Chapter 001
Prologue
“Let’s get married.”
I stared blankly at the man in front of me.
Silver strands of hair shimmered like silk, revealing a cool forehead beneath his neatly swept-back bangs. Below that sat a pair of chilling red eyes.
Was it because of the sunlight pouring into the garden?
His unrealistically handsome face captured my gaze more than usual today, but now was not the time to be distracted by such things.
What did I just hear?
“Pardon?”
At my involuntary question, Cain narrowed his eyes slightly.
Though his expression was generally stoic, it was particularly difficult to read his inner thoughts today.
“I don’t see why you’re surprised. Didn’t you say so yourself? That you wanted a contract marriage.”
…Well, it was true that I had said those words.
This place was a world inside a child-rearing novel.
In order to keep myself and my daughter, Melody, safe, I was currently in a situation where I had to get married by any means necessary.
But I didn’t mean for you to be the one to marry me, Duke!
“Wa-wait a moment, Duke. It’s true that I need a contract marriage, but still, this is…!”
Cain was the head of the Duke of Achilles household, possessing wealth and power that rivaled the Imperial Family.
True to his role as the ‘father’ in a child-rearing story, he was also the owner of inhuman beauty.
They say he has some personality flaws due to inheriting dragon blood, but… regardless, he was the Empire’s most eligible bachelor.
On the other hand, what about me?
In society, I was merely a single mother who had been abandoned by a man and was raising a child alone.
Even if it was just an act for certain reasons, that was how I appeared to the public.
‘If we have a contract marriage, we’ll eventually get divorced…’
I had braced myself for it, so I didn’t mind, but I didn’t want to leave a stain on Cain’s life.
I was already indebted to him enough as it was; I couldn’t do that to him.
My conscience pricked me, and I cried out in a hurry.
“There’s no need for the Duke to sacrifice himself…! It’s my problem, so I’ll find someone else somehow—!”
At that moment, a complex and subtle emotion flickered across Cain’s usually expressionless face.
Was he angry? Or was he hurt?
With a furrowed brow, he watched me with sunken eyes.
“I should be the one asking.”
“…”
“The man who contracted to protect you and Melody is standing right in front of you, yet you’re saying you’ll marry some other guy?”
I never heard that marriage was included in that contract.
The words were at the tip of my tongue, but I kept my mouth shut under his piercing gaze.
Cain took a step closer and asked.
“I don’t understand. Am I insufficient as a contract husband? Or perhaps, do I not meet your standards?”
No. Of course not. Far from insufficient, you’re far too much…
I reflexively shook my head from side to side.
At that, the corners of his mouth relaxed ever so slightly.
“Then, have I failed to earn your trust all this time?”
You’ve given me more than enough…
Just as I was about to nod in agreement again, I snapped back to my senses.
“It’s not that, but marriage is a different matter…!”
“I will cherish both you and the child. So, Viola.”
He held my gaze with obsessive intensity as he gripped my hand tightly and whispered.
“Marry me.”
His sweet, low voice made my throat go dry for some reason.
“A contract marriage… that’s what you’re talking about, right?”
Instead of answering, Cain simply let out a deep smile, the smooth corners of his lips curling upward.
How did it come to this?
I recalled the events of a few months ago.
♡♡♡
“Miss Viola, are you there?”
“Ah, yes! Just a moment!”
At the call from outside, I hurried to open the pharmacy door.
Whew. There really isn’t a moment to breathe today.
Grinding herbs, making ointments, tidying up. Busy, busy.
The only pharmacy and clinic in this rural village surprisingly had a lot of work to do.
Of course, buying necessary supplies from the herbalists was another task I couldn’t skip.
“You’re early today! Thank you for coming all this way every time! It must be a hassle.”
“Ahaha. I’m just stopping by on my way past.”
James scratched the bridge of his nose bashfully and laughed. “On his way past,” my foot. It was an obvious lie.
‘He really is such a simple, honest man.’
Of course, it wasn’t just James; the people of Heiron Village were generally like that.
I suppose that’s why Melody and I were able to adjust so well.
‘Now that I think about it, it’s already been a year since we settled here.’
Actually, I had many worries.
It was my first time living in the countryside, and publicly, I was a single mother.
‘Honestly, I was worried from the start about whether I could raise a three-year-old well…’
However, rather than ostracizing us as outsiders, the villagers took great care of us.
Thanks to them, I’ve set up this small pharmacy and am living well.
Just as I was smiling contentedly, James placed a bundle of herbs on the table.
“Will the herbs we talked about yesterday be enough?”
“Yes, yes! I’ll take those!”
As I was organizing the herbs James handed over, a sigh escaped me.
“Ah, right! By any chance, do you have any Pointy-Leaf Grass? I’m almost out of what I bought.”
“You won’t be able to get that for a while…”
“What? Pointy-Leaf Grass? Why?”
“It seems some high-ranking person is buying it all up for a premium. Even the herbalists from the neighboring village came and swept it all away.”
Goodness. My eyes widened involuntarily.
“That’s really unusual.”
If it were anything else, I’d understand, but why that herb of all things? It’s mild enough for children to use, but its effects are just as weak.
James shrugged as if it were no big deal, but a strange intuition kicked in.
‘Something’s suspicious.’
Though it’s hardly known, I knew of one hidden effect of Pointy-Leaf Grass.
…Could it be?
For a moment, a certain noble family came to mind, but I soon shook my head.
‘No. Why bother thinking about it? I’m not a noble lady or anything anymore anyway.’
It’s been a long time since I was kicked out of my family. I won’t be getting involved with nobles anymore, so there was no need to worry.
“More importantly, Miss Viola.”
“Yes?”
“Did you hear about the festival in the lower village?”
A festival. The pleasant topic instantly chased away my stray thoughts.
“Of course. I heard! I was actually thinking of going with Melody.”
“Ahem, khm. By any chance, would you like to go there with me, just the two of—”
“Waaaaah!”
It happened at that moment. Melody, who had been waiting patiently during the herb trade, began running circles around us.
Oh dear. You were bored, weren’t you?
“Melody~ you mustn’t run!”
“Uuu.”
“Now, now. I told you it’s dangerous to run in the pharmacy. Let’s go out and play together later.”
“Uu.”
When I used a stern voice, Melody’s shoulders slumped dejectedly.
Chuckles. A laugh escaped me. She always acts like she’s all grown up, but she’s really just a child.
Just as I was about to give the pouting Melody a big hug, I belatedly remembered that James had been saying something.
“That’s right, I’m sorry! I didn’t catch that, could you say it again?”
“Ah, well!”
James, who had been frozen blankly, snapped out of it and opened his mouth again, but once more, I couldn’t hear him to the end.
“Just the two of us at the festi—”
“Mama!”
It was because Melody had dived right into my arms and started rubbing her face against me.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“Uuu, Mama…”
The child pointed her finger toward the kitchen with a woeful expression. Don’t tell me?
“Are you hungry already?”
“Uuu!”
I thought I had fed her a hearty lunch. Children really do have remarkable digestion.
“Mr. James, I’m sorry. We keep getting interrupted.”
“Ah, that’s—”
“Mama!” As soon as it looked like the conversation was starting again, Melody began to whine.
“What should I do? Melody is being quite fussy today. Let’s finish our talk next time! Thanks for today!”
I paid him quickly, and James turned away with a dejected face. His walk looked somewhat hollow as he trudged away.
“Hehehehe.”
“What’s with that suspicious laughter?”
“Uuu!”
Melody shrugged as if she didn’t know what I was talking about.
Then, hup! She hopped down from my arms.
Following the child into the kitchen, I began to slice the bread I had bought this morning.
“What kind of snack should I make? Grape jam on bread? Or should I put cheese on it and cut the ham into flower shapes?”
I happen to be quite confident in my food plating. It was a skill I naturally acquired for Melody, who eats as cutely as a hamster.
“Uu!”
But Melody, who had said she was hungry just a moment ago, suddenly shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
“Huh? Didn’t you say you were hungry?”
“Uuu.”
The child patted her stomach as if it were full. What’s wrong with her today? Even when Mr. James was here.
It was while I was wondering about her sudden change of heart.
“Ow.”
A stinging sensation spread through my finger; I must have cut myself with the knife.
‘Ugh. Today really is a strange day.’
How old am I to be making a mistake like this?
“Mama?”
“I just cut myself a little. It’s okay. It’ll heal right away if I put some medicine on it!”
I laughed awkwardly and glanced at Melody. Ugh. Just as I thought.
Melody had a look of utter despair, as if the world were ending.
I’m really fine!
In the first place, I was the type to heal quickly. Curiously, since I was young, even if I was badly hurt, I never had a single scar left behind.
However, Melody seemed to think differently; with tearful eyes, she grabbed my finger tight.
At the same time, she blew “hooo” on my wound.
Then.
Flash—
A golden energy spread out from Melody and soon enveloped my hand. The scar vanished in an instant.
I froze at the unbelievable sight.
“Uh…? Divine power?”
And it wasn’t just any level of power. To be able to heal a wound instantly meant it was considerably strong.
But why does our Melody have this?
I looked at Melody in shock, but the child herself looked even more surprised, her eyes wide like a rabbit’s.
Just like someone who had been caught with something that must never be discovered.
It was at that very moment.
Ugh!
A sudden, sharp headache struck, and at the same time, memories of my past life flooded into my mind.
“Mama?”
Melody called out to me, but I was in no state to answer.
It was because a powerful truth had taken over my head.
Law of Child-Rearing Novels #1: The female lead’s mother always dies at the beginning of the story.
This was the world of a child-rearing novel I had read in my past life.
The protagonist was Melody.
Which meant… I was the mother of the child-rearing novel’s female lead.
Wait, someone save me!
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