Episode 128
Ian genuinely cared for Corinne as she embarked on an unfamiliar kind of mission. So he did not spare warm support.
“Coryn, everything is like that at first. Shall I teach you how to seduce a woman? No I have to teach you how to dress up as a girl. Today is the day you take your first steps in intelligence work.”
Said Ian, patting Corinne on the shoulder.
“Still, you are the most handsome among the bears. Besides, you're probably the only bear in a suit, Corinne!”
“…….”
“You know that the success of your mission depends on your beauty, right?”
Ian, who received this plan along with the butler, made fun of Corinne until the end. Thanks to that, Corinne, who exploded, grabbed Ian by the neck and shook him, causing a commotion. Other than that, things went peacefully.
In the end, Corinne, who headed to the woods, the 'place of confrontation', dressed to attend a ball, met Mimosa who came out secretly. Elisha, who was waiting inside the carriage, opened the window and asked.
“How did it go?”
“That woman…….”
Corinne looked like she was being teased.
“Ask me how many children you want in the future…….”
“Poop.”
Ian couldn't stand it and covered his mouth. At that moment, Elisha also twitched her eyebrows.
“Besides, my hands are unruly…….”
“Mimosa has big hands.”
The reason why Elisha knew that was because in her previous life she had been hit by Mimosa's palm many times.
Lucerne had a puzzled expression.
“Yes, do you like it?”
“Yes? Do we have to go all the way to marriage, this mission?”
Corinne drew on her face. Elisha rolled her eyes and gave a small smile. Lucerne couldn't take her eyes off Elisha at that moment.
“So, Elisha.”
Lucerne whispered.
“Is there anything more to do?”
“Now that the deal is done, it's time to go claim the allegiance of the new dog.”
When Lucerne asked, the smile on Elisha's lips disappeared in an instant. Lucerne felt regret burning in her mouth.
“Mimosa. Are you satisfied with what I can give you?”
Mimosa was standing near her rendezvous, a remote cabin in the woods near the capital. Elisha approached her and asked quietly. However, the color of her mimosa was strange. She was tense all over her swarthy face.
“What's wrong?”
At that, Mimosa raised her head. Elisha felt something was wrong.
“No. I'm a little nervous. As you know, noble women like me are not used to dealing with men.”
Elisha was disgusted by the shy mimosa. Before I knew it, Mimosa was grinning.
“From now on regularly, Miss Carola, no. I will report on Carola's movements.”
“I do not need it.”
“Yes?”
Mimosa had a dumbfounded expression. She really didn't need it. Elisha was already familiar with Carola's lifestyle and habits, as if looking through the palm of her hand.
“You just do what Carola tells you to do.”
“Then why the hell do you need me?”
“I will decide when I need you. Until then, don't do anything stupid. Carola has a quick eye for her.”
Elisha said quietly. Mimosa nodded her head with her quivering eyes.
“But today is the first day, so we are receiving information to confirm your allegiance. Carola must be grinding her teeth. She must be digging a trap for me. What are you up to?”
Mimosa was startled. Because she was right.
“…… A marriage contract.”
Elisha hesitated.
“Soon there will be rumors. Rumor has it that you are already married to another man.”
She added mimosa.
“Carola has the evidence.”
And she secretly left the place.
At that time, Elisha's forehead was frowned. She pursed her lips.
'Right. Carola pulled out the card. A card called Jain.'
Elisha's face was very expressionless.
'This is great. I never thought I'd still have proof of that.'
She bit her lip.
A chilling memory of her came to mind. Dark cabin. The sound of men's footsteps. And the neck dripping blood…….
'Are you going to do away with that again?'
What would happen if Lucerne knew about it? I only cared about that one thing. This is because the number of carolas this time was not a big deal, except for the variable Lucerne.
* * *
A piece of paper was in Carola's hand. The very old paper was damp and crumpled here and there. However, it was her handwritten document written on the finest paper.
[Bride: Elisha de Lorre.
Groom: Jain de Carlton.
After her marriage, Elisha de Lorre transfers her former property to her husband's side.
……
Elisha de Lor cannot ask for her divorce.]
A smile came to Carola's lips as she read the contents of her marriage contract that followed.
“Elisha is such an idiot too. If she had married quietly at this time, she would have lived comfortably as a knight's wife without being subjected to harsh things!”
Carola grinned.
“Bigamy! You wouldn't have confided this past to Lucerne, right? Poor Lucerne. How could she be wrong with this crazy woman? Carola is so upset.”
Mimosa looked at Carola, who giggled, with her cold gaze. Carola turned her head toward Mimosa.
“Right. Mimosa? Carola, out of her good will, teaches Lucerne about Elisha's past. Originally, the more outstanding a man she is, the more likely she is to be caught by a bad woman. That her mother did?”
Mimosa smiled cunningly and affirmed Carola's words.
“Do not worry. I secretly leaked rumors to the social world through the ladies-in-waiting I know.”
How well she bleeds, she longs for the news to go to Elisha first. However, Mimosa was not obliged to tell me that. Now, Mimosa wasn't Carola's dog.
Mimosa hoped that this rumor would spread viciously and violently. Enough to give her a blow to Elisha.
'So Elisha will really appreciate the information I gave her!'
A dog that has changed owners desperately wants to be loved by its new owner.
* * *
Rumors began to circulate in the capital's social circles. This rumor was so irritating that it spread quickly.
“Is it true that the general's wife is already married?”
“I heard you had a very close relationship with a knight?”
“Really! You even wrote the marriage contract!”
“The general was married to obtain aristocratic status. So, isn't this a fraudulent marriage?”
This rumor was a good prey for those who regret that the lawsuit did not grow bigger than expected.
* * *
Summer has come. Lucerne's business trips to the provinces became frequent.
The day after meeting Mimosa in the forest, Lucerne vacated her mansion. A week passed.
Elisha was left alone in her mansion, writing Rosaria a letter of her regards.
Through the open window, a warm breeze gently tickled Elisha's ears.
“Lady! I went to the dressing room today and heard a lot of nonsense. This is nonsense!”
Then the door burst open.
It was Sophie who had gone to the dressing room to run errands. She was crying
'Sophie is good at rumors.'
Elisha was impressed with Sophie. She even had the idea that maybe she could use her as an informant for her social circle. By the way, rumors spread within a week. The skills of Carola's maids were also quite good.
“Rumors that I was bigamed?”
Sophie was taken aback by Elisha's outspokenness. She covered her mouth and looked at her.
“So?”
“So it is. I have been fighting nonsense.”
Elisha smiled. She pointed to the finished letter.
“Send me a letter.”
Then Elisha heard the sound of a carriage coming in through the wide open window.
* * *
Rumors that originally circulated among women in aristocratic society did not flow easily to men. However, Lucerne was being closely reported on about Elisha from inside and outside. So it was not difficult for rumors about Elisha to reach his ears.
Lucerne was on his way back from an inspection of the local army. Throughout the return trip, he didn't say anything. Ian had just reported a rumor circulating in the capital about Elisha only a few hours ago.
After that, Lucerne became chilly. All the subordinates looked at Lucerne. Ian was even breaking out in a cold sweat.
“The rumors about the madam cannot be true. He is what kind of person he is. Even if that happened…….”
“I never told you. Ian.”
Ian shut his mouth like a honeydew mute. Lucerne lightly snapped his neck in his carriage.
“It's not strange.”
“…….”
“The more I thought it was no big deal. I'm annoyed.”
Lucerne muttered. Ian looked up.
“When they arrive, tell them not to let anyone on the floor that my wife and I use.”
“…….”
“No matter what you hear, you don't have to come running.”
I think we need to talk very closely. Lucerne thought. Perhaps she was the story that would determine all her treatment. Lucerne tapped her carriage seat with her fingertips.