A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Even though she had been dragged there and accused without warning, Viola didn’t actually feel offended.

If anything… it’s natural they wouldn’t trust me.

Celia’s actions were fueled by jealousy, yes.

But setting that aside—

Objectively speaking, the suspicion itself wasn’t unreasonable.

Until recently, Viola had been a complete outsider to the Duchy of Ashellen.

And now, barely days after arriving, she was insisting that an extreme poison could cure an incurable disease.

Of course that would sound insane.

But it wasn’t a lie.

It was knowledge from the original novel.

The Truth from the Original Story

In Future Saintess, the cure for Tamutar Disease had been discovered purely by accident.

Or rather—

Through the heroine’s overwhelming plot armor.

An assassin once infiltrated the estate and force-fed Jaden Sweet Reaper Grass.

For dragon-blooded individuals, poison rarely had lethal effects. At worst, he would suffer mild fever for a day.

But Melody didn’t know that.

Terrified he would die, she tearfully fed him Spike-Leaf Herb as an antidote.

Seven years later in the timeline, Sweet Reaper Grass had fallen out of use precisely because its antidote had been identified.

That antidote was Spike-Leaf Herb.

When Jaden awakened after being detoxified, deeply moved by Melody’s concern, he became fiercely devoted to his little sister.

But that night—

Something unexpected happened.

For the first time since Tamutar Disease had worsened, his pain disappeared entirely during sleep.

Kain investigated immediately.

That was how the interaction between Sweet Reaper Grass and Spike-Leaf Herb was discovered.

During detoxification, the Spike-Leaf Herb amplified its suppression of unstable dragon energy.

Properly balanced—

The two became an astonishingly effective treatment.

But that logic only existed in Viola’s mind.

To everyone else?

She was a stranger proposing poison as medicine.

Suspicion was reasonable.

Celia’s malice aside, this misunderstanding was something Viola had a responsibility to resolve.

No explanation would suffice.

Then she would prove it.

After all—

She would never give a child something she herself could not ingest.

Without hesitation, Viola placed the vivid blue herb into her mouth and swallowed.

“Lady Viola, what are you doing—!”

Conrad grabbed her arm in alarm.

Celia, however, looked vindicated.

“Are you going to pretend to die now? Trying to gain sympathy?”

Then—

“Viola!”

Kain had returned.

He grasped the situation instantly.

Before the poison could fully circulate, Viola quickly swallowed the prepared antidote made from Spike-Leaf Herb.

Even so—

The effects were immediate.

Her vision blurred.

The world tilted.

She staggered.

Strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.

“Have you lost your mind?” Kain’s voice cut sharp. “What were you thinking, swallowing poison—!”

For once, unmistakable anger flared across his usually controlled face.

“Oh… sorry,” she murmured faintly. “It’s stronger than I expected… I took the antidote right away…”

She even tried to smile.

“Spit it out.”

His hand cupped her cheek, attempting to force her mouth open.

“Too late…” she whispered weakly. “If I vomit… the antidote will come up first…”

Sweet Reaper Grass absorbed rapidly.

Forcing it out now might strip the antidote before it could counteract the toxin.

“It’ll be fine… for Young Master Jaden… I’ll process it properly…”

Her words slurred.

“Is that supposed to reassure me?!”

His voice trembled—not just with anger.

With fear.

Or perhaps he didn’t recognize it yet.

Her eyelids drooped.

Was it the poison?

The antidote?

Or simple exhaustion?

The world faded.

Viola collapsed fully in his arms.

For a brief moment—

Kain couldn’t speak.

His heart dropped violently.

He had faced death countless times.

He had stood before monstrous beasts without flinching.

He had watched comrades fall.

He had never reacted like this.

If it wasn’t shock—

Then what was this feeling?

His pulse thundered in his ears.

“See! I told you! She collapsed! It’s dangerous poison—!”

Celia’s triumphant cry faltered mid-sentence.

Because for the first time—

She was standing this close to Kain.

She had imagined proudly presenting her “achievement.”

Instead—

An overwhelming pressure descended.

It felt like standing before a colossal monster.

Her knees buckled.

She collapsed to the floor.

The same oppressive aura she had once faintly sensed from Jaden now flooded the corridor with terrifying intensity.

Servants trembled.

No one dared breathe.

“Leave.”

Kain’s voice was quiet.

But absolute.

The servants scattered instantly. Two dragged Celia away when she couldn’t stand.

Silence swallowed the hallway.

Kain looked down at Viola.

Her milk-pale skin had gone nearly translucent.

Even with the antidote—

She had swallowed poison.

How could her body possibly endure that?

Did she not understand?

Even a newborn squirrel knew better than to eat unknown food.

Did this woman lack even the most basic survival instinct?

His arms tightened around her without meaning to.

But he forced himself to steady his breathing.

The reasons could wait.

Her safety came first.

“Your Grace, allow me,” Conrad said carefully, reaching forward.

Kain shook his head.

“No.”

His voice was low.

Firm.

“I’ll carry her.”