We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 159

“Enough, everyone leave.”

“Forgive me, Your Grace.”

After the knight commander had respectfully exited, Henry remained behind. His master’s ill temper prevented him from leaving.

“Duke, perhaps it would be best to end today’s demanding tasks for now.”

Henry had heard about the side effects of the imprint from the former Duke. The more he heard, the more he thought of Nicola. At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sympathy for the former Duke.

As a Beta, the world of pheromones was an incomprehensible realm, almost like death itself. However, Henry was determined to do what he could to alleviate Ian’s suffering, even if just a little.

“You should leave as well.”

“…Yes, understood.”

But Ian did not acknowledge Henry’s efforts. He was solely focused on Melissa and he was only extending his life for her.

Once everyone had left the office, Ian sat alone, then suddenly stood up and headed towards the annex where she had stayed.

Entering the rose garden she used to greet him from the balcony, he stopped, feeling something was off.

The annex, which should have been preserved as she had left it, was in disarray.

Why is the rose garden in such a mess?

The summer roses, which should have been in full, lush bloom, had damaged branches and even deep gouges in some areas.

His golden eyes shook with confusion.

At first, he was angry that no one had tended to it since she left, but then he thought it might be a blessing in disguise. Her touch would still be preserved here.

He wanted to rush to the annex the moment he realized the imprint, but fear held him back. To inspect the place where she had stayed would mean fully confronting his guilt.

Ian stood motionless in the ruined rose garden, even as a cool spring breeze blew by. He was frozen, like a statue.

The only thing spinning in his mind was one fact: a place untouched by anyone, where her presence remained intact.

The fact that this place was damaged meant that…

He stared at the rose garden with a pale face. It was clear at a glance that the garden had not been neatly trimmed by a gardener, but rather had been haphazardly torn apart, with some areas so badly damaged that the bare ground was visible.

No matter how much the staff had mistreated her, if they had known that Ian himself had prepared this garden, they would not have dared to do this.

Despite his attempts to deny it, Ian had to admit that Melissa was the one who had ruined this place. Had she been in such pain that she destroyed the rose garden he had personally prepared?

The ruined rose garden seemed to reflect Melissa’s own state, and it saddened him. Why had he only discovered this now?

“…Mel.”

Ian stood there, calling her name over and over with a broken voice, until he finally took a faltering step forward. Entering the empty, desolate annex, he went up to the bedroom but hesitated in front of the door.

He had the illusion that if he opened the door, his Omega would greet him and come towards him, but he knew all too well that it was not reality, and that realization was painful.

Unable to bring himself to open the door of the empty bedroom, he leaned against it and slowly sank down to the floor.

“Mel, my Omega…”

Muttering her name weakly, Ian continued to speak despite knowing there was no one to hear him.

“I feel like I can finally understand your heart, but it’s so painful that you are no longer by my side.”

Through his fading vision, he saw an image of Melissa. Even though he knew it was an illusion, he willingly opened his arms to hug her.

For a brief moment, it felt like a faint trace of Omega pheromones touched his nose before vanishing, but he could neither feel nor smell anything.

A deep sense of emptiness surged from his toes. Instead of floundering, he held his breath, as if sinking into a swamp.

Even if it was just an illusion, he wanted to see Melissa. His golden eyes, losing focus, gradually disappeared behind his dark eyelids.

* * *

From that day on, Ian developed a strange habit. Although he clearly fell asleep in his own bed, he would end up in the corridor outside the room where Melissa had stayed. He didn’t even remember moving there by himself.

Early in the morning, just as a few lights were beginning to turn on, Henry arrived at the annex where Melissa had stayed, accompanied by a group of knights. He looked at Ian, who was lying in the hallway as if he had collapsed, and instructed the knights.

“…Be careful moving him.”

“Yes.”

Since Ian had developed this new habit, Henry made sure to return him to his bedroom before he woke up each time. On the first day Ian showed symptoms resembling sleepwalking, Henry had seen the despair on his master’s face—a look so desolate that it seemed as if death was not far off.

Fearing that his master might attempt suicide again, Henry decided to hide the truth. As he watched the knights carry Ian on a stretcher, he recalled Melissa’s words once more.

“Just as the Madam said, this place is filled with things that blind and deafen the master.”

He had to admit that he was included in that category. With the intention of retiring once the Master and Madam returned to their former selves, Henry followed the knights reluctantly.

Back in his own bedroom, it wasn’t long before Ian opened his eyes. He felt irritated, having seen a face in his dream that he couldn’t recognize. It frustrated him that he couldn’t even remember the dream properly.

“Good morning, Duke.”

Henry, who had approached as soon as Ian opened his eyes, greeted him with a relieved expression. Although Henry’s demeanor raised some questions, Ian was more concerned with something else.

“Any news?”

“…Not yet.”

“Tch, why haven’t they found anything yet? Have they searched the entire area?”