We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 109

Before Ian left, he glanced at me several times, then exited with Henry. Shortly after, Henry came straight into the bedroom.

“Please let me know if you feel even slightly uncomfortable, Madam.”

“Understood.”

Seemingly cautioned by Ian, Henry stayed put by my side. It felt strange to be alone after such a long time.

The disappearance of just one person from this space made me feel oddly as if I was left alone in the world. As I blankly stared into space, the outside became noisy.

“Madam, I’ll check what’s happening and come back.”

“Don’t worry, go ahead.”

Henry hurried outside. I had often spoken informally to the servants before, but it felt increasingly awkward, so I mixed in formal speech. However, spending the entire day with Ian seemed to have rubbed off his manner of speaking on me.

I was amused by this realization that I smiled. Then, I heard a familiar voice through the door Henry had left ajar. My smile stiffened instantly.

“I said, just for a moment.”

“Lady Nicola?”

The door closed quickly, but there was no mistaking who had caused the disturbance. After a brief commotion outside, Henry returned with a troubled look.

I knew very well that Henry was particularly weak towards Nicola.

“…Madam, Lady Nicola requests to see you for a moment.”

I didn’t want to cause any trouble in Ian’s absence, but I was keen on having her leave the annex before Ian got back. I wanted to avoid any painful reminders of his past as it would make me unbearably sad.

“I can’t spare much time. If that’s alright, then bring her in.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Henry’s demeanor brightened with my permission, and soon Nicola entered the bedroom.

#12_Happiness and Misfortune Come Hand in Hand

“What do you want?”

My voice came out colder than I intended. Given her role as the starting point of the poisoning incident, I couldn’t greet her warmly.

“I came to give this…”

Nicola appeared again with a bunch of gifts. While such presents might have once brought me joy, now they only irritated me. It felt as if she was trying to replace an apology with gifts.

Since that day, I hadn’t seen Nicola, but there had been a few occasions when I received gifts from her secretly through Henry.

Even though Ian tried to stay by my side all day, there were times, like now, when he unavoidably had to leave. And Nicola seemed to seize these moments to send overbearing gifts through Henry.

I could have easily refused her gifts, but I always accepted them, clinging to a sliver of hope.

I wondered if she had sent a letter this time. If she had, it would surely be a letter of apology, which I couldn’t ignore.

Her past abuses made it difficult to simply dismiss someone who had once seemed like the only ally I had in the Duchy, despite my reluctance to see her. However, the hoped-for letter was nowhere to be found, leading to repeated disappointments.

Eventually, I stopped expecting anything from Nicola.

I had handed off the gifts she sent over time to Henry to deal with and stopped accepting them altogether. Now, she has come in person. I was unsure how to receive her.

As I silently stared at her, Nicola weakly smiled and handed the gifts to Henry.

“Could you accept these on my behalf?”

“Yes, Lady Nicola.”

“Henry, I’d like to have a moment alone to talk.”

The reason she was asking this likely meant she wanted to speak privately with me. However, Henry firmly refused this time.

“I’m afraid I cannot grant that request, Lady Nicola.”

“….Alright, I understand. I’m thankful just for being allowed in.”

Nicola accepted this gracefully and moved closer. Although she still possessed her beauty, she seemed more haggard than before.

“What did you want to say?”

“….I know it sounds like nothing but excuses, but I felt I needed to say it.”

“Go ahead.”

After hesitating, she began to speak with difficulty.

“I really didn’t know.”

“….That’s what you came to say?”

“Not just that…”

Her words seemed nothing more than a cliché excuse, and I couldn’t hide my frustration. Nicola, noticing my reaction, hastily added,

“I just wanted to find you another Omega friend. Someone your age, going through pregnancy around the same time. I thought it would be helpful for you.”

“…”

“So what I mean is, I really did it for you…”

“Stop it!”

I tried to hold back, but tears spilled over uncontrollably. I felt foolish for harboring any hope while despising her.

“Child…”

“….I don’t know how to treat you, mother. I hate you, but I also don’t understand why I’m like this.”

Tears flowed as words I had kept bottled up inside me poured out.

“I can’t understand why you won’t apologize. If you hadn’t taken me, my child wouldn’t have been in danger!”

“…”

“I never wanted an Omega friend. I just…”

I just wanted to say that I just needed my alpha. Even if he didn’t imprint, as long as I had my loving Alpha, nothing else mattered.

But I couldn’t finish my sentence. Nicola screamed as if in agony.

“Don’t say it!”

Startled by her shrill scream, I instinctively wrapped my arms around my belly. Seeing me protect myself, Nicola’s face turned pale, and she slowly stepped back.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Child. I didn’t mean to scare you…”

“Mother?”

Nicola was trembling so severely that it was bizarre, and my tears abruptly stopped. Then it struck me…

“Why have you become so pale?”