Episode 121

“What do you mean, Lady?”

Mimosa replied as if she was displeased.

“Gee, is she still pretending not to know?”

Elisha put her hand to her mouth. She couldn't find the look of terror on her face the night before.

“I could tell just by looking at it. First, Mimosa came last night to deliver her forged letter, as ordered by Carola. In other words, fake love letters pretending to be written by someone with the ridiculous name of Chris Ellot Pian.”

“…….”

“As I've heard, your handwriting counterfeiting skills are amazing. Mimosa. She had the handwriting of an aristocratic man.”

“Then why did you act like you didn't know last night?”

“Oh, if you want, I'll go and tell my wife right now.”

Mimosa's face turned white.

In her past life, Elisha had to be severely bullied not only by Carola, but also by her Mimosa, her Pansy, and Carola's two close aides.

Originally, those in a lower place were terribly harsh laws for those in a lower place. In addition, Carola was good at fighting and alienating people under her.

Elisha was laughing at the mimosa now. However, the taste of the spicy mimosa was still painfully remembered. She had been stabbed so many times by Mimosa.

“You must be familiar with the nature of my husband. He is a very proud person. What would have happened if I had handed over a love letter in front of my husband's eyes and been caught on the spot?”

“…….”

“At least……. I would have torn it apart. You know.”

“Hee, hee…….”

The mimosa trembled. Mimosa, who has worked for the Cartier family for a long time, cannot be afraid of Lucerne. No one knew his temperament.

“Congratulations. You saved his life once. So, isn't it a slope?”

Elisha said with all her heart.

“What the hell do you want to say? So you're going to threaten me?”

“Is there any need to intimidate a poor person like you?”

“…… I beg your pardon?”

“By the way, what was hiding here now. It must be Carol's order. I would have told you to go out and see what the dynamics of Lucerne are like.”

Elisha was talking very quietly, like a wave.

She said, “Carola even wrote a plaque that said 'names'. Lucerne didn't waver at all. Who will Carola's anger turn against now? I wonder if she is to blame for whoever wrote that love letter.”

Mimosa's heart thumped.

“It's a really bad situation. Mimosa. Pansy, another lady-in-waiting of hers, was even engaged to a knight whose career path was solid. As always, Mimosa is only taking on difficult and difficult tasks. There are always people who do dirty work everywhere.”

“…….”

Mimosa's hand trembled.

Elisha knew this moment well. Her subordinates also have pride. This was especially true for those from lower aristocrats, such as Mimosa.

It was as simple as that for her to crush that thread of pride. It's about having her face a reality she doesn't want to believe.

“Think carefully. Which line should I stand in? I'm from a fallen noble family, so I don't have a handmaid I can trust. If I had a lady-in-waiting, it wouldn't be difficult for her to arrange a seat with great knights. Because there is only one lady-in-waiting who will reward you. The maids who do her hair or take her in the car are different from the maids who are close to her, aren't they?”

Elisha spoke softly. Mimosa's eyes rolled. Mimosa tried hard to hide her interest.

“I am also a proud woman. She doesn't serve anyone as her master. I will report this to Carola-sama.”

“I won't. Carola would start to suspect just the conversation you and I had. Are you going to do something stupid like that?”

“…….”

“Mimosa. You know the cafe I go to. Come to me when you are determined.”

Said Elisha.

Mimosa hesitated and left as if to flee without saying hello to her. Elisha wanted to bite her tongue.

'Really, those are so obvious and stupid.'

Mimosa and Pansy were the daughters of a lifelong knight. Unfortunately, they were both only daughters.

Unlike other positions, lifelong knight was a position that would disappear unless a son was born. So, in order to maintain their status, they were frantic about marrying a man at the level of a knight for life or higher.

Even families with modest power were different from families of commoners and lifelong knights. Those in a relatively low position are more desperate to maintain it. So, Pansy and Mimosa's marriage was tied to the rise and fall of the family.

'Carola always favored Pansy among her ladies-in-waiting.'

Because she was more beautiful than Pansy, and she was more docile and arrogant. Besides, a beautiful handmaid was a reward she could give to her loyal subjects. So Carola chose her valuable tooth among Jacob's articles and made her betrothed to Pansy.

But she was out of luck with Mimosa, who was relatively less of her good looks. Besides, she was good at imitating her handwriting, Mimosa, and her hair was so good that she could be called little Carola.

'So will Carola believe it? She's a woman who made rough things happen, so she'll be purged someday.'

No matter how unwell she is. Even though she was mentally agitated, she had to do what she had to do.

That was the lifestyle Elisha had learned in her previous life. And as Lucerne's wife, her job was to clear Lucerne's enemies.

*​ *​ *​

“What conversation did you have with Carola's maid?”

In the carriage to her house, Lucerne was silent. He kept paying attention to Elisha, but she didn't look particularly reproving.

'With my previous life…… It's different. Is Lucerne now more kind? Maybe it's because he's before he changes.'

Understanding has gone I heard that the future Cartier family's internal strife intensified, and Lucerne became more ferocious.

'Or is it because I'm not an ugly woman?'

It wasn't easy for anyone to be kind to the weaker than herself. Lucerne from her previous life only brought those names with her, which made her so mad at Elisha. But it wasn't for her without her burn scars. Elisha suddenly felt the wounds of her past life stabbing her chest.

Elisha looked at him blankly.

“I have to answer. Elisha.”

Lucerne said like an adult. Elisha chose to return it with her question instead.

“What if I were a really ugly woman?”

“Why should I imagine that?”

“If you answer me, I will answer too.”

Lucerne frowned.

“If I were an ugly woman, I would be angry at the slightest mistake, and I would be very ashamed of myself for being your wife, right?”

“What do you want to see? I hate this.”

“I've never done anything you didn't like. Wouldn't it be worth it to bear with me for once?”

Lucerne pressed his forehead. It was because he knew that Elisha's expression was not a joke.

“If only you had come wearing that shabby seduction outfit like when we first met.”

“…….”

“It must have passed. No matter how ugly a woman you are To be honest…… I think so. Sometimes I get illogical in front of you.”

Elisha thought she was lying. Power entered her fingertips. This feeling was not right. After all, he did nothing wrong.

'As expected, having any emotions should be avoided.'

It occurred to her that her relationship with Lucerne should be tidier. She was a marriage for survival, not for playing the love game as he wanted.

Lucerne will want to flirt with her Elisha and harass her. It is a natural instinct of the Cartier family. If there is something to suck and loot, it is their nature to steal everything.

Lucerne is something you know instinctively. That there is a part in the back of Elisha's heart that he did not give. He'll want to take that away and get the full upper hand. It can't be helped. That is the nature of a man with power.

'I have to get my mind right. I can't fail anymore, I can't look like this.'

Elisha became depressed. Lucerne noticed that sign without difficulty.

“What the hell is wrong? Elisha.”

“…….”

“Look as much as you can. You pretend not to know as many things as you want.”

Lucerne turned a blind eye to her even when she was suspicious. She was making her beautiful appearance visible to others in broad daylight. She was doing anything to appease her.

However, Elisha was about to retreat into her shell again due to her unexpected incident. It made Lucerne stuffy, and it made her anxious. She had a great talent for disturbing his composure.

“What more do you want?”

“You don't listen to what I really want. Why do you speak as if you were so lenient?”

I had to keep her mouth shut. But at that moment, her gear, Elisha, vomited her true feelings. Inside the carriage with the curtains closed, half of Elisha's cheek was stained with a shadow. It was the side that had scars in her previous life.

“What do you want?”

Elisha's words touched the limit of Lucerne's patience.

“Going out into the world and getting love letters from strangers?”

“Don't be sarcastic.”

“…… Now I am giving orders.”

He clicked his tongue

“Go ahead.”

At those words, Elisha was silent. She touched her own cheek. She calmed down when she saw that there were no scars.

'Should I apologize? Why the hell am I doing this?'

And there was a few seconds of silence.

Seeing Elisha's expression, Lucerne eventually opened her mouth first.

“Stop me. Still the result is the same. I am not bewitched by you.”

“I guess so.”

Elisha said quietly.

“How dare I seduce you. I'm afraid of what will happen if you really like me.”

“If I am sincere with you. You will spend your whole life looking at the sky beyond the window sill. Be grateful that I like you moderately.”

His words nicked and shook Elisha like a blade. So Elisha didn't notice her fearful meaning behind her words.

I'd rather have her tell me that it's just a means. I didn't want her clumsy possessiveness to shake her. Lucerne was willing to give her the lowest hand and buy everything from Elisha. Because I tried to swallow her whole without giving her heart.

“Thank you for your generosity.”

“Okay.”

Lucerne whispered.

“I cannot deny that I am becoming more and more lenient towards you. You are still watching.”

“…….”

“Sometimes I wonder where you and I are going.”

Elisha knew that if anyone else had climbed this far, he would never have noticed. So she couldn't say anything.

Silence again. Only the clatter of her horse's hooves and the rolling of the wagon wheels were like tinnitus.

“If it had been my Syd who had received such a trap letter, one of them would have died.”

Lucerne ducked her.

“I can't do that in front of you. Are you satisfied now?”

It was as if someone was gently scratching his heart with a needle. Suddenly, Elisha stared at his face.

“Lucerne. Did you know everything?”

“What?”

Lucerne asked quietly.

“The family head will send me a present. And Ilione will take me to the ladies' meeting.”

Elisha remembered this hunting festival. Numerous riches and the loyalty of knights. Honor and praise of people. Envy. It was a gift box-like event with all those emotions mixed together. That was very unusual. Usually, Lucerne didn't like Elisha going out among her people.

“Lucerne. Were you trying to tame me?”