The General's Wife Wants to Leave-Chapter 156: Pre-marital education

Joanna thought that after helping her get dressed up, it gave Bianca insight into the fact that nothing happened between her and her husband even though they shared a bed the whole night, as Joanna still remembered what her governess told her about pre- and post-marriage consummation to one’s body.

Aside from that, by becoming a widow before dedicating herself to de Lara, Joanna believed that Bianca should have known that there was nothing changed in her body that indicated something happened based on the experience she had as a once-married woman and someone’s wife.

However, having grown up with the senior maid and interacted with her since she was a kid, Joanna could tell that what Bianca did was not because she did not have insight into what actually happened but because Bianca wanted to make sure that nothing really happened that made her wake up late.

In Joanna’s eyes, Bianca was a very attentive and thorough person, which made Joanna not doubt that Bianca should have also been aware of her marriage relationship with the General.

Nonetheless, no matter how cold she had treated the General, no guarantee could be made that nothing happened when a married couple slept on the same bed in a quiet and locked room.

Moreover, Joanna surmised that even though Bianca did not come with her to the Powel Orphanage, Lucy, who had been assigned by her father to work under Bianca to take care of her needs, might have reported to Bianca about the condition of the bed after she shared a couple of nights together with the General. It surely gave Bianca insight into the fact that there had been no deep marital intimacy between her and her husband yet.

Hence, if nothing was to be found in her bed sheet in the mountain during her sharing bed with the General, it was not a surprise for Bianca to guess if it already happened last night regarding her messy state and that she was late to wake up.

And from the corner of Joanna’s eyes, when she sat at the dressing table as Lucy helped her do her hair, Bianca seemed to be ready to take the bed sheet away with her if she found something on there.

However, regarding Bianca’s conduct, Joanna did not once feel bothered, as she knew really well that what Bianca did was not because she was a meddlesome person but because she cared a lot for her wellbeing, and she felt that it was her responsibility to take care of her, as it was what she had done for her since she was a kid.

Pre-marital education was common to be taught to teenagers in nobility households in Terra, and it was given before they stepped into the coming of age. Hence, Joanna was not zero-knowledge about that subject.

Beside the knowledge about anatomy that she learned not only because of her interest but also because it was part of the pre-marital education, she was also informed about the pain of the first experience, as it was also shared by the governess who was assigned by her father to give her such an important education.

Perhaps because of that, Bianca wanted to make sure if nothing happened between her and the General, as if that happened, Bianca wanted to help her ease the pain.

Bianca could have just asked her directly about that matter if she was not certain about what she found. But Bianca always showed the boundary between them as an employer and employee, no matter how much Joanna felt that Bianca regarded her as her own daughter.

Bianca also tended to not ask about her personal matters, especially since she came of age. But Bianca could become a good listener and share her opinion when Joanna was willing to share her personal matters without being asked.

However, Joanna refrained from explaining anything to Bianca about that matter this time, as she had decided that her marital issue was a private matter that she would not share with others, no matter how close her relationship with the senior maid was. It was also how she had decided to keep it from Mrs. Powel.

She had not talked about that private matter with her father either, as her father had never asked about her marriage state again after the long conversation that they had right before the General made the sudden visit to Barasca. But Joanna knew that even without her explaining to her father, he was probably able to grasp what actually lay inside her marriage with the General.

Nonetheless, Joanna’s decision to keep her marital issue private to herself did not come with no price. She was not sure if what she felt was right, but she was now facing a situation where she somehow sensed that all the expressions of the de Lara’s people, who attended to her family on the present trip, depicted what she saw in Bianca and Lucy.

They, of course, did not dare direct their gaze straight at her, as it was regarded as disrespectful. However, their silent gestures seemed like telling her that they understood what she had done with her husband the whole night, which made them have to wait for more than an hour from the arranged schedule.

Despite the embarrassment, Joanna once again had an obligation to keep a straight face, trying not to be affected by that kind of notion, although she wanted to hide somewhere in a place where she did not need to walk past them.

If she could act like the man who walked leisurely with a light pace beside her at the moment, as if there was nothing to worry about, it would be pleasant.

However, if Joanna thought deeper about that, his beaming expression, where a smile could be found on his face, would only imply more that he was in a good mood because of what was running through the others’ heads at the moment.

Joanna sighed inwardly at the thought.

But again, she would try her best to act as normal as she could, even when she greeted her father, who probably had the same thoughts as others and had been waiting for her in the hallway.

"Good morning, Father. I am so sorry for being late," said Joanna in a hurry, laced with a guilty tone, while breathing quite rapidly as she quickened her pace to see her father.

As she gave a morning peck on the Duke’s cheek, as she usually did in her daily morning greeting, the Duke nodded, and a warm smile appeared on his face.

"It’s fine. It’s not that late, Ann," said the Duke with a smile.

But Joanna knew that it was only her father’s way to be considerate, trying to make her not feel guilty about her fault.

"This is all my fault, Your Grace. I apologize for waking up late," came a deep voice from Canillas, attempting to take all the blame because it was purely his fault that they were late.

Regardless of the real reason that made both of the young couple behind schedule, upon hearing his son-in-law’s words to take all the blame himself and not involve his wife, the Duke could not help but form a smile on his lips.

Shaking his head, the Duke then uttered, "It’s really fine, Sir Canillas." He then added,

"As we are all ready, it’s better to depart right away so we can arrive in Cresca as early as we can manage. What do you think, Sir Canillas?" The Duke asked, trying not to decide himself, and he nodded with a smile when Canillas gave a positive answer to his question.

Duke de Lara really wanted to show consideration to his son-in-law, who, in his eyes, had worked hard to be a responsible husband for his daughter.

The way he took all the blame to protect his wife, apart from the real reason behind their lateness, was not the Duke’s sole concern to consider giving some consideration to his son-in-law. The unexpected event that occurred the previous night in the inn restaurant was still playing vividly in his mind.

He still remembered how the young General of Archess took a bold action to protect the honor of his wife, not even hesitating to suffocate the crude Henderson who spoke inappropriately to her.

It did not stop there. Duke John’s impression of the General, which made his heart and mind relieved, also surfaced when he heard him declare his decisive stance that he was not interested in taking any mistresses and would never divorce Joanna.

It was probably still regarded as too early to make the judgment that he would be a loyal husband to his wife. However, from the first time he met with the young General of Archess as his son-in-law, Duke John had felt that he put high value in his marriage with his daughter, Joanna. And he had not changed his judgment about that.

The first reason that made the Duke make this judgment was that the General was willing to take a very long journey, crossing the border to Terra, just to meet Joanna.

The second judgment was that he still maintained his marriage with Joanna despite the persistence of Joanna to ask for marriage annulment. It was also not hard for the Duke to notice what kind of treatment Joanna gave the General. However, he was still willing to revolve around Joanna, even looking at her with his warm gaze every time he saw her.

The other judgment was that he pursued Joanna in the Powel Orphanage despite his fatigue, protecting her from the Tres, and since then the General had revolved around her, except when the night came in his mansion.

Based on those judgments, until the moment the Duke heard Canillas take the blame for their behind schedule, the Duke admitted that he had never once seen any fake concern reflected in his demeanor. And yesterday’s event made the Duke more than certain that General von Rodega was a good and right husband for Joanna.

He still did not know about Joanna’s stance in this matter. Whether she had a change of heart, Duke John was still not able to perceive, as he had never asked her about her marriage issue anymore.

However, yesterday’s event had also given him a surprise, as he witnessed Joanna stand for not only him but also her husband, whom she once wanted to end her marriage with.

Duke John felt that he knew about his children well. Unlike her brother, Joanna was a typical quiet and timid person. He had never seen her speak confidently in public, especially to convey her thoughts and argue with others. She tended to hide behind him and her brother, following what was suggested for her.

That new revelation added to the Duke’s bewilderment after his conversation with Joanna in Alenna Garden the day after she surprised him with her return from Archess. He still remembered how her eyes glinted with confidence and determination when she conveyed her thoughts about marriage annulment to him. And it made the Duke feel that he actually did not know about his children well.

However, it was still hard for Duke de Lara to conclude that Joanna had a change of heart. He still remembered that, before departing for Cresca, she persistently showed her determination to sit in the carriage with him, reasoning that she wanted to accompany him. But the Duke could grasp that she actually wanted to avoid her husband.

He also recalled when she chose to walk with him rather than with the General right after they arrived at the inn.

Nevertheless, regardless of Joanna’s true feelings for her husband and her marriage, he was somehow sure that by seeing the General’s determination to be around Joanna, there would be nothing bad that would happen to their marriage.

And Duke de Lara expected that he did not make wrong judgments in this matter, as he really wanted to see his daughter have a happy married life with no failure in the end.