My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 39

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Although it was still before the scheduled time, a fair number of people had already gathered in Princess Isoldra’s private drawing room.
As I stepped inside, several familiar faces approached me to make conversation.
“It has been so long, Baroness. You look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you.”
“Is that the dress? The one made of Nodis silk that you invited guests over to help choose?”
“Has your leg completely healed? You cannot imagine how shocked I was to hear the news.”
“They said smoke was rising from the Huniswald Mansion yesterday. You weren’t hurt, were you?”
The downpour of interest and concern brought a natural smile to my face.
Ah, this finally feels like living.
“The dress is still being made. And my leg is perfectly fine now; it was only a minor injury. There was also a small fire in the annex last night, but no one was hurt. Thank you all so much.”
Answering them one by one, I walked over to a table.
At that, the people who noticed me rose from their seats to greet me.
Among them was Melis Haller, wearing a yellow dress.
I did not expect to see her in a place like this.
While I was still processing my surprise, Melis approached me with a bright smile.
“Baroness, have you been well? I was deeply worried after hearing the rumors.”
“Thank you, Miss Haller.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Melis replied humbly, her eyes darting around my surroundings.
What is she looking for?
I kept my eyes on her for a brief second before turning to converse with the others.
After glancing even further into the distance, Melis looked disappointed and suddenly cut into the conversation.
“It seems you came alone today?”
“No. I came with my maid.”
“Oh, I see…”
Her voice sank gloomily.
After offering a brief nod to Melis, who kept staring at the doorway like someone who couldn’t let go of a lingering regret, I followed a servant’s guidance to a suitable seat.
Melis Haller subtly squeezed herself in among the nobles gathering around me.
Despite going through the trouble of securing a spot next to me, she didn’t pretend to be close as usual and simply stared blankly at the door.
‘Is she waiting for the Princess?’
I wondered, but that wasn’t it.
Even after the Princess entered, Melis kept glancing toward the doorway and committed the faux pas of rising late from her seat.
I have no idea who on earth she is looking for.
Suppressing the curiosity rising inside me, I greeted Princess Isoldra along with the other nobles.
She spoke as she made her way to the head seat.
“Welcome, Baroness Huniswald. Is your leg all right? Since it has not been long since your recovery, why don’t you move to a warmer seat?”
She motioned for a servant to bring a chair.
Though her words sounded considerate, the chair’s appearance was anything but. It was a hard stool with no backrest, no armrests, and no cushion.
Furthermore, it was so low that anyone sitting on it next to her would inevitably look like a dwarf.
A sudden silence enveloped the drawing room.
Offering such a hard, low chair was a clear sign that she intended to publicly humiliate me.
The people nearby began shifting their gazes between me and Princess Isoldra, testing the waters.
Even the nobles seated a bit further away were now closely watching the situation unfold.
“No matter if she is the Princess, is it really acceptable to treat a member of the Rootsild Family that way?”
“What does it matter? The position of Family Head passed to her cousin, so technically speaking, the Baroness is just a member of a collateral branch now.”
“Well, that is true.”
Whispers reached my ears, hidden behind fluttering fans.
“Oh dear. Do you think she might burst into tears?”
“Perhaps. Where else would she ever receive such treatment?”
“Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Baroness get angry. Will we see it today?”
“Hohoho. She doesn’t seem to have that kind of personality, but it would be quite a sight if she did lose her temper.”
They chattered excitedly, like audience members watching a sensational play from the front row.
I came all this way just to check on Princess Isoldra’s health, so what on earth is this disaster?
I felt bewildered, but standing here blankly would only make me a laughingstock.
After all, rumors were being manufactured in real-time behind those fans.
As I stood up, every pair of eyes followed my movement.
Even without looking around, I could feel the malicious curiosity of people expecting me to either cry or rage.
Walking slowly toward the low stool, I examined Princess Isoldra’s expression.
A tilted chin and a subtle smile.
Her face was unreadable, but a distinct hostility lurked in her eyes.
To be exact, it was the look of someone who viewed me as nothing more than Kildian’s lackey.
‘This hurts my pride even more than being told to sit on a low chair!’
If I were truly one of Kildian’s people, I wouldn’t even feel this wronged.
Even Kildian just views me as an ownerless gold mine!
Though my smile didn’t waver, my insides were boiling.
‘Should I just flip the whole table?’
I quickly suppressed my rising temper.
No, that wouldn’t do.
If I engage in a psychological battle with Princess Isoldra here, wouldn’t that be as good as admitting I am Kildian’s lackey?
Moreover, making an enemy out of Princess Isoldra would make my life in social circles a nightmare.
The nobles backing her would pick fights with me wherever I went.
If that happened, it was obvious I would get dragged into exhausting power struggles no matter where I turned. I only mingle with people to enjoy myself!
This won’t do. I need to make it absolutely clear that I bear no hostility.
Utilizing the natural downturn of my eyes, I offered the most innocent smile possible.
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”
It didn’t move her in the slightest.
The way one corner of her mouth twisted slightly upward was the spitting image of her brother, Kildian.
Swallowing that thought down, I maintained my harmless smile.
“However, it seems the servant brought the wrong chair by mistake.”
Princess Isoldra’s mouth parted slightly.
Before she could reply that it wasn’t a mistake, I spoke up quickly.
“You invited me to this tea party and even told me to move to a warmer spot out of concern for my injury. There is no way Your Highness would deliberately give me an uncomfortable chair. Am I right?”
The Princess’s slightly parted mouth snapped shut.
Holding my smile, I waited for her response.
But the answer was practically already decided.
Most of Princess Isoldra’s supporters were people who used to back Prince Yulisian.
Prince Yulisian was notorious for stopping at nothing, no matter how radical or dangerous, but his supporters highly valued the Prince’s sense of justice.
If she admitted here that she intended to give me an uncomfortable and humiliating chair?
She would become a thug who invited an injured person to a tea party just to torment them.
For someone aiming for the throne, it would create a fatal reputation—that she bullied the weak for her own amusement.
Realizing she had walked into a trap after hearing my words, Princess Isoldra let out a low chuckle.
Staring intently at me, she gestured to the servant.
At her signal, the servant swiftly removed the wooden stool. After stepping out of the drawing room for a moment, he returned from somewhere with a chair fitted with a plush cushion, a backrest, and velvet-padded armrests.
“You are right. My servant made a blunder. I will make sure he is properly disciplined later, so please sit comfortably, Baroness.”
Even as she spoke, the look in her eyes remained unfriendly.
She seemed wary, perhaps wondering if I would demand her servant be whipped on the spot to repay the insult.
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of doing so.
Still wearing a harmless smile, I sat down on the new chair provided by the servant.
“There is no need to punish him. Everyone is bound to make mistakes, aren’t they? It is more than enough for me that no misunderstanding arose between Your Highness and myself.”
Princess Isoldra stared straight into my eyes, as if trying to gauge my true intentions.
Since I had nothing to hide, I did not avoid her gaze.
“The rumors say you are like an angel, and indeed, you are exceptionally generous, Baroness.”
“You flatter me.”
A few faces looked disappointed that the situation had concluded so uneventfully.
However, the majority of the crowd chimed in to echo the Princess’s praise. As I smiled brightly, enjoying the pouring goodwill and attention, my eyes met Melis Haller’s.
Her eyes were sparkling with admiration.
And excessively so. It was an expression that made her look almost possessed by something.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I turned my head slightly to avoid her gaze. Right on cue, the Princess gestured to the maids.
“I have prepared a black tea infused with mandarin and bergamot, so please enjoy.”
The maids stepped forward and filled the teacups.
The Princess lifted her cup first.
Since I was seated right next to her, I took the opportunity to observe her closely from up close.
Her complexion was clean. There were no signs of hair loss, and her mouth, which I caught a glimpse of, was vividly colored.
It didn’t look like there were any traces of poisoning.
‘I should just go to Scheit and tell him she looks perfectly fine—fine enough to openly embarrass someone.’
At that exact moment, I noticed the hand setting down the teacup trembling minutely.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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