The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 81
She lacked the strength to stand, so she remained in that position for a while, letting out a deep sigh before struggling to lift herself up. Her legs, still weak and shaky, tingled with numbness.
Stumbling toward the bathroom, she quickly took care of her business, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. Her reflection in the mirror was a mess. She looked utterly drained, like someone who hadn’t eaten in days, with reddish, swollen eyes. Her lips were puffed and sore.
…She suddenly recalled how Leonid had been so persistently sucking on her lips throughout their encounter. His murmured words, saying they tasted so sweet he wanted more, echoed like a distant memory.
Her face flushed instantly. She already had a fever, and now she felt even hotter. Staring blankly at her flushed complexion, she quickly turned on the cold water and filled her hands. Splashing the icy water onto her face, she felt a bit calmer.
She applied rosewater to her dry skin and left the bathroom. Sitting at the vanity, she listlessly combed her hair, when suddenly, she felt a pang of hunger. It was seven in the evening. She hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch, so it was no wonder she felt famished.
It seemed she needed to call someone to request food. Gathering her long, blonde hair into a low ponytail, Johanna pulled the bell cord beside the bed. It didn’t take long before a young maid, whom she had seen a few times before, hurriedly entered through the side door.
“Oh, hello, Marchioness!”
Marchioness… She realized she’d be called that from now on, starting yesterday. It felt strange, but she was in such a daze that she didn’t have the energy to dwell on it. Blinking slowly like someone half-asleep, Johanna asked the question that suddenly came to her.
“What is your name?”
“Yes? Are you asking about me?”
This maid seemed to be unnecessarily nervous. Johanna nodded silently, and the maid hesitated before answering.
“I’m Nella Gross. I’ve been working in this mansion for about a year now.”
With only a year of experience, she was still a novice. And she was young, too… Johanna watched this maid named Nella with renewed interest. Somehow, she was reminded of Daniel.
“How old are you?”
“E-Eighteen!”
“Are you a Beta? An Omega? Or an Alpha?”
“I’m a Beta…!”
She seemed to grow more nervous with each question. Perhaps she was prying too much, Johanna thought, and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
“You don’t need to be so nervous. I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“Y-Yes…!”
“Could you bring me something light to eat? Something easy to digest…”
“Oh, yes! The Marquis ordered us to prepare a meal for you as soon as you woke up! Please wait a moment; I’ll bring it right away!”
Nella answered energetically, bowed quickly, and hurried out through the side door.
Left alone again, the room felt incredibly quiet. As Johanna pondered what to do while waiting, she realized there wasn’t much to occupy herself with here. She wandered over to the sofa and plopped down.
‘…I have no energy at all.’
She felt like melted cheese, oozing and slipping away. If she was like this, she wondered how Leonid must be feeling. That man… he was likely just fine. The stamina of a hyper-dominant Alpha far surpassed that of an ordinary person.
After a while, Nella returned with the food. Johanna rose weakly from the sofa and sat down at the table. The meal laid out on the table included soup, soft bread, cheese, a few pieces of fruit, boiled eggs, milk, and orange juice.
“Thank you for bringing this.”
“Oh, no, it’s my duty. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
Johanna smiled faintly and began eating. She took a few spoonfuls of the warm soup first. Then, putting down the spoon, she picked up a piece of bread and asked,
“Was it you who cleaned the bedding, Nella? And who bathed me…?”
“Pardon? Ah, no? I was just waiting in the servants’ quarters until the Marchioness called for me…”
“…I see.”
If not Nella, then who had washed her body so thoroughly and tidied up afterward? Johanna tore off a piece of bread and glanced at Nella.
…Well, it would have been difficult for someone of her small stature to carry her to the bathroom and bathe her. Johanna figured it must have been two or three maids who came and went briefly, and she dismissed the thought.
After finishing her meal, she wanted to take a short walk to help with digestion, but it seemed impossible. Her heat cycle hadn’t completely ended yet.
Since she wasn’t sleepy, Johanna took some suppressant and fever medicine and lay quietly on the bed. Unlike the day before, the medication worked well, so she didn’t experience the unbearable heat or rising excitement.
Still, just to be safe, she decided to spend the day as quietly as possible, avoiding any chance encounters with Leonid.
Seeing him would likely awaken her Omega instincts, making her crave his Alpha pheromones, and she feared she might lose her composure and cling to him.
