We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 132

Three months have passed since the succession ceremony. I found myself not properly feeling the swelter of summer then autumn arrived. I stared blankly at the falling leaves, only keeping track of the passing time.

My heart felt anxious, yet time seemed to drag on slowly.

Lunchtime had passed, and it was now teatime, the time when my beloved Diers would wake from his nap and come to find me.

Since that day of my confession, Ian had extended my time with Diers.

Hearing the laughter of the child, made me temporarily forget my gloom. However, once he left, the melancholy I had forgotten for a moment surged back all at once. That’s why I dreaded and feared the night. Being alone in the cottage, without even the maids’ presence, and unable to meet him tormented me.

Today too, I sat quietly, just breathing in the room tinted with the crimson waves of sunset pouring in.

“Uht.”

Kuhk, kuhk, a familiar, sharp pain, like a pointed metal stabbing my heart, made me curl up. It was the side effect of the imprinting that was worsening from not having seen Ian for fifteen days.

In such moments, my thoughts inevitably drifted to my mother and his mother. How did they endure not seeing their imprinted alphas for extended periods? Wasn’t it painful?

“Of course, it must have been painful.”

I clasped my trembling hands together and stared blankly into space, lost in thought.

Three months ago, it was every three days.

Two months ago, it was once a week.

One month ago, it was every ten days.

And this month, it has become once every fifteen days.

The frequency of his visits was gradually lessening. So, I wondered,

As the end of our contract draws near, will he even come to see me at all?

Just the thought made my fingertips grow cold.

Amid these fleeting moments, as I aimlessly let time slip by, one day, the young maid who often tended to me spoke up. I sat motionless on the sofa, giving her a vacant look.

The young maid was the person I saw most in the annex.

“Madam. The weather’s been chilly, but the air is really fresh today.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, if you take a deep breath, it’s so crisp it almost clears your mind. Then, having a warm soup afterward, there’s nothing more delicious.”

“….”

I was suspicious of the maid’s sudden chatter, but since talking wasn’t bad, I kept on listening.

“There aren’t many street stalls in the winter. But if we’re lucky, there might be a shop that sells hot brewed tea. Of course the tea is not as good as the tea leaves you drink, but I think it tastes really good when it’s cold outside.”

“….Are there ice cream shops open in the winter?”

“Haha, of course! It’s even easier to store ice creams then. Actually, they offer even more varieties than in the summer.”

“Really?”

“Yes, they even have winter-exclusive flavors. Are you talking about that ice cream shop in the square?”

“Yes.”

“Have you tried it?”

“Yes, I have once….”

It wasn’t an old memory, yet it surfaced faintly in my mind. At the same time, the alpha I had shared ice cream with briefly crossed my thoughts.

“Was his name Pedro…?”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing, just talking to myself.”

“Yes.”

The maid persisted in engaging me in conversation. It was unusual for her, so I was slightly curious. The maid hesitated for a moment then approached me a bit closer.

“Excuse me, Madam?”

“Yes?”

“The sun is quite nice today, even for winter. How about going for a walk? You used to enjoy walking.”

“….I did, didn’t I?”

Her words felt strangely unfamiliar yet nostalgic. I was touched that she remembered details about me that I had even forgotten myself.

“If I’m overstepping, I apologize.”

She quickly bowed her head as I stared at her, perhaps feeling embarrassed.

“No, it’s fine.”

I suddenly wondered about her age. Was I such a pitiful sight that even this young girl felt compelled to reach out to me despite knowing my situation here?

That realization sparked a sudden determination in me. Waiting anxiously for him to visit felt pathetic. My body’s desperate attempts to cling to his pheromones seemed cursed.

“….I want to eat ice cream.”

“Shall I prepare to go out?”

The maid’s face lit up at my words. She looked so cute that I smiled.

“Ah…”

“Why?”

“It’s just nice to see you smile, it’s been a while.”

Her candid words should have been uplifting, but for some reason, it sank low. However, I did not show it on my face. I didn’t want to worry her who was concerned about me.

“Could you get my robe, please?”

“Of course.”

Even with the heavy robe on, stepping outside made my body shiver involuntarily. When did it become winter?

Leaving the annex, I hesitated a moment. Going out felt awkward, but I was also concerned about leaving without informing Ian. Honestly, I wanted an excuse to see him. I yearned to be near his deep, refreshing pheromones, to hear his voice.

My thoughts were fleeting, and my feet moved on their own. My imprinted heart intensely craved the alpha’s pheromones.

Though I had always waited, I had never thought to visit him first, and my hands became clammy with nervousness.

As I entered through the back door of the main house, a warm breeze greeted me. The air felt especially heated, likely because it was where Diers lived.

When I pushed back the hood of my robe as I walked, various stares clung to me. Familiar yet never truly comfortable, the piercing gazes tensed me up.

With Ian not seeking me out, the servants’ demeanor had reverted to its old ways. They did not overtly harass me, but their looks and actions were cold nonetheless.

I headed up to the office where I expected to find him, but someone was coming down. Then, a familiar voice echoed.

“Our Diers is just too adorable.”

“…”

“How can it be, he looks just like you did when you were little. Ian, can’t I hold Diers too?”