A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Tch. Annoying little brat.”

Celia clicked her tongue sharply.

She truly couldn’t understand it.

What exactly was so special about that woman?

For three years, she had served as Jaden’s dedicated attendant—bringing his meals, preparing his clothes, tending to his needs.

And yet—

In just a few days, an apothecary had completely won his favor.

Just moments ago, it had happened again.

Knock knock.

The instant she knocked, Jaden’s voice rang out from inside.

“Viola?”

Bright. Eager.

For a split second, Celia wondered if she had misheard. Was that really the same cold, arrogant child?

But when he opened the door and saw her—

His expression hardened immediately.

“…Oh.”

“Young Master, I brought your meal.”

“Leave it there and go.”

The memory made her blood boil all over again.

How dare he treat his future aunt like that?

Celia snapped her fan open with a sharp flick.

“That apothecary woman is not ordinary.”

There had to be ulterior motives behind her sudden closeness with Jaden.

Surely she was trying to win him over first—then use him as a stepping stone to approach the Duke.

After all—

That had been Celia’s own strategy.

“Perhaps because she’s a mother, she’s good at handling children.”

How absurd.

Becoming Duchess of Ashellen was not something achieved by appeasing a sick child.

That woman was a commoner.

An unwed mother.

Celia was the cherished daughter of a count.

“How dare she covet my place?”

She had warned her clearly.

“As the future Duchess of Ashellen, I’ll be watching you closely. Mind yourself.”

And yet—

“‘That doesn’t make sense…’”

Viola’s calm reply replayed in her mind.

That naive expression had scratched at her pride.

“Insolent commoner…”

At first, Celia hadn’t cared.

Viola was just a healer. She would leave eventually.

Even renowned physicians had failed to cure Jaden.

How could some rural apothecary succeed?

Soon enough, she would be exposed as a fraud.

But one thing continued to gnaw at her—

Jaden’s completely different attitude.

“Ha! That creepy brat is the real problem.”

Unable to restrain herself, Celia had spent the last two days quietly investigating Viola’s past.

An abandoned, unmarried mother—

Surely there were weaknesses.

But every servant she questioned claimed ignorance, as if rehearsed.

No useful information.

Instead, it only fueled her suspicions.

“They’re hiding something.”

How could no one know who the child’s father was?

Where she had lived before?

“She must have tangled herself with some alley thug.”

And yet she dared aim for the Duke.

Celia had long since mistaken her assumptions for facts.

The Incident

Leaving Jaden’s chamber, Celia spotted Becky and Marie in the corridor.

Between them stood a small pink-haired girl, laughing brightly.

She looked exactly like Viola.

Perfect.

Children were careless. They talked easily.

Celia approached.

“Hey. You.”

Becky instinctively stepped in front of the girl.

Celia shoved her aside.

“Move.”

Becky stumbled to the floor.

Melody frowned up at her.

Why did children these days have such defiant eyes?

“Where’s your father?”

Melody remained silent.

“What? No mouth? Can’t speak?”

“Please stop, Lady Celia,” Marie pleaded.

Celia ignored her completely.

“An unwed mother and a defective child. Blood will tell.”

“Lady Dorn.”

A cold voice cut through the hallway.

Celia stiffened.

Conrad stood there, expression glacial.

“Lady Melody is an honored guest personally supported by His Grace. She is not someone you may treat lightly.”

Celia forced a mild smile.

“I was merely concerned.”

Conrad returned a thin smile of his own.

“You would do well to mind your words. And…”

He stepped closer.

“I have received reports that you have been investigating Lady Viola.”

“I have every reason to!”

“Perhaps you misunderstand your position.”

She froze.

“It took Count Dorn considerable effort to secure your placement here.”

His smile did not reach his eyes.

“It would be unfortunate if that effort were to… disappear.”

A warning.

Clear and deliberate.

Celia trembled with fury.

Over a mere commoner?

Conrad bent slightly and lifted Melody into his arms.

“Lady Melody, shall we go have some sweets?”

Melody glared at Celia and pumped her tiny fists triumphantly.

Becky and Marie followed behind, barely concealing their satisfaction.

Left alone in the corridor, Celia let out a hollow laugh.

Later That Night

A crescent moon hung high in the sky.

Under its pale light, Kain walked alone through the garden.

His thoughts were unsettled by Conrad’s report.

An Analysis of the Mechanisms and Principles of Pharmacological Reactions Specifically Acting Within the Body of Dragon-Blooded Individuals.

The ancient manuscript Viola claimed to have found in the library of the Marquis Deboreux.

According to Conrad—

It had originally belonged to the Duchy of Ashellen.

And had gone missing three hundred years ago.

Strange.

Records concerning Dragon Blood were highly restricted.

They were stored within a hidden archive, accessible only to those bearing Ashellen blood.

It could not have been stolen.

Only someone with Ashellen blood could have removed it.

Lost in thought, Kain wandered deeper into the garden.

Then—

He noticed movement ahead.

A small figure bustling about in the moonlight.

Curly pink hair catching the silver glow.

Kain’s lips curved faintly.

“Since when were squirrels nocturnal?”