We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 174

He had assumed that with the budget allocated for Melissa, it was naturally for her to spend. After all, the servants wouldn’t know about the budget assigned to the Duchess and would never dare to embezzle it. But what if there was something he didn’t know?

He had always thought that, as it was his mansion, he knew everything that went on. However, now he couldn’t be so sure. He had come to realize that many things were happening in places he was unaware of.

Therefore, this time, he had to ascertain the facts properly. If he had misunderstood again…

“Will I even be able to face her properly?”

Feeling shameful and increasingly guilty, he thought he wouldn’t be able to look Melissa in the eye. He found himself wishing it were simply her capriciousness as he waited for Henry.

After a short while, Henry entered the office with a tense expression. Ian dismissed all the attendants and asked directly.

“When I set the budget for Melissa, I made sure there were no limitations, right?”

“…Yes, you did.”

“I thought that since she would bear my Alpha heir, she deserved that much, so I didn’t pay much attention after that.”

“…”

“But one day, when I checked the dressing room, I found she had indulged in absurd extravagance. So I had to speak up about it.”

Before he could even ask if Henry knew anything about this, Henry knelt down. Bowing his head deeply, he said.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“…It seems you know something. Don’t apologize, just tell me the truth.”

“Lady Nicola, when she was alive, made a request regarding this matter. Knowing it was wrong, I had no choice but to grant it at the time because Lady Nicola was in such distress.”

“Is that so…?”

“I committed a grave sin, Duke! I had completely forgotten about it. It was not my intention to hide anything.”

Ian felt an intense sense of betrayal.

They had justified their actions under the pretense of looking out for him or the family, while blindfolding his eyes and blocking his ears. The thought that not just the head maid but even the butler had deceived him filled him with rage to the point where his vision turned white.

“How dare, how dare…”

Ian couldn’t continue his words. He couldn’t even gauge where things had gone wrong, and the memory of how he had misunderstood everything and treated Melissa carelessly in the past silenced him.

Was it even fair to hold them accountable?

If he had taken the time to learn more before getting caught up in his own misunderstandings and prejudices, none of this would have happened.

It was now time to face the reality that all of this stemmed from his own selfishness. He lowered his head, covering his eyes. They felt too hot to raise, and he couldn’t help the tears that spilled over, falling between his fingers.

The tears, which had dripped like large raindrops, soon poured out like a downpour. Seeing Ian sob uncontrollably, Henry couldn’t utter a single word and froze in place.

He could almost hear the former Duchess’s voice in his ear, reminding him not to deceive his master. Her words stung.

Henry, bowing low until his forehead touched the ground, began to apologize inside.

He was apologizing for his Master, for the Madam, and for Lady Nicola. A heavy silence filled the room. The two of them sought forgiveness for those who were no longer present.

They realized how foolish it was to wish for forgiveness only after they had departed, yet despite being too late, it was all they could do at that moment.

* * *

Living felt hollow. The only reason he hadn’t succumbed to death was because of Diers. The violet eyes that resembled Melissa’s were the only things that kept him breathing and gave him hope.

Aside from outings for investigations, he was holed up in the Duchy, focusing on finding the location of the Magic Tower. Each time he did so, the nobles who saw him were either flustered or shocked. Despite his haggard appearance, his gaze was fierce.

He radiated a sharpness as if he could cut through anyone who crossed his path. Those who had heard the rumors about him whispered behind his back but didn’t dare approach him to speak.

The once-famous and beloved Duke Bryant no longer existed. Instead, he was treated like a pathetic alpha who had imprinted on an omega.

Alex did not miss this opportunity. He gathered people to gossip and busily tarnished the Duke’s reputation. It wasn’t just Alex; not only betas but also fellow alphas were finding courage behind the scenes, even if they couldn’t express it openly in front of him.

But Ian remained oblivious to all of this. To him, Melissa was the most important thing, and he cared nothing for prestige.

Recently, he had found someone associated with the Magic Tower. After hearing that there was a trading company that had a direct contract with the Magic Tower, he had been waiting for an opportunity for the Tower Master to appear there. Numerous knights concealed their attire and kept watch around the trading company.

He operated under a hidden identity, pretending to be someone looking to engage in direct transactions with the company. However, his unique aura remained unmistakable, causing the head trader in front of him to fidget with tension.

“Our trading company is not very large. If you have come to see a lot of goods…”

“I heard this place only deals in magical tools.”

“Yes, we are quite confident in that. We’ve gone through considerable effort to secure our own routes.”

“Your enthusiasm as a trader makes me want to do business even more.”

“Hmm, if that’s the case, would you like to see the magical tools that have recently arrived? I’m not sure if you will find what you’re looking for, but there is an item that has been gaining popularity.”

“What is that?”

“It’s a magical tool that makes it easier to store food supplies. It outperforms the previous versions. In particular, the magic circle that maintains the cold is remarkable. The old cold-storage magical tools often broke down and had minimal cooling capabilities, but this new item provides excellent cooling and has proven to be durable, according to recent users.”

“If it’s such a good product, I’d like to see it.”

“Of course, I will prepare a sample.”