24 The passed word
Directing his gaze toward the source of the sound, Canillas saw the butler walking closer toward them. Not long later, the butler halted and stood about two steps away before the Duke.
"Your Grace, Lady Joanna said that she is ready to receive… the guest," the butler trailed off at the end of the report he relayed, which made the Duke slightly glance at his son-in-law.
Just like his prediction, his daughter hadn't changed her intention to end her marriage with the young man who stood next to him. She even made it obvious that she regarded him as an outsider. Otherwise, she wouldn't have ordered the butler to pass the word of the guest to her husband.
The Duke sighed inwardly at the overt intention of his strong-willed daughter.
However, the Duke was quite reassured when he noticed the indifferent expression painted on the face of his son-in-law as if the words that were passed to them didn't have any effect on him, as it was impossible to say that he didn't hear the information that was clearly spoken out by the butler.
The Duke couldn't admit that he was entirely relieved as no one could dive deep inside one's heart and mind. No one could guarantee that Joanna's words didn't offend her husband although he wished that the General would really feel not offended by the words of his wife.
The Duke turned to face Canillas, plastering a sincere smile on his lips. "This way, Sir Canillas." The Duke reached out his hand, gesturing that the Duke, himself, would take the General to see his daughter, who was the General's wife in this case.
---
When her father and her husband were strolling around Alenna Garden, Joanna, who lay on the bed in her room, received a message from Bianca, who sought her immediately after she was ordered to deliver the urgent message by the butler.
Pushing her body slowly up from the lying position, Joanna was about to sit on the bed.
Watching the young lady who seemed to be weak and having difficulty moving her body, Bianca made a move forward as she intended to help her. However, she took a halt when she saw the young lady inside the drapes of the bed raise her hand, gesturing her to stop approaching the young lady.
Bianca took a quiet sigh of relief when the young lady was finally able to make herself sit on the bed although it took a lot of effort.
She was now sitting with her back leaning against two pillows that were stacked behind her back.
With her head lowered and hands crossed one over the other positioned in front of her stomach, Bianca was drowned in deep thought of the condition of the young lady.
She seemed to be sick at the moment, but she was definitely fine when she came to inform her of the news about the arrival of her father in the garden a few moments ago.
Through the drapes, Bianca could see that it was the same rashes that she saw on the young lady's body when she suddenly made a hasty, surprising decision to leave her husband's mansion, back to Terra.
However, it didn't take even one minute for Bianca to understand the real reason behind this situation. It should be the issue related to the General, the young lady's husband, who came to see her and was currently in the de Lara mansion.
Bianca took a sigh inwardly, but she didn't utter any word even though she had already grasped what was planned by the young lady. She also didn't need to worry like she did when she saw the rashes on the lady's body for the first time, as the lady had prepared an antidote to heal herself beforehand.
It was about five days after they left the General's mansion that the young lady was completely healed as the rashes had totally disappeared from her body.
While Bianca was deeply thinking about the health of the young lady, the young lady was immersed in her own thoughts.
Joanna was truthfully surprised to hear from Bianca that General Canillas von Rodega seemed to be determined to see her immediately. But she wasn't touched by that information, so many speculations growing in her mind instead.
Was it because he was angry about her leaving Archess that made him unable to wait any longer to see her to spend his anger on her? Or was he unable to wait to see what kind of woman he married that dared offend her husband? Or… was he impatient to tell her that he also had the same intention of dissolving their marriage?
If that all happened to be the case, Joanna would have jumped merrily here and there right away. But she knew that it was just an empty wish as Bianca had told her that her father and the General were having a leisurely walk in a peaceful atmosphere between them in Alenna Garden.
There was no sign of anger or bickering between them. Everything was calm and serene since the General stepped inside the de Lara mansion.
Aside from that, she was also informed by the senior maid that the General had an urgent request to see her after he heard that she was sick and wanted to see her condition, making her father have no choice but to send the butler to let them know the request of the General.
But why should he bother to do that? Why should he be worried about her condition?
Joanna let out a low sigh when she found the answer.
He should be acting to care for her, only to show her father that he cared for her. It was Joanna's conviction in accordance with the nightmare that came to her that day.
It was still clear in her memory after witnessing the dream that he had abandoned her. He didn't care for her at all. Even until she was dying, she was alone in a poor state, lying on the cold ground, without him by her side.
So, what was he doing here? Joanna turned nervous and worried as she had a strong guess.
No. She didn't want to follow him back to Archess. She would push all her effort to prevent him from taking her back to that miserable place.
Recalling that memory, apart from whether it was a mere dream or a fragment of her past life or a vision of her future in this life, it clearly showed that the General, the so-called husband, didn't love her at all. Even after all the effort that Joanna had made to make him change his feelings for her, he was still cold to her.
So, there was no way she would follow him back to Arches only to make her life end up miserably.
Subconsciously, Joanna clutched her chest.
Joanna stared out of the window that was on the right side of her bed. Though her sight was hindered by the white drapes surrounding her bed, she found the sky was a sight to behold, with the sun sparkling through the light and wispy clouds.
But why was she feeling gloomy at the moment, as if she could vividly feel Joanna's pain in the dream?
