Episode 138

At that time, the family head accompanied by Carola entered the temple.

“Elisha, to even hold a memorial service for a child who died so disgracefully. No matter how much I think about it, you really are a child who lacks nothing.”

“You've already said that many times.”

“Besides, according to the butler. Didn't I tell you to clean the annex in advance in case a VIP might come? You are really good at treating guests. It's definitely enough talent to run this duchy.”

The housekeeper continued.

“I brought you a present to comfort you in your hardships.”

Soon Gail came with a small box. Caroline's eyes flashed. When Gail was told that she had entered the duke's storage room, Carola continued to hang around the head of the family. It was because she was restless that the family head would give Elisha a precious gift.

“This……. It is a very beautiful thing.”

Elisha opened the box and marveled at what came out. It was a small platinum tube. In the center, there was a diamond in the shape of an elongated waterdrop, about the size of a child's hand.

“This is your great-grandmother's favorite item. It's an ancient princess's platinum crown. She was told that you brought no property with you when you got married. So I'll give you a fortune that will last a long time. Keep it well.”

'Will this turn into cash?'

Even though she said thanks with her mouth, Elisha thought indifferently.

If it was too precious, ordinary jewelry stores or pawnshops could not afford it, so they did not accept it. Obviously, it should be sold at an auction, but auctions are not often held.

So she was worse than a gold coin to Elisha. However, she knew what the duchess' keepsakes were. It will definitely be a cherished item.

'It must be good.'

More than anything, the measure of the preciousness of these items was judged by Carola's expression. For Carola could not stand her spring for a moment and glared at Elisha with her hateful eyes.

“My lord. Carola is not feeling well, so she can't pray all night like Elisha. You know what? In fact, she is called Carol, and she has been with her handmaids since Arien's death. Every day she enters her shrine, she prays for Arien. She must have known the high priest of the family…….”

It was an obvious lie. But it was true that Carola often came to the temple. She was mainly to fulfill her own desires. Elisha knew her grotesque temperament of Carola. She was extremely obsessed with divination, but she was also greedy, so she frequented the temple.

'Actually. There are other purposes besides that.'

Elisha thought. Inside the temple is a space managed by the women of the family from generation to generation. Besides, no one came in. So, for generations, the temple has been a place of rendezvous with the women of dukes.

“Elisha seems to be struggling alone, so Carola prepared for today's ceremony. Actually, I've been thinking about preparing a memorial service for a long time. I was very grateful to Elisha for speaking up for her first.”

Elisha was dumbfounded.

“You're the one who prepared this, Carola?”

“Oh, that's right. Elisha had prepared her ceremony incorrectly…….”

“Looks like you've seen the thesis on the rites written by Primera, the High Priestess. However, the ritual I prepared is ancient, so the preparation for this ritual does not fit. I need three kinds of flowers, and all the fruits for the ceremony are wrong. Above all, this ritual is to comfort the dead by lighting candles all night. You have already lit all the candles.”

Caroline's cheeks turned red.

“It's only when it's this bright that even the dead will be startled and run away.”

Elisha said softly.

“Primera's thesis is good, but you didn't know that most of the nobles' temple ceremonies were ancient. I was genuinely worried about who had such false knowledge. I'm glad I was able to make it right.”

“You are…….”

Cold hatred flowed from Carola's eyes. When Elisha saw her Carola's true nature, she felt better. This was the Carol she knew.

“My lord.”

Then, for some reason, Lucerne opened her mouth. Elisha wondered if she was somehow interfering with his petty squabbles.

“Elisha must be tired today as she painstakingly prepared the event a few days ago. But she's interfering with work. You foolishly annoy people.”

Lucerne really looked at Carola as if she were a fly.

The family head now grasped the situation. He thought of her daughters-in-law's quarrels as those of dogs and cats. So, Carola, the cause of the dispute, felt annoyed.

“Carola. You don't know much about this ritual, do you? Tea party preparation is suitable for your level. Don't interfere with Elisha's work!”

Caroline's face went white. She lowered her head and gave her pitiful victim look and bit her lip. Carola is very good at her acting and she did a good job with this expression.

“Yes……. Lord. Carola is trying to help……. I was wrong…….”

I ignored Carola, who would normally soothe her. And she comforted Elisha.

“Baby, suffer a little today.”

“Thank you. Lord.”

Elisha bowed her knee and greeted her politely. Carola stared terrified at Elisha with blue eyes as soon as her matriarch's eyes fell. Elisha pretended not to see that gaze.

At least when Lucerne looked at her, Carola lowered her eyebrows. Perhaps it would have been a composition that would not have changed even if Jacob had been present here.

*​ *​ *​

“Are you really going to spend the night here?”

“Okay. It's really fine.”

Lucerne took Elisha to her shrine one last time.

“If anything happens, I will scream.”

“I won't hear you. The soundproofing in this room is perfect. Temples built a long time ago are usually like that.”

“…….”

In fact, Elisha was well aware of that fact. The temple was so soundproof that Carola would often have her maids beat Elisha in it. The memories of being hit enough to make my nose bleed at that time are still clear to me.

“…… It's okay. Lucerne. Even if you don't believe me Just believe in me for today.”

“…….”

“Have my plans ever let you down? Not even once.”

Lucerne reluctantly nodded her head at those words. Sigh. The door of the temple was closed.

Lucerne stood in front of the temple gate for a long time. Then, as the night dew began to flow, she reluctantly left the spot.

She had a lady-in-waiting who watched her. Mimosa hurried off and she reported to the owner what she had seen.

“The general has been in the room.”

“Okay? Okay.”

Carola grinned.

“It's Jain's turn.”

Carola was amused. Now Elisha will collapse. I was so excited to think of Elisha's messed up look tomorrow morning.

Jain broke into her temple where her Elisha was located tonight, committed her, and decided to subdue her until morning.

'Thanks to you, I'll have a good time, Elisha?'

Carola grinned.

“Mimosa. Don't forget my order got it?”

“Yes. I'll cause a big commotion in front of the temple tomorrow morning. And I will send people to the temple.”

Carola nodded her head in satisfaction.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes. As you asked, I also spread rumors. They say that the duke's temple is a good place for her men and women to have sex. It had been used that way for decades. I say this.”

The rumor was that Carola was one of her underlings. If Elisha was discovered tomorrow morning, it would have been better if it was staged as if she had been having an affair.

She said, “She was flirtatious, and she let it go like it was a story. Rumors that are too specific shouldn't go to the head of the family early, right?”

“Very good, mimosa.”

Carola smiled broadly.

“Carola was impressed! I will not forget Mimosa's performance this time. You know Carola never made me sad about this, right?”

Carola handed her mimosa her bag of gold coins. Mimosa accepted the gold coin with an exaggeratedly happy expression.

'Even though I've only talked like this and never spent a lot of money.'

If she had money, she had already received enough from the general's side. Mimosa laughed at the money Carola gave her. She said that when she finished this job, she would marry a good and excellent knight.

In addition, Elisha decided to give her a large dowry. Mimosa was about to hum her song.

'Yes, it does its job very well. Very well…….'

Meanwhile, Carola fancies her Elisha's doom and hums her song. Mimosa dreamed of her rosy future just like her mimosa, and struggled to hold back her haggard laughter.

That night, the old master and servant were happy with different thoughts.

*​ *​ *​

But Carola's plot was just beginning.

As the night progressed, Carola painstakingly groomed herself. And she asked Mimosa.

“Did Jacob go to Cortizan's house?”

“Yes. The lady liked it very much when she said it was prepared to ease her mood.”

Conspiracies planned by Carola. For all of that to happen tonight, Jacob had to vacate his mansion.

A nearby small town very close to the duchy. There was a house of cortisans where nobles came and went.

Carola is so popular that she has reserved a glass of cortisole for today, which is hard to reserve. There was no way Jacob would refuse.

“I prepared the same clothes as Elisha. She did a good job If you turn off the lights in her room and put a veil over her face, it will be hard to tell who is who.”

A memorial service to remember and comfort the dead. At that time, women were expected to wear pure white clothes. It was a very elegant design with no decorations if possible. And a long cotton thread was worn on her head.

Mimosa skillfully prepared Carola's clothes. Carola dressed up and dressed like her Elisa. Carola felt her heart throb.

Tonight her wish will come true. By now Zain should be heading to her temple with her medicine to scare Elisha.

*​ *​ *​

Elisha saw over a hundred gold and silver candlesticks and the candles on them. She started lighting them one by one.

In the ancient Shinto ceremony, the memorial service had to keep the candles lit all night. Then, the deceased would sing her own chants or play on the organ with her favorite objects around.

However, Elisha did not intend to put so much effort into it.

“Arien. Is this your hobby?”

Elisha saw things that Arien liked. It was a beautiful porcelain doll or a music box. Elisha turned one of her music boxes around. She put it in her ear and listened quietly.

“I have a hobby like this girl. It's too bad to die miserably.”

Ugh. The sound of the wind came in response.

“It's better not to be a daughter-in-law of a family like this, after all.”

Elisha put down her music box and muttered languidly. It was then.

Awesome profit.

I heard the door of the dark temple open. Elisha, who was sitting on her knees on the floor, raised her head. Her white dress rubbed against her floor. Her blonde hair waved wildly.

“Who…….”

Elisha opened her eyes wide.

“Town!”

Elisha opened her eyes wide as the approacher blocked her mouth from behind her. Before long, as if her oxygen had run out, her Elisha mind went hazy.