We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 173

#19_I Miss You So Much

It took quite a while for him to step inside, even after carefully opening the door. Once he finally entered the room where Melissa had stayed, he let out a deep sigh.

After several attempts, he made it to the center of the room and glanced around, recalling a few months ago. He had awakened in the middle of the night in the hallway outside this room, feeling utterly confused.

Sitting there in a daze, he had seen Henry and the knights who had come looking for him, and only then did he realize he had been coming here every night.

He was unsure whether to feel angry or sad when Henry said that he wanted to keep that fact hidden until death. It was both amusing and terrifying that his body longed for his omega so desperately, even in moments of unconsciousness or asleep.

He had been so obvious about his imprinting yet had been too foolish to notice.

“Mel, I miss you so much…”

What if she never returned to his side? Time was passing relentlessly, and he couldn’t find any trace of his omega anywhere.

This place, where her presence lingered most strongly, felt like a sanctuary to him, making him cautious in his movements. He slowly approached the bed.

In the moments when she was unable to awaken due to the poison, fear had shackled him, preventing him from leaving this space for fear of losing her. Melissa had accepted and understood his selfish behavior, even if it was unreasonable.

Since she had been shackled, she hadn’t been able to go to the balcony, so whenever he opened the door to the annex, she welcomed him from this very bed. He had imagined she would wake up and greet him, but the still-empty bed served as a harsh reminder of reality.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gently brushed his hand over the spot where Melissa always sat and spoke to her.

“I’ve finally found a clue, Mel.”

Though finding the location of the Magic Tower wouldn’t be easy, it was far better than drifting aimlessly in an endless sea without direction.

“It seems the Tower Master has seen you before. He got angry with me.”

Hearing Pedro’s words filled him with deep pain. Who could the omega be, whose heart and body had become tattered? Could it be her?

“If you had been the one to get angry instead of the Tower Master…”

If only Melissa had expressed her anger directly in front of him, he could have taken some action. But Pedro vanished, leaving him in turmoil with his ambiguous words.

His grip tightened around the bedding he was carefully smoothing, crumpling the fabric beneath his fingers.

The thought that another alpha might have seen his omega, whom he hadn’t even met yet, made his blood boil. He struggled to contain the rising anger, slowly releasing the tension because he couldn’t recklessly disturb what little remained of her presence.

“Haa, Mel…”

He exhaled softly and lay back on the bed. Pressing his nose into the pillow and sheets she had used, he took a deep breath. Even knowing her scent was gone, he still felt a fleeting illusion that he could sense his omega’s pheromones.

“Ha, ha…”

As he obsessively breathed in and out, his body relaxed. Having barely slept for days, he quickly felt the weight of fatigue settling in.

With thoughts of Melissa swirling in his mind, he finally drifted off to sleep. He couldn’t predict how long he would be able to rest, but feeling that sweet rest, he closed his eyes.

He prayed he would meet her in his dreams.

* * *

With the Emperor’s support, Ian threw himself into the search for the Magic Tower from that day onward, like a madman. The first target was County Bailey, Pedro’s home.

“The Count insists he doesn’t know anything.”

“Yes, the Tower Master hasn’t visited since leaving his family home.”

“Then we’ll find the mother’s grave.”

“Understood.”

Given how dearly he cherished his mother, wouldn’t he visit it at least once a year?

He didn’t care how long it took. As long as he could meet Pedro again, he could endure anything to reclaim his omega.

“Gather the imperial knights and troops, and dispatch them throughout the Empire to locate the Tower Master.”

“Understood.”

After the commander left, he reviewed documents concerning County Rosewood with his aide.

“Alex is gathering people?”

“Most of them are people who harbor resentment against the Duchy.”

“Ha. It’s not even funny.”

He wanted nothing more than to deal with Monica himself immediately. After prolonged torture, the head maid had finally revealed all the truths. He had also managed to capture the hidden coachman and his wife.

But that was as far as it went. The reason he refrained from taking direct action was simple.

‘…I’m not the one to finish this.’

The one who had suffered constant torment and threats to her life was Melissa. When she returned, she would hold the precious sins close, along with his leash.

“Keep a close watch to ensure they don’t escape. Also, plant a spy among Alex and his group. They might have some foolish thoughts.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“Still, he’s more resourceful than the previous Count.”

He had pressured the County in the same way, but the reactions had been different. As he had suspected, Alex suited this role better than that of a knight.

“Oh, and bring Henry to me.”

“Yes, understood.”

As he moved between the estate and the annex where Melissa had stayed, he came to realize one important fact. The unmistakable signs of her presence had remained in that space, despite the time that had passed.

Why had he only discovered it now? It was evident that she had left without taking anything with her. He was puzzled by her decision to leave behind everything except what she had brought with her.

If she intended to leave everything behind, then why had she indulged in such extravagance?