A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 12

Chapter 12

A sharp scream pierced the air.

Before Viola could even understand what was happening, someone rushed into the room with hurried footsteps.

“Oh my goodness! Let me see your face! Are you alright? Why do you keep making me worry like this?!”

The woman went straight to Jaden’s bedside.

Who is she? The assigned maid? But…

Viola hesitated.

The woman was adorned in jewelry from neck to wrist.

A heavy cloud of perfume followed her.

She did not look like someone who tended to a sick child.

“Excuse me…”

If this noise woke Jaden, it would be a disaster.

Viola spoke softly.

The woman turned sharply.

Her eyes swept over Viola from head to toe.

“…Who are you? A maid?”

“Oh, I’m the newly appointed—”

“Doesn’t matter.”

She cut her off without hesitation.

“Where is His Grace?”

“…Pardon?”

“I heard His Grace was here.”

So that was her real concern.

But that wasn’t the urgent issue.

Jaden’s face, which had finally relaxed in sleep, began to tighten again.

He coughed.

The perfume was suffocating.

An ill child was sleeping.

Viola needed her out.

“The patient is asleep. Let’s speak outside.”

Viola opened the window to let fresh air in and gently tried to guide the woman toward the door.

But the woman resisted.

“Can’t you hear me? Where is His Grace?”

Fine.

Answer quickly and remove her.

“His Grace is not here at the moment.”

“You should have said that from the start!”

Clicking her tongue irritably, the woman stormed out—

Like a whirlwind.

At least Jaden hadn’t woken.

Viola opened the window wider.

Cool air flowed in.

Jaden’s furrowed brow gradually smoothed.

His breathing steadied.

Good. He’s sleeping deeply now.

Time to leave.

She quietly approached the door.

And just as she opened it—

“!”

Kain was standing there.

“What happened—”

Shh.

Viola immediately raised a finger to her lips.

Silence.

Kain blinked, slightly startled—but closed his mouth.

Was that too bold?

But I couldn’t risk waking Jaden.

She stepped closer and whispered softly.

“The young master is asleep. I’ll explain elsewhere.”

Dragon Blood heightened the senses.

Especially in a child already ill.

Kain gave a slight nod.

He gestured for her to follow.

The hallway was eerily quiet.

It seemed he had dismissed Conrad and the servants.

Consideration for his nephew.

In the Study

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Sunlight streamed through tall windows overlooking the garden.

The view was breathtaking.

Far more beautiful than the estate of Marquis Deboreux.

But Kain appeared indifferent.

Leaning against his desk, he studied her silently.

Ahem.

Viola began her report.

“First, there is little cause for concern. He sustained a minor cut on his palm from glass shards, but I treated it. And also—”

She reached into her bag.

Her arm throbbed.

She ignored it and pulled out the fever reducer.

“He had a high fever, so I administered medicine—”

“That is not the first matter you should mention.”

Kain interrupted coldly.

“Oh—his fever has completely broken!”

“I am already aware of that.”

“…Then?”

He pointed toward her arm.

“Your arm.”

“…Pardon?”

“The smell of blood is overwhelming. You do not notice?”

Only then did she look down.

Her sleeve was soaked red.

She had completely forgotten.

“I hired you as a healer,” he said flatly. “Not to become the patient.”

She quickly tucked her arm behind her back.

“It’s nothing. Just a scratch. It will heal quickly.”

“Quickly?”

One brow lifted.

“Are you Dragon Blood as well?”

“…No?”

“You speak as though you have something to rely upon.”

There was faint mockery in his tone.

But he wasn’t entirely wrong.

Still—

If Melody finds out I’m hurt, I’m finished.

Her usually sweet daughter would panic as if the world were ending.

“I will apply medicine after finishing my report.”

“There is no need. You may treat it here.”

Oh.

That made sense.

“Understood.”

She rolled up her sleeve and began removing the embedded shards with tweezers, continuing her explanation at the same time.

“As I was saying, his fever has stabilized, but we must prevent recurrence—”

Ow.

She accidentally pinched her own skin.

She was left-handed.

This was her left arm.

She forced her expression to remain neutral.

“Stop.”

“…Yes?”

“I told you to treat it, not mutilate yourself.”

Kain pushed away from the desk.

He stepped in front of her and extended his hand.

“Give it to me.”