We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 161

The feeling of being alone with magic and myself in this world still helped me forget the lingering traces of the past within me. Although I was gradually shedding them, it wasn’t easy, as these were not wounds I had inflicted on myself.

At times, I wanted to kill them, and sometimes I wanted to ask them why they hated me so much.

To calm the seething anger in my heart, I needed magic. I was grateful for the ability to awaken as a wizard every time I felt this way, but not knowing who to thank made me gaze into the deep abyss of my soul again.

Someone who had not walked alone for a long time would quickly become weary, unable to walk as easily as ordinary people. My thin, unremarkable legs, lacking the muscle developed over the years, were still pale and unimpressive, but they were beginning to develop some strength.

I praised and encouraged myself as I moved forward, step by step, leaning on the crutch of magic. I told myself that if I could empty out all the pain from the past, I could live a new life. So, I reminded myself not to give up and to keep walking forward, and as I did, the magic circle was completed.

When the magic circle was inscribed onto the large wooden box, its appearance changed. The box, now imbued with a subtle purple light, clearly looked like a magical tool.

“Ah, an ice magic circle with ice attributes. It’s fantastic.”

Lucia marveled as she watched closely, and then she placed a hand on my shoulder. She smiled at me and handed me a handkerchief.

“You were so engrossed that you were sweating like that. Your concentration is impressive.”

I took the handkerchief she offered and belatedly realized my state. My whole body was sticky with sweat.

“Whoo…”

Wiping my forehead and the back of my neck with the handkerchief, I naturally began to rub my stomach. The slightly swollen belly hadn’t shown any significant changes yet. There was no particular morning sickness, and health-wise, everything seemed fine.

“It seems the baby will be quiet. Or maybe it’s already a thoughtful child thinking of its mother.”

Lucia added, gazing at my lower abdomen. I decided to share some of the concerns I had been thinking about lately.

“……The baby will definitely be an Omega or an Alpha, but could not providing pheromones affect the baby in any way?”

“Hmm…”

Lucia hesitated to answer my question immediately. Since this wasn’t a common situation, she might not have known.

“There is an Omega doctor I know. I’ll ask them. If pheromones are necessary…”

Lucia, unable to finish her sentence, took my hand and looked at me with a serious expression.

“I’ll give you my pheromones. Even if it’s not me, there are plenty of Omegas here who could become a godmother for your child.”

“……Tower Master.”

“Of course, Alpha pheromones are only available from Pedro, and you might not like that, but if it’s for the baby’s health, I’ll squeeze it out from him. Pedro’s pheromones are a bit lacking.”

“Pfft.”

Lucia’s words made me laugh. I was still surprised every time she treated Alphas so lightly, but it was so amusing that I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

One of the heavy stones that had been piling up in my head and heart seemed to fall away, making me feel lighter. Seeing Lucia’s pleased smile, I couldn’t help but smile back.

As the days went by, my belly grew larger, and Lucia and Pedro were always by my side.

Although I could no longer sense or emit pheromones, I could occasionally tell that Pedro was somewhat subdued around Lucia, indicating that they were sharing pheromones.

The difference between dominant and passive, much like the difference between extreme dominance and extreme passive, felt new and strange to witness.

Suddenly, I thought of my mother. How would she feel about her daughter becoming a Beta, even if it’s belatedly, as she had hoped?

While I might not be a perfect Beta, I could no longer be called an Omega.

In the end, outside of the Magic Tower, I was still an outsider.

* * *

Ian’s days were a hellish torment. It was as painful as walking on hot coals, and he was becoming more and more exhausted.

The inexplicable irritability and frustration, or rather the definite emotional changes, were wearing him down, and his surroundings were becoming desolate as well.

The looks from the staff, not just the constant aides but also the occasional maids and servants he encountered, had become extremely disrespectful.

Their gazes seemed to view him as a monster. They trembled with fear and even screamed at times, as if facing a filthy and terrifying beast, despite previously praising him as an extremely dominant Alpha.

Ian, who found the entire transformation laughable, went so far as to sever the wrist tendons of the maids and servants who dared to handle Melissa’s belongings. Since they had the audacity to covet his master’s possessions, he made sure they could never think of stealing again by rendering them incapable of working.

The maids who had disregarded and tormented Melissa had their tongues cut out and were exiled to the Empire’s frontier. Despite some resistance from their families, who were under the Duchy’s jurisdiction, Ian remained unwavering in his disregard.

“……This isn’t working.”

Ian stared vacantly at the illusion of Melissa moving as if alive before him and spoke to Henry.

“Pardon?”

Henry’s expression was far from pleasant, though not as grim as Ian’s. The daily task of secretly returning Ian to the annex was mentally and physically exhausting.

“I need to go find her myself. I should have done it a long time ago…”

Ian concluded that he could no longer wait for the search party’s updates. What if his Omega was dying while he sat idly by?

Henry was desperate to keep Ian from leaving immediately, so he was intensely worried. While they could conceal his imprint within the estate, once he stepped outside, rumors would spread uncontrollably.