The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 69
Was it sent by the newspaper? Johanna tilted her head in confusion as she spoke.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a maid entered carrying an enormous flower basket. Johanna was startled by the sheer size of it, which was far more extravagant than she had expected. The maid placed the basket on the table. Seeing Johanna’s bewildered expression, the maid hesitated before speaking.
“There’s no name indicating who sent it. The florist who delivered it only said it was from someone who knows Lady Johanna. I carefully inspected it, and there’s nothing dangerous or suspicious… There’s a card attached. It might be best if you opened it yourself.”
“…Very well, you can leave now.”
“Yes, Lady Johanna.”
After the maid left, Johanna cautiously approached the flower basket. It was large enough that she could practically sit inside it. Roses, freesias, carnations, lilies, lisianthuses… all sorts of flowers were beautifully arranged together.
Johanna leaned in to take in the rich floral scent, then noticed a card tucked into the edge of the basket. She carefully picked it up and opened it. The first thing that caught her eye was a brief congratulatory message written in cursive.
[Congratulations on your wedding.]
And below that, a more personal note.
[If it becomes unbearable, you’re always welcome to run away.]
It felt as though he was granting her mercy, fully aware of her situation. The chilling effect of his words made her heart turn cold.
Her hand trembled as she held the card. At the bottom, the initials of the sender were written.
[I. R]
…Ilian Rediess.
It was him.
Johanna’s face turned pale. What could be his intention in sending this? Was it merely to mock her?
She glared at the card with a hardened expression, but then a voice from outside interrupted her thoughts.
“Lady Johanna, it’s time for you to make your entrance.”
“…Yes.”
Taking a deep breath in and out, the trembling in her hand subsided a little. Johanna tore the card into several pieces and threw them into the trash. The echo of Ilian Rediess’s voice demanding her presence at the end of each month to pay the interest reverberated in her mind.
What that man held for her was nothing but a twisted curiosity. It was the cruelty of wanting to crush her, someone who was desperately trying to survive. The thought of his predatory gaze made goosebumps rise on her arms. She rubbed her arms and clenched her teeth.
“Run away? Me? Don’t make me laugh.”
No matter what, she was determined to see this transaction through. She would pay off her debts, sever ties with that man, and break free from this toxic entanglement for good.
A moment later, the maids entered the waiting room to check Johanna’s appearance. Johanna glanced at the large flower basket and said,
“Please throw that away.”
“Pardon? But it was a gift…”
“It’s not a gift. Dispose of it where no one will ever see it again.”
“…Understood.”
She lowered her veil to cover her face and headed toward the ceremony hall. There was no father to hold her hand. Before the long, white aisle, Johanna stood alone. But that didn’t matter, as this marriage would hold no real significance.
“Here comes the bride!”
The curtain rose on what would be a long charade.
* * *
The wedding was a modest affair. The invited guests were mostly family and close acquaintances. Society praised Marquis Neubitz endlessly, saying he chose to donate the money to charity rather than indulge in unnecessary extravagance.
Johanna could only offer a bitter smile, knowing the truth: Leonid simply didn’t want to put any effort into this marriage.
“And now… the groom may unveil his bride and bestow upon her a kiss.”
It was finally time for the last part of the ceremony. Johanna, already tense, stiffened even more. She glanced up at Leonid, only to meet his indifferent gaze.
This was their first face-to-face encounter since that incident. The memory resurfaced, causing her heart to pound for no reason. She still couldn’t believe she had shared such an intimate moment with this man. It felt surreal, as if it had all been a dream.
His hand reached out slowly. The room fell silent, the weight of anticipation hanging in the air. Johanna held her breath and clenched her hands tightly. This man… he despised physical contact. Yet, that night, under the influence of pheromones, he seemed to forget all about it. The same hand that now lifted her veil had once roamed her body without hesitation.
With the veil fully lifted, Johanna’s face was revealed. Leonid seemed to study her intently, as if committing every detail to memory. Unable to withstand his gaze, Johanna instinctively looked away.
Leonid gently tilted her chin, guiding her eyes back to his. Under the chandelier’s light, his sunset-colored eyes glowed a bit more brightly than usual.
