A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Post a notice. We’re recruiting a healer.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Though puzzled by Kain’s sudden order, Conrad answered at once. His master had never been easy to read.

“And…”

Uncharacteristically, Kain hesitated.

“If a woman with pink hair visits the estate, report it to me.”

“Yes, understood. Any other distinguishing features?”

“…Her hair is fluffy.”

Fluffy?

For a moment, Conrad wondered if he had misheard. That oddly adorable word did not belong in Kain’s vocabulary.

But Kain paid no attention to whatever irreverent thoughts might be forming in his aide’s mind.

Something about the woman’s face kept bothering him. Every time he tried to recall it, the image nearly surfaced—then slipped away.

A chipmunk? No… softer than that.

“…A squirrel.”

“Pardon?”

Mm.

Kain hummed in satisfaction. He had finally pinpointed the source of that strange familiarity.

Her lightly curled pink hair had resembled the soft plume of a squirrel’s tail.

‘And her face…’

He remembered how she had widened her eyes and scolded him like a reckless child, completely unaware of who he was.

An absurd woman.

The corner of his lips lifted faintly.

“She looks like a squirrel.”

And completely fearless.

“Your Grace…?”

Conrad’s expression grew increasingly bewildered. No matter how hard he tried, imagining a pink squirrel only deepened the confusion.

But Kain offered no further explanation and continued on his way—cool and detached, as befitted one of dragon blood.

* * *

The next day.

“Huh? He really meant it?”

I rubbed my eyes as I stared at the notice posted on a vine-covered wall.

The Ashellen Ducal Estate is recruiting a skilled healer.

It hadn’t been there yesterday.

The poster had appeared overnight—exactly as that man had said.

‘If I meet the requirements, there’s no reason not to apply…’

As I read through it carefully, Catherine, standing beside me, gaped dramatically.

“What? Since when does the ducal family hire outsiders? I’ve lived here ten years—this is the first time I’ve seen a public posting like this!”

Catherine was a friend I’d made in Heiron Village. It was her hometown, and since we were about the same age, we had grown close.

“Wow, it doesn’t even require a letter of recommendation. They must be in a hurry.”

“Did someone quit suddenly?”

It was strange. Even when hiring maids, noble households this closed-off conducted strict background checks.

But to openly recruit a healer?

That was bold.

If that was the case, I could apply.

The empire had a healer certification exam. It tested basic healing techniques and medicinal compounding skills.

Those who passed could become physicians who treated patients directly—or specialize further, like I did, as an apothecary.

‘Most people choose physician… but technically, I am still a healer.’

Catherine suddenly clapped her hands.

“This is perfect! You’re applying, right? You said you came here to look for work.”

“I will. But don’t expect too much. Honestly, it won’t be easy to get accepted.”

This was a dedicated position within the ducal estate. With my relatively short career, it would be difficult.

But I wasn’t discouraged.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

My real goal wasn’t the job—it was to meet Kain. Even if I failed, I’d lose nothing.

Catherine misread my calmness as insecurity and thumped my back.

“Hey! With your skills, you’ll definitely get in. Don’t you remember? You cured my mom’s chronic illness last year!”

“That wasn’t serious to begin with. Anyone could have treated it.”

She shook her head.

“This is why geniuses are annoying. Being this modest should be illegal.”

Melody, who had been listening quietly, mimicked her and shook her head too.

“Melody, you think Auntie’s right, don’t you? Your mom’s amazing, right?”

“Uu!”

Melody puffed out her chest proudly, as if she had been the one praised.

I burst out laughing.

“Now’s not the time to laugh,” Catherine scolded, pushing me forward. “I’ll watch Melody. Go apply!”

“Right now?”

“Good jobs attract crowds. Don’t underestimate city unemployment.”

“Uu!”

Melody nodded solemnly, despite clearly having no idea what unemployment meant.

And so—

Before I could overthink it, I headed for the ducal estate with my documents in hand.

‘The timing really is perfect.’

House Ashellen didn’t particularly need physicians or apothecaries. Those of dragon blood possessed regenerative abilities far beyond ordinary humans.

Of course, they weren’t invincible.

‘There are illnesses unique to them.’

But such conditions were rarely treatable with conventional medicine.

That was why I had never imagined they would publicly recruit a healer.

‘I really am lucky.’

It was all thanks to that mysterious man who had tipped me off.

If I saw him again, I would have to thank him properly.

‘…Speaking of which, who was he?’

If he were merely a monster hunter, how would he know about internal estate matters?

Perhaps a knight?

The Ashellen Silver Dragon Knights were renowned across the empire for subjugating monsters.

If he were one of them, that would explain it.

But the moment I tried to picture his face—

“Huh?”

Something felt wrong.

I couldn’t remember his face at all.

It had definitely been striking. Yet whenever I tried to recall his features, they blurred—like fog obscuring a mirror.

Even his voice was indistinct.

As if I’d been under some kind of spell.

“Maybe I was just nervous.”

No…

That didn’t feel right.

Just then—

I realized I had already arrived.

“Wow…”

The structure towering before me was less a mansion and more a fortress.

No wonder House Ashellen inspired such awe.

They said if you bound together all their property deeds, you wouldn’t get an encyclopedia—you’d get an entire library.

The estate’s antique grandeur was breathtaking.

And suffocating.

The armored guards stationed at the massive iron gates made my shoulders stiffen.

But I couldn’t retreat now.

I hadn’t done anything wrong.

Stand tall.

Clenching my fists, I approached.

But the moment I stood before the disciplined guards, my confidence evaporated.

“H-hello…! I—I’m here to apply for the healer position…”

Their gazes were sharp enough to pierce stone.

I hadn’t committed any crime—yet I felt like a suspect.

The two guards exchanged quiet whispers.

“That’s her, right?”

“Definitely.”

Wait—what?

Did I already do something wrong?

I haven’t even stepped inside!

Just as my anxiety peaked—

“Please wait here. We’ll call someone to guide you.”

“Oh—yes! Thank you.”

Contrary to my fears, they were polite.

Relieved, I nodded.

One guard stepped through the gates and grabbed a passing servant.

“Inform Lord Conrad immediately. The squirrel—ah, right. Tell him the squirrel lady has arrived.”

“Excuse me? A squirrel?”

“Just go! It’s His Grace’s order!”

Through the iron bars, I saw people moving hurriedly. Their voices were too far away to hear clearly.

Or maybe I was just too nervous to process them.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Soon, a neatly dressed attendant returned and led me inside.

After walking through long, echoing corridors, we arrived at what appeared to be a reception room.

“The interviewer will arrive shortly. Please make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

The interior was even more lavish than the exterior—but I barely noticed.

My nerves were tightening by the second.

‘This is the important part… Who will come?’

If possible, I hoped it would be someone close to the duke.

That would make requesting an audience easier.

Don’t stutter. Smile. Maintain eye contact.

I was mentally rehearsing interview answers when—

Click.

The door opened.

My breath stopped.

Because the person who entered was someone I had never imagined would appear in person.

Silver hair that shimmered like spun silk.

A cool, sculpted forehead revealed beneath neatly swept bangs.

And beneath that—

Eyes as red as blood.

His beauty was breathtaking.

But almost inhuman.

The moment I saw him, I knew.

‘There’s no mistake.’

Kain Ashellen.

The man who would become Melody’s father in the original story.

And for some reason—

The original novel’s male lead had come to interview me himself.