We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 218

“Would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?”

“Thank you.”

I followed her into the room I had visited last time. Strange dried herbs were hanging densely on the walls. Even though I couldn’t smell anything due to my lack of sense of smell, the sight alone seemed to make me smell a strong herbal fragrance.

“It’s nothing special, but these are leaves I dried myself. Please enjoy the tea.”

“Yes, I will.”

Although I couldn’t smell the tea, the bitter yet nutty taste that filled my mouth made me nod in approval. Olivia didn’t ask anything and simply savored her tea for a while. As she set her cup down, she raised her gaze.

“Is there something you need that brought you here?”

At her question, I gently chewed on the inside of my cheek while choosing my words carefully.

“…It’s a bit shameless, but I would like to ask if you could sell me the elixir you mentioned that day.”

Though the elixir was something one couldn’t purchase with money, it wasn’t something I could take for free either. I gathered all the money I had, but if it turned out to be more expensive, I was prepared to borrow some to buy it.

“Hmm, may I ask why your mind has changed?”

At her question, I began to unravel the thoughts I had been carrying. I hadn’t shared this with Lucia or Ian, but somehow, in front of Olivia, the words came out effortlessly. Maybe it was easier to express my feelings to someone who didn’t know me as well.

She listened quietly as I spoke, and when I finished, instead of replying, she silently lifted her tea cup.

The quiet time wasn’t unpleasant. I too drank my tea and waited like her.

“That’s a beautiful sentiment.”

She spoke up out of nowhere and continued immediately.

“To want to find your true self…”

“The truth is, what I feared most wasn’t anything other than whether I had the imprint or not. I imprinted on him, yes, but in reality, I thought it was just the pheromones at play. I mistook my past feelings for him as being entirely due to the pheromones.”

Olivia listened quietly.

“So I thought I would never want to imprint on him again… But after talking to him, I realized something. It wasn’t the imprint that came first, but my love for him that led me to imprint on him.”

“I see.”

“I found it hard to understand him, pushing himself to the limit to apologize. No, I doubted him. I thought that because he imprinted on me, he was acting this way. That once the imprint faded, he would become cold again, just like before. But in reality, it was I who couldn’t see properly because I was blinded by the imprint. The act of imprinting itself wasn’t as important as the reason behind it.”

“Hehe, you’re talking about love, aren’t you?”

Olivia asked with a kind smile. I slowly nodded and replied.

“After I’ve found my true self, I want to start loving properly again. It may sound silly, but I feel like something will change if I do.”

“Thank you for sharing.”

“…No, thank you for listening to my boring story.”

“Hehe, boring?”

Having finished speaking, Olivia got up from her seat. She walked over to the desk, opened a drawer without a lock, and took out a small box.

She returned to the sofa and handed me the box.

“It seems to have found its rightful owner.”

“…Thank you, Olivia.”

I accepted the box with a deep bow, expressing my gratitude.

“I won’t forget this kindness. And if you tell me the amount, I’ll bring it right away.”

She shook her head at my words.

“No, money isn’t necessary.”

“But I can’t just accept something so precious for free.”

“It wasn’t easy to make, but it’s not that valuable to me.”

“Still…”

“Instead, come visit sometimes and chat with me. I don’t mind living like this, but sometimes I get unbearably lonely.”

Just because one can stand alone doesn’t mean they don’t feel loneliness. I understood that as well.

“…I’ll make sure to do that.”

“Oh, I’d like to see the changes in you first. Consider the cost of the elixir paid for by that.”

At her words, I opened the box in my hands. Inside was a strange potion with a peculiar color. As I looked at the glowing liquid, I hesitated for a moment before opening the cap and taking a deep breath.

It felt so strange. It was just a potion, yet I had a strong feeling that it would change a lot. But I decided not to avoid it any longer or turn away foolishly. Reminding myself that this was the path to finding my true self, I quickly swallowed the elixir in one go.

The lukewarm liquid flowed into my mouth. After swallowing, I stared at Olivia, my eyes wide in confusion, as I didn’t feel any changes at first.

But then, the area around my neck where my pheromone gland is located suddenly throbbed with unbearable pain. I tried to hold back a groan and lowered my head.

The pain that began to wrap around my body was even more intense than the burning fire in the carriage. But I didn’t utter a sound and held it in. The pain was so severe that cold sweat poured down my body.

But then, just as suddenly, the pain disappeared completely. It vanished as though it had evaporated.

I blinked a few times, still stunned and Olivia poured new tea into my cup. The fresh scent of grass hit my nose sharply, followed by a fruity fragrance.

“…”

I lifted the cup as if in a trance. Bringing it close to my nose, I inhaled deeply. The scent I had just smelled filled my senses.

I took a sip. Though it was the same tea I had drunk earlier, the taste was richer and deeper.

“…The tea tastes so good.”

“Right? It’s a blend I made myself. It’s tea with dried fruit and herbs.”

“Yes… The fruit aroma is so refreshing.”

As I spoke, my voice trembled unknowingly. I felt an overwhelming wave of emotion, as if I had finally regained my normal life. It was a bittersweet joy, a complex feeling, and a single tear fell from my eye.

But along with that, a greater joy overflowed. I couldn’t hold it in and ended up crying while laughing.