A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Yaaawn.

I opened my drowsy eyes and slowly pushed myself up.

In the darkness, I saw a small pink bundle. Melody was curled up beside me, fast asleep.

My body felt surprisingly refreshed.

“…So I fainted just like that.”

Carefully, I slipped out of bed.

Through the window, the moon hung high in the night sky.

Close to midnight.

Several hours must have passed since I collapsed after taking the antidote.

I stretched my arms and legs, checking my condition.

“Mm, as expected.”

No dizziness. No weakness. My pulse felt steady.

The antidote had worked perfectly.

Thank goodness.

I let out a quiet breath of relief—but honestly, it was only natural.

I wouldn’t have done something that reckless if there had been real danger.

I was confident.

Not only because I knew the original story—

But because I had already tested the antidote’s effect beforehand.

“I’m not planning to die yet.”

Jaden’s treatment had only just begun, and Melody still had so much growing left to do.

I couldn’t afford to disappear before finishing what I started.

“…Still, I must have worried Kain.”

My memories were hazy, but I vaguely remembered his expression.

He had looked… furious.

“I should apologize later…”

I had startled him, after all.

As I stretched my stiff back, a thought suddenly struck me.

“…Wait.”

I had promised to take a walk with Kain tonight.

Ah.

I messed up.

We were supposed to meet at eleven.

It was already far past that.

I froze, then steadied myself.

“Calm down.”

Realistically, the appointment must have been canceled. I had collapsed right in front of him.

The sensible thing would be to lie back down and rest.

But—

Instead of returning to bed, my feet carried me toward the wardrobe.

My hand reached for my coat.

“I already slept plenty… and I’m not tired anyway. Maybe I’ll just step out for a bit.”

I knew it was unlikely.

But what if—just by chance—Kain was still outside?

As I grabbed my coat, something felt off at my chest.

“Oh. My necklace shifted.”

Had I tossed around while unconscious?

The necklace I’d worn since childhood felt like part of my body now.

I had owned it even before becoming the adopted daughter of Marquis Deboire.

According to the late marquis’s letter, it had belonged to my birth mother.

I carefully adjusted it back into place and slipped on my coat.

“There’s probably no one in the garden…”

Even so—

My steps were a little hurried.

Several Hours Earlier — The Duke’s Study

Kain couldn’t focus on work that evening.

The only sound outside was the wind brushing through the trees.

“…Quiet.”

The garden looked peaceful, as though nothing had happened earlier.

Knock knock.

A hesitant knock broke the silence.

“…Duke.”

It was Jaden.

For three years since Kain had become his guardian, the boy had avoided even meeting his gaze.

Yet now, he had come on his own.

Jaden lifted his pale face.

“Celia Dorn… She tried to kill Viola.”

Kain studied him.

Interesting.

The boy who used to run away in fear now wore a different expression.

There was still fear in his eyes—

But beneath it burned fierce determination.

“Celia Dorn will be punished as you wish.”

“…Thank you.”

The rigid tension in Jaden’s shoulders eased slightly.

After he left, Kain leaned back in his chair.

In truth, Jaden hadn’t needed to come.

The decision had already been made.

By now, Celia Dorn would be on a carriage back to the Dorn estate.

Earlier, knights had dragged her into the study.

“I’m innocent! I only tried to expose a fraud! For your sake!”

Her frantic excuses had only sharpened his expression.

“Enough.”

“Your Grace! I did nothing wrong—”

“Did you believe I wouldn’t learn you used Count Dorn’s influence to investigate my guest?”

Her face had gone pale.

“Conrad warned you.”

Celia had never been a true maid.

She had been tolerated—essentially a dependent guest due to old ties between the former Duke of Ashellen and Count Dorn.

Kain had overlooked her presence.

But she had crossed the line.

“Take her away.”

With that single order, all informal dealings between House Ashellen and the Dorn family were severed.

It would cripple them.

But that was not Kain’s concern.

It was the punishment Jaden desired.

Now — The Garden

Under the moonlight, Kain stood alone.

“Too many thoughts tonight.”

He usually walked at night to clear his mind.

The quiet soothed him.

He preferred the silence.

Yet tonight—

Why did it feel so empty?

Was it because there was no bright voice chatting beside him?

It had only been one walk.

And yet he already felt the absence.

“…Ridiculous.”

He knew the appointment was effectively canceled.

Viola would not come.

She should be asleep.

Resting.

Recovering.

He knew that.

And yet—

He remained standing in the garden.

Waiting.