We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 146

“…Your Grace, there are marks where the carriage wheels have scraped the ground. Judging by the width and depth of the marks, we can’t conclusively say it’s one of the Duchy’s carriages, but it doesn’t seem to be a small carriage.”

Ian had prepared a large, heavy carriage for Melissa, hoping she would travel more comfortably. He had opted for a heavier carriage for a smoother ride.

“It seems we need to check the area below the gorge.”

The knight’s commander approached and said. With the careful yet firm tone, Ian finally came to his senses. Even so, his hand gripping the reins was damp with sweat, and he had to open and close his hand several times before he could move.

Although the commander suggested checking below, Ian did not want to believe that Melissa had fallen with the carriage.

Still, since there was always a possibility, he thought it best to check thoroughly and continue the investigation. When he descended into the gorge and initially found no trace of the carriage, he felt a momentary relief.

“Your Grace! You should check here!”

At the cry from one of the knights, Ian hurried over. Hoping against hope that it would turn out to be nothing, he saw burnt wood fragments.

“…Isn’t this blackened wood commonly used in the Duchy’s carriages?”

The knight’s comment went unanswered as Ian took the piece of wood with trembling hands.

It was indeed the material used for the carriage he had specially made for her. However, finding just a piece of wood didn’t mean Melissa had fallen here. Ian anxiously continued his search.

If there were evidence here, there should be other traces nearby. As he searched the area thoroughly, he found numerous pieces of wood wedged between rocks, alongside the piece he had just discovered.

The way the pieces were scattered made it look like the carriage had been completely wrecked, leaving Ian breathless.

“There, there’s no way. I, I was certain she would be safe…”

He had intended to send her to the villa. The villa had been arranged with all her preferences in mind, from the flowers she liked to the walking paths.

If she missed Diers, it wasn’t far enough that he couldn’t personally visit and bring him to her.

He had only wanted to temporarily distance himself from the woman who was causing him confusion. But…

“No. This can’t be.”

“Your Grace! Look at this!”

A knight came running from a distance, holding something white. Despite his desire to keep denying reality, Ian could tell from afar what the knight was holding.

Though tattered, the strong pheromones emanating from it were unmistakably those of his Omega.

As he received the choker, now stained with intense pheromones, his own pheromones exploded uncontrollably. Fortunately, there were no Alphas in the knights, but as he unleashed not just his pheromones but his entire aura, the knights were startled and moved away.

Ian’s hands trembled uncontrollably. Staring blankly at the choker in his hand, he cast his gaze toward the flowing water.

It seemed like Melissa was calling out to him from within, just as she had in his childhood.

“Your Grace!”

Gripping the choker tightly, he leaped into the water. For his Omega waiting inside, just like before, he went deeper and deeper.

Sunlight refracted through the transparent water. Amidst the shimmering golden hues, he searched for Melissa, but despite swimming tirelessly, she was nowhere to be seen. The sunlight seemed to slowly darken.

Caught in the strange sight where the water seemed to absorb his color, he floated aimlessly. As his breath became labored and his vision darkened, someone roughly pulled him up.

“Your Grace! Please, come to your senses!”

The commander’s voice shouted, but it didn’t reach his ears. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the scene where the world seemed to spin upside down, losing its color.

Ah.

It was only then that he realized. How foolish and clueless he had been to imprint on her.

That’s right. It had been a long time ago, in the water where he first met her.

#16_Changed Fate

He vividly remembered the moment he first met Melissa. It was a day like any other, spending leisure time with Monica and Alex.

Ian wasn’t particularly inclined to go boating, but he thought it might be better than staying at home. So, he sat with a nonchalant expression beside the two people who were noisily talking.

At that time, he was feeling a deep sense of aversion towards his mother, who abused him, and his father, who did nothing about it.

Although he had read about the relationship between Alphas and Omegas in books, he believed that understanding the real dynamics of such a relationship from a third-person perspective was nearly impossible.

Home was a place where he couldn’t feel at ease, and the only respite he found was in the company of the Count Rosewood’s family. However, it didn’t mean that he enjoyed spending time with Alex and Monica.

As usual, he showed no interest in hiding his boredom and got on the small boat they suggested. Monica, however, was loudly admiring the boat, even though it was just floating on a pond.

Ian was only answering her questions absentmindedly when he noticed a faint scent approaching from a distance.

Yes, it felt like the scent was walking towards him.

It even seemed pleasantly fragrant, making him turn his head unconsciously towards its direction. Monica, seeing him staring intently as if trying to figure out why, asked,

“Are you bored, Ian? Should we get off?”

Hearing Monica’s unexpectedly pleasant offer, Ian smiled with satisfaction and nodded. He was eager to get off the boat and find the source of the sweet aroma.

Before the boat carrying the three of them even touched the ground, the scent Ian had been curious about revealed itself.

A young girl with hair like the green leaves of a fairy and sparkling amethyst eyes was walking towards them.