A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 71

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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 71

After dealing with the last monster, Cain immediately turned his gaze to look for Viola.

Even while engaged in battle, his attention had been entirely focused on one place.

He had clearly instructed her to stay deep within the marketplace.

Unable to ignore the injured child, she had inevitably come out to meet them near the town square.

‘She really doesn’t listen when she doesn’t listen.’

Though perhaps he should consider it admirable that she hadn’t stepped foot into the town square itself.

While he understood intellectually that this was inevitable given Viola’s nature, it continued to worry him.

Her attitude of constantly trying to sacrifice herself to protect others was extremely irritating.

Cain strode purposefully toward the back of the building where Viola had been hiding with the child.

“I’m certain I told you to stay deep inside there.”

“Hup.”

Seeing him appear without any sound, Viola startled and hunched her shoulders.

“I’m, I’m sorry… Hehe.”

Soon she smiled sheepishly, reading the situation.

Even if she seemed to be reflecting, he couldn’t let his guard down. She was always smiling innocently while catching him off guard.

He was certain that if such a situation arose again, Viola would recklessly rush out without thinking.

One would expect her to become frightened and obedient. Throughout the entire Empire, she was probably the only person who disobeyed him this much.

“Haah.”

Cain let out a short sigh.

She wouldn’t know this, but the creatures he had just faced weren’t ordinary monsters. They were mutants.

When exposed to the fierce killing intent they emanated, ordinary people couldn’t even stand.

Like the young boy beside her who had been sitting and crying, having their legs give out and being unable to move was normal.

Yet she had run all the way here just fine. This was recklessness beyond bravery.

“Aren’t you even afraid of monsters?”

Cain asked, genuinely unable to understand.

Fear of monsters was a survival instinct carved into human nature. Suppressing that with reason was only possible for rigorously trained knights.

Moreover, those had been mutants.

But the answer that came back from her was absurdly clear.

“I wasn’t scared. I was surprised seeing living monsters at this distance for the first time, but…”

She looked straight up at Cain. There wasn’t a trace of wavering in her gentle light green eyes.

“Still… I knew Your Grace would protect me.”

“…”

“Ahaha, does that sound too much like flattery…”

Viola continued with an embarrassed grin.

“Am I being too… shameless?”

She lowered her head with an awkward smile, as if her conscience was pricking her.

Following her movement, her pink hair scattered softly into his view, and her words echoed in his mind.

So it hadn’t been reckless foolhardiness after all.

It was unconditional trust in Cain, directed solely toward him.

At this unexpected answer, Cain found himself frozen in place, at a loss for words.

A strange stirring arose from one corner of his chest.

Why?

Why did she trust him so much?

Because he was Dragon Blood who protected the Empire from monsters?

Because they had a contractual relationship?

Or if not that…

‘Does she trust just anyone like this?’

Suddenly, Viola’s past flashed through his mind.

‘…’

Thinking that this unconditional trust might not be directed at him alone somehow dampened his mood.

Just then, urgent footsteps broke the silence from behind.

“Tommy hyuuung! Waaah!”

It was the smallest child from the group that had been singing earlier.

Whether he was Tommy’s younger brother or not, the small child ran over crying pitifully while calling his older brother’s name.

“Ah, just a moment, Your Grace!”

Viola hurriedly grabbed Tommy’s hand and helped him stand up.

Jeremy, who had been looking for his brother, sobbed and threw himself into his brother’s arms.

Jeremy’s crying was filled not with fear but with relief.

“Jeremy, you were trying to come this way, weren’t you? I told you to stay hidden.”

“But big brother was… Waaah!”

“It’s okay. The angel protected me.”

“Angel…?”

Jeremy, who had been crying in his brother’s arms, lifted his head and this time threw his arms around Viola’s skirt.

“Huu, A-Angel…! Sniff. Thank you! Waaah!”

At the embarrassing title, Viola blushed and felt awkward. Even so, she gently stroked the child’s disheveled hair.

Shortly after, a man who seemed to be the orphanage director came running and took the children away.

Even as they moved away, the children kept waving their hands toward Viola and Cain, expressing their gratitude.

Only then did Viola smile with relief and turn to look at Cain.

“Phew, at least it ended without anyone being seriously hurt. What a relief.”

Cain looked her over from head to toe.

Viola’s skirt was stained with tear marks from the children who had clung to her.

Those traces left at exactly the children’s height were striking.

“Are you alright, Your Grace? Are you injured anywhere…”

At Viola’s worried question, Cain was about to shake his head dismissively.

But before he could even open his mouth, the surroundings became noisy.

“My goodness, to defeat monsters in an instant.”

“That person is the one who…”

As the situation calmed down, people who had evacuated far away began gathering in the area one by one.

Cleanup crews were moving busily to control the crowd, but it wasn’t enough.

They were murmuring while looking in this direction.

Due to Dragon Blood’s intimidating presence, they couldn’t dare approach closely, but the hundreds of eyes looking at him contained fervent reverence no less than instinctive fear.

Admiration for a strong ruler.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand their feelings, but…

‘This is one thing I just can’t get used to.’

He originally didn’t like being at the center of a crowd receiving all the attention.

The reason he usually thoroughly hid his identity was because of this.

“Ah, the people…”

Viola also seemed to notice the crowd, as she now had a bewildered expression.

‘I’ve gotten her involved in an unnecessary situation.’

How had things ended up like this?

Originally, they had just come out for a meal. He hadn’t expected the situation to become this complicated.

The sunset had already completely disappeared.

It was already time for the restaurant to have closed.

Their original purpose could no longer be achieved.

Just as Cain unconsciously frowned at his small wish to have a meal alone with her being ruined.

Suddenly.

Viola unexpectedly took Cain’s hand.

“Your Grace.”

“…?”

“The talk about going to eat. Is that still valid?”

What was she trying to say by asking this? Cain nodded his head slightly for now.

“I actually don’t really like crowded places, you see… Hehe.”

Soon Viola whispered with a mischievous laugh.

“Let’s run away! Before more people gather!”

She, who had pulled her hood down just as deeply, gripped Cain’s hand tightly and dragged him toward a dark alley where there were no people.

Ha.

Run away in this situation?

At this idea he had never once tried in his entire life, Cain let out a chuckle.

It seemed she had keenly noticed that he didn’t particularly enjoy this kind of situation.

Cain activated the disguise magic tool again.

After adjusting his hood over his hair that had turned black, he gripped the hand she was holding tightly. As if he would never let go.

“The restaurant will be closed by now.”

“It’s okay. Just trust me!”

She answered with an innocent smile.

The two figures instantly escaped the crowd and melted into the darkness.

Cain liked the sensation of their clasped hands.

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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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