Episode 122

Elisha was living a luxurious life that was incomparable to her past. However, sometimes money alone was not enough for her to win people over.

“It's strange when you think about it. I heard that the duke's butler, Gail, is a prudent person. He can't bring me a present without you. He must have gotten permission from the emperor and then permission from you.”

When Elisha received the gift from her family head, all of her noble ladies were envious of Elisha. Besides, how was she at the meeting that evening? With Ilione at the center, they put in all their efforts to impress Elisha, her daughter.

“When you arrived at Ilione and her meeting place. What did the people there do?”

“All of them got up from their seats and said hello.”

Lucerne smiled.

“Then next time, what if one of them doesn't get up?”

“…….”

“Or if everyone doesn't care if you go into the meeting place. If no one talks to you What if you don't even know who you are?”

Elisha felt her heart break. She looked at Lucerne quietly.

“Are you feeling bad?”

“…….”

“It was originally like that. Elisha. There is no one who is not appeased.”

Elisha wanted to frown because his words were so right.

Elisha has always been insignificant, so she was inevitably vulnerable to the kindness and acceptance of others. Wherever she went, she was not accustomed to the daily routine of being treated with dignity. It was such a sweet trap.

“I guess I'm convenient for you if you put so much effort into using the word appeasement.”

“Stupid.”

Lucerne said quietly.

“There is no man who will bring and sacrifice game for a woman who is simply convenient.”

“…….”

Elisha shut her mouth. She told Elisha not to be humiliated by her. She didn't want her to think that it was a job for her to tame until she did. And it was like poison.

Emotions are pollution. It is poison. He now demanded more than loyalty from Elisha.

It always has been. If someone from the Cartier family tries to plunder something, the defender will go through hell. Elisha had a premonition that the task of defending herself would become more intense.

“I told you.”

“…….”

“Soon you will choose your course.”

“I don't know if I have the right to decide.”

Elisha said coldly. Lucerne wasn't angry.

“Come on. Elisha.”

Elisha twitched her hand.

“All I want is simple. Trust me a little more.”

“…….”

“Then I will give it all to you.”

A sweetness spread through her body. Elisha didn't know where or how far to believe her words. No matter how many times she is trampled by the Cartier family, should she trust him once again?

In an unequal relationship. Can trust arise from a one-sided ownership relationship?

Then what is the end? Elisha averted her eyes. Now, the time to explore each other with thorns is over. All that was left was time to show loyalty as promised. His generosity is not eternal.

“…… We talk about work.”

“Try.”

“The reason I talked to Mimosa today. Because she was the one who threw fake love letters at me. Then she faked a male voice, but I got it. I have clear ears. That's why I just scooped the mimosa.”

“Is it? You'll have to pay the price Shall we sort it out first?”

Lucer said in a tone that he would deal with one ant.

“From the maid?”

“I'll have you kill Carol as well. But that will take some time. Wait.”

Elisha shook her head.

He doesn't talk nonsense. She really said she would clean up Carola someday, but Elisha wanted to bring that time forward.

In fact, she also knew Elisha. That Lucerne is generous to her. So Elisha changed her tone. It was a slightly softer tone.

“Lucerne. I am very angry about this. I was afraid, that you would misunderstand me…….”

“…….”

“I want to take care of the Corolla sooner.”

“Do you have any other productive plans?”

Lucerne seemed to want to laugh. But she didn't seem offended when Elisha became friendly with him again.

“I will placate the mimosa. So, Mimosa's death is postponed until later. Mimosa has been taking care of her Carola for a long time. She uses mimosa when Carola is usually doing bad things.”

Lucerne succeeded in recalling who Mimosa was.

“I heard that Carola's two ladies-in-waiting have been loyal for a long time.”

“Do you know about them?”

Elisha thought it was unexpected that Lucerne remembered something as insignificant as Carola's handmaid.

“These women are famous within the ducal family.”

Elisha nodded her head. She knew what the rumors had been.

“Is that possible?”

“What is impossible? Didn't you just say it out of your mouth? You say there is no one in the world who cannot be appeased?”

“…….”

“All you have to do is find what that person desperately wants. A dog that has changed owners bites the previous owner more brutally than anyone else.”

Elisha said calmly.

“It's a word that can be interpreted in an ambiguous way.”

Lucerne smiled.

“You told me to ask your permission in detail for anything I wanted to do. I'm getting it now, what do you think?”

“Great. Do it if possible. What do you need?”

Elisha put her hand to her mouth.

“I will have to watch the progress.”

“For now……. I think we need a good-looking knight.”

“…….”

Lucerne nodded her head with a puzzled expression.

“It should be easier to find than a beautiful knight.”

*​ *​ *​

'I'm not used to the social world after all. I'm tired.'

One day after returning to the mansion, Lucerne vacated the mansion due to a provincial manor schedule. Elisha greeted the day as usual.

'The bait I sprinkled on the mimosa will take some time to take effect.'

The temptations that have already been thrown have become stronger as time passes. Mimosa is a pawn when hit by a piece on her chessboard. It was the lowest level horse. But even such an existence can be a very good tool when used properly.

'And unlike chess, humans change sides.'

However, chess pieces and humans also had something in common. Sometimes it was that you could clean it right after use.

Elisha tried to spend her productive time all afternoon. Otherwise, she would have had confused thoughts about Lucerne all along.

Elisha learned many things in her previous life. The most useful of her teachings was that unfounded hope is a delusion. That kind of heart was the worst. You can resist the hope that others give you. But if she believed in the false hopes she had created to deceive herself, she would have no way to escape.

'For example. Hope to believe that there will be prospects for a relationship with Lucerne in this lifetime.'

She was punished and suffered so much, but she still couldn't figure out the subject. Elisha stroked her own arm. He speaks so harshly of himself. The tenderness he gave her sometimes confused her.

'Maybe I took physical relationships too easily.'

Had another man been his partner, he would have found intercourse disgusting. But Lucerne was the man she wanted so much in her previous life and could never have. That's why he had no objection to sexual intercourse from the beginning. And he just thought he could be done with it.

But when it's late at night When he digs deep. And when his hot breath touches and even his hands are interlocked. Then…….

There are moments when you come to believe that feelings beyond that are real.

'…… Stop.'

Elisha jumped up from her seat. Suddenly, her body temperature rose and the strength seemed to loosen between her legs. She shook her head to recall how she felt.

'I'd rather treat the Sid with tea.'

Elisha set out to find the seeds. Because she had to thank her for what had happened at the hunting party. Together with Lucerne, they covered up Elisha's mistakes.

But she walked around the house and couldn't find anyone. Elisha grabbed hold of a butler passing by and asked.

“Butler, where did Lapis and Lazuli go? What about Nora?”

“Ah……. Those three seeds have received a special order from Lucerne-sama, and are self-sufficient in their rooms.”

“Are you sleeping?”

At that, Elisha wondered if Lucerne hadn't taken her anger out on me for getting her fake love letter.

Elisha was worried about Nora and decided to go. Elisha found familiar faces near the stairs.

'Nora, Lapis, Lazuli?'

They were sneaking out through the back door, covered in black hoods over their faces. Elisha ran after them.

She had the skill of walking without making footsteps like a cat. It was a skill that she had acquired in her previous life while eating on the sidelines.

“Lapis?”

When they reached the back door, Elisha called them. Their eyes widened.

“Uh, ma, ma'am.”

Their eyes were wide open, like children who had made a big mistake.

“What is it?”

Elisha asked. Coincidentally, most of them were only those who couldn't lie.

“The general is going out without his knowledge.”

In the end, Lazri spoke honestly and was slapped on the back by Lapis. Elisha looked them over. Fortunately, there is only one Elisha. Only cafes were allowed to go out at will.

“I want to go to a cafe. Could you escort me?”

Lapis and Lazuli. Nora was standing by the river. The river that runs through the center of the capital was slowly flowing towards the sea as usual regardless of the noise of people talking. Elisha watched him.

The three, including Lapis, floated white lilies on the riverside. Elisha knew what they were doing. When commemorating those who had no tomb or whose corpse was not found, the imperials sent lilies into the river.

“Who are you honoring?”

Elisha thought. Today was May 1st, the beginning of spring. And in a previous life, Carola……. It was also the day he invited Lucerne to the club and mocked him through 14 names and Elisha.

“Chris, Elott, Fian. Do you know about this name?”

Nora was startled. Lapis and Lazri's eyes sank gloomily.

“I know.”

Lapis said with slightly gloomy eyes. But rather than extreme sadness, it was an expression of searching for memories from a long time ago.

“Paian-sama is our teacher, a wizard……. He was the protector of us orphans.”

14 people including Paian. Elisha wondered who the hell they might be. It was the same curiosity she had in her previous life. Elisha asked cautiously.

“Can you tell me about them?”

“…….”

“Lucerne…… I heard you hate that name. I want to know.”

The three looked at each other. Raj Lee opened her mouth with an expressionless face.

“Those fourteen.”

“…….”

“The general's first subordinate and lifesaver.”