A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Whether Viola was a royal impostor or a fraud no longer mattered.

Celia simply couldn’t understand it.

That lowly, unmarried woman—raising a child with no known father—

Her hands trembled.

The thought that she might be punished over someone like that was unbearable.

No.

She had barely secured her position in the ducal estate through her father’s influence. She had endured humiliation, lowered herself to serve a child, all to catch Kain’s attention.

And judging from his earlier expression—

This would not be overlooked.

She had seen the look in his eyes.

Cold.

Absolute.

There was no powerful parent here to shield her.

Count Dorn was in the capital.

Here, in this remote ducal territory—

She stood alone.

And she had just touched something precious to a dragon.

If she remained passive, she might vanish without a trace.

Her breath quickened.

“Lady Celia, please remain here until His Grace makes his decision—”

“Move!”

She shoved the servants aside and ran toward the third floor of the main building.

Jaden.

That unpleasant dragon-blooded child.

He was her only lifeline.

Jaden’s Room

Bang!

She burst inside.

Before Jaden could even rise fully from his bed, she dropped to her knees dramatically.

“Young Master! Please help me! Please!”

“…?”

His red eyes narrowed in confusion.

“You know how devotedly I’ve served you all this time!”

He frowned.

Was he truly so ungrateful as to forget?

When someone cries and begs, shouldn’t you at least ask what happened?

Celia swallowed her irritation and shifted tactics.

“I’ve been terribly wronged… That woman, Viola, tried to poison you!”

Tears streamed convincingly down her cheeks.

“I only told her to prove it by eating it herself—to protect you! And now I’m being punished unfairly!”

That was when Jaden’s expression changed.

Instantly.

“What did Viola do?”

Celia felt relief.

He was listening.

“She tried to feed you Sweet Reaper Grass! She claimed it was safe—medicine! So I told her to prove it! And she collapsed right away! That proves it was poison!”

Her words tumbled out chaotically.

But Jaden understood the core of it.

“So… you made Viola eat Sweet Reaper Grass?”

“Yes! Exactly!”

Surely he would not defend someone who had tried to poison him.

Surely—

But Celia had miscalculated.

Coming to Jaden had not saved her.

It had sealed her fate.

Jaden’s Perspective

So that was why the estate had been noisy.

Sweet Reaper Grass.

Jaden didn’t study herbs, but he knew its name.

Because it affected dragon-blood.

Most poisons meant nothing to them.

But a rare few did.

Sweet Reaper Grass was one of them.

For him, it would cause a day of illness.

For an ordinary person—

Death.

Viola could die?

She was strong.

But fragile.

That thin body—

How could it withstand poison?

Not again.

His heart plummeted.

Like the day his parents had died.

Suddenly.

Without warning.

What if she disappeared too?

Darkness crept across his vision.

Meanwhile, Celia knelt there proudly, as though she had defeated a villain.

Jaden had always known she disliked him.

She looked at him as if he were a repulsive insect.

He hadn’t cared.

Everyone was uncomfortable around him.

Being alone was easier.

But this—

This was different.

She had dared—

To endanger the only warmth he had finally found.

Rumble.

The aura he had long suppressed exploded outward.

The air grew heavy.

Oppressive.

“Y-Young Master…!”

Celia’s face drained of color.

Under his gaze, her body trembled violently.

Fear paralyzed her.

She collapsed unconscious.

Jaden didn’t even look at her.

“Move.”

He strode toward the door.

Viola.

He had to see her.

He couldn’t lose her too.

But just as he reached the doorway—

“Please calm yourself, Young Master.”

Conrad stood blocking his path.

“Are you on her side too? Move. I have to go to Viola.”

“…Do you think it wise to approach Lady Viola while emitting such violent energy?”

Jaden froze.

Viola liked cute things.

She had called him adorable.

Lovable.

She had hugged him.

She wasn’t afraid of him.

He couldn’t let her see this side.

But—

What if she died?

His lip trembled.

“Please don’t worry,” Conrad said evenly. “His Grace is with her.”

“…Uncle is?”

“Yes. His Grace stated Lady Viola will awaken without issue.”

The tension snapped.

“Ah…”

Only now did Jaden realize how terrified he had been.

His legs gave out.

He sank to the floor, bowing his head.

He couldn’t cry in front of Conrad.

Thank goodness…

He had been so afraid.

Afraid of losing someone again without even saying goodbye.

Slowly, he stood.

His small fists clenched tightly.

Viola—

He would never let her face something like that alone again.

No matter what.

He would protect her.