A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 68

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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 68

‘So if we were married, it would be okay to kiss her?’

Even to himself, the logic seemed to flow strangely, leaving Cain confused.

His mind felt hazy, as if his thought processes had broken down.

But he decided not to think too deeply about it.

‘First, calming the children is the priority.’

Finally suppressing his racing thoughts and returning to his usual expression, he tried to help the troubled Viola.

But the situation had already ended, as the children were running away in the distance.

He thought he had quickly organized his thoughts, but apparently he had been lost in contemplation much longer than expected.

Misunderstanding his frozen reaction as anger, Viola stood before him with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. Waaah. You must be upset because of me! And you even got misunderstood.”

“Calm down.”

Despite Cain’s words, she didn’t know what to do and kept apologizing. From her reaction, she looked like someone who had committed a grave sin.

“I’m sorry for getting so close to your face. You must have been uncomfortable…!”

Uncomfortable?

Not at all. Rather, it was the first time he had seen her face from such close proximity…

Cain found himself recalling the situation before the little ones had interrupted.

Her full yet long, pink-tinted eyelashes.

Her sprout-like eyes that had been gazing solely at him.

Even the pale pink corners of her mouth that habitually held a gentle smile.

He had long known that Viola was objectively beautiful, but seeing her up close made her even more…

‘What useless thoughts I’m having.’

His thought patterns were unlike his usual self.

The shock from the children’s words must have been quite significant.

Cain decided to act as if nothing had happened.

Ahem. Clearing his throat deliberately, he tried to calm her by changing the subject.

“I just had something to think about. More importantly, didn’t you have a reason for coming out today?”

Ah.

She let out a short sigh. As if finally remembering they had come out to dine, she nodded her head.

“Let’s go then.”

“Yes. But I’m really sorry—”

“Enough.”

“Yes.”

The two began walking toward the restaurant again.

‘Of all things to experience in life. Being teased by children.’

Though Cain often went out in disguise, he had never experienced anything like this before.

Whether disguised or not, the intimidating aura unique to dragon blood made people instinctively unable to approach him.

Especially young children avoided him even more…

‘Is it because I’m with Viola?’

For whatever reason, it felt strange that neighborhood children had approached and talked, even played around. Though they had spoken to Viola, not him.

Cain suddenly looked in the direction the children had disappeared.

Seeing all four wearing matching clothes, they seemed to be children living in an orphanage.

Over the past three years, countless mutant monster waves had erupted throughout the Empire, claiming many lives.

Consequently, the number of children who lost their parents also increased.

Therefore, even while busy subjugating monsters, Cain had established and supported several orphanages in Winterwald.

Children who must have experienced hardships.

Though they might have been shadowed by grief, the ones he had just encountered were surprisingly spirited and lively rather than immersed in sorrow.

“You can’t kiss here!”

Though they were troublesomely energetic…

Still, it didn’t feel entirely bad.

The cheerful voices of the children allowed him to feel the recent peace. It was the peace he had protected with his sword since childhood.

While lost in thought, Viola suddenly asked.

“But where are we going?”

Come to think of it, he hadn’t told her the actual destination.

“I was thinking of going to the place we went with the children before.”

He had decided on that location from the start since he had been bothered by not eating properly while feeding the kids.

Wondering if another place might have been better, he glanced at her reaction, and it seemed he hadn’t made the wrong choice.

“Wow, really?”

As if inwardly excited, her eyes sparkled brightly.

Just her purely joyful gaze gave Cain a strange sense of satisfaction.

The two walked while making small talk.

“The city is truly peaceful.”

At Viola’s admiring voice, Cain quietly nodded.

As she said, Winterwald was truly peaceful.

The streets were full of vitality with people out with family, friends, and lovers for the weekend.

Under the gradually reddening sunset, laughter could be heard from everywhere.

Cain suddenly recalled three years ago.

The sudden death of the previous Count and the attack of mutant monsters that occurred in that gap.

To think these streets, once filled with chaos and screams, had become so tranquil.

‘The barrier installation was worthwhile.’

As monster attacks became frequent, the Imperial Court and noble houses joined forces to construct large barriers around major cities.

Large barriers that could filter out minor monsters, even if they couldn’t stop very strong mutants.

Their existence gave people direct peace of mind.

“Wow, they’re selling unusual herbs over there! Would it be okay to stop by briefly after we eat?”

Viola was chattering about her pleasant concerns when it happened.

Stop.

Cain’s steps, which had been listening to her voice, came to an abrupt halt.

At the sudden stop, Viola looked up at him with a puzzled tilt of her head.

“…Your Grace? What’s wrong?”

But Cain couldn’t answer.

It had been too quiet, he thought.

His sensitively alert dragon blood senses detected subtle yet strange changes flowing through the air.

The peaceful air currents began to twist slowly but surely.

People passing through the streets laughed heartily, unaware of anything.

Only Cain intuited that peace would soon be broken.

“…It seems we’ll have to postpone our meal for a bit.”

His black eyes narrowed coldly.

“Stay here quietly. No matter what happens, absolutely do not enter the town square.”

Warning her like an announcement, Cain immediately pushed Viola into a safe spot deep in the alley after those words.

What is this suddenly…

Puzzlement surged at his attitude that changed in an instant from pleasant conversation.

Though she wanted to ask what was happening, Viola closed her mouth and simply nodded obediently.

His gaze held a much more serious and cold temperature than usual.

As soon as she hid herself in the alley, Cain’s figure instantly disappeared among the crowd.

What?

Did something happen toward the town square?

If it was something urgent enough for him to leave so hastily, perhaps…

It was then that an ominous premonition ran down my spine.

CRASH!

An eardrum-splitting roar came from the direction of the town square.

At the same time, the ground shook violently.

Screams erupted from people in all directions.

I could sense it instinctively without having to see it with my own eyes.

It was a monster.

‘I was told that Winterwald definitely had a barrier protecting it.’

If it had suddenly attacked the heart of the city without any warning signs like this, it was likely a flying monster more powerful and cunning than the barrier.

And ominous premonitions always proved correct.

“Kyaaah! The sky! Look at the sky!”

When I raised my head at someone’s cry, pitch-black shadows were pouring down from the sunset sky.

Kieeeek!

Massive winged monsters.

They looked like eagles or hawks, but they were as large as houses and their beaks were sharp as spears.

Every time they flapped their wings, gusts of wind arose, and piercing shrieks that seemed to tear at one’s ears struck the eardrums.

Viola had rarely seen monster corpses before, but these looked completely different from those.

‘What on earth are these…’

Seeing these bizarre forms that defied all common sense, it felt as if the end of the world had come.

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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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