A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 86

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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 86

After hearing the shocking word in front of the apothecary and fleeing, Jayden returned straight to his room.

Bang!

As soon as he closed the door, he rushed to the bookshelf. These were fairy tale books he usually wouldn’t even glance at.

“Marriage, marriage, marriage…!”

Jayden spent a long time rummaging through the bookshelf, pulling out every fairy tale book that mentioned the word marriage and began reading them.

[The prince and princess got married and lived happily ever after.

They married and lived for a long, long time…]

“Argh! This isn’t it!”

Jayden threw the book to the floor.

Every single fairy tale had the same ending – getting married and going away together.

Why did everyone leave together after marriage, what happened to the people left behind, and how to prevent marriage!

None of the truly important information was written anywhere.

“This won’t do at all. I can’t find answers with these.”

His mind was completely jumbled.

Jayden rushed out of his room again with his confused feelings.

Following wherever his feet led him, he arrived at…

“Woo?”

Where Melody was.

“Oh my, Young Master? What brings you here?”

The maids’ eyes widened in surprise at Jayden’s sudden visit.

But Jayden had no time to worry about the maids right now.

“I want to talk with her for a moment. Everyone, please leave.”

“Ah, yes. Then please have a comfortable conversation.”

As the maids withdrew, Melody watched him with wary eyes.

She seemed cautious since this was his first time visiting here. She must be curious about what he could possibly want to discuss after suddenly barging in and even sending the maids away.

But the problem was that Jayden hadn’t come with a clear purpose either.

‘Okay, it’s good that I came this far… but why did I come here?’

Jayden stared blankly at Melody.

“Woo! (If you came, then say something!)”

The child who looked exactly like Viola urged him on irritably.

But Jayden couldn’t say anything.

‘…I don’t know.’

Honestly, instead of worrying like this, he wanted to just ask Viola directly.

Whether she was really getting married.

But he couldn’t muster the courage.

What if he asked and Viola really said she was getting married? What if she said she would leave this manor?

He had no confidence he could handle that answer.

‘Then rather…’

Jayden decided to check with someone else who might know the truth.

“Hey.”

“Woo?”

“…Is Viola getting married?”

The terrible question he forced out with difficulty.

Then Melody tilted her head and looked at him.

“Woo woo? Woo?”

An expression of bewilderment came back, as if asking ‘What kind of nonsense are you spouting?’

“Ugh. This can’t be.”

Jayden sighed. Even Melody had no idea about this!

His stomach felt heavy and blocked.

Come to think of it, if she had known, that mother-obsessed kid wouldn’t have been this calm.

To think only I know this shocking truth. What on earth am I supposed to do?

Unlike Jayden who couldn’t escape his confusion, Melody showed no interest in such nonsense and simply picked up her wooden toy again.

Jayden felt a surge of emotion.

‘This isn’t the time for you to be so carefree, you fool!’

Seeing that innocent, unknowing face made Jayden want to cry even more, but he didn’t even have the strength to cry.

Eventually Jayden slumped down on the spot.

His ruby-like sparkling eyes had somehow become cloudy and dull like a dead fish’s eyes.

“Woo? (The person is broken!)”

Melody poked at the withering Jayden curiously.

The child’s fingers kept touching his face and arms, but Jayden didn’t even have the energy to react.

‘Brother… what should I do?’

Jayden mentally summoned Noah, who would be studying far away at the Academy, and asked sadly.

I want to wish for her happiness. If it’s a path that makes her happy, I want to support anything.

But…

That doesn’t mean I want to let her go from my side. If I leave things as they are, she’ll leave this manor…

Besides, if she gets married, she’ll have a different family.

And that family won’t be me.

To think Viola would become a complete stranger’s family.

I absolutely cannot watch that happen…

‘Brother, what should I do?’

My smart brother would know the right answer. Please tell me the right answer.

Jayden asked his imaginary brother with the sorrowful heart of a tragic heroine.

Unfortunately, the imaginary Noah didn’t give a kind answer this time either.

Instead, he just let out a deep sigh and sent a contemptuous look as if hearing the most pathetic nonsense.

‘You’re really too much, Brother Noah.’

Jayden briefly resented the imaginary Noah.

But perhaps thanks to that cold, contemptuous gaze?

One brilliant idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘…Wait a minute.’

If I don’t want Viola to get married and have a different family.

If Viola absolutely must get married.

“She could just marry me instead!”

This is it!

Jayden jumped up. Life returned to his dying eyes.

This could solve every situation.

If Viola has to get married, then I just need to be that person.

‘From what I heard earlier, it didn’t seem like she had someone specific in mind anyway.’

It just felt like she wanted marriage itself.

That wasn’t particularly strange. The maids at the manor also found suitable matches and got married when they came of age.

‘If Viola’s in a similar situation, she can just marry me.’

Then Viola could legally become his family and Viola could have the marriage she wanted!

This was the perfect solution.

“This won’t do. I need to ask Conrad right away.”

How to go about doing this thing called marriage!

Jayden kicked the door open forcefully and strode out without looking back.

Bang!

The door closed and only silence lingered in the room.

And so Melody was left all alone in the room.

“…Huh?”

Why is he acting like that? What on earth?

Unable to understand what was happening, Melody blinked her eyes in bewilderment.

* * *

On the path from the apothecary to Jayden’s bedroom, just like any other day.

‘The manor is peaceful today as well.’

Unlike my complicated thoughts, the Duke’s manor was as quiet as always.

Just as I was trying to regain my peace of mind.

“Waaaaah!”

From far away around the corner of the corridor, I heard what sounded like a child’s crying.

‘What’s that? The voice sounds familiar.’

Could it be Jayden?

Why would that usually dignified child suddenly make such sounds? Did he get hurt somewhere?

Alarmed, I hurried toward the source of the sound with quick steps.

And what unfolded before my eyes was an unexpected scene.

“Coooonraaad!”

Jayden was… throwing a tantrum. And quite desperately at that!

“Young Master, please calm down… Please let go of my pants!”

“No! I won’t let go! If I let go, you won’t listen to me!”

At the scene that greeted me as soon as I turned the corner, I gasped.

He was throwing such a frantic tantrum that he didn’t even notice I had arrived, and Jayden was clinging to Conrad’s pant leg like a cicada.

What on earth could have happened to make Jayden act like this?

I didn’t need to strain my ears since his voice was so loud, and I quickly understood the reason.

“Why? Why can’t I?”

“Young Master, you are still too young.”

“Even six-year-olds can get married! Why can’t I get married!”

…Huh? What? Marriage? Six years old?

Conrad shook his head with a face as confused as mine. But Jayden was adamant.

“Is being six years old a crime? I can do it too! I’m going to get married!”

At his flustered outcry, my steps froze in place without realizing it.

It was an unbelievable sight.

Jayden suddenly wailing that he wanted to get married.

‘Young children do often act like this though…’

When I worked as a kindergarten teacher in my previous life, I often saw children throwing tantrums about wanting to marry their classmates or teachers, so it wasn’t entirely strange.

Still, it was a bit unexpected to see Jayden acting like this.

‘Did he develop a crush on someone?’

Hmm, but lately he’s been stuck with me and hasn’t met any children his age.

What on earth is this situation about?

My mind was confused in many ways, but one thing was certain.

Hmm.

‘…Let’s pretend I don’t know.’

Though I wasn’t sure, I had a gut feeling that Jayden wouldn’t appreciate me witnessing this situation.

If I approached now, this shy little guy might burst from embarrassment.

So the best course of action was to quietly pass by pretending I hadn’t seen anything.

Protecting a growing child’s privacy is also an adult’s virtue.

If there was one thing that bothered me…

I noticed Conrad, who was still being held captive by Jayden and looking troubled.

Conrad’s usually well-pressed pants were all stretched out. It seemed Jayden had been gripping his pants quite severely and refusing to let go.

‘Conrad… um, hang in there.’

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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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