Episode 137

The Duke's family had an outbuilding where distinguished guests could stay. Although this is an outbuilding, it was a space filled with the most beautiful and precious furniture.

There were only three types of people who could stay there. The Great Pope himself or the people of the Great Pope. Or the emperor of this country. Otherwise, foreign royalty and royalty.

Of course, it was not often used. This time, Elisha prepared for her event and asked her butler to clear the annex beforehand. But she's Carola, she also picked it up somewhere, and she's trying to make it public.

Just then, Joel stepped in.

“Carola! Thank you very much. There are so many things to see in the duke's house. I'm coming here for the first time in my life. Thanks to you, I get a treat!”

Ilione's eyebrows twitched. A cynical smile crossed Ilione's lips. And Illione looked at her household name and she smiled brightly.

“Duke. Long time no see. It's good to see that you're strong. Elisha and I are best friends. Elisha often sent me the regards of the duke.”

At that, the householder showed interest.

“Okay? Is that what my granddaughter-in-law is?”

“Actually, we came here thanks to Elisha's invitation! Right, Obama?”

“Then. Don't be like that.”

The emperor nodded his head. Gaju had a satisfied expression.

“Elisha. I see now that you have a talent for socializing. To see the people of the Hwang family? This is a great honor for the Duke. I'm sure you've come this far because you've always been kind to precious people.”

“You are over-appreciating.”

Elisha said softly.

“Just……. She heard that the late Duchess and Her Highness the Empress were distant relatives. This is usually the imperial family and the duke's family. Since the relationship between the two noble families is close, there is nothing to be attributed to me.”

With Elisha coping so well, Carola ended up trying unsuccessfully to take credit for her with her words. Carola's cheeks turned red in an instant. Elisha didn't even look at Carola.

“If anyone gets compliments, it's because of Princess Ilione who actively prepared this place. I am only in a position to help this event. I'm not the main guest. I couldn't even say that I wanted to actively attend because I was in a position where I couldn't invite anyone. But I'm glad to have such a meaningful time with great people I respect. Certainly……. Even the late Duchess will be delighted.”

Elisha's quiet demeanor was deeply moving. She doesn't brag about herself and speaks calmly. Her attitude really seems to care for others. Elisha knew how to appear that way to her superiors.

“Elisha. Don't act like an idiot in front of the VIPs.”

“…….”

“You are also very close to this family. When you stay at the duchy, you can invite anyone.”

The head of the house said straight to Elisha. However, if you listen to what she said, it was about taking Elisha's side. It was rare for a family head to show favoritism to someone so openly.

“As expected, Lady Elisha is favored. It deserves it.”

The Empress smiled, then she said.

“My Illione is also getting along well with the calm Lady Elisha and has a good influence on her. I look forward to learning more in the future.”

“Oh my God! Do too much Are you saying I'm not calm?”

“Then. Sure. Lady Elisha is a heavenly lady compared to you. She's like a bum, you have to watch and learn from!”

Her words were so, but the empress's attitude was truly humble and just words. Her love for Ilione dripped from her eyes, making the viewer smile.

Besides, people usually supported Ilione after the empress said this, citing Ilione's intelligence and talent. Then she pretended the Empress couldn't win and she used to enjoy that compliment.

“Princess Ilione is outstanding in many ways. Few people have such an advantage. She is learning a lot from the princess.”

This time, Elisha defended Ilione.

“Hoho, be humble too.”

The empress smiled satisfactorily.

Curiously, even if Ilione was on the list, it was Elisha who would increase her value.

The conversation continued to center on Elisha, and Carola had a tearful face, her expression hardened, and it was a mess. But no one gave her her attention.

Lucerne returned before dinner began.

He had just come to see the duke's knights because of a simple request for help from the family head.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived. What are you doing without a message?”

Lucerne was not at all surprised to see the emperor's family. On the contrary, he said this out of the blue and made Elisha's head dizzy.

“Do you need a reason to come over to an old friend's house?”

The emperor didn't get angry at all, probably because he was used to Lucerne's attitude. After Lucerne sat down, the dinner began.

“Did anything happen?”

Lucerne sat down next to Elisha and said. Elisha gave her a small nod. Lucerne avoided people's gaze and fell under her table, stroking Elisha's thumb.

“General. It's better to see you at the duke's house like this.”

Everyone in the imperial family liked Lucerne except for Jewel. So when he came, his mood was more ripe.

“The Great General is the pride of our empire.”

“Wasn't there a direct descendant of a general from a few generations ago in the duke's family? He was not a family head, but he was a valiant general.”

The emperor and empress praised Lucerne unsparingly. The family lord was inherently suspicious and did not like Lucerne's close relationship with the people of the imperial family.

But today was an exception. If the members of the imperial family were trivial, they personally visited them for trivial family events, so whatever they said or did was to save the face of the head of the household.

Besides, the family head always became emotional when it came to the matter of the dead duchess. So, my emotions changed more easily than usual, and I felt better right away.

On the other hand, Jacob, who joined Lucerne late for dinner, only drank alcohol with a rotten expression.

'You. Be patient. After tonight, this humiliation will end.'

Carola squeezed Jacob's hand with such a meaning. Jacob grinded his teeth, but at one point he emptied his glass, hoping for Elisha's ruin more than anyone else.

'Because of that bitch, Lucerne suddenly gains the trust and praise of both the imperial family and the head of the household. Although I was dubious about Carola's plot. It's right to throw away Jain. I'm going to see my Lucerne take that bitch away with her own hands. And I'm going to retaliate like I'm going to rape that bitch.'

No matter how much she thought about it, she was angry that she couldn't eat Elisha once. Jacob's expression didn't seem to change.

'Ugly guy.'

The patriarch looked at Jacob disapprovingly. Still, I couldn't help but feel a pity welling up inside me.

Anyway, the enemy was the Jacob couple. The sense of crisis that Lucerne threatened my place. I just hoped that it would raise Jacob in the future.

*​ *​ *​

“Then, let's take a break today and look at the duke's house, and have a memorial service tomorrow.”

“Okay. We will leave after the memorial service.”

The short tea time ended quickly. The empress said with a concerned expression.

“I heard that Lady Elisha is spending the night at the temple today?”

The housekeeper laughed and said.

“Elisha was entrusted with important events for the duchy. I will never forget my feelings and will definitely repay you, Your Highness the Empress.”

“Okay. I haven't known Lady Elisha for long, but I know she has a responsibility. Work hard today.”

Everyone comforted Elisha, who decided to hold the memorial service alone. Elisha is left alone.

She was scheduled to hold her memorial service until dawn and take a short break in the morning. And she had a busy schedule for the start of the memorial service to be held early in the morning.

*​ *​ *​

Usually, women wore white clothes during memorial services. And to avoid eye contact with the dead, they wore a white cotton thread over their faces. Elisha was also wearing a plain white dress with no decorations and a cotton thread on her head.

And she returned to the shrine, the site of the memorial service, with Lucerne.

'What is this?'

Elisha was dumbfounded there and laughed.

All the tiles, flowers, and candles needed for the memorial service she had prepared had been replaced.

'It must have been Bona Mana Carola's work.'

There's even a degree of sneaking her ass into a spot someone else has left. While Carola was having dinner, she had her underlings prepare a new ceremony without her knowledge.

“Why, what happened?”

Lucerne was not with the Hwang family and her family. He followed Elisha to her ceremonial site. When Elisha's expression became strange, Lucerne asked.

“It looks like a sparrow got in without noticing.”

Lucerne frowned. He was quick-witted, so he noticed Elisha's analogy.

“Seeing that he doesn't notice, that sparrow must have a short lifespan.”

“I mean.”

Elisha smiled.