A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Mi…?”

Jaden’s lips trembled. Then he suddenly turned his head away and muttered,

“I—I didn’t push you on purpose. It’s… regrettable that you seemed badly hurt.”

Oh dear.

What am I supposed to do with this young master?

His eyes were filled with guilt, yet instead of apologizing properly, he clung stubbornly to his pride—exactly like a child.

Viola softened her expression and looked at him gently.

“Young Master.”

“…W-what?”

“At times like this, you don’t need a long explanation. You just look the person in the eye and say you’re sorry.”

“……”

“That’s how you become a cool adult.”

She meant it as encouragement, tailored to his level.

But Jaden pouted.

“Hmph. I don’t need to become a cool adult.”

“…Pardon?”

“Anyway… I don’t even know how long I’ll live.”

Her heart dropped.

There was resignation in his voice—like someone who had already accepted death.

But she didn’t hesitate.

“No. You’ll grow up to be a wonderful adult.”

He looked up at her, frowning.

“…How would you know?”

“Because I’ll help you. So of course you will.”

She smiled brightly.

“Wh-what are you saying?!”

He quickly turned his face away, flustered.

“There’s only one thing left.”

“……”

“You just have to decide.”

“……”

“Whether to give up—or become a wonderful adult with me.”

His red eyes trembled slightly.

After a long silence—

“…Sorry.”

He immediately added gruffly,

“D-don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I want to be some cool adult.”

“Oh? Then why?”

He lowered his head.

“It just… looked like it hurt a lot… because of me.”

His voice was small—but sincere.

Viola gently patted his back.

“Good job.”

“…What?”

“That was a great apology.”

His face turned bright red.

“Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is having the courage to apologize. So I forgive you.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. But you’ll promise not to do it again?”

He hesitated—

Then slowly extended his pinky.

She hooked hers around it.

A promise.

He quickly pulled his hand back, pretending composure.

But his gaze lingered on her arm.

Time for a small reward.

“Since you’re being such a good boy…”

She unbuttoned her sleeve and rolled it up.

“Look. It healed overnight.”

Jaden’s eyes widened.

The skin that had been bloodied yesterday was smooth and unmarked.

“Th-thank goodness!!!”

He clapped a hand over his mouth, shocked that he’d raised his voice.

“Were you worried?”

“I wasn’t!”

She clutched her arm dramatically.

“Oh? So you weren’t worried? Ah… it suddenly hurts again—”

“I was worried! Does it hurt now?!”

He grabbed her arm anxiously, inspecting it.

She burst into a smile.

“Wow. It doesn’t hurt at all anymore.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

He exhaled in visible relief.

I shouldn’t tease him this much…

In the original story, he’d been popular as Melody’s prickly older-brother figure.

But in person?

He was far cuter.

Like a defensive little kitten.

She reached toward his forehead.

His silver bangs had grown long—almost poking into his eyes.

“Wait.”

He stiffened, but didn’t pull away.

She gently brushed his bangs aside.

“If your hair covers your eyes, it’s bad for your vision.”

“But I’m dragon-blooded.”

“You’re also a growing child.”

She pulled a small pink ribbon hairpin from her pocket and clipped his bangs back neatly.

“There. Much better. How adorable.”

“Adorable… or awful?”

“…What?”

“That’s what people think.”

He muttered quietly.

“They’re scared of me.”

Jaden’s Thoughts

“They’re scared of me.”

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

But they were true.

After he became ill, countless healers had come.

All failed.

And when they left, what hurt most wasn’t his body.

It was the way they looked at him.

Like something abnormal.

Like something dangerous.

Even Celia.

In front of adults, she pretended kindness.

But he saw the disgust in her eyes.

She avoided touching him whenever possible, pushing duties onto lower-ranking maids.

If this was how it would always be—

Then it was better not to expect anything at all.

So he closed his heart.

Or at least, he thought he had.

He glanced up at Viola.

Her smiling face had fallen into stunned disbelief.

I knew it. I’m disgusting.

“Forget it.”

He turned his head away.

Then—

“I’m not scared. Not even a little.”

Her voice was steady.

“…Liar.”

You think I’ll believe that so easily?