Episode 136

Elisha moved busily. She is almost done preparing for her memorial service. According to Elisha's instructions, her servants and priests were busy moving.

“This fruit doesn't fit here. Among the fruits of the ancient gods, the northern loquat is said to be the fruit of the world tree. I have to let it go. And the flowers were well prepared with lilies of three colors. And you have to put a very dark blue-black berod in front. It is a cloth that symbolizes the Rothprix River, the main god that the dead cross.”

Gail worked with Elisha and admired her.

“You know so amazingly well. No one knows the rites for this kind of ritual, so how…….”

“I grew up in a monastery. In monasteries, there were many cases where memorial services for nobles were held. Children entrusted to the monastery, like me, always had to help with the work when there was a big event.”

“Okay. This graceful demeanor comes from monastic teaching. I'm sure the monastery that produced such a lady must be proud of it.”

“…… Thank you for the compliment.”

Elisha humbly replied.

Elisha had no ill feelings with Gail in her previous life. Most of the duke's people, including Jacob's people, despised Elisha for her ugly appearance.

But Gail was a decent and well-behaved person, so she never looked down on people. So Elisha treated Gail politely.

She said, 'The general is a very difficult person to deal with. The wife is just the opposite.'

On the other hand, Gail thought Elisha was a much easier partner to entertain than Lucerne. Usually, he used to have a hard time dealing with Lucerne.

So naturally, they were kind to each other.

While preparing for this event, when the householder often asked about Elisha, Gail answered unanimously. 'She is truly the perfect lady,' I said.

*​ *​ *​

There was a gaze looking at such Elisha from behind her.

Carola was sick to her stomach as Elisha pretended to be her hostess. However, standing in front of the head of household, she couldn't tell.

'Isn't the Duchess's memorial service supposed to be held by Carola, the duke's mistress? But why is it acting as a mistress?'

She was Carol, and she had never thought deeply about her duchess in her life. But as it happened, she felt that Elisha had robbed her of something.

'I don't want to see that bitch run amok anymore. After tonight, this will be over. Damn year. What if I was found having an affair with a man in the duke's temple?'

Carola remembered the medicine in her arms. Carola's parents were originally wealthy from the herbal business.

Her father's business was moving like a tailwind, as her mother brought in a large amount of money from her parents' house. The reason Carola's parents are wealthy is because she owns several types of medicinal herbs with exclusive distribution rights.

So, Carola's parents had some unique drugs secretly used only by her family members. There were a lot of nobles who wanted illegal drugs.

So for a long time, Carola and her family have been running an illegal salon and providing hallucinogens. Previously, it was a respectable business, but as drugs were completely outlawed, the business became more and more clandestine.

One of them was a drug called 'Phantasmic Dreams' that was now in Carola's arms.

This drug was uniquely an inhaled drug. When this small capsule bursts, anyone nearby, regardless of gender, falls into a temporary aphrodisiac effect.

Promiscuous nobles would use this potion for pleasure in groups of men and women. However, the effect of the drug was so strong that it was now a prohibited substance that was a felony even in possession.

'The effect of this drug is strong. Even if you just smell her scent, you don't even know who the man and woman opposite her are. She mistakes her for the lover she has in her heart and runs into her.'

In addition, she said that no one should come near the shrine for the quiet memorial service. Even Elisha gave the order herself.

Elisha, who is alone in the temple all night, will receive a visit from her father at dawn.

And tomorrow morning, Elisha will show it to everyone. Carola's limbs trembled because the thought of it thrilled her.

'It's ruin soon. Elisha. Lucerne's personality is something I know very well. There's no way Lucerne will carry a woman who has been violated once. If they are abandoned miserably, hell will begin from then on.'

Jacob ran a club called the Red Club for money laundering purposes. Masquerades were often held at the club, and suspicious people often came and went. Carola would often hide her identity and infiltrate there to play with her people.

While she was there, she heard outrageous stories. There is also a club that puts on a show where women are imprisoned and forced to have sex with animals. She thought that if Carola captured her Elisha, she would sell her to the club and make her lesser than a prostitute. The thought of it made her so excited that Carol couldn't even stand.

'Let's see, the next grand duke of the Cartier family. And the next grand duke will be in the blood of Carola. I can never do something as low as you.'

Carola laughed just thinking about Elisha's mother. A woman of such trashy bloodline was not qualified to give birth to an offspring of a ducal family.

*​ *​ *​

“This. Lady Elisha. A big deal happened.”

“What happened?”

“People from the imperial family came to visit. No advance notice. Let's go. He is in the drawing room.”

As Elisha was preparing for the final ceremony of her shrine, she said to Gail, who had received a message from the attendant. Then he hurried off to greet the distinguished guests. Elisha adjusted her dress and followed them.

'The emperor has come.'

They were dressed more casually than usual.

'Carola.'

Elisha frowned.

They sat around a marble table. On one side of the wall were the knights of the imperial family, and on the other wall were the servants of the duke.

“Oh my God. I see the imperial family's golden carriage coming to the duke's house. I thought I was dreaming of myself.”

Said the duke.

“I mean. Carola is so happy.”

And Carola, who was right next to the family head, was bursting into laughter. It was the exact opposite of how he behaved calmly during the hunting festival.

At that time, the duke found Elisha.

“Elisha, come here.”

Elisha bowed to them on her knees and greeted them politely.

“Meet the most precious people of the empire. Your Majesty, it is an honor to see you again.”

The emperor smiled and dissuaded Elisha.

“Today, I'm visiting a friend I knew a long time ago, so don't say hello.”

Only the emperor, the head of Ilione's father, was younger. But the emperor called him a friend. The family head beckoned to Elisha with a softer-than-usual look.

“Elisha. Come sit down. The members of the royal family came to attend the memorial service for the duchess, thankfully.”

As Elisha approached, the housekeeper said.

When Ilione saw Elisha, she smiled and winked with her eyes. It was a playful look, like a boy expecting to be praised. Elisha grasped her context at once.

'Illione has brought his family. He's loyal as well.'

No matter how arrogant the family head was, he was an aristocrat of the empire. What if the members of the imperial family visit and attend the memorial ceremony, which is nothing more than a family event?

It was a great honor.

Moreover, this was possible because it was during the royal family's summer vacation. This is because, outside of the summer vacation period, the activities and schedules of the members of the imperial family are carefully managed. It was only at this time of year that it loosened up.

Taking advantage of that gap, Ilione brought his family here. This was purely to build up Elisha's side. It was an expression of great sexuality that only a country's princess could do.

Elisha felt sincere gratitude to Ilione.

'Jewel came too.'

There is only one face I don't want to see here. It was only Prince Jewel. Prince Jewel was sitting next to the emperor with a dignified attitude.

“Lady!”

Yepnen, who was playing with a lump of sugar on the table, looked at Elisha and her face widened.

“It's been a while. Lady Elisha. This kid begged me to go see her to see if she really liked her. He must have been very nice to our Yepnen at the last hunting festival.”

“Prince Yepnen is a very kind person. It was also nice to see the prince at the hunting festival.”

Elisha greeted me gently. Among the people sitting around the table, only Carola and Jewell's expressions were strangely distorted.

Then Jewel opened her mouth.

“They say the Duchess's memorial service will be held. Isn't it natural that the members of our imperial family are also coming? Besides, the Summer Palace is just a stone's throw away.”

Juel pretended to be an adult and said. Despite his arrogant appearance, he appeared very well. Elisha was stunned.

'The messier the inside, the better at pretending to be normal.'

In that respect, Jewel and Carola had no choice but to board the same boat. Because it was exactly the same.

“Carola said she always wanted to invite people from our imperial family. You said that to my mother at the last capital auction.”

“Juel. You have a very good memory.”

The Emperor was looking at Jewel with the expression of seeing her proud son. Elisha felt strange about her. Sometimes, for a powerful person like the emperor, a lesser son can be prettier than an outstanding daughter like Ilione. The emperor's expression was exactly the same.

Then Carola opened her mouth.

“I'm glad that the imperial family thinks about our duchy. Today, I will guide you to the Duke. This is our family's mansion. We are always preparing to welcome VIPs such as the royal family. It was good that we prepared a very large memorial service this time!”

Carola implied that her dukedom was originally her own jurisdiction. Besides, she said that as a host, she would treat honorable guests.

It was easy to misunderstand that the reason the people of the imperial family visited was because of 'Carola's invitation'. Moreover, from what she said, it was like Carola's job to prepare the memorial service.