A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 83

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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 83

From that day’s encounter, Viola became Melody’s mother.

A mysterious lost child covered in wounds all over her body.

Viola embraced this child who had no connections with the utmost care.

Young Melody worried that she might be hated.

Viola was originally a noble. But to protect her, she pretended to be her real mother, and because of that, she was disgraced and expelled from her family.

Because of her, Mother was no longer a noble.

She felt like she had committed a sin against Viola.

Status was precious. Though young, she knew this fact painfully well.

Since Melody, who wasn’t of noble birth, had been helplessly captured by the Temple.

“Wuu…”

Was she perhaps ruining Viola’s precious life? Self-blame made it difficult to lift her head.

On the path walking together toward Hailon Village, holding Viola’s hand. Melody, who had been troubled the entire way, finally apologized with difficulty.

Then, not knowing what to do, she squirmed her body, and Viola smiled brightly at such Melody and answered.

“I’m only grateful though? Thanks to Melody, I was able to get out of there.”

“Wuu…”

“Really. Melody saved me.”

Saying so, Viola pulled her small body into a tight embrace.

Held in that warm embrace, Melody thought.

No one would be fooled by such a transparent lie.

Contrary to Viola’s sweet words, the truth was clear.

Melody hadn’t saved Viola. Rather, it was the opposite.

Viola had pulled Melody up from the mire.

Yet Viola seemed to truly regard Melody as salvation. Sincerely.

Some time after that incident, the two settled in Hailon Village and began a new life. Like any mother and daughter.

The time spent there was the most brilliant days of Melody’s life.

“Mother!”

“Melody! What’s wrong?”

Seeing Viola turn around with a bright smile, Melody smiled along too.

On the lips of the child who had forgotten how to smile while staying at the Temple, a natural smile had somehow bloomed.

Each day with Viola was as sweet as cotton candy.

The days confined in the Temple still came to mind like nightmares sometimes, but they were no longer frightening.

“It’s okay… I’m here beside you.”

Because Mother was by her side.

Viola always asked nothing and only embraced the trembling Melody, sharing her body warmth.

Then came a certain day.

It was when they were sitting side by side under the large old tree of Hailon Village.

Into Melody’s view, as she sat close to Mother’s side, came the village scenery with houses clustered together below the hill.

Peaceful and tranquil little village Hailon.

The precious home for just the two of them, Viola and herself.

Taking in that scenery, Melody finally realized one thing.

Now I understand. This is happiness.

The child didn’t want to lose the happiness she had grasped again.

She wanted to live forever like this with her beloved mother, just the two of them.

But to protect this happiness, there was something she had to endure.

“Mother, wuuu…”

“Hm? What are you sorry for.”

“Wuu.”

It’s nothing.

Melody shook her head back and forth.

No matter how sorry she felt toward Viola, Melody had to desperately keep the secret.

The fact that she was the Holy Maiden. And even the fact that she possessed holy power.

Only then could she protect Viola’s peace.

Though somehow the holy power she had tried so hard to hide ended up being completely discovered by Viola.

Those were her memories up until coming to the Duke’s estate.

“Melody, are you okay?”

A gentle voice suddenly reached the ears of the child who had been standing blankly, lost in memories of the past.

Only then could Melody escape from the memories.

* * *

Huh. Melody’s condition has been strange since earlier.

From right after I called out to Ernst, the child had been frozen stiff like a person turned to ice.

‘Could it be because of memories from the Temple.’

The wounds from that time probably hadn’t healed yet, so that might be it.

Worried that I had pushed the already struggling child too hard, I urgently called the child’s name.

“Melody.”

“…”

“Melody! Are you okay?”

“…Ah!”

When my voice reached her, as if a spell had been broken, Melody suddenly came to her senses and opened her eyes wide.

“Hm? Why have you been like that since earlier. Does something hurt?”

“Wuu.”

“Should we just go back if it’s hard? You don’t have to push yourself.”

When I asked worriedly, the child urgently shook her head back and forth.

Then she looked up at me and called out quietly.

“Mother…”

“Yes?”

When I met her eyes and smiled gently, Melody stared at me silently.

Huh. This expression is?

Sensing she wanted something, when I spread both arms wide, the child jumped into my embrace as if she had been waiting.

“Mother.”

“Yes, my Melody.”

Melody hugged me tightly as if trying to gain courage from me. Even so, it was just a young child’s strength, so rather than hurting, it was only ticklish.

Soon Melody, who had been rubbing her face this way and that against my embrace, pulled away with a “heave-ho” as she put strength into herself.

“Mmm!”

The sight of her clenching her tiny fist looked utterly determined.

I couldn’t tell exactly what she was thinking, but one thing was certain.

Melody had just decided to be brave instead of running away.

‘How admirable.’

When I gently held the child’s warm hand, Melody lifted her head toward Ernst and shouted energetically.

“Uuuu! Uu!”

‘She wants to take the holy power test.’

Just as I was about to open my mouth to explain since Ernst wouldn’t be able to understand Melody’s words.

Cain was a beat faster.

“She wants to take the holy power test.”

…Huh?

Melody looked at Cain with wide, startled eyes. As if she never dreamed he would understand her words.

I was just as surprised.

‘Your Grace… How did you understand that?’

That wasn’t just a simple expression like being hungry or wanting to be held.

It was a cry with quite complex context, yet Cain interpreted it as easily as if they shared telepathy.

‘Ah, come to think of it, he did that in the original too.’

In the novel, Cain had a knack for understanding Melody’s words perfectly.

Back then I thought it was just the father buff from parenting stories.

‘Seeing it in person, it really is amazing.’

It felt strange seeing someone other than me understand Melody’s words so well for the first time.

Meanwhile, Ernst cautiously spoke up. His eyes held worry for the child.

“The testing equipment is ready, but… are you really sure about this? There’s no need to push yourself.”

“Uuu!”

Melody shook her head firmly.

Cain added his translation in an indifferent tone once again.

“She says not to worry. Proceed right away without hesitation.”

“Yes… I understand.”

Ernst took out the holy power testing device from his robes.

‘Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen that.’

The transparent crystal orb that clerics use to measure people’s holy power.

I too had placed my hand on that crystal orb once at the temple when I was young.

That was my first and last experience visiting a temple.

‘When I did it, there was no reaction at all… but Melody will be different, right?’

According to the original setting, grades were divided by the color of light that appeared in the crystal orb.

The closer the light was to white, the purer and stronger the holy power.

The result would be the same as in the original, but seeing Melody’s holy power measurement unfold before my eyes made my heart race.

‘Melody’s the one taking the test, so why am I more nervous?’

Unlike my slightly trembling hand, Melody’s grip holding mine was full of strength.

Just like our spirited Melody.

“Little miss, could you please extend your hand this way?”

“Uu!”

Melody let go of the hand she was holding with me and placed her tiny hand on the transparent crystal orb.

Whoooosh.

The moment her hand touched it, currents swirled inside the crystal orb.

What was initially transparent began glowing in various colors, then started emitting an intense light that seemed like it would blind us.

Whaaaa!

Sacred white light filled the entire room.

Ernst couldn’t close his mouth at that overwhelming sight.

“White grade… so it really does exist. This power far surpasses all previous Holy Maidens.”

I too couldn’t easily find words to continue.

‘Wow…’

It was beautiful.

Such pure white and intense light. It was like holding a fragment of a star.

Ernst wore a moved expression, but soon forced himself to regain his composure and collected his expression.

Just because the holy power came out as the highest grade didn’t immediately confirm her as the Holy Maiden.

The true Holy Maiden was one who possessed the Divine’s crest.

And such a Holy Maiden had one special power.

A miracle known only to those deeply connected to the Temple, one that only the Holy Maiden could wield.

Ernst opened his mouth with a trembling voice as if to confirm this.

“I will ask you a follow-up question.”

Though he was trying to maintain composure, tension was evident in his eyes.

“If Lady Melody is the Holy Maiden… you would have awakened a special power. Could you tell me, just me, quietly?”

At that question, Melody wiggled her fingers as if pondering.

After a moment, the child pointed her finger at the pocket watch hanging from Ernst’s waist.

Tick-tock, the second hand of the pocket watch moved.

Time.

The power the child possessed was time.

That absolute force that only the chosen Holy Maiden could wield.

The moment he confirmed this, Ernst declared with a voice mixed with awe.

“Lady Melody is, without a doubt, the Holy Maiden.”

* * *

Meanwhile, at the same time.

At the Imperial Cathedral, located not far from the capital.

In the sanctuary, the deepest and most secret space within, a middle-aged man in white clerical robes spoke.

“Again… she wasn’t the Holy Maiden?”

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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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