Episode 133

Lucerne's Shadow Witchbeast reacted to and responded to the upper Witchbeast. So it was natural for him to find out about the Phoenix Heart.

'It's not a riddle that's hard to solve.'

It was her past life. A few years later, Lucerne solved the riddle as if it were boring. Throwing a box into the fire was originally an action by Lucerne. It was great guts. Ordinary people, even if they knew, would not be able to burn something so precious.

And when the contents are revealed, the family's heart is moved by the longing for the dead Michelan. So he brings Elisha.

'The head of the household is also a great person. The double ledger I made in my previous life was to inherit some of the family's property to Lucerne.'

After being called by the family head, everything started. Would it have been better if it hadn't happened. Elisha thought often.

But she didn't have that idea for long. It's because the family head called Elisha. He quickly calmed down and kept his usual expression.

“Yes, Elisha. I'll give you a prize for solving the riddle. What do you want?”

“You have given me so much. So I don't need anything.”

“Elisha. If you are a daughter-in-law of this family, you should enjoy wealth like a right. Come on, tell me.”

Gaju was straight. He was ready to give whatever Elisha asked for.

“Then I have one wish.”

Elisha said softly.

“I want you to give me the crystal crown of the late Duchess.”

The family head's expression stiffened in an instant and turned red.

“What? It is the coffin that contained the body of your great-great-grandmother. How do you…… !”

Among the items in the duchy, the most valuable item is by far the coffin of the deceased duchess. The family head loved the dead duchess very much. It was unusual for the Cartier family. So, when Michelan ran away with a woman, everyone said that he resembled a family man.

The family head put more effort into his wife's funeral than anyone else. He collected all the precious jewels in the world. And he decorated the jewels and made a crystal crown.

A wooden coffin was placed in the Duchess's tomb, but the coffin used at the funeral was the most cherished object by the head of the household. The crystal crown was hidden in the inner chamber of the duke's temple. The family head would often stroke the crystal crown to honor the deceased Duchess.

“Covet it? You don't know how cute it is.”

“That is not what I mean.”

Elisha wasn't surprised at all. The furrow between Lucerne's eyebrows was more of a concern.

“I mean……. I just want you to give it away for a while. It's the death anniversary of the late Duchess soon, and I'd like to hold a memorial service. I wondered if you would take out the coffin for the memorial service.”

“…….”

The family's expression changed again. His eyes twitched.

“I don't know the late Duchess. But I heard from Lucerne that the head of the family thinks of the deceased person as very precious. Besides, when Lucerne saw the Duchess as a child. He was ill and was bedridden. Even in the midst of that, she said that she took very good care of Lucerne. But she said Lucerne came to the dukedom and she passed away not long after.”

Elisha continued to speak softly.

“At that time, Lucerne said that he could not even attend the funeral because the situation was not good. So I want to hold a memorial service and pray for him. There are so many things the family lord has done for me. So I want to do anything for my family. Even the smallest things.”

A memorial service is literally an event to honor a person who has long since passed away. It was mainly a courtesy received by the saints of the temple. However, there were times when families held a quiet memorial service and prayed among themselves in a high-ranking aristocratic family.

Gaju was speechless. The family lord had never been so deeply moved in recent years.

“I didn't think of that. Okay. Even the new child has the right to know about the great-grandmother…….”

I chose the words that go.

“Good night. Then, on this anniversary of my wife's death, let's hold a simple memorial service. Is that all?”

“Actually, the High Priestess Merha, who is in prison, continues to say that she is not feeling well. Comforting Arien's soul on the eve of the memorial service……. How about spending a memorial service together? Maybe Arien's evil spirit is cursing our family. Arien's work has always been on my mind. The funeral was also held in an abbreviated manner.”

“…… I didn't know you would think that far.”

“It's just that Arien's death was an unsavory death. I'd rather play very quietly. I grew up in a temple, so I know I'm not familiar with the ceremonies, so I'd go in alone and pray all night.”

Gaju was amazed. Elisha's thoughtfulness was beyond what he thought.

'I'm going crazy. How can a child like that?'

Besides, a new life might be born between that child and Lucerne. What a superior child he is. After that day, the family head began to think deeply about Elisha.

That day, before Lucerne and Elisha left, the head of the household said as if to call Gale.

“Butler, starting today, give Elisha anything she wants in this mansion. And treat her like a daughter-in-law in our family and give her only the best.”

Gail said yes and bowed deeply.

*​ *​ *​

“Are you satisfied now?”

“What?”

“I put the gaju in your hand, rolled it, and played with it. You have to be satisfied.”

Inside the returning carriage. Lucerne was watching her sitting in the seat next to her.

“As expected, there is no woman as interesting as you.”

“It is an honor.”

Elisha answered nonchalantly.

“Did you have an interesting viewing?”

“Yes.”

Lucerne nodded her head. He looked at Elisha with burning eyes. Elisha wondered where he had been provoked by her. Elisha's wrists pressed against the seat of the carriage. She held her wrists where his grip was tight like her handcuffs.

“This time, as promised, I'll match your game. Don't do this don't do that report to me I don't know if I remember everything I said.”

“…… How can I forget?”

“It's too late to be strict with you now.”

Even Lucerne himself spat out as if he was dumbfounded. He was helplessly weak against Elisha. His emotions kept crossing the line to be a simple possessive desire. Dangerous enough.

“I'll give you just one rule this time.”

“…….”

“Don't hurt my collateral. I will not forgive you if you scratch mine.”

“…….”

“If you don't even keep that, I won't turn a blind eye to you anymore. Okay?”

“I know.”

Elisha meekly nodded her head. She knew that Lucerne was very forgiving and patient. Even if it is for him, Lucerne is a person who can conquer the family with his own strength. So, to make him the family head in the shortest period of time…….

'Is it for me to be free in the end?'

Elisha thought dryly. Lucerne stared at Elisha's lips and she slowly dropped her body.

“So what's the secret to bewitching the family head?”

“The head of the household is now an old man. It is not difficult to win the hearts of older people. When a man with power reaches that age, he usually lives in the past. So, you can beautify the memories.”

“I know.”

Lucerne said nonchalantly.

“The only thing that is difficult is your heart. You don't even know what's in it, and it's the hardest thing to buy I've ever seen.”

Coincidentally, the carriage was passing through a huge forest in front of the duchy. It was a place where countless royalty and nobles wanted to come and hunt while salivating. The forest, which was only for the householder, had not been hunted for a long time, so there were many rare game.

Elisha's hand flinched as she looked out the window at the forest. When she thought, she remembered something she shouldn't have. I was confused for a moment.

“Do you want to?”

“…….”

“Is it worth it to you?”

Elisha spit it out herself and was sorry. Lucerne's eyes wavered. His eyes took on an odd color.

“Elisha.”

It was the moment Lucerne was about to speak. Sigh. The carriage stopped. Soon there was the sound of a furious carriage.

“…… Game.”

The door of the opponent's wagon that followed was thrown open. It was Gale, the butler of the duchy.

“The head of the family said that he left too soon and told me to take these things. These are all things Michelan-nim liked……. I think it would be better for Lucerne-sama to take it…….”

It seemed that the housekeeper was in a good mood. He generously gave away his father's memento, which his grandson had not given away until he was over twenty. As Elisha watched, she massaged her wrists that had been held by Lucerne.

I couldn't even blink an eye in front of the head of household. But now, just talking to Lucerne for a while made her blood pulsate and her whole body temperature rose. Elisha's gaze turned to the dark forest across the road. It was a place that nobody seemed to be able to find.

'It's not good either.'

Elisha picked her heart up.

“Elisha.”

“No. Forget what you just said.”

Elisha got into her carriage. She couldn't look at Lucerne's expression. His eyes were sunken so deeply that he couldn't understand. Elisha felt as if Lucerne's pupils, which were looking at her, were embedded in her head. It was a memory she could not easily shake off.