The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 73
“…It would be nice to socialize from time to time. But my stamina isn’t the best…”
“Oh my, are you in poor health? That’s a concern.”
Josephine exclaimed loudly, almost as if she wanted everyone at the reception to hear. Johanna could feel the weight of dozens of eyes turning toward her, making her skin prickle.
“You really should take care of your health. If you don’t mind, I could bring you some rare medicinal herbs that are good for the body.”
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary…”
“I’m worried about you, that’s all. You need to ensure you can have a healthy baby, after all.”
At that moment, Johanna froze instinctively. Josephine was looking at her with a genuinely concerned expression.
…What is this? Was she really just concerned? From that innocent face alone, it was hard to suspect anything. But somehow, an uneasy feeling crept over her.
Could she know something, or perhaps, is she probing for information?
Johanna steadied her breathing and responded calmly,
“…Well then, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it. After all, I want to have a healthy child with the person I love.”
For a brief moment, a flicker of something passed through Josephine’s violet eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. She smiled sweetly, nodding as if she understood completely, her face appearing kind and without malice.
“Of course, I’d be more than happy to. The health of the Marchioness of Neubitz brings me great joy as well.”
“Thank you for saying that. I wish there was something I could offer in return…”
“There’s no need for a return gift, truly. Your friendship is all I desire.”
“…Yes. Then, let’s be friends.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say something like ‘I’d be happy to’ or ‘I’d like that too.’ It wasn’t how she truly felt. There was something about this woman that unsettled her. She hoped it was just her imagination…
“It would be wonderful if the Marchioness of Neubitz got along well with Josephine. The Elderique and Babenhausen families have a long-standing history of friendship, after all.”
Count Tilen, Ernst Babenhausen, who had joined the conversation at the right moment, spoke with a satisfied expression. Johanna gave him a polite smile while glancing at Leonid to gauge his reaction. A look of disbelief appeared on his face as he stared at Josephine with an incredulous expression.
“Well then, would you like to meet my father and younger brother over there? They were both quite eager to meet the new Marchioness.”
“Yes, I would… appreciate an introduction.”
Though she answered Ernst’s suggestion graciously, Johanna kept glancing at Leonid. He didn’t look pleased at all.
Am I overstepping my bounds? Maybe I should make an excuse about not feeling well and leave early… Countless thoughts raced through her mind.
In any case, Johanna was introduced to the Marquess of Babenhausen and Karl Babenhausen through Ernst.
The Marquess of Babenhausen looked every bit the aristocrat, but beyond that, Johanna had no particular impression of him. He seemed like the type who would be somewhat stern as a father.
On the other hand, Karl Babenhausen unexpectedly piqued Johanna’s interest. He was a Beta, yet possessed a beauty that did not pale in comparison to the dominant Omegas and Alphas in his family.
How could she describe it? He was a very classically handsome man, but the word ‘pretty’ seemed more fitting than ‘handsome.’ Not that he had the delicate air often associated with other male Omegas. In fact, at a glance, his physique was impressive enough to be mistaken for that of an Alpha.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have much chance to converse with him beyond a simple greeting. He seemed to find the banquet boring and didn’t appear interested in mingling with the guests. And… though she didn’t know the details, there seemed to be a peculiar tension between him and his family, particularly with Ernst.
There was a palpable awkwardness between the two that even an outsider could sense. But it wasn’t something for anyone else to interfere in.
“If you’re tired, you can leave early.”
“Pardon? Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly…”
It was nearing the end of the reception when Leonid, perhaps noticing her weariness, offered a seemingly considerate suggestion. Johanna met his gaze with a smile that insisted she was fine, determined not to let herself get excited or read too much into these small gestures of kindness from him.
“Don’t be stubborn; go and rest. You don’t look well right now.”
“Oh… do I?”
Johanna glanced at her reflection in the window. But it wasn’t enough to discern her complexion. Her cheeks did look a bit flushed, though.
“You barely ate anything. Is it indigestion?”
“…”
Johanna bit down on her lower lip, resisting the urge to ask if he was worried about her. He was probably speaking without any particular thought. Forcing a smile, she answered,
“I was just too nervous to eat much.”
“…Now that I think about it, you do seem to have a bit of a fever.”
