Imprinting?
I was taken aback and opened my eyes wide.
“Imprinting only happens between individuals of the same species. Moreover, nowadays, since incestuous marriages are practically prohibited…”
My voice trailed off.
Imprinting, well, you see… It was a somewhat embarrassing word to say out loud. It was related to the word ‘estrus’ that Ban had mentioned before coming here.
Suin are more powerful than ordinary humans, but there was one particular weakness: they have a beast-like estrus cycle.
During their estrus, they would unconditionally transform into a Suin and find a partner to suppress their urges.
‘Imprinting’ occurs between those who share their first estrus period together.
It’s akin to a first-night experience with someone.
Honestly, imprinting didn’t have any particularly good benefits.
They could simply feel each other’s pheromones sensitively and thus detect each other’s mood.
But the biggest advantage was that, once imprinted, emotions would amplify, causing them to only look at that one partner for life.
However, the problem was that the ‘mate’ sought during estrus was limited to the same species.
In other words, there was a possibility of incestuous marriages occurring.
‘Well, the author probably had no choice. After all, an elephant can’t go into estrus with seals or penguins…’
But now, after a thousand years, an estrus suppression medication has been invented, and Suin can be born and go through their estrus cycles normally without issue.
Of course, they can also marry other species.
“Hasn’t imprinting become something no one does anymore?”
Ugh, my throat is burning. I couldn’t continue speaking and just fanned my face with my hand. Sensing my shock, the wife hurriedly tried to soothe the situation.
“But practicing humanization is a process where pheromones from each other enter and exit the body. That’s essentially the same as imprinting.”
“Oh my goodness. Then I…”
I couldn’t even say I was getting married!
I clenched my mouth shut.
Fortunately, the wife smiled brightly.
“Don’t worry. It’s similar in effect, isn’t it? Once you finish practicing humanization and naturally drift apart, the effects of imprinting will also fade.”
“Well, that’s a relief… but maybe not?”
“Absolutely not. It will definitely fade. It’s not imprinting.”
That’s a relief.
I let out a sigh of relief, and the wife smiled with a cool grin, handing me a refreshing lemonade.
As the tangy, fizzy liquid touched my tongue, she muttered.
“Oh, there’s just one exception…”
“An exception?”
“If, by some extraordinary circumstance, two individuals of different species suddenly… go into estrus and become imprinted, then it would be considered imprinting.”
“That’s impossible,” I said firmly.
The wife giggled softly.
“Of course. That won’t happen.”
Then she whispered quietly, too low for Ban to hear.
“But you definitely need this perfume. The aura of the Yongsik is so intense, it’s like it could devour the princess… a beast among beasts’ energy…”
Devour like intensity—hearing that, I couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if Ban’s pheromones entered my body at that moment.
“…Can I spray it right now?”
“Of course.”
As soon as the permission from Lady Creamsud was granted, I hurriedly sprayed the perfume several times. Over and over.
I could feel the liquid falling all over my body.
Just as I let out a sigh of relief, I sensed someone’s gaze.
“What did you spray?”
“Ban.”
How long are those legs?
I thought he was far away, but in just three steps, he had come close to me and was looking at the perfume bottle in my hand with a skeptical gaze.
“Smells unpleasant.”
“Perfume? Smells? But this is colorless and odorless.”
“You just feel it. It’s unpleasant.”
He replied curtly, then snatched the perfume from my hand.
“What’s this for?”
“To dilute other people’s pheromones on the body. It will be very useful when the princess engages in external activities.”
The wife calmly responded to Ban.
“…Oh. So this is that infamous adulterous perfume.”
Ban, with a crooked smile, picked up the perfume bottle with his long thumb and index finger and dangled it in front of my nose.
“You probably didn’t know, princess. When shady noblemen cheat, they use this to erase their own spouse’s pheromones.”
He then nonchalantly looked at Lady Creamsud.
“Shouldn’t this kind of thing be banned?”
Why is he suddenly so grumpy?
I quickly stepped in front of my wife and placed my hand on my waist.
“It’s the fault of those who cheat using this, not the product itself.”
“…”
“And I’m not married, so it’s fine. It’s not my pheromones that are being erased, after all. So, Madam, please order ten boxes instead of three.”
“Oh my!”
Unlike Ban, whose expression clouded, the wife’s face shone brighter than the sun.
“I’ll have it loaded onto the carriage immediately. Since it’s a magic perfume, there’s no expiration date, so please use it generously.”
Afterwards, she said she would go check with the staff herself to make sure there were no mistakes, and she left the shop, leaving only Ban and me behind.
He still looked sullen, as if he was dissatisfied.
“What’s so wrong?”
“…My pheromones…”
He was about to say something but then closed his mouth tightly. Turning around coldly, he said:
“Stop shopping and go back. It’s too late.”
“Huh? I want to buy more.”
“This place has too many unnecessary items. Just go.”
Ban turned back to the carriage with a blatant pout.
Why is he acting like that? I wondered.
“Let’s go together!”
~·~·* . *^.^* . *·~·~
“Ban, before we go back, can we stop by one more place?”
“Where?”
“Alus Bank.”
Full name: ‘Squalus’ Bank.
“I have some friends I couldn’t properly see off when I was kidnapped by Nectrex Mountain last time. I want to send them some gifts.”
Specifically, I mean Vièche Squalus.
Of course, I could also visit the Count’s mansion directly, but I don’t have a close relationship with Count Squalus himself.
Moreover, Vièche is very busy, and asking to meet just to give a gift seems impractical.
So I plan to leave the gift at the bank run by his family and frequented by him—Alus Bank.
‘And the Squalus family is also wiped out by Ban?’
Suddenly, I felt gloomy.
The Squalus family was too valuable to be lost.
They contributed greatly to the society of Suin equality.
A long time ago, aquatic Suin were considered lower than commoners and were despised.
Back then, maritime means had not developed. Suin could only use their abilities near the sea.
No matter how strong they were, it was useless; Suin were no more than ordinary humans—neither better nor worse.
They were even looked down upon as strange beings.
However, over time, some Squalus managed to invent means to cross the sea using their powers.
They earned money with these means, bought their fallen noble status, and gradually revived their family.
Thanks to that, aquatic Suin now receive the same treatment as humans.
‘Of course, nowadays, the Squalus are also involved in corruption. They deserve to be punished. But Vièche—no, that boy—can’t be touched. He’s kind and diligent. It would be a shame to lose him.’
Of course, this isn’t just because of my handsome protector law.
It’s just that I think talented people are too precious. Talented people.
My conscience inside was asking what I knew about Vièche, but I silently ignored it.
“Ban, you know the Squalus family, right? They’re a great family that changed the perception of aquatic Suin with their bare hands, aren’t they?”
As I praised Vièche, Ban raised an eyebrow.
“Could it be… you’ve disliked them all along?”
Suddenly worried, I enthusiastically listed his strengths.
“Of course, the Alus family has recently been involved in corruption through alliance with the First Prince, so their reputation isn’t good.”
“…”
“But I believe Vièche Squalus is different. Every family has its good and bad members, right?”
Ban twisted one corner of his mouth.
“You seem very interested in Vièche.”
“Of course. Because he’s so handsome… no, so capable.”
I elaborately described Alus’s top figures, their assets, and the inheritance he would soon receive.
Of course, I left out his handsome face and his numerous romantic pursuits.
“…You really like him, huh?”
But after I finished, I noticed a cold smile flickering across his face.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“We’ve arrived.”
He deflected the question and pointed out the window.
Indeed, the carriage had already stopped at Alus Bank.
“Oh, I see. I should get off now.”
As I stepped out of the carriage, Ban continued to look sulky.
I wonder why he’s so grumpy.
Could it be that I praised Vièche too much?
But in the original story, Ban and Vièche had no interactions at all.
Of course, Ban supported Zerros, the Fourth Prince, so he had a poor relationship with the Squalus head who supported the First Prince. But he wasn’t against Vièche.
Just as I was about to entrust the gift I had brought, I heard a familiar voice.
~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~
Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉
Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
~~~Next Chapter~~~
Next chapter will be released on September, 17.
See you then!!
Ban, don’t get rid of the guy because you’re jealous.