A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 39
Chapter 39
He’s kind of… unique.
But also frighteningly smart.
A genius, maybe.
While I listened to Jaden chatter excitedly, Sylvien glanced at the clock and quietly stepped back.
“I have another appointment. I’ll take my leave. Please continue comfortably.”
With crisp, efficient movements, she bowed and slipped out like a passing breeze.
I gave a small nod to her retreating figure before turning back to Jaden.
“You must be happy. A letter from your brother. Did you read it yet?”
“No, not yet! But I already decided what I’m going to write back.”
“Wha—already?”
Unlike me, Jaden’s eyes sparkled brightly.
He looked like he had a mountain of things he couldn’t wait to say.
I hadn’t known he had a side like this.
How adorable.
Is exchanging letters really this exciting?
When I smiled fondly, he puffed out his chest proudly.
“Actually, I already wrote it! I gave it to Sylvien and told her to send it right away.”
Huh?
So it’s not really correspondence—it’s more like rapid-fire messaging.
Still—
He looked so thrilled that I decided not to nitpick.
“Noah will be happy.”
“Maybe! I wrote a lot this time!”
He giggled mischievously.
What on earth did he write?
Before I could ask—
“What it says is a secret. Even from you, Viola!”
A Few Days Later — The Imperial Academy
At the prestigious academy where the empire’s brightest students studied together—
Noah Ashellen sat in the dormitory lounge, staring at a letter with a deep frown.
“…What is this?”
For some reason, today he truly couldn’t understand his brother.
What is he even trying to say?
Jaden’s letters had always been closer to I’ll say whatever I want than actual replies.
Noah hadn’t minded.
After all, his own letters were similar.
This time, Noah’s original letter had been titled:
A Study on the Ecology of the Horn-Overgrowth Mutant Oryctes Genus Stag Beetle.
He hadn’t considered the recipient’s interests even slightly.
It had been sincere.
Academic.
Then he received a reply unusually fast.
Did he even read my letter?
Not a single sentence mentioned stag beetles.
Instead—
One name appeared repeatedly.
Noah lowered his gaze to reread.
Viola says I won’t get sick anymore as long as I take my medicine properly! I’m really glad I met Viola.
Big brother, Viola’s hair is as soft as cotton candy and her face is super, super pretty… right?
She’s also really kind and never gets mad at me. Isn’t this what people call an angel? You think so too, right?
Noah narrowed his eyes at the last line.
How am I supposed to agree about someone I’ve never met?
As the academy’s top-ranked student, Noah calmly analyzed the content.
Summary:
Tamutar Disease shows improvement.
A person named Viola exists.
Jaden appears to be… infatuated.
The first point was miraculous.
An incurable disease improving?
That alone was cause for celebration.
And yet—
Noah’s frown deepened.
Because the most fundamental question remained unanswered.
Who the hell is Viola?
There was no explanation.
No origin.
No status.
She couldn’t have sprouted from the soil or fallen from the sky.
So this is how spontaneous generation theories began.
For the first time in his life, Noah understood those ancient scholars.
Life appears from nowhere.
He folded the letter slowly.
What kind of person bewitched that prickly child into this?
He was grateful she had treated his brother.
But to soften Jaden to this extent—
She was clearly no ordinary apothecary.
Noah stood.
“Looks like the moment this break starts, I’ll head straight back to the estate.”
A very academic curiosity had taken root.
Back at the Duchy
After treatment began, Jaden’s condition improved so rapidly it felt unreal.
Not only the main medicine—a precise mixture of Spike-Leaf Herb and Sweet Reaper Grass—
But also supplementary tonics supported the process.
“Young Master, how are you feeling today?”
“I’m so excited! When I sleep these days, my body doesn’t hurt at all!”
“That’s wonderful. It’s because you’ve been taking your medicine properly.”
I carefully recorded his condition in my notes.
Beside me, Jaden looked up with shining eyes.
“Viola.”
“Yes?”
That look.
He wants something.
“Can I start learning swordsmanship again? Please? I’m healthier now.”
Already?
His condition had only recently stabilized.
Energy truly overflowed from this child.
But my answer was firm.
“No.”
“What? Why?!”
“It’s still too soon.”
He puffed his lips out dramatically and stared at me with those pleading kitten eyes.
Still—
No chance.
“Even if you seem stable, we need to observe for at least three more weeks.”
The medicine forcibly suppressed dragon energy.
Overexertion could destabilize everything.
“Then after three weeks?”
“If you continue taking your medicine properly… maybe light training. It depends on your condition.”
That was enough to brighten his face again.
His emotions were written plainly across his expression.
Adorable.
“But Young Master, do you like swordsmanship that much?”
“Yeah! If I learn swordsmanship, I can get strong! I’ll grow up fast and become really strong! And when I’m big, I’ll protect you too, Viola!”
Six years old.
And already declaring protection.
When I smiled warmly, he rushed to add—
“Ah—but classes are kind of… I don’t like them that much. My master is a bit scary—no! Not scary!”
He clapped a hand over his mouth.
“D-Don’t misunderstand! He’s just strict! But he’s really strong!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! He’s the captain of our family’s knight order! Probably weaker than the Duke though…”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to learn from the Duke?”
Children usually idolize the strongest figure around.
“I—I don’t know!”
Just imagining it made him shudder.
Hmm.
He feared Kain more deeply than I’d thought.
This couldn’t continue.
A child needed more than a legal guardian.
He needed someone he could trust.
For a small sprout to grow—
It needed a large tree to shield it from wind and rain.
Jaden, flustered, quickly changed the subject.
“A-Anyway! The weather’s nice lately! Once I’m better, I want to go outside and do stuff.”
“Go outside?”
An idea formed.
A very good one.
I smiled quietly—
Where Jaden couldn’t see.
Chapters
Reader Settings
Novel Page