We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 85

“But the omega staying at our mansion doesn’t even make eye contact with me. Whenever I try to approach and start a conversation, she shivers in fear. It’s quite unfortunate. I’ve thought about how to get closer to her.”

“However?”

“I thought it might help if there is another omega around to make her feel more at ease.”

“…Maybe so.”

Nicola replied, still somewhat perplexed.

“Lady Nicola, forgive me for asking even though we’ve just met.”

“What is it?”

“This time, I’m planning to host a rather grand tea party! Please consider coming to our estate to join us with our omega. That way, she might feel more at ease and decide to attend.”

“Even if we are both omegas, there’s quite an age difference. Will she really feel comfortable?”

In response to Nicola’s comment, Lilliana chuckled and got to the point.

“Oh, how about this? Actually, recently an alpha was born to that omega.”

“Is it something to celebrate?”

“Yes, it’s incredibly pretty and takes after my husband. Haha. Oh, I shouldn’t be acting so foolish already.”

Nicola briefly recalled Ian and Melissa upon hearing her words.

“How about we talk about childbirth and rearing and include Lady Melissa as well?”

* * *

Ian rushed into the annex to comfort his omega, who was shivering from the unexpected encounter.

“Henry, stay here and look after Mel.”

“Yes!”

“And you, too. Keep an eye on Mel’s condition.”

“Un, understood!”

Ian hurried off to deal with the people from the County. Then, Melissa grabbed his hand, her voice trembling.

“What, what should I do? Have I, huh, caused trouble, for the duchy?”

She regretted her actions. She knew Lewis was approaching, but she couldn’t avoid him. She blamed herself for foolishly sitting down as he ordered.

Ian gently released a stronger pheromone to try and comfort his omega and whispered.

“They were going to have to face the consequences sooner or later, and it just happened a bit sooner.”

He didn’t know if he could console his omega with words like these, but he hoped it could give her some peace of mind. He ran his fingers through Melissa’s hair, then pressed his lips to her forehead before standing up.

“She might have been shocked, so have the doctor called just in case.”

“Yes, Young Lord.”

Saying so, Ian hurriedly went to where Lewis and Alex were. As he walked away, he couldn’t help but tremble with the barely suppressed anger. He couldn’t imagine what Lewis might have said or done to his omega. Ian had probably heard only part of it.

“Darn it, I should have been more vigilant.”

The knights guarding the area saluted him. They had witnessed firsthand Ian’s abilities that they had only heard about and offered their salutes with genuine respect.

“Is he awake yet?”

“Lord Rosewood is awake.”

“Good. Leave Count Rosewood as he is and bring the Lord to my office.”

“Yes!”

Though he wanted to end them both right there and then, he couldn’t. If it was just a fight between him and that person, he would have taken his life. But since families were involved, he suppressed his anger for the time being.

As long as he doesn’t die, it’ll be fine, won’t it?

As he was on his way to enter the mansion, Ian abruptly turned and headed toward the fallen Lewis. Without hesitation, Ian mercilessly kicked Lewis, who was unconscious.

The knights who were observing kept their breaths held. Although Ian appeared to be acting recklessly, he was strategically targeting non-lethal areas.

Alex, who had been sitting nearby and coming to his senses, could only watch in astonishment. He felt like a fool for ever having underestimated Ian.

“Lord, follow me.”

Ian muttered after one final swift kick as Lewis’ body twitched and then went still again. Alex, who had witnessed it all, trembled with fear.

“Are, are you planning to torture me? We are County Rosewood’s people!”

“What to do with that whining?”

Hearing Ian’s grim words, Alex tightened his expression and spoke again.

“I’ll follow you…”

Ian walked briskly to the office, and took a seat in front of the desk. He glared at Alex who followed him in.

Despite having visited the study often, Alex now keenly felt the significant disparity in power. He was overwhelmed with a belated sense of shame. He could no longer hold onto the idea that, as friends, he could be spared from Ian’s wrath.

Ian’s golden eyes still flashed in anger.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

“….yes.”

“As long as your safety is assured, you don’t care, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“That’s your nature, isn’t it?”

“….Please, just tell me the main point.”

Ian quickly devised a plan to cover up the incident.

“Say there was a carriage accident. You miraculously survived, but sadly, the Count barely clung to life.”

“…..That’s too severe!”

Alex voiced his anger, but Ian remained unfazed. In fact, he responded in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Then, you can die as well.”

“What kind of talk is this?”

As his old habits resurfaced, Alex yelled, only to receive a calm response from Ian.

“Even if you die, Monica’s husband will carry on the family line. People will mourn for a moment, but soon they’ll forget you two father-and-son, just as they did with your grandfather. And they’ll forget all but one omega who died alongside him.”

“…”

Alex felt a different kind of terror this time. He was fearful that Ian might actually go through with these absurd plans.

“What… What should I do then?”

Disgrace was more than humiliation, and fear overwhelmed disgrace. Alex seemed so disoriented.

Ian quickly retrieved a piece of paper and began writing a document. It wasn’t an ordinary contract but a magic contract sold only in the Magic Tower. One could say it was a lifetime contract that involved risking one’s life.