We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 97

Despite feeling reassured by his presence, fear suddenly engulfed me. Having lost so much blood…

The memory flashed before me, prompting me to open my eyes. The ceiling came into view first, then my gaze fell to the doctor, Henry, and a few maids.

But it was the sight further down that I needed to confirm, whether my belly was still full, yet my lips trembled uncontrollably. I was afraid to check.

Though I only needed to lower my gaze a bit more, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Fearing that touching it might shatter me, my eyes darted around until a large hand gently encased my belly as if reading my mind.

“It’s safe, Mel.”

His words unleashed a flood of tears from me.

“Uuhh, huuh.”

“Shh…”

He continued to soothe me with his gentle voice.

I wanted to lean into his embrace, filled with apologies and longing, but like MomI had dreamed of, a firm hand on my shoulder stopped me. His pheromones, which had been warm moments ago, sharpened as his voice grew cold.

“What on earth have you been up to?”

His voice, filled with condensed anger, made my blood run cold again.

#10_The Hidden Truth

His voice was ominously cold, making me doubt if this was the same person who had just been comforting me.

So, I couldn’t immediately respond, feeling as if my alpha was reproaching me. Without uttering a word, I merely trembled. I was unable to even meet his gaze as my eyes flickered nervously.

With my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest, I was dizzy but knew I had to answer. After all, my imprinted alpha wanted an answer.

I barely managed to open my lips.

“…I, I visited Marquisate Ovando.”

“Who said you could go there?”

Just his low voice made me shrink. Unlike before, he didn’t comfort me as tears burst forth again.

“Huuh, I’m sorry….”

“Hoo, Henry. Explain.”

“Yes, Young Lord.”

Henry, looking visibly worn in such a short time, began detailing the events. It was only after hearing that Lady Nicola had persuaded me to go, and that I had hurried back due to the Marquis’s pheromones, that Ian’s gaze returned to me.

Had it been days ago, his golden eyes might have felt warm, but now they seemed utterly indifferent, making him feel strangely unfamiliar.

No, it had been a while.

Before my pregnancy, I had often seen this cold side of him. The frigid gaze of the alpha made it feel as if I was being pushed off a cliff, sending shivers down my spine.

Even after Henry finished reporting, Ian said nothing. The silence that filled the space prevented anyone from making a sound.

“…What’s the cause?”

The question came much later, much rougher. This time, the doctor explained.

“It’s poison.”

“What?”

“Fortunately, it wasn’t a large amount, so we were able to save the young master, but it was really close to being dangerous.”

“So, are you saying that Marquisate Ovando threatened my heir?”

Given that this happened right after returning from the tea party at the Marquisate, Ian’s suspicion was justified. The doctor shook his head and added.

“While I’m not an expert in poisons, the situation was quite delicate.”

“How so?”

“If the poison had been mixed into a liquid and consumed, the Madam would not have been able to open her eyes by now. It may seem presumptuous, but considering such an overt attempt on the Duchy’s heir, we need to be suspicious.”

The doctor’s words were reasonable. Henry, who had been listening, added his own observations.

“I personally inspected the tea the Madam consumed. I checked the tea leaves and the teapot while the maid was brewing the tea. However, I failed to inspect the tea cups thoroughly. My apologies.”

These testimonies sparked suspicion in me as well. I had left the greenhouse and headed straight for the carriage. Although I did feel unwell after encountering another alpha, could that have caused the bleeding?

Despite my fear, I felt I owed Ian an explanation. I struggled to open my trembling lips and managed to voice out,

“I, I met the Marquis before getting on the carriage. But, it was, the first time, huh, I encountered another alpha’s pheromone. So, I felt really unwell…”

I burst into tears as I spoke. I was so ashamed to face him after so long, and overwhelmed with sorrow and fear, I couldn’t stop crying.

“I’m, I’m so sorry. Truly, I am sorry…”

“Whoo…”

Ian slowly stroked my face, even as his deep sigh mixed with alpha pheromones made my body rejoice. It was brief, but I felt a moment of intense self-loathing.

In a situation where both the child in my stomach and I were in danger, I still prioritized the alpha’s pheromones.

Knowing it was due to the imprint, I was unable to control myself. I desperately tried not to inhale his pheromones, I held my breath until I couldn’t anymore and then greedily took in the alpha’s pheromones floating in the air.

“Did you tell everything truthfully?”

Prompted by Ian’s interrogation, a maid who had been trembling in the corner stepped forward.

“Young, Young Lord!”

“What is it?”

His voice was severely stern that it made the maid hesitate before she finally answered after trembling for a moment.

“I was waiting for the Madam in the carriage. Then, a male servant approached, saying it was a pregnancy congratulatory gift and left a bouquet of roses.”

“A bouquet?”

“Yes, I asked who sent it, but he disappeared too quickly for me to get a full answer. The butler explained everything else, but since the rose bouquet wasn’t mentioned, I thought I should report it.”

“Where is that bouquet now?”

Responding to Ian’s question, another maid stepped forward,

“…It fell and got ruined, so we cleaned it up and disposed of it in the incinerator.”

“Ha! So, no one knows the cause now!”