We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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“Don’t hesitate and take my hand. I will take you there.”

Melissa stared blankly at Pedro, who was offering his hand kindly. His soft blonde hair was combed neatly and he smiled with his red eyes shining as her eyes met his.

She couldn’t respond to his kindness that felt excessive, and slipped away from him. Then Pedro took a step closer and an unfamiliar scent followed.

The scent, as cool as jasmine tea and as fresh as green apples, caught the tip of her nose. Recognizing that Pedro was an alpha, Melissa tried to distance herself even more.

She did not realize at that time that she had acted so because she was afraid that the pheromones of another alpha, not her own, might reach her. Then she felt those familiar pheromones approaching from behind her.

It was none other than Ian who was holding Melissa’s shoulder lightly.

She didn’t know why he came through the back door, but Melissa felt his familiar pheromones and let out a big sigh of relief.

“Huu…”

And suddenly she had a question. Why did he, who would have controlled his pheromones normally, now release them?

However, feeling relieved by the heavy, deep pheromone scent from Ian that now enveloped her perfectly, she unknowingly leaned close to her alpha.

Her pounding heart calmed down, and her anxious mind became calm.

“…Why are you here?”

As his question fell over her head, Melissa said the words she had prepared.

“I was going to ask if I could go out.”

“Alright, let’s talk later.”

“Yes…”

She felt that she had caused trouble unexpectedly, so her voice was small.

Ian naturally placed an arm around her shoulders and lowered his head, gazing intently at her exposed nape. The choker she was wearing definitely didn’t look like a regular item. Even though he was so close, he couldn’t smell any of Melissa’s pheromones.

While it was a shame, he liked how her pheromones today weren’t strong, yet he didn’t like her unusual appearance.

He was aware of the erratic nature of his feelings, but what he wanted most was to get Melissa out of here right now.

Because he had no intention of watching his omega standing so close to another alpha.

“Don’t send her alone.”

Then, Pedro helped.

“…Why?”

Ian, barely showing his displeasure, asked back. Pedro looked at Melissa’s hand. Her hand, which had been hidden behind her body, came out again and it no longer trembled.

Confirming that, Pedro looked at Ian with unexpected eyes, then shrugged and took back his words.

“Alright, maybe it’ll be fine.”

“……”

“Are you not going to serve me a cup of tea?”

“…Go upstairs.”

With Ian’s order, Alex sighed and turned around. Pedro followed suit. And Monica, who had been watching from a distance, looked at Melissa with cold eyes before following Alex.

Ian then went to Melissa.

“You want to go out today?”

“…Not really, but I feel a bit suffocated. I wanted to ask if I could go out freely.”

“You may. I will immediately send a knight and a maid to the annex. When going out, be sure to bring an escort with you.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

Melissa hesitated, then continued on.

“I think it’s okay without a maid.”

She wanted to go out comfortably, but it seemed like she wouldn’t if there’s a maid with her. Since Ian stepped up, none of the maids harassed her, but the discomfort she felt around them was still the same. Especially when there was a maid who was being forced to attend to her.

Ian pondered Melissa’s words for a while then agreed.

“Then fine.”

“Thank you.”

As he agreed, Melissa’s expression brightened.

Ian deliberately did not visit the annex due to a sense of crisis, yet he could not take his eyes off Melissa’s smile. He thought he had suppressed and overcome his instincts, but he was so easily rendered powerless.

His instincts urged him to care for Melissa, his omega. But the omega he had seen since his childhood, his mother, was a selfish and two-faced person. His father and other alphas said in unison that once they started to give love to the omega, imprinting would be quick.

When an alpha imprints on an omega, it would be no different from being a wolf on a leash.

Ian had been asked many times since childhood whether he wanted to be a lonely but noble life as a wolf—or perhaps reduced to a mongrel—but he struggled to overcome his instincts.

After all, it was a relationship that started as a contract marriage.

What did he need to hope for when they just had to meet each other out of necessity? Those Instincts would subside once she would leave anyway, and it couldn’t be called true love.

“…If you need anything, don’t come directly to the main building. Deliver the message through a maid. What if a guest comes to visit, like today?”

Ian, who recalled what had just happened before leaving the place, said so, not hiding his displeasure. He didn’t like her being in the same space with the other alphas.

Of course, while he was proud of her for avoiding Alex on her own, he also told her to be careful of Alex as well. But Melissa took it differently.

“…I’m sorry. I’ll be careful next time.”

“Alright. I’m leaving.”

Ian could not delay his meeting with his guests after sending them upstairs first, and so he left immediately. He did not even know what kind of gaze Melissa had as she watched his figure disappear from her sight.

#06_Firsts

A lot happened in a short period of time, so I don’t know how I returned from the main building to the annex. I quietly returned to the annex and sat on the sofa, staring blankly out the window.

Even at the County, on the days when Monica didn’t call me, I sat on the sofa in the parlor and looked outside.

I was used to just passing time by doing nothing, so I didn’t even know how many minutes, hours passed.

Knock, knock.

Awakened by the knock, I got up and opened the door. The knight standing in front of the door greeted me politely.

“Nice to meet you, Lady. My name is Daniel, a member of the Duchy’s chivalric order. By the Young Lord’s order, I am assigned to escort you from now on, Your Ladyship.”

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