The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 71
“Leonid.”
A delicate voice called out to him, prompting Leonid to slowly turn his head. As expected, the bothersome presence he anticipated had approached. He tilted his head slightly and frowned. Despite his blatant annoyance, the other party showed no sign of shrinking back, instead, she smiled brightly. It was Josephine, the esteemed daughter of the Marquess of Babenhausen.
“I don’t recall inviting you, Lady Babenhausen. Who gave you the invitation?”
“You’re being difficult again. It’s your wedding, of course, I had to come. My invitation was personally delivered by Countess Rinke.”
Leonid let out a dry laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it. The houses of Elderique and Babenhausen had a long-standing relationship that spanned over 200 years, making them strong allies.
But that was true only politically or in business. The personal relationships of the individuals within those families were a different matter.
Leonid had a cordial relationship with Babenhausen’s heir, but he had no interest in forming other connections, especially with Josephine.
Josephine had been a nuisance to him since childhood, and he assumed the feeling was mutual. Yet, she acted friendly towards him, which only made him more suspicious of her intentions.
“So, why are you alone? Where’s the bride?”
Josephine glanced around as she asked, but Leonid responded by ignoring her. He had no intention of engaging in conversation with her from the start. Instead, he simply observed the ballroom, sipping his champagne.
“…The bride is really beautiful. And she’s a dominant Omega… Is she your ‘Fata’?”
Leonid clicked his tongue quietly. That damn word, “Fata.” He had heard it enough today to be sick of it. As he consistently denied it, Leonid pondered, Why does everyone obsess over this concept of a destined mate? If fate was so precious, did that mean the choices made by free will were meaningless? By now, he felt as if he had developed an allergy to the word “Fata.”
“She’s not my Fata.”
“Oh… really?”
“She’s just an Omega who’s a good match for me. Johanna’s pheromones…”
Leonid’s gaze momentarily paused, landing on a distant spot. There, emerging from a secluded corner after conversing, were his grandfather and Johanna. After bowing politely to the elder, Johanna began to glance around as if searching for someone. A faint smile, so subtle that even Leonid didn’t notice it, flickered at the corner of his lips as he watched her.
“…don’t make me feel any aversion.”
He suddenly recalled the moment when he had almost lost control, nearly devouring her under the influence of his raging pheromones.
At that moment, he truly saw nothing else. He was consumed by a desire to engulf this fragrant being from head to toe. It was the very instinct of an Alpha that he had always tried to keep in check. The instinct that invariably triggered whenever a delectable Omega was within reach.
The fact that he had lost control and surrendered to that instinct was a source of humiliation for Leonid. …And yet, it was surprising. Even though he had lost his grip on rationality, the fact that he had touched and tasted another’s flesh without feeling any repulsion was unexpected.
“…So the rumors aren’t true, then? I thought as much.”
“What rumors?”
Leonid asked dryly, not even bothering to glance at Josephine. His question was more of an automatic response, nothing more. He was well aware that all sorts of rumors were circulating, so it wasn’t a topic that particularly interested him. His focus remained entirely on Johanna.
“They’re saying Lady Lucerne… or rather, I suppose I should call her the Marchioness of Neubitz now. Anyway, there are rumors that she approached you deliberately, aiming for a rise in status.”
“…”
“Those are the whispers going around. As a friend, I’m concerned. Of course, it’s probably just baseless gossip, but…”
It was only then that Leonid spared a glance at Josephine. Her long, brown hair was tied neatly down to her waist, and she wore a lavender dress that complemented her violet eyes, which curved like crescent moons.
Her elegant appearance, often praised by others, shone as brilliantly as ever today, but Leonid felt nothing. Perhaps it was because he knew the true nature hidden beneath that seemingly kind exterior.
A faint smirk appeared on Leonid’s lips.
“Of course, it’s nonsense. What do they take me for? An idiot?
He muttered irritably, then shifted his gaze away from Josephine and back in Johanna’s direction. Unfortunately, she was engaged in conversation with the heir of the Babenhausen family.
