WCMBI - Chapter 223: Revelation (Patreon)

"Indeed," replied Ian.

Pedro couldn't help but find his response amusing. Not only was the situation itself peculiar, but he also detected a sense of urgency in Ian's voice, which further perplexed him. It was maddeningly vexing and prompted a wry chuckle.

"If only things had been handled well from the beginning," he thought.

Though he had only seen Melissa at the Duke's ball once, he sensed that even at that moment, she loved Ian despite her self-destructive tendencies. Such a truth was evident to any keen observer, and it seemed inconceivable that Ian remained oblivious to it. Why, then, was he now frantically seeking her in this matter?

"Are you suggesting the rumors circulating about her disappearance are true?" Pedro asked, raising an eyebrow with a hint of skepticism.

"Yes, indeed," Ian confirmed.

"It's rather perplexing," Pedro commented, his voice tinged with a negative undertone, which only made him more uneasy.

To be frank, there was no need for Pedro to address the Duke with reverence, as they were equals by status. However, Pedro himself had chosen to adhere to such propriety, for it would signify that if the Marquis declined to help, it was an implicit refusal, regardless of Pedro's imperial status.

"With no target left, it is quite strange that the revelation of her being an Alpha has only surfaced now, Your Highness."

"What do you mean?" inquired Pedro.

With a serene smile, Pedro raised the teacup before him. The topic might not have been fitting for tea time, but revealing new information to the lingering Alphas around him seemed rather intriguing.

"The Aeris Empire regarded Alphas imprinting as a matter of disgrace, a thing to be avoided at all costs," Pedro began to explain.

"That's true. Many were cautious, and that's why Omegas weren't chosen as wives, all because imprinting would be included in such customs."

"There is a saying: 'Love and sneezes cannot be concealed.' Imprinting stems from love, and could they truly control their emotions as they wished?"

Adrian, feeling intrigued by the peculiar remark, scrutinized the Marquis's face.

Once again, that hateful expression crossed Pedro's features. Why did the Marquis harbor such animosity towards Alphas? What secret knowledge did he possess to provoke such sentiment?

Pedro briefly reopened a sealed past that he had kept hidden. He vividly recalled the painful and tragic image of his unfortunate mother.

"No matter what, one-sided imprints are the worst," Pedro added.

Continuing on, Ian chimed in, "I am an Alpha with a mutual imprint."

"Well," Pedro began, considering Ian's assertion, "that remains to be seen."

With Ian's certainty, Pedro couldn't help but think of Melissa, who might be at the Marquis's mansion. Could her pheromone gland and sense of smell have been impaired?

The likelihood of her imprint being shattered seemed next to none, but human affairs were never entirely predictable.

"What grounds do you have for such beliefs?" Pedro asked.

"I have substantial evidence, Your Highness. I have witnessed it with my own eyes and felt it deeply in my bones, an indelible sensation that has shaped my very being," Ian replied with conviction.

"What do you mean?"

"Surely you are familiar with the tale of the late Viscount Bailey, Your Highness. He secretly imprinted upon his Omega. Consider this: even when he thought he could not produce an Alpha heir, he found an Omega later in life who bore my existence. Admittedly, I did not inherit the Marquisate in place of my elder brother, but the late Viscount Bailey's perspective must have been different at that time."

Pedro's insistence on addressing his father as a Viscount appeared peculiar. No, it wasn't merely the form of address that struck an odd chord, but rather the venomous glint in his eyes that accompanied it.

"Regrettably, Bailey, the late Viscount, marked his territory aggressively. As a result, my mother was confined to the chambers, unable to set foot outside. But is that all? How did the rest of the family treat my mother in the face of the Viscount's pitiful cries? And what about me? Have you ever wondered how I grew up in such an environment?"

"You mean to say that Bailey, the late Viscount, marked his territory?"

"Behold, even His Majesty must not be privy to this tale. Despite being the father of the entire empire, there are facets of his subjects' lives he cannot fathom."

"It's beyond belief."

Ian shared a similar predicament. To think that Pedro had marked his territory, unlike himself, was enough to drive one to madness. Even with Melissa absent from his sight, Ian held onto the belief that if they were to meet again, they could return to the past.

No, not return to the past, but rather begin anew. He would first apologize to her and then put in every effort to open his heart to her. If she shed tears, he would wipe them away; if she sought revenge, he would tear her adversaries apart before her eyes. If she desired wealth, he would lay all the Duke's treasures at her feet, and if she craved love, he would offer her his heart, even if it meant tearing it out.

Thus, he and Pedro were different. Being marked was not the same for everyone.

"And so, you've always looked at me with such eyes."

At the Emperor's words tinged with melancholy, Pedro wore a puzzled expression.

"My expression, Your Majesty?"

"Yes. Haven't you always displayed a look of contempt whenever you saw some of the Alphas?"