A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 64

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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 64

“So it was all your doing that Jayden has been refusing his medicine all this time.”

At Cain’s quiet voice, Morden’s shoulders flinched.

Yes, he admitted it.

It was indeed he who had brainwashed Jayden all this time, teaching him the greatness of dragon blood to prevent him from taking his medicine.

Those three years when Cain had been away from the manor due to repeated monster waves.

Morden hadn’t missed that chaotic opportunity when the knights took turns going to battle to protect the estate.

Under the pretext of being a swordsmanship instructor, he had approached Jayden and intentionally made him refuse medicine, interfering with his treatment.

But that was never abuse.

Rather, it was loyalty!

One could never become powerful and perfect dragon blood by relying on mere medicine.

Dragon blood should be noble and perfect from birth.

Yes, just like Cain standing before him now.

Mighty, emotionless, an absolute ruler who knew no fear.

He had to be different from the previous young count who had pathetically died, swayed by weak emotions.

He had only tried to raise Jayden as a perfect successor like Cain.

That was his duty as a loyal retainer.

So how could this be considered a crime?

“Your Grace, I swear I did this for the family! I cannot possibly accept such punishment…”

“Did I ask you to accept it?”

Cain’s voice was utterly ruthless.

“I am the one who decides the punishment.”

At that moment, fierce killing intent poured out from Cain.

Though nothing physically touched him, that invisible dense aura strangled Morden’s throat like a rope.

“Kugh…!”

A Sword Master was a being who had transcended human limits.

Therefore, when he reached the pinnacle with his sword, he had been arrogant enough to think nothing would ever frighten him again.

But he had been mistaken.

Before Cain, even a Sword Master was nothing more than a weak beast dragged before a slaughterhouse.

The indescribable pressure felt like it would crush his lungs.

Instinctive fear that he might suffocate crawled up his spine.

However, it wasn’t only fear that filled Morden’s mind.

Paradoxically, he was trembling with joy.

‘Ahh…!’

This overwhelming pressure.

This unapproachable intense aura.

Indeed, Cain was true dragon blood.

A value worth protecting even at the cost of his life. His eternal faith!

His twisted conviction burned even hotter in his fear, never cooling.

‘Even if I lose my position as captain of the knights, I am still a retainer of Ashern.’

He would not let those lowly creatures dare corrupt his perfect master.

Somehow, he would remove that baseborn filth that had entered the manor and protect the nobility of dragon blood.

But as if mocking Morden’s final resolution, a chilling sentence fell from Cain’s lips as he summoned Conrad.

“Strip Morden Barns of his baronet title. And.”

“…!”

“Confine him in the Eternal Prison.”

“Your Grace!”

Morden’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

The Eternal Prison.

It was a sealed space deep in the estate’s forest that could only be opened and closed by those with dragon blood.

Once used as a resting place for ancestors, it had now become an eternal prison from which no one could escape.

It meant that Morden, who was not of dragon blood, could never escape no matter what he tried.

‘No, not that.’

He could have accepted being told to die.

If only he had completed his mission of eliminating that woman with his own hands, he could have died cleanly right here and now.

But being trapped in the Eternal Prison without fulfilling his mission was a different story.

‘Trapped there, would I have to helplessly watch that filth eventually corrupt the noble dragon blood?’

He had to prevent it even if it meant selling his soul.

Just as Morden desperately tried to resist and open his mouth.

“Y-Your Grace! Please, anything but that-!”

“Shut your mouth.”

Cain’s chilling killing intent aimed at his throat like a sharp sword.

“Before I cut off your head.”

* * *

Morden was immediately escorted to the Eternal Prison.

Though one of the few Sword Masters in the Empire might have attempted to flee using force, Morden dared not resist.

Because he knew that no matter how skilled a Sword Master, he was no match for dragon blood.

Thus, the man who had once been called the sharpest sword of the Silver Dragon Knights and Baron Barns was pathetically thrown into an inescapable prison.

“This is outrageous! To imprison Baron Barns, who has been a retainer for generations!”

“Moreover, he is the captain of the Silver Dragon Knights!”

Some retainers who heard the news burst out in complaint.

They were those who, like Morden, had wielded power backed by the previous count’s favor.

Cain saw this as an opportunity instead.

He could engrave deep into their bones who the true master of this manor was.

Cain mercilessly weeded out the impurities who were loyal only to the previous count, not to Ashern itself.

The internal cleanup of the manor, which he had thought would take quite a long time, progressed rapidly with Morden’s imprisonment as the starting point.

After several days of storm had passed, in the Count’s study.

“Your Grace, it would be better if you rested a bit.”

Conrad spoke with a voice full of concern.

Not only had he finished the capital’s work scheduled for two weeks in just a few days and returned, but Cain hadn’t gotten a proper night’s sleep for days due to the Morden affair.

He was already someone who could barely sleep like an insomniac due to his sensitive senses…

But this was an overly demanding schedule even for the strong dragon blood.

As his aide, he had a duty to stop him.

“The most urgent matters are finished, so please rest for today.”

“…”

“I’ll brew some tea.”

Despite Conrad’s concern, Cain showed no particular interest.

Rest.

He didn’t particularly feel the need for it.

At this point, he wouldn’t feel fatigue from this level of schedule.

Rest was needed for people unlike him… for women who collapsed at the drop of a hat.

Yes, like Viola.

Then Conrad sighed as if something had occurred to him.

“Ah, come to think of it, there’s tea that His Majesty the Emperor bestowed this time. Shall I bring that?”

The flower tea gifted by the Emperor.

It was something His Majesty had personally handed to him when leaving the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor had always made a habit of sending gifts afterward, perhaps feeling guilty inside after nagging me about getting married.

This time was no different.

After finishing our important discussion, the Emperor held out a well-wrapped box and chuckled heartily.

“Take this. It’s floral tea that’s popular among the young ladies in the capital. It’s a limited edition, so it’s not easy to get. I barely managed to get some because my honey… *ahem*, I mean, the Empress wanted to try it.”

Cain keenly picked up the trivial and unnecessary information that the Emperor called the Empress “honey” in private, but decided to immediately erase it from his mind.

Unfortunately, Dragon Blood’s exceptional memory wouldn’t allow it.

The inability to forget was sometimes a curse.

“Enjoy it with your lady. I heard it’s very effective at soothing sensitive nerves?”

The Emperor made a shamelessly delighted face as if imagining Cain’s lover.

‘I’m sure I clearly told him it was a misunderstanding.’

The Emperor believed without a doubt that Cain had already begun a passionate romance.

“You understand, right? Make sure to drink it together! She’ll definitely love it. Hmm? Being a married man isn’t easy. You have to slowly match each other’s tastes like this and figure out everything about her in advance!”

“I see.”

“That’s right. Dragon Blood are sensitive, aren’t they? Make full use of that keen sense of yours. This is advice from a senior married man!”

“Yes.”

“Make sure to bring her before the wedding. I welcome anyone. As long as she’s not a demon! I’ll be looking forward to it!”

Somehow in the Emperor’s mind, things had progressed beyond romance to engagement, but Cain answered halfheartedly and escaped the Imperial Palace.

‘What a meaningless gesture.’

Looking down at the floral tea box, Cain thought.

Giving him something like this wouldn’t make a non-existent lover appear.

Even if it was precious tea, he didn’t know how to enjoy such refinements.

Wouldn’t it be better to give this to someone who would actually appreciate it…?

At that moment, a face suddenly came to mind.

Viola.

Since she liked flowers, would she enjoy something like this too? Cain naturally wondered if floral tea would suit Viola’s tastes.

‘…Come to think of it, didn’t they say it was good for fatigue?’

Emerging from his recollection and looking out the window, the sunlight was particularly warm and the day especially pleasant today.

In that case, rather…

“Come out to the garden.”

“Pardon?”

Conrad looked puzzled.

His expression seemed to question since when did he drink tea in the garden, but Cain didn’t mind.

“Prepare two teacups.”

There was someone he wanted to share it with.

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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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