A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father Chapter 9

Chapter 9

In high society, an unmarried mother was someone to be whispered about.

To nobles obsessed with dignity, it was a fatal scandal.

Many quietly abandoned their children and buried the truth.

But Viola had not.

What a strong sense of responsibility.

And yet, he could not simply admire it.

He could not begin to imagine what it must have felt like to confess such a secret to a family like House Deboreux.

How much humiliation had she endured?

Nobles called it disgraceful.

Kain did not.

Was it not political marriage that lacked true dignity?

Marrying strangers for power.

Bearing children without love.

Kain himself had been born from such a union.

And he had never once felt pride in it.

He suddenly recalled the look in Viola’s eyes earlier.

A gaze filled with longing—and resentment.

As if she were desperately trying to forget something.

He did not know what love was.

But he knew it was not simple.

As one born with Dragon Blood, it had never been an emotion permitted to him.

Everything that had happened to her was simply because she had loved.

So he did not think Viola was at fault.

Then why—

Why were his hands trembling?

Drip. Drip.

Ink slid down his fingers, staining the report beneath.

“Your Grace? Are you all right? The ink—!”

Conrad’s concerned voice barely registered.

Kain exhaled slowly.

“Why?”

“…Pardon?”

“Why would that man do such a thing?”

He truly did not understand.

Even setting aside being a father—had he no basic human responsibility?

How could he leave a woman like that alone?

He remembered her bright smile.

The way she handled children so naturally.

He had thought she simply liked children.

But beneath that was the life of someone who had no choice but to raise one alone.

“How could he be so worthless?”

The killing intent in Kain’s low voice made even Conrad shiver.

“Why are you asking me that…?”

Conrad felt like crying.

* * *

At the Same Time — The Guest Room

Meanwhile, I was engaged in a late-night chase.

“You there! Child who hasn’t brushed her teeth—stop running!”

“Uuu!”

“What did Mommy say? Brush before bed!”

I caught Melody by the collar.

“Ugh…”

She sighed as if life were deeply unfair.

Why did she hate brushing at night but not in the morning?

Too bad.

Cavities are not negotiable!

After a full-scale brushing battle and washing up, it was already past nine.

What a ridiculously long day.

A healer’s interview.

A contract with Kain Ashellen.

Moving all our belongings into the Duchy of Ashellen.

If not for Melody being so well-behaved—and Kain’s consideration—I would have collapsed.

“Ready for bed?”

“Uu!”

The servants had shown us to our guest room earlier.

“Please inform us if anything is lacking.”

Lacking?

“……Wow.”

“Uaaah!”

Silk bedding gleamed softly under lamplight.

A mattress as soft as a cloud.

Melody and I jumped onto it at the same time.

“Uu! Hehe!”

We rolled around, laughing.

It was enormous.

Coming here was the right choice.

I nearly cried.

A generous weekly salary and a bed like this?

The dignity of House Ashellen indeed.

I mentally pledged loyalty.

I’ll work hard, Your Grace.

When I glanced at Melody, I burst out laughing.

Our hair had turned into static-fluffed disasters.

After laughing ourselves breathless—

“Let’s sleep.”

“Uu.”

The lamps were extinguished.

Lying beside Melody and staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, it finally felt real.

This was our home now.

I had explained everything to her during the journey:

That Kain would protect her from the Temple.

That our lives would change.

Smart as she was, she understood.

Still, I felt a twinge of guilt.

She loved Heiron Village.

I squeezed her small hand.

“Melody.”

“Uu?”

“Let’s do our best starting tomorrow.”

She snuggled closer.

“Mommy, uu.”

I understood.

I like Mommy.

Soon, her soft breathing filled the room.

The Next Morning

Knock knock.

A new face stood at the door.

“May I come in, Miss Viola?”

“Of course.”

As expected.

Brown hair tied neatly back. Thin silver-rimmed glasses.

It was him.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Conrad, aide to His Grace.”

Wow.

It really is the world of The Baby Saintess From the Future.

Conrad—the future overworked aide.

The man destined to suffer under a daughter-fool duke.

And Melody’s first devoted fan.

“Where is Miss Melody—Hk!”

He abruptly covered his mouth mid-sentence.

Melody peeked out from behind my skirt.

Conrad immediately dropped to one knee.

“Good morning, Miss Melody.”

“Hehe.”

She waved shyly.

His expression remained carefully composed—

But I knew that look.

The expression of an adult suppressing overwhelming cuteness so as not to frighten the child.

She is adorable.

I understood completely.

“Shall we proceed to Young Master Jaden?”

“Of course.”

Maids arrived to stay with Melody.

“Listen to the maids, okay?”

“Uu!”

She puffed out her chest confidently.

We followed Conrad toward the main building.

“This floor houses Young Master Jaden.”

“What kind of person is he? It might help me connect with him.”

“…Well.”

For the first time, Conrad hesitated.

“I must apologize in advance. The young master is… quite sensitive.”

“He’s a patient. I understand.”

But Conrad’s expression darkened further.

“…Perhaps more than you imagine.”

And less than five minutes later, I understood exactly what he meant.

“I said I don’t need it! Get out!”

A sharp voice rang through the corridor—

Something flew toward us.

Crash!

A glass vase shattered at my feet.