt.

 

The members who had been training also wanted to approach in anger, but Yujin stopped them with his eyes.

 

He was enough to be the weed trampled by the captain.

 

“Vermin.”

 

Morden spat out the word like chewing and turned away, disappearing.

 

Only heavy silence lingered in the place swept by the storm.

 

“S-Senior! Are you alright?”

 

“Senior Yujin!”

 

As soon as Morden disappeared, the junior knights who had been holding their breath came running over.

 

“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

 

He meant it. If his face had been hit, Lady Viola would have seen it and worried.

 

The thought of sadness settling in those large eyes because of him made him feel guilty. Making Lady Viola sad was something that should never happen.

 

The scar on his wrist would darken again, but at least it was in an area that wouldn’t show.

 

‘Just when the scars were finally starting to fade…’

 

That was the only regret he felt.

 

But the members couldn’t calm down.

 

“Isn’t this really too much? Even if he is the captain…!”

 

When one of them burst out in frustration, agreeing voices erupted from here and there. Yujin quietly restrained them.

 

“Stop.”

 

“Senior!”

 

“It’s my fault.”

 

He understood their dissatisfaction, but making a fuss would bring no benefit.

 

“Nothing happened. Everyone return to training.”

 

Dusting himself off and standing up, Yujin returned to his usual expression.

 

* * *

 

On the usual path toward the knight order.

 

Someone was approaching this way quickly with disciplined steps.

 

‘Hm? Who is that? It’s a face I’ve never seen before.’

 

He looked to be in his mid-fifties. A man with deep reddish hair and a mountain-like massive build gave off an unusual atmosphere.

 

Given his build and the fact that he was coming from the knight order’s direction, he seemed to be someone related…

 

“Hello, I’m-”

 

It was the moment I tried to greet him, saying I had been assigned to treat the knight order.

 

The man simply ignored me as if I were invisible and passed by.

 

The man’s face seen up close was sharp as an ice pick.

 

‘Huh, what’s that about.’

 

Did he have some urgent business?

 

I was standing there for a moment, flustered since this was my first time experiencing such a thing.

 

“Lady Viola!”

 

Yujin came running with an urgent voice.

 

He stood as if blocking my path, then glanced toward the man who had just passed by and asked worriedly.

 

“Are you alright? Did something happen by any chance…?”

 

He looked as if he was anxiously worried that I might have been harmed somehow.

 

This was the first time I’d seen Yujin looking so anxious, so I nodded my head in bewilderment.

 

“Huh? Oh no, no! I’m fine.”

 

“Ah, thank goodness.”

 

Yujin let out a sigh of relief while patting his chest. Craig, who had followed behind him, also looked relieved.

 

What’s this? The atmosphere feels strange…

 

“Why are you acting like this? Did some problem occur?”

 

“No, it’s just that our captain isn’t exactly the type to be friendly with people he’s meeting for the first time. I was momentarily worried he might have been rude to you, Lady Viola… Ahaha!”

 

Yujin laughed as if trying to hide something.

 

Hmm.

 

So that person earlier was the captain of the knights.

 

Come to think of it, I’d been coming and going to the knight order several times, but this was actually the first time I was seeing the captain.

 

I belatedly registered the man’s face in my mind. His red hair and sharp impression felt somehow familiar.

 

‘Where have I seen him before?’

 

I was briefly lost in thought and forgot to respond to Sir Eugene’s words.

 

“We just passed by each other. Nothing happened, so don’t worry!”

 

“That’s a relief, haha!”

 

“But he must be quite a strict person. Judging by how Sir Eugene came running in surprise.”

 

At my joke-like comment, Sir Eugene flinched as if I’d hit the mark.

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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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