The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 199
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Johanna did not fully understand what kind of person Josephine Babenhausen was, and perhaps she never would.
To her, others were fundamentally isolated beings, making mutual misunderstanding seem inevitable.
Josephine visited the Weimar residence with Ernst the afternoon after Karl had come by. She was dressed with her hat pulled low and her scarf wrapped tightly around her.
At first, seeing her face covered like that, Johanna assumed it was out of shame at having to apologize to herself and Victoria. However, she soon realized that wasn’t the case.
“Show your face properly when apologizing. There’s no sincerity in such an appearance. Don’t you agree, Ernst?”
“Yes, Josephine. Take off your hat and loosen the scarf. It’s disrespectful to apologize like that.”
“……”
Urged on by Leonid’s words, Ernst gently prodded her, and Josephine silently removed her hat and unwrapped her scarf. The moment her hidden face was revealed, Johanna couldn’t help but gasp softly, her breath catching in her throat.
‘Her cheeks….’
It was unmistakably the face of someone who had been struck. Both cheeks were bruised in a sickly shade of purple, and her lips were cracked and scabbed over. Johanna was so shocked she couldn’t utter a word, her mouth merely opening and closing silently.
Victoria was equally taken aback. Though she had been resolute about making Josephine, who had abducted and mistreated her inhumanely, apologize, the appalling sight left her speechless.
“What… What on earth happened…?”
Victoria stammered, unable to continue. Josephine’s utterly disheveled state was beyond anything Victoria could have imagined.
Who on earth would treat a noble lady in such a brutal manner? Her incredulous gaze shifted to Ernst and Karl. Karl looked down, his face clouded, while Ernst, meeting Victoria’s eyes, simply smiled—a smile as if he felt no pity for his sister’s wretched condition.
“I’m not the one who did it.”
Ernst spoke, his tone as flat as if he were merely introducing tonight’s menu.
“Our father tends to be rather strict in discipline.”
“……”
Beating a child to such an extent hardly seems like proper discipline… Victoria was once again left speechless, thinking she finally understood why Josephine Babenhausen had developed such a corrupt character, even to the point of committing crimes.
With a deep sigh, Johanna, seated next to her, gently patted Victoria’s hand in a comforting gesture. Johanna, too, seemed visibly shocked. Victoria couldn’t shake off the sense that even with an apology, this would still feel unresolved.
“Hurry and apologize, Josephine.”
“……”
At Ernst’s command, Josephine opened her mouth as if to speak, only to close it again repeatedly. Though Victoria remained angry over Josephine’s wrongdoings, she chose to wait patiently for now.
Considering what Josephine had done to her, she could only think of her as a detestable woman, yet, paradoxically, seeing her in this state stirred some pity within her.
“Quickly now.”
Ernst urged softly. Victoria thought to herself that he must be an even greater madman than this woman. Babenhausen… Even for a fortune, she’d never work for that family. Though they were indoors, she shivered.
“…I am sorry, Miss Victoria Oder.”
“Yes, and?”
Josephine struggled to force out the words of apology. For a proud noblewoman, it must have been difficult. Nonetheless, Victoria had no intention of letting this matter go so easily.
“It was… all my fault. I am truly sorry.”
“……”
There was no excuse, no pleading for forgiveness. To be honest, it didn’t seem entirely heartfelt, but it was acceptable—at least she wasn’t spinning any pathetic excuses.
“You do understand what wrongs you’ve committed, don’t you?”
This was no longer an era where a lord’s word could sever a serf’s wrist. The monarchy had embraced rule of law, and even nobles were subject to punishment for their crimes. Victoria was infinitely grateful she hadn’t been born some two hundred years earlier.
“Kidnapping, confinement… and framing you, Miss Oder. I apologize.”
“You should also apologize to the Marchioness of Neubitz. Calling her barren… You concocted such baseless lies and caused her so much distress. How much must Lady Johanna—no, the Marchioness—have suffered because of it?”
Thinking about the two weeks Johanna must have endured in utter despair without her left her feeling devastated. Johanna desperately needed to repay that cursed debt, and if she were branded as infertile, she might end up penniless and expelled. It was a blessing that Karl had found her in time.
“…I am truly sorry, Marchioness of Neubitz.”
“……”
“I’m… so sorry…”
