We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 192

While carrying out the investigation ordered by the Emperor, Ian was desperately searching for a way to reach the Magic Tower. The solution he came up with was to invite a wizard who could teleport.

But the issue with this method was whether a regular wizard could teleport to the Magic Tower, as they are not the Magic Tower’s wizard.

“Maybe it would be better to find someone who can use levitation magic instead.”

Could someone fly to that high place, which was not even visible to the naked eye? Ian was filled with doubt and impatience.

“Duke, this is the official letter to be sent to the merchants in the capital. Could you please check it?”

He looked over the documents handed to him by his assistant. To gather more accurate information about the identities of the omegas, Ian had devised a method.

“I hope it’s alright to say this, but you’ve made a good decision. You should meet someone new as well.”

If they were to uncover what the Emperor ordered, it was certain that there would be obstacles and people who would be suspicious. The method he had thought of was using his name to gain trust.

Though the letter would simply state that Duke Bryant was looking for new omegas, Ian planned to spread a rumor. He would say that he was looking for new omegas and would offer a generous reward for those who could introduce him to them.

Ian couldn’t help but chuckle at his assistant’s words. Even though rumors had surely spread about his imprint in the mansion and across the capital, it was interesting that the betas could still speak so freely.

After all, they didn’t know the specifics about pheromones, so they probably thought they could talk this way.

It was almost as if they thought the imprint could be easily erased, a thought that Ian found shallow and naive.

“For now, we’ll send it to the merchants in the capital, but make sure to spread the word. Tell them to share the news across the whole country.”

“Across the whole country?”

“Yes. This letter must reach every corner of the AerysnEmpire. There’s no standard. If they are omega, bring them all, along with their information.”

“…Understood.”

The assistant’s face turned pale at his words, but Ian didn’t mind.

The side effects of the imprint had been somewhat reduced recently. Perhaps it was because he knew where Melissa was living? The news had been scarce, and he hadn’t heard anything about her for a while, but at least he wasn’t waking up in the annex as often as before.

It frustrated him to no end when the betas made decisions based on their own common sense, without knowing any of the facts about the imprint. But he knew he couldn’t ignore the overwhelming number of betas, as even the Tenth Emperor had been cautious about them.

“Is the mansion currently being managed by only the head butler?”

“Yes, together with the newly appointed head maid.”

“Hm. Bring them both here now.”

“Yes.”

After handling the business without a break, Ian made his way to his room, but before that, he stopped by Diers’s room. It had become a recent habit after hearing from the nanny that the child had been trying to stay up late.

As expected, when Ian entered the room, he found the nanny struggling with the child.

“Young Master, I told you, if you go to bed early, you’ll grow tall!”

“Buuuttt…”

“Why are you being so difficult today?”

“…”

Normally, the child would be overjoyed at the sight of the nanny, but now, he was stubbornly refusing to listen. Ian watched for a while, then intervened.

“I’ll put him to bed today, you can go ahead and leave.”

“Dad?”

“Oh! When did you come in?”

The nanny’s troubled expression quickly turned into a bright smile. She hurried over to Ian and spoke in a soft tone.

“You must be tired, let me put him to bed. Should I prepare some herbal tea to help you sleep better?”

Ian found the nanny’s overly attentive behavior a little unsettling, but since she was Diers’s nanny, he politely declined.

“I’m not tired, it’s fine.”

“But you seem so busy lately…”

While Ian was eager to get close to the child, the nanny continued to linger, so he replied coldly.

“That’s enough, please leave.”

“…Then, I’ll take my leave.”

She left slowly, as though she had more to say, and Ian closed the door behind her. Her recent overstepping behavior had been bothering him, but he couldn’t just replace her as Diers’s nanny.

He was particularly concerned about Diers now, since the child had only just started finding some stability.

“Dia, do you remember what I told you? If you don’t sleep at the right time, you won’t grow tall.”

“Buut…”

“Is there a reason you don’t want to sleep? You can tell Daddy.”

“…I can’t.”

When the child hesitated at his question, Ian considered all possible reasons. He waited silently, hoping the child would speak. Then, Diers gestured for him to come closer.

When Ian leaned in, the child cupped his tiny hand and whispered in his ear.

“I pwomised Mom.”

“…Mom?”

“Ung, can’t tell.”

“…”

At that moment, doubt crept into Ian’s mind.

Over the past few days, the child had been talking about ‘Mom’ more and more. At first, Ian had assumed it was just from the fairy tales they had been reading, but now something felt off.

He stared into the child’s eyes, pondering, and then asked,

“…Who is Mom Dia is talking about?”

“Mom same eyes with Dia! Sho pretty!”

“Is Mom pretty in other ways besides the eyes, too?”

“Wolden hair!”

“…”

Ian couldn’t say a word in response. The child had never seen Melissa’s hair color—he was too young when they were separated, and Ian had never told him about it. He had only pointed out that their eyes looked the same. Then, how did Diers know this detail?