We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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Then the pheromones exploded. I gasped and inhaled his pheromones as this would be my last.

Thinking it was the last time I could burn his image in my eyes, I stared at him with my eyes desperately open.

Actually, I had expected this sort of outcome to some extent. Since it is an imprint that cannot be cut off by oneself, I might have wished that he cut it off first.

Unlike my omega instinct that was still yearning for him, my heart was already crushed to pieces. It was so painful that I couldn’t even tell its original form.

I could feel the contempt, insults and ridicule I had been subjected to since I was born because of my mother’s affection and protection, only after belatedly knowing my father’s existence.

I was a so-called illegitimate daughter of a noble household, and my mother was an omega who was forcibly imprinted upon by an alpha.

Although I inherited my mother’s blood, I had manifested as a recessive omega and did not receive my father’s love. I was not even properly recognized by the family.

My marriage was one and the same. It was just as my mother had been so worried about—I followed her life’s path perfectly.

“Are you satisfied now?”

As I had been caught in a daze, I was forcibly dragged out by his sneer. I looked at Ian with trembling eyes.

His brows were crumpled, as if he was displeased. What he hated the most was an alpha or omega who exposed their instincts.

Just like what I just showed.

After checking the divorce papers one more time, he put them in an envelope and said.

Very politely, like he was drawing a line.

“Your alimony will be in a bank account. If you look at this document, you can confirm the amount. If you don’t think it’s not enough, tell the butler. He’ll take care of it.”

I knew very well what he meant by saying this. I would no longer be treated as a family member nor as his wife.

He treated others with respect, but that was more of an act of disregard. For him.

“I hope you vacate the annex as soon as possible. Ah, the dresses and accessories you have already bought were all part of the alimony, so you can take them as they are.”

I couldn’t focus on the words he was saying. He was only conveying the information that he would not come forward in person anymore.

This was really our last moment.

“…C-Can I go see Dia?”

I wanted to say goodbye to my child. When I called the nickname of Diers, which means ‘every day’, Ian’s expression became colder than before.

“I won’t listen to you any more. Stop being so pathetic and get out of my mansion right this instant.”

It seems that my heart, which I thought wouldn’t hurt anymore, was broken again at his firm order.

I couldn’t breathe. Tears welled up in my eyes.

Still, I forced myself to move. I did not want to be dragged out.

As I came out of the office, where his pheromones remained, my legs gave way. Even with so many employees passing through the halls, they still didn’t see me as the mistress of the mansion.

It was right what they saw. The subordinates properly recognized the masters they would serve.

My life itself was miserable, but never as miserable as today.

It never hurt as much as today.

It was the first time that I felt such a terrible loss as if my heart had been pierced.

I took a hard breath in the feeling of loss and emptiness, even greater than when my mother died.

My marriage to him, which began in the spring, ended in the winter.

Standing in the middle of the winter colder than ever, I just stared at the window across from his office door. I could see the snow falling through the transparent glass window.

All I could do was suppress my emotions.

Because I am an omega.

An omega that unilaterally imprinted on an alpha. An omega abandoned by her alpha, who she had imprinted on.

An omega who was not even a noble.

The world had so many reasons to look down on me. So instead of weeping, I took a deep breath. I don’t know what will happen if I’m not prepared.

I drew in my breath and stared endlessly at the falling snow.

There was no way the snow falling outside could reach me, but my fingertips got cold. I raised my cold hand and wrapped it around the scar on my neck hidden by my hair. As a habit, I touched the scar and then stood up with strength on my legs.

I dreamed weakly of the day when I would live a long time and see Dia again. All I could do was survive for the child.

#01_How an illegitimate child is treated

The Aerys Empire was a society built upon class hierarchy. The highest class was the imperial family, followed by the nobility. And below them were commoners and serfs.

That’s how it looked at large. But in detail, the classes were divided as well. With the nobles—duke, marquis, count, viscount and baron. And with the commoners—ordinary citizens and those known as free people.

Even further, people could be divided like so.

Women and men. Then, alpha, beta, and omega.

In the distant past, it’s said that alphas and omegas had an equal ratio with betas, but now, betas were overwhelmingly more numerous, followed by alphas.

Even though omegas were the fewest number among the three genders, they were also the ones who were treated as the lowest.

Was it because they’re considered to be ‘vulgar’?

The ‘heat cycle’ that only omegas have was a biorhythm that draws out their instincts to the maximum.

Like the estrus period that animals experience when reproducing, an omega’s heat cycle induces coupling with an alpha, and this happened periodically.

However, this was not unique to omegas. Alphas also had a ‘rut cycle’.

It was similar to an omega’s heat cycle. In that sense, alphas—like Omegas—were engulfed in the instinct for reproducing.

There was only one reason why Beta did not reject alpha like they did with omegas… even when alphas tended to be more animalistic than omegas.

Because alphas were superior to betas.

While omega had no special characteristics other than giving birth to more alphas, alphas were exceptionally talented in many ways.

First of all, there were no betas who could trump alphas in a physical sense. Not to mention omegas.

By pure physical ability, there would be no other reason for alphas to be treated so favorably. Their intelligence was also superior, and most of the high-ranking officials who served the country were alphas.