Sickly? Husband’s Contractual Wife

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

“That’s why women should stay inside the house. Countess Saulton should be worried. She barely got married to the Count because everyone was so opposed to their union.”

As Camilla sipped her tea, she furtively gave me a look. I could feel thorns on my seat again.

“That’s right.”

“There’s nothing more important than an heir.”

“No matter how much love you have in your heart, if a wife can’t give the husband any children, then she’s not worthy to be a wife.”

Poke, poke.

Camilla’s words were like arrows being shot at my heart.

I looked up across the desserts on the table. From the colorful array of macarons and the carefully lined cookies… I looked at the various desserts on the table and suddenly said—

“Ah, the seedless—”

{ tl/n: an insinuation to, ahem, the possibility that Amoide might be impotent. }

“Selena!”

The sudden outburst made the ladies turn their heads to Camilla in unison.

“Yes?” My eyes widened. “What’s wrong, Mother?”

“That…”

Camilla was conscious of the other ladies’ eyes on her, now perhaps feeling embarrassed that she raised her voice.

Meanwhile, I picked up a grape from the fruit platter.

“I was going to recommend the seedless grapes to you ladies because they taste good. What’s the matter, Mother?”

“…Never mind.”

“Try some of the grapes. They’re very delicious.”

After I said this, the other ladies naturally picked some grapes.

“As expected, seedless fruits are the easiest to eat.”

“This is a modified type from last year’s harvest, isn’t it? I wonder who came up with it…”

“Goodness, my husband won’t even answer me when I try to ask.”

All eyes were on Countess Lafangue.

“How come?” Marchioness Aven asked and smiled meaningfully at the younger woman.

“What do you mean ‘how come’? Of course, it’s because other fruits might lose their seeds, too.”

Then, everyone laughed.

“They pretend that they don’t care, but everyone does. I’m telling you.”

“Oh, there’s nothing you can’t say freely, Countess.” Marchioness Morde opened her fan to cover her lips.

“Oh who cares, they’re all married.” Behind the fan, her smiling eyes were full of mischief.

“Foolish men just blame the women, ohoho.”

At that, all the women sitting around the table burst into laughter.

Camilla, of course, joined the laughter, but her eyes weren’t smiling.

…Ah, it’s none of my business. I laughed louder than anyone else, then added—

“Oh, how mischievous.”

I could hear Camilla gritting her teeth next to me, but that’s none of my business either.

“I apologize, we seem to be talking too much, Duchess. You must excuse our lack of decorum.”

Then, Camilla replied to Marchioness Aven with a big smile—

“Well, I did say that we won’t be rigid here. This gathering is where we can freely laugh and enjoy ourselves.”

Camilla’s big smile turned into a leisurely one as she lifted her teacup. She looked at me pointedly as if to warn me, but I averted my gaze and tried to ignore the daggers shooting out from her eyes.

“Countess Lafangue knows the ins and outs of high society nowadays. Don’t hesitate to ask her anything. It’ll be fun, I assure you,” Marchioness Aven said with a gracious smile.

“She knows all the rumors running about. Sometimes she may make a slip of the tongue, but it doesn’t mean she’s out to get you—it’s just her talkative nature,” Marchioness Morde added and quickly defended Countess Lafangue.

Without really processing what they were saying, I just nodded my head. What they were saying wouldn’t affect me anyway since I wouldn’t be involved with high society, and it was unlikely that I’d ever meet them again after this day.

All I had to do here was smile and go with the flow according to the ladies’ conversations… and hopefully not make Camilla any more angry.

‘Please let time pass quickly.’

Camilla would look in my direction from time to time, attacking me with that sharp glare of hers, even when she poured sugar into my tea. I had no choice but to drink it.

“By the way, I heard Lady Veronica is coming back soon.”

Tak.

The grape I was holding in my hand dropped down to the table and rolled away.

“Oh my. Didn’t she have a special relationship with the Duke of Efret before?” Countess Lafangue asked, covering her lips partially.

“Don’t worry, Duchess, I don’t think it was that serious.”

“…”

I had no idea what they were talking about, so I just stared blankly at them. My ears pricked when I heard the name ‘Veronica’, but what did she have to do with me?

“There’s no need to hide it,” Camilla said, her nonchalant tone cut through the silence. She looked at me squarely, as though she was telling me to listen closely. “Veronica, the young lady of the Rothlandon Marquisate, and Amoide had once been engaged.”

“Ah…”

I sat there with my mouth agape, not knowing how to react to this information.

“Amoide and Veronica’s engagement had been set when they were children.”

My mind was totally blank.

Veronica.

‘You almost married Amoide?’

“Goodness, you must be surprised.”

Countess Lafange looked at me as she held up her fan.

“Yes, a little.”

I got surprised not because of what they’re probably thinking right now, but I was surprised nonetheless. By a lot.

“It must be the first time you heard about it,” Camilla said as she poured tea from the kettle.

The sound of tea trickling down echoed throughout the room.

Countess Lafangue looked more chipper than how she was earlier. Then after a while, she asked, “I wonder what kind of person she is?”

The furthest thing I was expecting from this tea party was to hear Veronica’s name.

And I didn’t know that Veronica, the novel’s female lead, had such a past with Amoide.

“The Marquis’ daughter is very… beautiful and talented.”

“Her father’s a diplomat, and she followed him to the Rielos Kingdom, but they’ll be returning soon.”

“I remember that she’s a very beautiful girl,” Marchioness Aven said.

“That’s not all. She’s so talented and clever, even with singing and dancing… The Marquis is very proud of his daughter and he often boasts about her. So…”

Countess Lafangue chattered tirelessly, but she eventually trailed off.

What she said was no surprise because I already knew all that. The praises that everyone in high society showered her with, the countless proposals she received during the year of her debutante…

Just thinking about her specs, she’s the typical protagonist, alright.

“…Our families have been close for quite a long time. When they were young, they looked perfect for each other. Eventually, Amoide’s father and Marquis Rothlandon had promised to wed their children to each other.”

Camilla’s voice rang out after the Countess had trailed off.

“…I see.”

Amoide and Veronica when they were young.

I did think they may have interacted when they were younger, but I never thought it would be to this degree.

“Maybe if only Amoide was healthy, he and Veronica would now be…”

Camilla didn’t say anything more. Even if she didn’t, everyone knew what she was about to say.

I tried to keep a straight face.

“I see. But right now, I am his wife.”

I made eye contact with each of the ladies with an amicable smile on my lips.

“It’s common for noble families to have broken engagements, so it’s not something that bothers me.”

“…Yes, that’s how it is with marriage talks. It can go one way or another. It’s the same in other countries as well, broken engagements are common…”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

The wives hastened to fill the silence.

“And Amoide’s much healthier now than before.”

“So it won’t be long until the Duke of Efret will appear in public once more?” Marchioness Morde asked with anticipation.

“Ah, it’s been too long. I still can’t forget his dashing looks… it’s a pity.”

“The position of the Commander of the Order of the Sun has been vacant for far too long. It’s the Empire’s First Chivalric Order.”

The women steered the conversation toward Amoide’s health and the Order of the Sun now.

“It’s been five years since Marquis Diaz has been holding the reins as the Deputy Commander.”

“Because he’s an outstanding knight himself. Then, he’ll have no trouble leading the—”

“…Says who?”

The ladies felt awkward as they heard the low voice.

“Pardon? Yes, Duchess, um…”

They were discouraged in an instant, and their pleasant chat had been put to a halt. The ladies exchanged glances with each other, but I spoke decisively.

“Amoide has become much healthier, so he’ll be back soon. We’re working hard on it.”

Then, I laughed to lighten the mood.

However, as Camilla lifted her teacup, her face was flushed with a deep shade of red.

“How did you end up attending the tea party?”

When all the guests had left, Camilla’s polite smile had disappeared, and she immediately started the inquisition.

“It was a mistake.”

According to your maid, you asked for me… was what I wanted to say, but Camilla evidently wouldn’t believe me.

Rather, it was obvious that Camilla didn’t do that in the first place.

“Were you that desperate to show your face to the other noblewomen?”

“No, of course not. You told me not to show myself,” I said with a clear voice. “I know you’re ashamed of me. But why would I do that on purpose? You have nothing to worry if it’s me we’re talking about.”

“Don’t ever forget your place. How did you even get there? What strings did you pull…?”

“You know very well, Mother.”

As if I was reciting a solemn prayer, I spoke the words that I had rehearsed thoroughly.

“I’m not crazy. If anyone ever tells you, Mother, that I am, please trust me and not that person.”

“…What are you blathering on about?”

“I’m not crazy, Mother. I have a very sound mind. I don’t need any therapy.”

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