We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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It was not because I liked the look in my father’s eyes when he looked at my mother, but I instinctively came to the conclusion that I would be better than those who stared at me blatantly or looked down on me from behind him.

“Her name is Melissa. She is a beta.”

Mom said, hiding her trembling voice. I lowered my head as I recalled Mother’s words that she said repeatedly before we came here.

“It’s nice to meet you, Father.”

His eyebrows rose abruptly at my greeting, but he didn’t deny my words.

WIth that, the people standing in the back became noisy. I did not know that it meant the count had tacitly acknowledged the illegitimate child.

And how the illegitimate child will be treated.

I did not have to worry about being an omega, who was considered the lowest of the human category. Because I learned from the county that I could live a life more miserable than an omega.

I was a commoner who could not even be listed in the family registry, being the daughter from my mother who was only a mistress—not the second wife, not the legal wife.

The fact that such a commoner ended up living in an elegant county was nothing to be happy about.

Mother knew that in advance. That’s why she magically hid that I’m a recessive omega to protect myself.

That must have been what she was trying to do.

Yes, looking back at it now, it was.

Thanks to Mother’s efforts, at least I didn’t carry the label of being an omega in my childhood.

Although I couldn’t do anything about being labeled as an illegitimate child, I somehow managed to live among the people by pretending to be a beta.

Then I met a very beautiful alpha.

After unknowingly having him, who was overwhelmingly elegant and superior among nobles, in my mind, I had no choice but to become an omega.

Just like the road God has set, even if the road is a thorny one, I will have no choice but to walk the road according to the order set.

It wasn’t my will, but that’s how it was.

* * *

House Rosewood, a count’s household, was a family with a long history, and Edwin, the master, was a knight commander trusted by the emperor, so he still had a great influence in the social world.

So he was often unable to go back into the mansion, and on such days Father called Mother outside.

Then Mother had to pick out a dress, with a face as white as an animal being led to the slaughterhouse. I watched the scene right next to her and had a question.

Was it really something she disliked? If she didn’t like it, she should just not go. Why did Mother have to go out every time Father called her? I wanted her to just play with me.

When Mother was away from me, I had to be alone. Since it was not possible to wander around in the main mansion, all I could do was play alone in the annex or look at the small garden right in front of me.

Of course, I don’t know if I can go a little farther, but Mother always asked me repeatedly.

“Mel, you shouldn’t wander around just because you’re bored. The mansion is large, so you might get lost.”

At that time, I took Mother’s words literally, but now I know it well. Why did Mother say something like that?

The reason I couldn’t walk around the mansion freely…

Mother went out in the carriage sent by Father. Alone, I sat by the bay window of the room where I was staying and read a book.

The bay window was my favorite place because of how the sun’s rays streamed in. But most of all, I liked the fact that I could see the outside clearly.

Though I wasn’t allowed to go out, I did not miss out on the sights that could be seen from inside. All the sights that could be seen from the two-story outbuilding were captured with my shining eyes.

The garden full of colorful flower trees was small, but there were many things to see throughout the four seasons. The well-maintained garden and the comfortable and cozy annex, which have received full sincerity, seemed like a place made just for Mother.

Perhaps it was to express Mother’s dark green hair and beautiful pink eyes, the interior of the annex was filled with green and pink items.

When I was in it, it felt like I was being held in Mother’s arms, so I was relatively well in the annex.

The moment I looked out at the garden for a while and turned my gaze to the book, I heard laughter outside. Normally, I would have only heard the passing wind.

It was a laugh similar to that of my peers, so I couldn’t help but pay attention to it. I put the book down, got up from the bay window and inched closer.

Then I saw scenes that I wasn’t able to see when I was sitting.

There was a waterfront not far from the annex. It was large enough to be a pond, and a bit small to be called a lake, but it was not far from the annex that I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t discovered until now.

Well, since I had just been walking around the garden right in front of me, there was no way I could know.

There was a white sheen stretched around the pond, and three children were riding in a small boat.

The boat shape was so cute, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. A boatman rowed back and forth in a boat modeled after a swan, and three children sat in the middle, engrossed in putting something on the table.

“Ah…”

I stared at them and let out a sigh. Even if I didn’t try to guess who it was, I could immediately recognize two people with the same hair color as my father.

My brother’s children who I hadn’t even met properly yet.

In short, my niece and nephew.

“But, who is that dark-haired boy?”

Against the brilliance of the other two’s silver hair, there stood out that boy’s black hair, shining with a subtle blue hint beneath the sunlight. At first glance, it looked like a very, very dark navy blue color.

I clung to the window and stared at the three of them, possessed, unaware of the cold glass crushing my cheeks, which had grown after eating and living well since coming here.

“I want to play together with you too…”

When I was only living in the mountains, I did not know that I was bored. I observed the changing nature of the four seasons, and Mother was always by my side, so I had no time to feel lonely.

There must have been more people here than there, but it was more boring and lonely here.

So I did something I wouldn’t normally do. I had been following Mother’s words like an iron rule.

But that day, I left the room on my own.