The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 175
This was genuinely troubling, Johanna thought, breaking into a cold sweat.
Balls like these were mainly for socializing, yet Leonid was acting like an impenetrable fortress, allowing no one to approach.
He’d seemed to be in a decent mood before they’d stepped out of the carriage… What had ruffled his temper this time? He truly was an unpredictable person.
“Stay by my side at all times. Nights like these, at balls, there are always a few who lose their senses.”
Losing their senses… did he mean people who would even commit crimes?
It was hard to believe a noble would behave so disgracefully, especially at a palace ball, but incidents between Alphas and Omegas were frequent enough that caution wasn’t unwarranted. Johanna nodded in agreement.
Soon, the ball officially began. The first dance was a quadrille.
Since it was a dance suited for single men and women to find partners, Johanna and Leonid did not participate. Instead, they stood to the side, observing the dancers as if they were merely decorations.
Watching people exchange affectionate glances and smiles was unexpectedly enjoyable.
Though, it seemed Johanna was the only one feeling this way, as Leonid wore a persistently bored expression.
The next dance was a waltz. In this dance, partners moved in a large circle, occasionally switching partners, but Leonid had firmly stated his intentions beforehand.
“The thought of touching any Omega other than you makes me nauseous. Understand? Even if the formation is disrupted, let’s just dance with each other.”
“…Are you sure it’s okay to do that, even at the royal palace ball?”
“If I want to, who’s going to say otherwise?”
Right, he was the sole heir of the Elderique family, the one who could even bring a soaring bird to the ground. Who would dare say anything to the future head of such a noble family, one that upheld the country itself? Even the royal family was wary of him.
Still, she couldn’t shake the thought that this was a bit tyrannical…
“Is your ankle okay?”
As Johanna moved gracefully to the lively tune, Leonid asked softly. Meeting his gaze, she smiled to assure him she was fine.
Then, without warning, his face drew close, as if about to kiss her. Startled, she tried to pull back, but his large hand pressed firmly against her back, and he stole a kiss.
“What are you…!”
They were in front of countless onlookers. Even though it was brief, with just a quick “smack” before he pulled away, everyone must have seen it.
Johanna stared at Leonid in shock, her whole body trembling. Her face felt like it was on fire, ready to explode.
“We need to go this far to keep people from doubting us.”
“….”
She wanted to argue that there was no need to go to such lengths, but she chose to stay silent. Saying anything would only be a waste of breath.
After the waltz ended, Leonid led Johanna to a resting area set up in a corner of the ballroom. Although she could have just stood, he insisted on seating her on a couch.
“Is your ankle okay?”
It was the fifth time he’d asked. Johanna, hiding her flushed face with a fan, replied firmly, conveying her wish for him to stop asking.
“I’m really fine. There’s nothing wrong.”
“Hmm…”
Leonid showed a hint of disappointment, and Johanna paused mid-motion, stopping her fan. …Did he perhaps want to leave early, using her ankle as an excuse?
If that were the case, his fixation on her ankle made sense. Maybe she should have played along a little…
“Do you want to leave early?”
This time, Johanna asked quietly, leaning closer to Leonid while hiding her face behind her fan. They looked like lovers sharing a secret, though Johanna herself was unaware of how it appeared.
“….”
Leonid gazed at her intently, a faint smile appearing on his lips. Then, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing close enough that their breaths almost mingled, and whispered,
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“…Should I pretend to be hurt right now, then?”
“Ha.”
He laughed softly, then leaned in and captured her lips in a sudden kiss, deeper and more lingering than the last.
“…!”
Startled, Johanna pulled her head back quickly. Though the fan had shielded them from direct view, anyone who had been glancing their way would have easily caught on.
Lowering her head, Johanna hid completely behind her fan, clutching its handle tightly as her hands trembled. Beside her, Leonid’s amused laughter reached her ears.
…He’s definitely doing this on purpose. He’s enjoying making me flustered.
With no way to retaliate against his teasing, Johanna could only feel the frustration build up inside.
“Excuse me, Marquis Neubitz. I have a matter to discuss…”
Just then, someone approached and greeted him. Johanna quickly folded her fan and straightened herself. It was a prominent figure from the business world.
“Alright, go ahead.”
Though Leonid seemed somewhat reluctant about the interruption, his sense of professionalism was impeccable, and he displayed the necessary courtesy.
