A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 40

Chapter 40

The Duke of Ashellen’s Office

Kain finished reading the report and let out a quiet breath.

“…Impressive.”

He had already been observing Jaden discreetly, so he knew the boy was improving.

But this pace—

It exceeded all expectations.

Viola had not been at the estate long, yet Tamutar Disease—long deemed incurable—was already turning around.

As Jaden’s uncle, Kain had done everything he could in his own way.

He had searched relentlessly.

Gathered physicians.

Collected rare herbs.

Commissioned research.

Even knowing it was called incurable, he had refused to give up.

Yet the harder he pursued it, the thinner hope had grown.

And then—

Viola arrived.

And overturned everything in a single stroke.

Just as he set the report down, she added carefully,

“From now on, other Tamutar patients should be treatable using this compounding method.”

So that was why the formulation had been written in such meticulous detail.

So anyone could reproduce it.

She wasn’t just treating Jaden.

She was thinking ahead—to future members of House Ashellen who might suffer the same fate.

“…Several blood relatives of Ashellen died from Tamutar Disease,” Kain said quietly. “Without this medicine, that number would have continued to rise.”

He looked directly at her.

“You are not only Jaden’s benefactor. You are Ashellen’s benefactor. Name your reward. Whatever it is, I will grant it.”

Viola looked genuinely alarmed.

“No, no! This was in the contract! I’m just doing what I promised!”

Ordinarily, Kain would have respected her refusal.

This time, he did not.

“You underestimate what this means.”

“Still, I don’t need anything—”

“An estate. A territory. A title.”

“N-no, that’s too much!”

“Being emotionally reserved does not mean we fail to recognize debts.”

Dragon-bloods were called cold.

But they were exacting about debts and grudges alike.

It was one of the reasons House Ashellen had endured.

Viola opened her mouth to refuse again—

Then unexpectedly said,

“But you’re not emotionally reserved at all.”

Kain paused.

“…What?”

“You treated me personally when I collapsed. You lent me your coat. You’ve looked out for me since the day I arrived. How could someone emotionally reserved do that?”

“….”

“The Duke is a kind person.”

For a moment, he could not respond.

Was she flattering him?

Her sprout-green eyes did not waver.

There was no calculation in them.

“…If Conrad heard that, he’d faint,” Kain muttered.

Viola laughed lightly.

But when he spoke again, her smile faltered.

“Name your reward.”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes.”

She hesitated.

Then—

Her eyes flashed.

Just for a second.

It was subtle, but Kain caught it.

Her lips curved—barely.

As if she had hooked him.

Then she returned to her innocent expression.

“If you insist… before the season changes, please personally choose one outfit each.”

“…One outfit each?”

“For Young Master Jaden and Melody!”

“…What?”

“And let’s go out together. The four of us.”

Kain stared at her.

“That is what you want?”

“Yes.”

“You want the two of us to take the children shopping?”

“Yes! And you must personally choose their clothes.”

He studied her carefully.

“Is there a benefit to this?”

Viola sighed wistfully.

“I want to buy them clothes, but I’m not confident in my aesthetic sense. I thought perhaps I could borrow yours.”

He remained unconvinced.

But eventually—

“…Very well.”

Of course he wouldn’t understand.

Because it was a lie.

Operation: Please Become Close!

My true objective?

Kain and Jaden.

They didn’t hate each other.

They were simply… distant.

Kain didn’t know how to handle a child.

And Jaden was terrified of his dragon-blood uncle.

I couldn’t just watch that gap remain forever.

Yes, it was meddlesome.

But emotional health mattered too.

And Kain was the one who insisted on granting me a reward.

All I did was choose it.

“Tomorrow,” I added brightly.

“…Tomorrow?”

“The weather looks clear. No rain. Let’s go out tomorrow.”

Then—

I used it.

The look.

The same one Jaden and Melody used on me.

Big eyes.

Sincere.

Pleading.

Kain looked troubled.

He avoided my gaze.

Huh?

He used to scoff at me.

This reaction was new.

I widened my eyes further.

He glanced at me, saw I was still doing it, and looked away again.

“That expression… must you?”

“What expression?”

I tilted my head innocently.

He sighed.

“…Fine. Tomorrow.”

Victory.

I should weaponize this more often.

It worked on the Duke.

The Next Day

“Viola… are you serious?”

“It’s a surprise! You said you wanted to go out.”

“I meant going out is nice, but— but—!”

Jaden opened and closed his mouth helplessly.

“You mean… with the Duke?”

“Yes.”

His face turned pale.

He clearly wanted to object.

But pride stopped him from admitting fear.

I knelt to his level.

“Young Master.”

“…Yes?”

“The Duke worried about you.”

“…Huh?”

His eyes widened.

“…I thought he didn’t like me.”

See?

Children don’t know unless you tell them.

“I don’t know everything he feels. But I do know this—he hired someone suspicious, without even verifying her identity, because he wanted to ease your suffering.”

That someone was me.

I gently patted his head.

“He can be blunt. And scary. But he is kind. Just like you.”

Jaden fell silent.

I didn’t press further.

Some things had to be unraveled slowly.

Together.

The Carriage

And now—

Here we are.

Four people.

Inside one carriage.

In absolute silence.

The wheels rattled.

The horses snorted.

The tension?

Unbearable.

Kain sat straight-backed, unreadable.

Jaden sat stiffly, hands clenched on his knees.

Melody watched both of them suspiciously.

And me?

Please.

Someone say something.

There are four of us.

Why does this feel like a funeral procession?