A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 77

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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 77

Late at night.

Had that single trigger punched a hole through me? I floundered in childhood memories that engulfed me, unable to escape for a long time.

‘So much time has clearly passed.’

I had decided to forget everything about that hellish time at the Devoroe Marquis’ household.

Yet just from encountering someone who resembled Shurin, I crumbled so helplessly like this.

‘How foolish…’

I realized my family’s violence was wrong when I was about twelve.

But I had already been soaked in resignation for too long, so I could never escape them.

Even as an adult, I merely followed their words like a corpse.

“Get married. A good match has come in.”

“Congratulations, sister. He’s supposedly very caring. You suit each other well, really.”

It was the same even when I was notified that my family had decided to sell me as an old nobleman’s fifth concubine.

I tried to accept everything without even thinking of resisting.

‘If I hadn’t happened to encounter Melody that day, by now I would be…’

The image of Melody when I first met her on the street flashed through my mind.

A young girl who looked exactly like me, covered in traces of abuse all over her body.

Only after facing that small child could I understand.

That the violence and abuse I had experienced wasn’t something that happened only to me.

‘…If I just pretend not to see and pass by, this child will also live like I do now from now on.’

A life like a doll that only breathes, knowing what’s wrong but unable to correct it, just being swayed however the strong wield their power.

‘I don’t want that.’

I hoped this child at least wouldn’t crumble to such helplessness.

In the end, that day I made my first decision to leave the manor.

‘It’s already been over a year since then.’

So I thought I had really overcome it. I believed I had changed a lot from the past.

But I hadn’t.

I was still tied to that place.

It was when I was swept away by unbearable bitterness.

“Mama…”

Melody rolled over in her sleep and burrowed into my arms.

The child lovingly rubbed her cheek against me.

“Mm nya mm nya…”

As if having a pleasant dream, the child smiled softly.

My daughter, who unlike her face full of worry when we first met, now knew how to smile.

Only then could I realize.

I wasn’t tied down.

From the deep puddle that had trapped me up to my head, I was escaping little by little, but certainly.

Though my ankles still seemed submerged in that cold water.

‘Someday I’ll be able to break free.’

Holding Melody’s hand gave me that conviction.

The small warmth wriggling into my arms finally made the sadness fade.

I hugged Melody tightly just like that.

Now I felt like I too could sleep peacefully and have good dreams.

* * *

It was a day when I had returned to daily life again.

“Viola.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“I’ve been thinking…”

Had he made some kind of resolution?

Jayden’s eyes as he called me were more sparkling than ever.

I nodded with a willing heart.

“Yes. Please speak comfortably about anything.”

“Can I start sword training again?”

“Huh, what?”

At the completely unexpected story, my eyes widened without me realizing it.

‘There’s no reason it wouldn’t be okay…’

Fortunately, the new medicine worked well and Jayden’s physical condition had recovered as if asking when he had ever been sick.

He had actually become healthier than before he collapsed.

But even knowing that fact, I had deliberately avoided bringing up sword-related topics until now.

‘Just because his body recovered doesn’t mean his heart recovered.’

Jayden had been subjected to severe emotional abuse by Morden all this time.

He had even been driven to the point where his life was in danger from forceful training.

It was something that could leave trauma even for an adult.

I recalled Morden’s appearance as he threatened the boy, saying that if he had dragon blood, he must become strong.

‘Could it be that Jayden is still feeling pressure and pushing himself…’

With a worried heart, I unconsciously moved my lips and rambled.

“Young Master, we’d have to find a sword instructor again… and they might not match well with you…”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t it still a bit too early?”

Perhaps roughly understanding my inner thoughts, Jayden rolled his eyes mischievously and cut off my words.

“Viola, you’re worrying about strange things again.”

“No, it’s not strange worrying…”

“It’s overprotection, overprotection! If I were a little kid, maybe. But I’m a whole six years old!”

We agreed to call six years old a little kid.

I was about to say that but swallowed it back down my throat.

‘But this really isn’t overprotection, it’s natural worry.’

But Jayden seemed to be a much stronger child than I thought.

“It’s okay. Really.”

Jayden’s red eyes looked straight at me very directly.

What dwelt in the child’s eyes was clear will, not helplessness.

“I want to protect Viola.”

Jayden soon continued in a serious tone.

“I was definitely forced into it before and did it reluctantly. But now it’s really not like that.”

“Young Master…”

“Viola said so, right? That adults protect children. I’m small now, but someday I’ll become an adult too. So I want to become strong.”

How admirable.

When had Jayden become so mature?

Just as my heart was about to feel touched, the boy added solemnly.

“So if I can learn swordsmanship again, I want to start over from the beginning. I’ll become incredibly, incredibly strong and…”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll definitely protect Viola!”

I wondered what he was trying to say. Pfft. Laughter burst out.

“But I’m not a little kid, you know?”

I replied playfully on purpose, but Jayden was only resolute.

“Viola is so skinny and weak. She’s basically like a child.”

“I’m not that bad!”

“What do you mean not that bad? Look at your arms. Even a tree branch would be sturdier than this.”

Jayden spoke seriously.

Ugh.

‘Both Cain and Jayden.’

Both of them seemed to see me as a paper doll that could easily be blown away by a single gust of wind.

‘I’m perfectly normal.’

Since both of them were Dragon Blood, their standards for sturdiness were different, so they particularly saw me as frail.

I was thinking I should reflect on causing such worries to a child when it happened.

Melody, who had been standing behind me, peeked her head out.

“Woo?”

Sensing Melody’s intense gaze attack, Jayden showed a contemplative expression for a moment.

“You want me to protect you too? Ugh… Fine, I’m in a good mood! Alright. I’ll protect you too.”

Jayden added with a tone as if he was doing her a great favor.

“I’m six years old and you’re four! I’ll specially protect you! While I’m protecting Viola, might as well!”

But right then, Melody shouted firmly.

“Woo woo! (I don’t need it!)”

“What?”

“Woo! Mother woo woo woo! (I’ll protect Mother!)”

Melody blocked my front and spread both arms wide. It was as if she was determined to protect me from Jayden.

“That’s not right? I’m going to protect Viola! You’re weak!”

“Woo! (I’ll protect her!)”

“You’re four years old! How are you going to protect her!”

“Waak! Woo! Woo! (Still, I’ll protect her!)”

“I’m stronger than you!”

“Woo woo woo! (No you’re not!)”

“If you don’t like it, grow two more years! Oh, but then I’ll be eight years old too, you know?”

“Woo waak! Wak! Woo ak!”

Though it didn’t seem like a topic for 4-year-old and 6-year-old children to argue about, the two bickered heatedly.

‘They seemed to conspire to act friendly in front of me every time. I guess they forgot again today.’

I wondered why they were getting so worked up over something like this.

But it also seemed like proof that the two had become quite close, so I decided to just watch fondly.

‘Most importantly, they’re cute.’

Innocent young children.

Go ahead and fight like that all you want.

In the end, I’ll be the one protecting the children.

Secretly smiling like a suspicious witch, I decided to play along for now.

“Wow, I’m so fortunate. To have two such reliable little knight protectors.”

“Woo! (I’m more dependable, right?)”

“No! I’m better!”

“Woo woo! (It’s me!)”

Pfft. What am I going to do with these children? They’re so cute I could die.

“Euwaaaa!”

I gathered the two children who were huffing about protecting me and hugged them tightly.

The children, whose faces would have been full of sadness according to the original story, smiled brightly as if such a future didn’t exist.

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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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