Episode 134

“Arien's memorial service?”

Carola frowned at the report of her mimosa.

“What is the memorial service?”

“I got it too. It must be sitting in the temple all night and praying for the family. Is it an event that borrows the power of the ancient goddess of death?”

“There is a certain level to pretending to be nice. Hateful, really!”

Carola tossed the cushion she was holding in her hand. She was bragging like a child. Mimosa's expression became strange. She looked around and saw that her pansy was missing.

“But things are going the way Carola wants.”

“Hmm……. That's right. I have to make a job sooner or later. Lucerne has a lot of doubts, so when she comes to the ducal family, she doesn't separate from Elisha…….”

“Yes. There will be loopholes. That is the perfect time to do the work.”

Carola nodded her head in satisfaction.

“Bring some of that.”

Mimosa understood her words right away. She took the paper from the drawer. It was the marriage contract between Jain and Elisha.

'This isn't enough. She can fault her, but she can't break her.'

This marriage was annulled because the first night was not actually held.

Moreover, the people of the Duke of Cartier were surprisingly not strict with women's infidelities. Of course, if the infidelity was discovered, the Cartiers' wives would suffer far more than they did. However, he was not immediately kicked out of the family or beaten to death.

This is because the Cartier family lineage is special.

The Duke of Cartier is a lineage that is protected by a special guardian deity. Even the offspring whose abilities were not manifested differed from those of others in the structure of the flow of magic within their bodies.

So, a kind of mark appeared on the body of the woman who had conceived the child of the Duke of Cartier. The mark was not normally visible, but appeared and disappeared like a tattoo when the magician infused magic into her body.

So, if a daughter-in-law of the family had a child by a man of her wrong line, not from the Cartier family, she was quickly exposed. Having such a clear distinction, the Cartiers did not strictly manage their wives' infidelities.

'Besides, at the time Jacob urged me to write this marriage contract……. If I do something wrong, it will backfire and hurt Jacob.'

But if I gave up here, it wasn't a Carola. Carola smiled.

'But what if everyone saw Jain and Elisha sleeping?'

If so, that would be solid evidence. Everyone would believe that Jain and Elisha were actually married.

The marriage contract is real. If there was a ceremony on the first night, would that be a marriage?

“Evidence can be made.”

Nothing was impossible. Carola cleared her throat in satisfaction.

“Thankfully, Elisha made loopholes like this. Carola cannot miss this opportunity.”

Carola has already started working under her. Rumor has it that her attacks weren't enough to take her opponent's breath away. But she was also a great preparation for the decisive moment.

If there is a rumor that Elisha is bigamed. Even the rumors will serve as evidence the moment the matter is settled. Being able to shake things up between Lucerne and Elisha was a bonus.

Mimosa's eyes shone strangely as she looked at Carola.

“Carola. By the way.”

“Why? She's Carola. She's busy with a lot of things to think about.”

“She has something she needs to know. Hey, I happened to pick it up while talking with the butler.”

Carola's eyes widened at Mimosa's whispered words.

“Yes? What did the fortune teller Muto say to the family head?”

Mimosa whispered.

She said, “The next great child of Lucerne is said to be inhabited by Ramun?”

Caroline's hands trembled. It was the first threat to her survival that Carola felt towards the Lucerne couple. What if Elisha gives birth to a child with a guardian spirit like Lucerne?

'That shouldn't happen. If she gives birth to such a fine offspring, she'll be Carola!'

Carola bit her lip.

*​ *​ *​

For the next few days, Carola couldn't sleep at night. She looked at Jacob and thought.

'She doesn't have a son with Carola yet.'

She considered her own situation. I don't know if she is another guardian deity. 'Ramun' was on a different level. The one with Ramun was treated on the same level as the 'Saint', the highest level of miracles in the temple.

“Carola. Are you worried about something?”

Her pansy asked, and Carola shook her head. Mimosa smiled knowingly.

“Carola. Don't worry too much. The general is also a man.”

“What do you mean?”

“If Lucerne-sama's seed conceives a child with Ramun by a woman. Does she care which field she sows that seed? Maybe 20 years from now. That she might see such an excellent offspring in another woman.”

“But Carola hears from the fortuneteller Muto that it will happen soon.”

Carola froze as if struck by her lightning.

'Right. After all, he's the Cartier family's child. If I get pregnant, who the father is? Even if a child who looks exactly like Lucerne is born, they will all be of the same blood.'

Carola felt her heart pounding at the thought she remembered. But even if she was Carol, that was too much. She shook her head.

“Mimosa. Because sometimes it's scary Carola can't quite understand what she's talking about.”

However, her demonic thoughts, once conceived by her, took root in Carola's mind. Mimosa continued to encourage Carola for the next few days.

“Mimosa. Even if she says Carola gets Mr. Lucerne. She won't suspect anyone. Regardless of whether you have Jacob's child or Lucerne's child, the same family mark will come to mind. But how can the weak Carola subdue Lucerne? She's like fighting a beast with her bare hands.”

Finally, at Mimosa's instigation, Carola confessed her concerns. Mimosa made a puzzled expression.

“That's right.”

Mimosa watched her carefully, she added.

“…… I don't know if I'm going to use medicine.”

“Approximately?”

Carola's motion stopped.

“Lucerne is resistant to poison. Did you hear that people with guardian spirits are more resistant to drugs that are bad for the body than others?”

Mimosa tried to follow her words, but stopped.

“No. Lady. I said something useless.”

“Why, mimosa?”

Caroline's eyes widened.

“What were you trying to say?”

“In fact. A while ago, when I was in the capital city, a knight happened to talk to me. It seemed that he was interested in me.”

“…… To Mimosa?”

She was a mimosa, and she could hardly be called a beauty. Carola blinked her eyes at the mimosa. She looked down on Mimosa.

“He started talking about various things to win my favor. That's why she flaunts her high-status, celebrity connections.”

“What the hell do you want to say? What is a celebrity Does Carola even have to listen to this?”

“That celebrity is the general.”

“…….”

Mimosa continued. The article said that she had served in the military together in Lucerne and the province. He was a fairly capable knight and worked right next door to Lucerne.

“By the way. The general said that he did it. It's a hallucinogen. Do you know the Moratiana flower? A hallucinogen that can be rolled up and smoked or chewed. You know? It is not illegal to use it for medical purposes while serving in the military.”

Carola imagined Lucerne in her drug-fueled excitement. She felt that the mere thought would send chills down her spine.

“But what does that have to do with my current job?”

“You really don't know? The fact that the general is taking hallucinogens. It means that some kind of aphrodisiac works through the general's body.”

“…….”

Carola shut her mouth. It was information that could easily have been obtained through Jacob. But putting her point of view differently made her feel new.

'If he drugs Lucerne…….'

Carola pondered in her thoughts.

A sweet future came to mind. If she gave birth to a child with Ramun, Carola's position in the Cartier family was solid. No. She will have everything in her family.

Her son will bring her all to her. The owner of a family that had everything in the world was a position that was no different from having the world. A strange smile appeared on Carola's lips.

'Moratiana flowers have a hallucinogenic effect, and no one can get them. But my family has been in the pharmaceutical business for generations. If it's our family, we can get enough.'

The Cartiers were not afraid to gamble. Even if you have to bet your life on it. Even if it's a road to ruin. People in the family used to be easily buried in desire.

It's not those who are born with blood. Those who came from outside were also talents that would bloom without fail.

*​ *​ *​

Elisha checked her note.

This note was Mimosa's secret note that came through three routes, including a dressing room and a cafe.

'Stupid Carola.'

Carola's behavior was also unexpected. Elisha nodded her head in satisfaction. She crumpled her note.

“Elisha!”

Ilione came from afar, accompanied by escort knights. She smiled warmly at Elisha. Elisha got up from her seat and greeted Ilione.

*​ *​ *​

“Elisha. It's so nice to meet you like this. I hadn't even thought of the proximity of the summer palaces of the duchy and the imperial family. When does the Duke's schedule end? How about going on vacation with my family after we finish?”

Elisha and Ilione were sitting face to face with a cup of tea in a hotel cafe in a small town in the Duke of Cartier.

Ilione's summer palace was near that resort town. The duchy and the resort town were very close, a half-day drive away. So the two had made an appointment to meet here before leaving the capital.

“I want to, but I don't think I can. An event is being held to commemorate the Duchess.”

“Come now? It's been a long time since he passed away.”

“It happened. Because the head of the household has a very strong love for the deceased Duchess…….”

As Elisha spoke, she suddenly sighed.

“What's wrong, Elisha?”

“I think I did something wrong.”

“What the hell is going on?”

Elisha put out her first sentence and turned her words around.

“The princess has always been good to me. She doesn't want to complain to her good friends like the princess.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Tell me anything.”

Ilione's status was so high that he had few friends who could be called equals. Elisha was the wife of her general, so she was a smart and charming person who had no shortage of people to talk to. Recently, she has been infatuated with Elisha.

Those of her higher rank were not stingy in extending her favour. When Ilione seemed to have trouble with Elisha, she was eager to help.

“That's true…….”

Elisha couldn't help but open her mouth.