We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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This, too, was surprising. I never called him first, but he always looked up as if he knew I was here.

Or did he just check it once?

“You never listen to me.”

He spoke bitterly again today, and instead of narrowing his eyebrows, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth. This change was also surprising. Ian smiled.

It wasn’t just a brief moment that I see once in a while, it was a comfortable, natural smile.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

He frowned slightly at my greeting. I was curious because it was an ambiguous expression, not sure if he was upset or not. Because I greeted him from the balcony every day, but he never accepted me. Instead, he would always stare at me with that unreadable expression and would then come up to the room.

After a brief thought, he disappeared from sight and I entered the room. Before I had even taken a few steps, Ian opened the door and came in. He approached me with long strides and naturally placed his hand on my stomach.

“It’s quite round now.”

I heard that it would get bigger in the future, but my stomach was quite bigger now compared to the beginning of pregnancy. It was a pretty circle that looked like it was embracing a full moon, so I always found my hand gravitating towards it. Of course, Ian placed his hand on my stomach just as much as I did.

He stroked my stomach for a moment and then naturally took my hand. His hand, which was clenched between my fingers, was calloused, contrary to his elegant appearance.

I thought it was a sign of his hard work, so when I subtly rubbed his calluses, he showed a similar expression as when I greeted him.

“I told you not to go out on the balcony if possible.”

“The doctor also said it would be good to walk a little.”

“Huu, I know. But you’re too thin.”

“…I don’t have any problems walking.”

As he said, my body had lost more weight than before pregnancy. I think it was inevitable because of the morning sickness I had suffered, but I had no problems moving at all. In the case of pheromones, they became stronger than before pregnancy and even stabilized.

Although it’s not as strong as when I took the pheromone enhancement potion before, it had become strong enough that I could leave a mark on him. Although it is extremely shabby to compare what an extreme dominant alpha could do, I was glad that I was able to bury myself in him even a little.

He took my hand to lead me forward and sat me down on the sofa, then he sat next to me. I leaned against his shoulder as he sat comfortably with his long legs crossed. He held my hand and gently stroked my stomach with his other hand.

“They say it’s growing well without any problems. You heard from the doctor, right?”

“Yes, the doctor came this morning.”

“What did you eat today?”

“Um, raspberries and kiwi and…”

From the day I started having morning sickness, he personally asked about what I ate. He massaged my hand while listening to the story with a focused face, as if he would not let go of even the smallest differences.

The massage started with my fingers and gradually moved up to the arms and then behind the back, lightly massaging the lower back as well.

“Mmmh…”

It was surprising how well he was able to find and press only the stiff areas.

“Why are you so good at massaging? Huht.”

The hand gently rubbing the back of my neck gave me goosebumps. It felt cool and tickling, so my neck naturally twitched.

“When you practice swordsmanship, you often experience muscle pain.”

“Haa… Don’t the employees massage you at times like that?”

I asked since he was the heir to the Duchy, it seemed natural that he would have a servant to give him a massage. Ian let out a small laugh at my words and got down on his knees.

“There’s no way I was seriously ill enough to call employees.”

Then, why could he massage so well? I looked at him below me with a puzzled face.

“Some time back, I learned about massages that are good for pregnant women.”

My eyes widened at his soft reply.

It was surprising that not only was it the first time. But recently he responded as if he knew everything without me having to say it out loud.

As if he had noticed my signs just moments ago.

“Of course, I knew basic common sense.”

“…Thank you.”

“This is nothing.”

It felt like I had put a bunch of sugar in my mouth. It was sweeter than the strawberry ice cream I had at the square, and everything in front of me felt dazzling.

He took my foot casually. He politely put my feet on his lap and took off my slippers while looking into my eyes.

At first, I felt like I was going crazy because I was embarrassed, but it seems that humans are creatures of adaptation. He put his fingers between my toes and gently applied pressure to loosen them, then, reaching for the oil bottle on the table, he poured some onto his hands.

There was a fragrant scent for a moment, but it quickly disappeared and I couldn’t smell it. Because he started releasing pheromones.

He wouldn’t even tolerate any scent other than his pheromones on my body. It was natural that oil, which was nothing special, would also become the target.

He gently moved his fingertips and subtly massaged the swollen feet and calves. A comfortable yet exhilarating sensation slowly rose from my toes.

“Nnh.”

“It’s still swollen like this, I wonder what it will be like when you’re full term.”

“The more pregnant you are, the more you have to move… uhh.”

That’s what the doctor told me, yet he pressed the middle of the sole of my foot hard as if he didn’t like to hear it. It was so painful that it brought tears to my eyes, but ironically, it was so refreshing that I let out a drowsy sigh.

“If you must move, always move with me, Mel.”

I thought I was still spending enough time with him, but does this mean I can spend more time with him?

Then there was no reason to refuse. My heart is always with him.

“…Yes, I will definitely do that.”

He seemed satisfied with my answer and smiled. I blinked slowly as I looked at the mole around his mouth that I liked.

“Good girl.”

His lips fell on the instep with a compliment. He pressed his lips to the top of my foot as if expressing affection to a noble person, but his gaze was focused on me.

I felt as if golden eyes, as vivid as the full moon in the pitch-black night sky without any stars, were entrapping me. When I willingly gave myself up without resisting his gaze that seemed to bury my body, the world began to change.

Starting with the surroundings, everything else began to lose its color.