We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 112

Finally, Melissa could fully gaze upon her child’s face. The damp hair was black, and although the baby’s eyes were not yet open, Melissa hoped they would be golden like his.

So undoubtedly, anyone could see this was his son.

As his son suckled contentedly, Ian softly murmured.

“Diers von Bryant.”

“Dia…”

“Ppff, you’ve already made a nickname?”

“What does it mean?”

“That all days shall be as he wills.”

“….It feels like that might just be true.”

“Haha.”

Melissa couldn’t help but laugh along with Ian, who rarely laughed out loud. She adored the wriggling baby in her arms. She hoped that, as Ian had said, that all the child’s days would be as bright as daylight.

“He’s so lovely.”

With a relieved smile, Melissa hugged her child tightly. Ian couldn’t take his eyes off the tender scene.

Wrapped in a warm atmosphere filled with new pheromones and the sweet scent of milk, Ian enveloped his large body around them both.

In that moment, Ian felt an intense desire to protect them.

* * *

The days were blissful that I scarcely remembered her fear of abandonment.

The child grew noticeably each day. Just as Lorena from Marquisate Ovando had mentioned, it seemed the womb had been too small to fully accommodate their growth.

“Dia…”

I held the baby and gazed continuously. I never got tired of the sight so I could hardly take my eyes off the baby.

The black hair like his and my purple eyes proved Dia was truly our child. While I had hoped for golden eyes like his, seeing my own traits in our son made me so happy.

“Sleepy?”

After having his fill of milk, Dia yawned widely. My pheromones had returned somewhat after childbirth, so I tried to convey them to the baby albeit weakly. Despite being faint compared to his father’s, Dia seemed to recognize them and grinned happily.

“Let’s sleep.”

“Auu.”

“Haha, our Dia responds so well.”

“Hau.”

“Mom will put you to sleep.”

Holding the baby in my arms, I stepped off the bed and gently rocked him. Each movement rattled the chain below.

Ian had not yet removed the shackles. Initially, I understood his concerns and tolerated it. Over time, it became suffocating and uncomfortable. Now, I found a strange acceptance in it. Would someone else think it strange if they see me?

I wanted to believe that his act of chaining was out of love. That it was his way of showing care. Even if it wasn’t, my heart that had imprinted on him, was willing to accept all he did joyously.

After Dia fell asleep, Ian quietly entered the room.

“You’re back.”

“I’m back.”

Recently, he had been busy with the succession to the Dukedom. Such matters could not be settled here. So he had to meet with vassals and visit the imperial palace.

But he always returned promptly. Even if he had to leave again, he would come to check on Dia and occasionally unshackle me. When Dia slept, he would bathe me and even give me a massage.

Could all this be done without love?

My instinct screamed ‘yes,’ while my reason told me to wait. It felt like I was plucking petals of flowers blooming on the side to predict his love.

He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me…

Regardless of the outcome of such flower fortunes, instinct always won. I desperately wanted to believe he loved me.

“I might not be able to stay long tomorrow.”

As he dried my hair with a towel, he brought up his schedule. I looked up at him with a face flushed from the warm water.

“You’ll be busy with the succession ceremony, right? I’ll take good care of Dia.”

“Hmm…”

He didn’t respond immediately, but instead focused on drying my hair. Once it was fluffy, he smoothed it down with a brush.

“I’m planning to take Dia with me tomorrow.”

“….Why?”

I had never experienced this before, so I felt a significant jolt of surprise. He patted my shoulder soothingly.

“Don’t be alarmed. It’s just for one day.”

“….?”

“Father has sent word that he’s coming. It seems he’s curious about his grandson.”

“Ah…”

His words made me understand everything. Indeed, three months had passed since the birth, yet Duke Bryant had not yet made an appearance.

“It seems he was quite far away, but now he’s coming to see his grandson. Well, it looks like he’s combining it with the succession ceremony.”

“I see…”

“Why not take it easy for once? Consider tomorrow a day off.”

Indeed, since giving birth and taking care of Dia directly, I hadn’t really had a rest. I knew that for the children of Alphas and Omegas, parental pheromones were crucial, so we didn’t rely on nannies early on.

Of course, the period during which parents exclusively care for their child isn’t long, and eventually, many do rely on nannies. It varies from one individual to another, so it was uncertain how long Dia would need me exclusively.

Thinking about it made me unexpectedly melancholic, and I couldn’t help but look a bit sullen.

“….Is it hard even to think about being apart for a little while?”

Ian seemed troubled at my reaction.

“No, it’s not that, but I already feel sad. He needs me now, but it feels like he’ll grow up so quickly.”

“Haha, I guess I’ll have to remind Dia of that when he’s older.”

Every time he spoke like this, it felt like a reassurance that there was no end to our connection, which made my imprinted heart swell with joy.

I was filled with hope that our family seemed to be free from any looming troubles.