We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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It felt like homework that was difficult to solve, so he tested it a few times after that.

Because he was curious and needed to be certain.

But he couldn’t smell her pheromones until she was an adult. She’s clearly an omega, but he couldn’t smell her pheromones at all.

In the first place, he didn’t really believe that she was a beta. How could a beta be born from an omega?

At the time, the previous Count seemed to overlook it, but an alpha would know it all. An omega could only give birth to an omega or an alpha.

Although statistics like this are unknown to the omegas, it was something that only alphas knew about.

So the current Count seemed unwilling to admit that she was an omega.

“I’m so sorry for the previous Count.”

He heard that the previous Count got himself an omega only when he was already middle-aged. He couldn’t get an omega when he was in his prime.

So, the late Count always gave him advice.

The moment he’d be able to find an omega, don’t tell anyone and take her secretly.

So he left Melissa alone, even though he knew she was an omega. In fact, if he had gotten another omega, he might not have offered a contract marriage to her.

He likened it to his final courtesy to the deceased Count.

But at that time, he never expected that the previous Count would die in a carriage accident with his omega.

It was a bit suspicious and unbelievable that a sword master could die from being struck by lightning, but he decided not to question the past that had already happened.

Well, it must have been nice that he died with the omega he loved so much.

It reminded him of what the late Count had said proudly. An omega was a lovable being.

Unlike the previous Count, who got along with Ian quite well since they were fellow alphas, the current Count has an inferiority complex since he was a beta.

So the current Count was also easy to deal with.

Ian held the pink bottle in his hand and rolled it gently. It reminded him of the faint, delicate omega scent that he had smelled at the funeral.

It wasn’t a sweet scent like his mother’s, but a subtle, refreshing scent.

He liked that scent. It’s a scent that did not bother him…

He would have to figure out why he hadn’t been able to smell her pheromones until now, and tonight, he was going to become a beast like his parents.

His parents, who were busy sticking to each other even if they had children. They’re disgusting.

While intoxicated by each other’s pheromones, alphas and omegas were mere beasts. So, he could think of the act as nothing but two animals, mating.

That would be all.

* * *

I had a repetitive life these days, but today was a bit different from usual. I could feel the difference from breakfast.

I didn’t have high expectations for the meal from the beginning. Even when I was in the County, my share of food was poor.

The bread eaten at the County was hard, the soup was watery, and there were no lush ingredients to be seen. The salad made with dried vegetables only made my mouth crumbly.

The Duchy would not be much different either. At the back of my mind, I thought that it would definitely be no different from a maid’s diet, so I really wasn’t expecting much. Fortunately, I thought that it was enough to satisfy my hunger, so I couldn’t complain.

On the contrary, if I were to complain, it would only increase the probability of receiving worse food.

I filled my stomach while savoring the milk bread that revealed its white flesh, the soup with plenty of meat and vegetables, and the salad with fresh vegetables and fruits.

For lunch, a thick steak was served. As I ate sweet peaches for dessert, I had a question.

Why did my diet suddenly change?

What kind of event is going on at the Duchy today? Why would they bring me this kind of diet?

I couldn’t figure out why because the maid who brought my food didn’t say anything.

I ate more than usual, and after lunch, my stomach felt a little bloated, so I walked along the trail that I walked every day. As soon as I smelled the thick forest scent, I felt a sense of security in my heart.

When I was young, I spent time with my mother in the mountains, so when I smelled the forest, I felt as if I had gone back to that time.

“At that time, everything was just really good…”

At that time I was just happy. Of course, maybe I’m the only one who thinks so. The more I learned about imprinting, the more I came to understand why Mother had to make that choice.

A forcibly imprinted omega would not be able to leave the alpha’s side due to the effects of imprinting. If she couldn’t get her alpha’s pheromones, she would get severe separation anxiety.

But Mother lived in the mountains with me for several years. It’s highly likely that she endured the pain alone without letting me know.

Wasn’t that why, as soon as Father called her, she was full of displeasure but didn’t refuse?

Mother’s grotesque expression in the carriage came to me vividly. It was a memory that’s deeply engraved in my mind.

Her mouth was curved, but her eyes were moist and her complexion was pale.

Mother’s face, in which joy and sadness, resentment and loneliness coexisted, made me feel sad just by looking at her.

“Huu…”

What I had now was a contract marriage, but in reality, my life now was not so dissimilar from my life in the County. It was a life no different from before, so I came back after taking a leisurely walk in the cool breeze.

* * *

Night came quickly at the annex, which looked like it was located almost in the forest. They said I would be called to the main building if something was needed, but I wasn’t called today, so I thought I’d just go to bed like this.

After a simple wash, I put on a soft negligee. When I left the County, I didn’t bring any clothes, but fortunately, they provided me with basic clothes.

I went into the bedroom after turning off all the lights in the parlor and other places.

The bedroom was not big. However, the bed was comfortable and soft, so it was one of my favorites.

After lighting a small lamp on the bedside table and bringing a book, I crawled into the soft blanket and lay down.

The letters visible under the soft light reminded me of my childhood memories when Mother read children’s books before going to bed.

I constantly tried not to forget the letters I had learned. Maybe that’s why I was able to follow the classes I took instead of Monica without difficulty.

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