A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“I heard everything. This is an extremely dangerous poisonous plant, isn’t it? And you’re planning to turn this into medicine? Ha! What would have happened if it weren’t for me? Everyone has been fooled by this fraud!”

“…Excuse me?”

Viola looked genuinely bewildered.

As expected.

She wasn’t an ordinary opponent.

Even after being completely exposed, she could still wear such an innocent expression.

Those round, sprout-like green eyes—

For a fleeting second, even Celia felt a tremor of doubt.

No wonder Conrad.

No wonder even the Duke.

They had all been deceived.

“Come with me!”

“Could you at least explain what this is about—”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know! It’s pointless anyway—you’d just manipulate everyone with more lies!”

Celia seized Viola’s wrist and dragged her down the corridor.

“Ah—!”

Viola stumbled along, light as cotton candy.

Playing fragile again?

Celia scoffed inwardly.

That delicate act must have stirred countless protective instincts.

Servants began gathering, whispering as they followed.

But the more eyes that turned toward them—

The straighter Celia walked.

She had caught a fraud.

Suddenly—

Viola twisted her wrist and gently shook Celia’s hand off.

“I don’t understand what this is about, but I’ll walk on my own.”

She calmly smoothed her rumpled sleeves.

The composure.

The poise.

Almost regal.

Celia nearly laughed at the audacity.

A poison-wielding imposter standing there like nobility.

Of course.

It would take that level of shamelessness to impersonate royalty.

Outside the Duke’s Office

Unfortunately for Celia, the Duke was absent.

Instead, Conrad stepped forward.

“Lady Dorn…”

He pressed his temples, exhaling slowly.

“What is it this time? I have repeatedly instructed you to refrain from taking unnecessary interest in Lady Viola and instead focus on your assigned duties—”

“Conrad! That’s not the point!”

Celia cut him off sharply.

Her eyes burned with righteous fury.

She produced the Sweet Reaper Grass from her pocket.

“Look at this! This is not some harmless herb—it’s poison! I confirmed it myself!”

Silence.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

“She was planning to feed this to Young Master Jaden! If I hadn’t intervened, he could have been poisoned!”

She recounted everything she had “witnessed,” expecting shock.

Applause.

Gratitude.

Instead—

She was met with cold stares.

Why are they looking at me like that?

Conrad finally spoke.

“Lady Dorn, you are gravely mistaken. Both His Grace and I are fully aware of this matter.”

“…What?”

“I personally procured that herb at Lady Viola’s request—with His Grace’s approval.”

Celia blinked.

“But—what if something happened to Young Master Jaden—”

“Lady Dorn.”

Conrad’s tone hardened.

“Young Master Jaden bears Dragon Blood. What is lethal to ordinary individuals does not affect him in the same manner. Lady Viola requested it strictly for treatment.”

“But it’s poison!”

Her voice cracked.

“How can poison be medicine? Poison kills! Medicine heals! You’re all being deceived!”

There is a saying:

Someone who has read only one book is more dangerous than someone who has read none.

Celia embodied it perfectly.

Certain of her shallow knowledge, she refused to yield.

Conrad’s patience thinned.

“We allowed you entry into this estate out of respect for Count Dorn. Further disturbances will not be tolerated.”

The coldness in his voice made her stomach twist.

You cannot treat me this way.

Her father had been close to the late Duke.

She was practically family.

And yet—

They sided with a commoner.

An unwed mother.

Unacceptable.

The Breaking Point

At that moment, Viola stepped forward.

“Lady Celia. I understand how this could be misunderstood, but many medicinal herbs possess toxicity. Depending on dosage and preparation, poison can become medicine—”

“Lies! That’s absurd!”

Celia shrieked.

Poison was dangerous.

Medicine was good.

They were opposites.

Was she being treated like a fool?

Celia Dorn had received a proper noble education.

She would not be lectured by a commoner.

Conrad sighed again.

That sigh snapped the last thread of her restraint.

“Then eat it!”

Silence fell.

“…What?”

“You said it’s medicine! If it’s medicine, you won’t die, right? Prove it! Prove it isn’t poison!”

“Lady Dorn! That is not how this works—”

Conrad moved forward, but Celia had lost all sense.

Servants crowded closer.

“Please calm yourself before His Grace returns—”

“No! Let everyone see!”

Celia grabbed Viola’s hand and forcefully shoved the Sweet Reaper Grass into her palm.

“Go on! Eat it! You can’t even swallow it yourself, yet you’d feed it to the young master? Fraud!”

The hallway held its breath.

Viola looked at Celia.

Her eyes were calm.

Unreadable.

Then—

They sharpened.

Quiet.

Resolute.

“Fine,” she said softly. “I’ll prove it.”

“Wh—Lady Viola? W-wait—!”

Conrad lunged forward.

Too late.

Without hesitation—

Viola lifted the vivid blue herb to her lips.

And swallowed it.