The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 58
A cold sweat trickled down Johanna’s back. In the darkened garden, only the distant sound of crickets could be heard. Hermia walked a few steps ahead, and Johanna, glancing nervously at her back, wetted her dry lips with her tongue. Her throat felt parched, her chest tight.
“You mentioned your family is in debt?”
The sudden question made Johanna flinch slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and answered,
“Yes, my father’s…”
“I’ve heard your father has caused quite a few problems, Miss Lucerne.”
“…”
“I find it rather unpleasant that my son has to clean up such a mess. It’s not as if you’re the only dominant Omega around. No matter how compatible you two may be.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”
Hermia’s biting question made Johanna’s lips part slightly, but no words came out. For a moment, her mind went completely blank. No matter what explanation she gave, it would only sound like an excuse to someone who already viewed her with disdain.
“I…”
Johanna carefully chose her words, speaking deliberately, one measured syllable at a time.
“I understand that I’ve received an immense favor from the Marquis… far beyond what I deserve.”
“And do you know your place?”
Her breath caught in her throat. The icy gaze and cutting tone made it painfully clear how she was being regarded. In a situation like this, one might expect her to be angry, but she was in no position to express such feelings.
Johanna thought of her remaining debts and her brother. No matter how her pride was trampled, there were things she had to protect.
Life is long. No matter what humiliation one endures, it’s but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things. Taking a deep breath, Johanna spoke again.
“…I know that my role is to provide the Marquis with a dominant heir and nothing more.”
“Yes, that’s all you’re good for, Miss Lucerne.”
Hermia turned fully toward Johanna. Her appearance, a direct inheritance from Duke Elderique, seemed untouched by the passage of time. With a face that could easily pass for someone in their early thirties, her beauty was as formidable as it was timeless.
“I don’t have much to say, Miss Lucerne.”
Her elegant hand reached out, resting on Johanna’s shoulder. Then, a heavy pressure settled on her shoulder, causing Johanna to flinch slightly and tense up.
“Know your place, conduct yourself properly, and above all, don’t get too close to Leonid. I doubt it would happen, but don’t even think of overstepping your bounds.”
“…”
“I have no intention of bringing someone without proper lineage into our family.”
Under the chillingly cold gaze, Johanna instinctively shrank back. She responded with a slightly breathless voice.
“I will keep that in mind…”
In that moment, she truly grasped the vast chasm between herself and those who belonged to the upper echelons of society. And they weren’t just any upper class; the Elderique family had been a pillar of the nation for generations.
In their world, she was nothing more than a perpetual outsider.
When Johanna returned from the conversation, Annette informed her that Anora and Kiara had already left the estate quite some time ago.
Apparently, Leonid had already retired to his chambers, not even staying to see his parents off.
Yet, Hermia seemed entirely unfazed by the situation, climbing into the carriage with an indifferent expression. The same could be said for her husband, Count Rinke.
Johanna found herself awkwardly taking on the role of bidding them farewell. Bowing her head in an uneasy manner, she caught Hermia’s dry, emotionless glance. Count Rinke offered her a kind smile, though it seemed as if he was carefully gauging his wife’s reaction.
After a long day, Johanna soaked in warm water for an extended time.As she stepped out of the bath and began changing her clothes, she heard a knock on the door.After carefully fastening the buttons of her gown, she slightly opened the door.
“What is it?”
“Um… The Marquis has requested that you come to him…”
The young maid, who seemed around eighteen, fidgeted and avoided direct eye contact, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“Alright, I’ll be out shortly.”
Johanna thought little of it, assuming Leonid had something to discuss with her.
She walked down the hallway with the maid until they reached his chamber door. Leonid’s and Johanna’s bedrooms were on the same floor and not far from each other.
“My Lord, Lady Johanna is here.”
At the maid’s announcement, a brief response came from inside, and soon the door opened.As Johanna stepped into the room, the first thing she noticed was the overwhelming presence of Leonid’s pheromones filling the space.
