My Contract Husband Resembles the Male Protagonist - Chapter 22
“….Unnie?”
“You have a weak body, so you shouldn’t wander around like this. Look at your dark circles. I told you not to wander around recklessly today because there will be many guests from outside. Did you listen or not? I’m really worried.”
Her voice dripped with affection and tenderness.
Adelaine personally brushed off the dirt on Sophia’s bottom.
“Go to your room, okay? If you’re bored, you can come to my room. Got it?”
“Me, really?”
“Are you crazy? Of course not…!”
Then, Adelaine looked around, and our eyes met again.
“Of course, no! What’s with these questions, Sophia? Don’t ask me anything like it’s new. Oh, your palm got scratched. Go put some medicine on it and rest. Understand?”
“Thank you, unnie…!”
The girl called Sophia bowed slightly and disappeared.
“Did she say unnie?”
I scratched my head.
***
The tea party led by Adelaine was as expected.
“Is she deliberately excluding me this time?”
The people in the seats were not the same neighborhood folks as before but wealthy women. My seat was right next to the hostess, Adelaine.
“Coincidentally, today is Lady Adelaine’s birthday, isn’t it?”
“Oh my goodness! How did everyone know and prepare all this? I told you not to do this.”
I took a sip of tea.
Although no one had told me, it seemed that everyone present knew that today’s tea party was a celebration of Adelaine’s birthday.
The people gathered seemed to be nearby nobles or daughters of the upper-class affiliated with Kiedland, mostly her followers.
Kiedland was a wealthy estate that distributed high-quality minerals produced exclusively there. Being acquaintances with her meant wealth.
Adelaine glanced at me with a smile.
“I said there was no need to prepare anything since it’s just a small gathering… but everyone is so lovely! Right, Anne?”
She lightly nudged me and laughed.
“Since we’ve come this far, it wouldn’t be polite not to accept the gifts, right?”
“Of course! Lady Adelaine, please look at my gift first.”
Everyone rushed forward and handed her gifts.
Most of them were jewels that Adelaine would like.
As similar items kept coming, Adelaine couldn’t hide a hint of boredom.
“Well, thank you all. Then.”
Finally, as if waiting for it, she looked at me.
“Anne, did you bring my gift?”
“…..”
“It’s okay, Anne. I told you not to feel burdened. But still, it’s my birthday…”
“Right. You were invited to the party by Lady Adelaine’s favor. Isn’t it too shameless?”
People around started to murmur.
“I asked my father and brought an expensive face cream that can only be obtained from another kingdom. Please remember it!”
“Thank you. Of course, I’ll remember, Sally.”
“Yay! Thank you!”
“Lady Adelaine, you’re so kind. How could that wicked woman who stole Lady Adelaine’s man…”
“Hush.”
Adelaine furrowed her brows and silenced her.
“That’s disrespectful to Anne.”
Adelaine glanced at me with a raised eyebrow
“I’m sorry. They’re not usually like this, but I guess I can’t view Miss Anne favorably because they’re my friends.”
“True.”
I nodded as I put a piece of cake into my mouth.
It tasted quite good, wherever it was from, fitting my palate well.
However, Adelaine’s expression didn’t seem satisfied.
“Haha, haha… It’s okay; feel free to stay at ease, Miss Anne.”
She tried to smile benevolently. At that moment, I stood up from my seat.
“You’re leaving already? Stay a bit longer; I insist.”
“I’ll stay.”
Adelaine, who was formally holding onto me, looked bewildered.
She momentarily couldn’t control her surprise, and her eyebrows furrowed.
“But it’s a misconception that I haven’t prepared a gift for you, Lady Adelaine.”
I stared at the woman who had flattered Adelaine with the vigor of a dog wagging its tail.
Then brought out a box I had hidden.
As I took out the box, everyone’s attention shifted to me. I smiled at them.
“Of course, I prepared a gift for Lady Adelaine.”
At the same time, Adelaine’s eyelids crumpled like folded paper.
