The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 67
“Is the student you’re sponsoring, by any chance, Kabil Berman…? It was quite a scene yesterday.”
It seemed that Kabil Berman was indeed the adolescent ward Lord Bantwood was referring to. Daniel looked slightly awkward discussing the matter in the person’s absence.
“Yes, exactly. Do you know Kabil? I hardly ever hear about who he spends time with.”
Lord Bantwood spoke with a hint of bitterness. By then, the rain had stopped, and the sky had cleared. The three of them continued their conversation as they walked across the campus.
“Kabil… doesn’t really get along with anyone. But yesterday’s incident wasn’t his fault. It was Damian who started it. I saw it myself. I even testified to the teachers.”
“So it was you who testified, Sir Daniel.”
“Please, just call me Daniel.”
“Alright, Daniel. Thank you for standing up for Kabil.”
Lord Bantwood expressed his gratitude, and Daniel shrugged with a shy smile. Soon, they arrived at the school gate, signaling that it was time to part ways with Daniel.
After excusing herself to Lord Bantwood, Johanna pulled Daniel aside to give him a firm reminder.
“If Father shows up, don’t engage with him. If he asks to see you, just say you don’t know him and ignore him. Got it? And if anything happens, make sure you contact me immediately.”
“Yeah, I will.”
“You know when the wedding is, right? A carriage will come to pick you up in front of the school. Just look for the crest of House Neubitz and get in.”
“Yeah, but what should I wear?”
“When you arrive at the estate, the servants will help you get dressed. You can just wear your uniform on the way.”
“Got it.”
Johanna hugged her brother tightly as he nodded with his usual gentle expression. After finishing their conversation, she returned to where Lord Bantwood was waiting.
After exchanging farewells with Johanna, Daniel gave her one last hug before turning and running off. Johanna watched him disappear into the distance, her heart heavy at the thought of being apart from her brother again.
“Miss Lucerne…”
“Yes?”
Lord Bantwood spoke up hesitantly, his expression tinged with a sadness that was hard to ignore.
“Could we talk for a moment? It’s about Lord Neubitz.”
Feeling it would be difficult to refuse, Johanna just nodded.
They walked to a secluded bench near the school gate, where Johanna and Lucas Bantwood sat down, maintaining a respectful distance between them.
Lucas fidgeted nervously, clearly struggling with whatever he was about to say. Johanna patiently waited, her eyes fixed on the flowers in the garden, giving him time to gather his thoughts.
“Actually…”
Lucas finally began, his voice tentative. Johanna didn’t turn to look at him; instead, she kept her gaze on a cluster of purple pansies, waiting for him to continue.
“Please, go ahead.”
“I wanted to ask if your feelings for Leonid… are genuine. I know it’s an abrupt and rather rude question…”
He referred to him as “Leonid,” not “Lord Neubitz.” It must have been a slip of the tongue, a habit from a time when he was more familiar with him. Johanna turned her head to look at Lucas Bantwood quietly. For a moment, she could see a glimpse of the boy who once harbored an innocent crush on Leonid during their academy days.
From what Johanna knew, Leonid and Lucas were the same age. She didn’t know the full story of what transpired between them as academy peers, but one thing was clear: Lucas had never truly given up on Leonid.
Six years had passed, making it a remarkably enduring, unrequited love. Johanna couldn’t help but feel a mix of sympathy and kinship with him.
“My feelings are genuine. That’s why I’m going through with the marriage.”
She spoke with a blend of truth and falsehood, all the while considering the situation. Lucas Bantwood was a dominant Omega of noble blood—someone far more fitting for Leonid than she could ever be. Yet, Leonid had not chosen him. Why?
The answer was simple. Leonid wasn’t seeking a noble-blooded spouse. He wanted someone who could bear his heir and part ways cleanly, without any lingering complications. In that regard, she was the perfect match.
Moreover, Lucas Bantwood had been relentlessly in love with Leonid for years. That kind of attachment would never have been considered.
If anyone were to discover her own long-held feelings…
A sudden chill ran through her. She resolved, more firmly than ever, to keep her feelings hidden. She couldn’t afford to ruin this marriage—this crucial arrangement that held her very survival in its balance.
“Since you said it, I suppose I have to believe you. I’ve been bothered by some rumors circulating around.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes, that you and Leonid are just pretending for the reason to deceive the Duke of Elderique.”
“Ah…”
Johanna narrowed her eyes slightly. So that’s what this was about—he must have heard something that led to these sudden questions.
“And also…”
Lucas hesitated for a moment, wetting his dry lips with his tongue before continuing.
