Episode 132

The head of the household is largely responsible for the work of the Duke of Cartier during the summer and winter. It was divided into two quarters. At the end of a quarter, he called his descendants to hear the results of the business.

At this time, he also organized the money and treasures that had come into the family for a year. At that time, it literally rained money. The head of the family generously gave money to those who did what they liked.

So Jacob and his wife, and Marco and his wife in Arien's lifetime, hurriedly ran to the point where their underwear was soaked and flattered the head of the house. But Lucerne was an exception.

Lucerne was not an obedient grandson who would come and go when the family head came. He spent most of the year on the battlefield until a few years ago. He would reply only saying that if the head of household did not want to come even if he called, he would just have to prepare for the expedition.

But he was different this year. When the family head asked to stop by the duke's house, Lucerne's wife, Elisha, responded politely by saying that she would reciprocate the invitation. In addition, this year, unlike previous years, Lucerne was involved in the temple business. There are enough things to report to the family head.

“So, since you went and handed over the invitation yourself, you said that Lucerne would go there right there?”

The head of the family has already asked Gail, the duke's butler, twice. Gail politely nodded his head.

“Yes. The wife read the letter and said. 'Thank you very much. I'll go. Is that okay?' He asked, looking at the general. He readily nodded.”

“Hmm. Okay. Right.”

The householder lived these days for the fun of reading Elisha's letters. Elisha often sent handwritten letters to the family head even if it was a trivial matter or an excuse.

Plus when she was given a flour refinery. What was Elisha's attitude in her imperial palace? Elisha's cautious behavior was perfect when she was reported to Gail. She didn't even compare to Carola. It was because Carola was jealous of Elisha after that and went around crying for days.

“That guy from Lucerne has been gnawing at me all his life, and he's good at getting women. Elisha is perfect.”

Gail just shut his mouth. She had strange rumors about Elisha in the capital.

However, this was still a rumor confined to the social world. Of course, the family head was insensitive to such rumors. Gail had no intention of speaking until the family head asked.

He was a very quick-witted man, and he knew that he hated Lucerne and there was nothing good about it. Lucerne was extremely attached to his wife. I could tell that just by looking at the two of them.

Elisha looked over her carriage at the duke's scene.

'The time when the family pays their bills for the summer season. I never thought I would be heading to the Duke's house at this time.'

During this time, the grandchildren of the head of household were always busy. Jacob showed the head of household the books he had painstakingly prepared for inspection. Elisha rested her chin nonchalantly and looked out the window at her.

She lived as a slave to this family all her life. But she did not know that she would enter there in a rare carriage that Lucerne had tailored for her Elisha.

“Why. I feel bad?”

Lucerne asked. Elisha shook her head slightly.

“Thank you for your cooperation. Lucerne. I know you hate this mansion.”

“Will I hate it as much as you?”

Lucerne brought out his unexpected words. Elisha's eyes widened.

“So be patient.”

Elisha thought there were times when he moved her heart in unexpected parts of her.

Upon entering the duchy, Gail greeted them with a more polite face than usual.

“The Duke is waiting in the Jewel Room.”

The Jewel Room was a room where only the valuables that the head of household kept. When he greets guests in that room, it means that he is welcoming a distinguished guest.

Marco, who was less favored by the head of the family, thought about going into that room once a year. Carola, on the other hand, was always in and out of that room.

Guided by the butler, they headed to the jewelry room.

A room decorated with treasures all over the room. With their backs to the dazzling jewel room, the family head was waiting for them.

“I see the head of the household.”

Elisha and Lucerne greeted the householder. The patriarch nodded his head in satisfaction.

“Sit down.”

Gaju and Lucerne had tea and briefly talked about business. Lucerne employed the right people and ran the temple business very neatly. Gaju was satisfied.

“Elisha. I am very glad that you write to me often. I heard you're working hard on etiquette classes. Maybe that's why, every time a letter comes, it seems that the calligraphy becomes more calligraphic and the sentences become more elegant. Only talented people develop so quickly in everything.”

“You are overrated. Lord.”

Elisha spoke calmly and humbly.

“Today I am in a very good mood, so I will give you a present. Take your pick in this jewel room. You'd better choose carefully.”

Elisha knew this was not an easy question. If you choose a gift that is too precious, you will look arrogant in the eyes of the family head. But if you choose a trivial item, you will be blind. I had to choose the good stuff from the right line.

But whatever it was, it was good. The treasures in this place are items from the imperial family, even gems, or relics from old temples. It was something with such a history.

Elisha looked into Lucerne's eyes. He nodded, and Elisha stood up and looked around her display window.

“Hey, what is this thing?”

Elisha then found a wooden box. The wooden box was a very old and small item. However, the pattern of the Duke's family was engraved on the surface. If it wasn't for that pattern, it was a shabby thing that wouldn't suit this room at all.

“That…….”

The family head's expression became complicated. Remorse, longing, hatred, and strange guilt and anger. The family head gazed at Lucerne once without even realizing it.

“It is a gift given to me by my deceased father in Lucerne. He said it was a precious gift and he gave it to me. But no one could open the box. Michelan was such a playful guy.”

She deserved to know. Lucerne's father. Michelan died young. The head of household could not twist open the box for fear of damaging the contents of the box, and had only kept it until now.

The corners of Elisha's mouth went up as if they were barely visible. But it was so fleeting that Gaju didn't notice.

“Lucerne, your patron saint. Shadows have the ability to detect objects. Can you guess what's inside?”

Elisha removed her hour hand and said. In fact, she knew what was inside. This is because Lucerne was the one who solved the riddle of the box a few years later.

Indeed, Lucerne looked at Elisha with strange eyes, as if she had noticed something strange.

“I can't kiss you because it's in front of the family head. Then won't you do me a favor?”

Elisha turned her back to Gazoo and whispered very softly into her mouth. Slow enough that if you pay attention, you can roughly understand what he's talking about.

“You really…….”

Her lucerne looked at her as if bewildered.

“My lord. I know that if you use magic in this room, it will be detected right away.”

“Oh yeah. You can summon a shadow if you want.”

Lucerne snapped his fingers. A shadow appeared and circled the box, scanning it. Eventually, Lucerne nodded.

“Do you know what it is?”

“Yes.”

“What the hell do you mean, Lucerne?”

The head of household also jumped up from her seat to see if her curiosity was aroused. Lucerne said silently.

“Patriarch, my wife is good at solving riddles. Because I'll give her a hint to her wife. If she gets it right, praise her.”

There is a child who goes. Her curiosity was also a curiosity, but it was due to her longing for Michelan, who died at that moment.

“Good night. Give me a hint.”

“Inside this is an appendage from a special monster's corpse. It was the most precious monster among the monsters that appeared in the past 100 years. I think it's as rare as my shadow monster. It seems to be a semi-god level monster.”

Elisha heard that and she thought for a moment. Then she immediately nodded her head.

“I think I know how to open this box.”

“How?”

“Not in this room.”

Elisha said softly. The family head followed Elisha as if possessed. Elisha looked around several of her rooms and then she headed for one. And she whispered to a servant passing by, instructing her to do something.

There was a fireplace in the room we entered. It was a warm season, so I didn't turn on the fireplace. Elisha poured a generous amount of perfumed oil on her box and she lit a match she always kept on the fireplace.

Then she threw the box into the fireplace casually. The housekeeper was frightened.

“What are you doing now? This is Michelan…….”

“Let's wait.”

Lucerne said. The housekeeper hesitated. Before long, Elisha lifted her tongs and pulled out her contents. No matter how much she poured perfume on the wooden box, the box burned unusually quickly.

Inside the box was another small box. However, this time the box was easily opened with just a tap with tongs. Inside the ashes-covered box, a red jewel glowed strangely. The patriarch opened her eyes wide and stared at the jewel.

“Look at this. Inside is the heart of the phoenix. The Demonic Beast, called a phoenix, comes back to life many times without being burned by any fire. So I thought it would be okay to burn this box out.”

“…….”

He couldn't keep his mouth shut.

“How could you…….”

Elisha smiled and calmly explained.

“This is a very valuable item. People with the heart of a phoenix are said to live a long life. A few decades ago, a monster called the Phoenix was subdued near the Elpirim Mountains. At the time, because of rumors about its efficacy, people lined up in a nearby city to bid for the heart of a phoenix that had been split into dozens of pieces.”

He couldn't say anything because his throat was choking.

“Oh, my late father-in-law must have sincerely wished for the health of the family head. Right, Lucerne?”

“I have never met my father so I don't know, but I have heard that he was a deep-seated man.”

Lucerne said calmly.

“It seems that filial piety, which does not change even in death or life, really exists.”

Elisha whispered. And I looked at the expression of the family head. He held his breath, closing his lips tightly. He seemed to choke.

“Okay. I see.”

Gaju said so. But his expression was full of remorse. Elisha barely held back the corner of her mouth going up.