We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 191

“But it wasn’t like that. After seeing his face, I realized that I missed him so much, I wanted to stay by his side.”

Yes, that was it. I thought Adella was all I needed. I thought that with Diers being the heir of the Dukedom, he would grow up just fine even without me.

But the child was waiting for a mother he didn’t even really know. When Diers said that he looked in the mirror whenever he missed me, my heart broke, and I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head.

The children are not at fault.

Yes, the reason I was angry at my mother now seems to stem from a similar feeling. The children who were born are not to blame. If anyone should be accountable, it should be the parents.

“I don’t know if saying this will help you, Tower Master, but… how about meeting just once, just once?”

“…Mel, not everyone in the world is the same.”

“I’m sorry, I was overstepping.”

“No? It’s not that, but I just want to say there are people who are really not like that.”

“Yes…”

“In fact, I already met him a long time ago. But as he grew, he became more and more like that person. I gave birth to him, but he doesn’t resemble me at all. Maybe that’s why it was easier for me to let go. I don’t know how this sounds, but… in truth, the child who feels like mine is Adella.”

I decided to take her words at face value, as she said, not everyone in the world is the same.

“Then, I’ll go now.”

“Okay.”

I immediately teleported to Diers’s room. As soon as I appeared, he jumped out of bed and ran to me.

“Mom!”

“Dia, I told you that you can sleep first.”

“But…”

“Alright, Mom will tuck you in.”

“Hehe.”

They say children grow up so quickly, and now Diers was big enough that I could barely lift him in my arms. The weight of him was reassuring.

“Mom, read this book pwease.”

“Ah, so this is why Dia speaks, my Diers, because you love books?”

“Ung! This one I like.”

He had the same twinkling eyes as when he asked me to read his favorite storybook last time. I kissed his cheek lightly and laid him in bed before reading the storybook to him.

I remembered how he had said it was his favorite because it had a character with the same eye color as mine.

* * *

At that moment, Ian had climbed to the highest point in the mansion, using a magic tool to observe the Magic Tower. It was good that he had found it, but he had no idea how to get there.

It was right in front of him, but the fact that he couldn’t get any closer to Melissa was unbearable. He wanted to meet her as soon as possible to clear up the misunderstanding and apologize properly.

He never imagined that Melissa might think he was to blame for the carriage accident. But from her perspective, it made sense.

Not only was the carriage prepared by the Duchy, but she was also told directly to leave the mansion. Of course, Melissa would have misunderstood.

“That doesn’t mean she’s not my daughter, Mel.”

While she was pregnant, the body she imprinted on didn’t go into heat. Even though they were far apart, they were still connected. He had comforted himself with that thought.

Ian clenched his teeth, thinking of Pedro, who naturally held his daughter by his side. He wanted to tear apart the other alpha who dared to covet what was his.

“…Pathetic.”

Sickened by his own inability to control his jealousy, Ian gathered his magic tools and stood up.

He was about to head to his bedroom when he thought of Diers and changed his course.

He had heard recently that Diers had been refusing to sleep, even though he seemed tired. The child, who had always slept soundly and woke up at regular hours, suddenly started acting differently, and Ian was concerned.

He stood outside Diers’s room to check on him quietly. Just as he was about to open the door, someone spoke.

“Duke?”

Diers’s nanny was standing there, holding a small lantern and looking at him.

“Why are you here? Has Dia woken up?”

“No… that’s not it…”

She couldn’t speak the truth. She couldn’t admit she had been waiting for the Duke to come.

Lately, she’d been feeling greedy. With the middle managers gone, the other servants now listened to her every word.

It felt different being at the top, like the world had changed. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if she could rise even higher.

Her ambition led her to focus on Ian, who was raising his child alone. He was cold to others, but not to her. Though brief, he always answered her, and sometimes, he’d made eye contact longer than necessary.

She believed that he was interested in her, but before she could speak again, Ian murmured softly.

“Then, go back to your room.”

He quietly turned the door handle and entered Diers’s room. The small lantern lit up the room with a warm, comforting glow.

The soft sound of the child’s breathing was soothing. Ian walked over and picked up the storybook that was left on the bed. It seemed to have been read before bed, as it was opened to a page.

He stared at the protagonist drawn inside. The only thing that reminded him of Melissa was the purple eyes, but otherwise, the character didn’t resemble her at all. Still, seeing Diers, who thought of this character as his mother, filled Ian with both sorrow and affection.

“Sleep well, Dia.”

He gently brushed the sleeping child’s head and then left the room.