We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 198

After coming back to life and living in the Magic Tower, many of my thoughts had changed. One of them was that I would no longer hold back my anger when it was needed.

Looking back at my past, no matter how unjustly I was treated, I always kept quiet. The one who taught me to stay silent like a mouse was none other than my mother.

But I wasn’t going to live that way anymore. Anyone who put my child in danger would not be forgiven.

Crack—crack—crack!

I used magic to tightly bind the nanny, who was trying to lower her head or avoid me, and punished her without hesitation. Then, an idea suddenly came to me, and I used teleportation to teleport both Ian and Diers.

I had forgotten to think about the child in my frustration, and for a moment, I felt a surge of annoyance at myself, but I continued the punishment.

The nanny’s cheek turned so red that blood began to trickle from inside her mouth, but she couldn’t even cry properly. Shaking in fear, she trembled as I slowly approached her and spoke.

“Why should the heir of the Duke’s family seek your approval?”

“I, I spoke out of turn…”

“How can someone entrusted with taking care of a child, especially the heir to the Duke’s family, fail to do their job properly and wander off?”

“I’m so sorry…”

“If something happened to our Dia, you wouldn’t be able to repay your life for it. Do you understand?”

“…I have committed an unforgivable crime. Please, show mercy.”

The nanny, her face swollen and her voice muffled, prostrated herself on the floor, apologizing. But that wasn’t enough to ease my anger.

The mansion was still a mess. I couldn’t just let the nanny go, and the other servants weren’t exempt from my frustration either.

Of course, as someone who had left the Duchy, it wasn’t my place to do this. But I turned slowly, making eye contact with each of the servants standing nearby.

It was a warning, a reminder that they were next.

* * *

Ian was suddenly teleported to the highest floor of the mansion. Holding Diers in his arms, he looked down. The view was far enough that the child couldn’t see it, but for him, it was clear. He saw Melissa sternly scolding the nanny.

It could be seen as rude, but he didn’t feel that way at all. Instead, he thought it was exactly what she should be doing.

“Dia, this is the picture Dad has always wanted. But it’s probably best if you don’t see it.”

“Yaawn.”

“If you’re tired, you can sleep.”

He patted the child’s back while his eyes remained on Melissa. He wanted to see her return again and ruled the Duchy like she had before. He hoped that she would continue to be like that, and as he watched, he adjusted Diers in his arms and calmed him.

“Shall we go to your room now?”

“Ung…”

The child, half-lidded and seemingly sleepy, answered with a whine. He quickly took the child to his room, washed him, and tucked him into bed. As he sat there, gently patting his chest while listening to his soft, peaceful breathing, he felt an eerie sensation, as if the space around him was shifting. He stood up immediately.

Suddenly, Melissa appeared and hurriedly approached, inspecting Diers’s condition from every angle. When she moved closer, Ian instinctively almost opened his arms, but instead clenched his fists, opening and closing them.

Even though he knew things were different from before, old habits ingrained in his body didn’t fade easily, and it was often awkward.

Earlier, despite his reckless behavior, he couldn’t forget the satisfaction he had felt when he had held her. He loosened his clenched fists and quietly watched as Melissa carefully checked Diers.

She examined the child for a moment before confirming that everything was fine, and said with a tired voice.

“He might have been scared, so I’d like you to stay with him tomorrow.”

Ian wanted her to be with Diers tomorrow as well, but seeing that she couldn’t, he sighed inside in frustration.

“Yes, I will. Please don’t worry too much.”

Melissa stared at Ian as he nodded agreeably, then stood up. She was eager to return to Adella, as she felt guilty about leaving her side, but before she could leave, he grabbed her arm.

“Wait a moment!”

“…Is there something you want to say?”

“Please, just a moment. I have a question.”

Ian, unable to hide his nervousness, stood there for a while without speaking. He hesitated, unsure whether he had the right to ask such a thing, then finally spoke.

“…If I were to suffer as much as you have and reflect on everything, would you give me a chance then?”

Honestly, Ian knew his desire for Melissa was shameless, but he couldn’t imagine living without her.

It wasn’t just because of the imprint. From childhood, even before he realized it, Melissa had always been in his heart. She was his first and last love, and he couldn’t live without her.

Not just for himself, but for Diers as well, Melissa was needed.

Melissa stared at Ian quietly who was holding his breath, waiting for her answer. His golden eyes glistened, and the warm tears that had once fallen from them came to her mind. He was still disheveled, and his eyes looked moist as if the tears hadn’t fully dried.

The cold, calculating Ian seemed like a different person now. He looked like someone standing at the edge of a cliff, fragile and desperate, his eyes full of a hope so fragile that his heart fluttered with every small beat.

Though she could no longer sense his pheromones, and the imprint was broken, her heart still raced with feelings for him, just like the first time they met.

She bit her bottom lip gently before parting her lips slowly.

Ian, unable to look away from her lips, swallowed dryly.