Episode 164

“Don't do this.”

Elisha felt a chill.

“Unfortunately, what are you asking for here? You have to sell your body to buy it. If you don't want to do that, should I beg you?”

Elisha's body trembled.

She couldn't figure out why he was doing this. Elisha, she said, seemed about to collapse. I couldn't stand this one at all. Her tears fell quickly. Lucerne looked down at her quietly.

“Let go of the shackles.”

Elisha swallowed her cry, trying to speak as calmly as possible.

“Great.”

Lucerne said.

“You should ask for that. Nice.”

And then the shackles were released from her ankles. Elisha touched her ankle.

Cool. Let's be cool Let's calm down.

Elisha fell into Lucerne's hands. Why was he angry?

'Create a borrowed-name account behind the scenes. They must have thought I would run away.'

Would you believe me if I said it wasn't like that? No. It doesn't make any sense now Elisha decided to protest the terms of her contract.

“I know you don't trust me. But watch your mouth, and I didn't betray you. Let me out I will never do nonsense behind your back again.”

Elisha said coldly.

“So, once again, fulfill the contract.”

“Contract?”

Lucerne said affectionately.

“Ah. Great. Stop playing with words. In the first place, I had no intention of keeping the terms of the contract.”

“…… Why…….”

Elisha opened her eyes wide.

“Do you remember the terms of the contract? 'Our contract is a transaction of identity and information, and if there is a flaw in the contents of the transaction, this transaction is invalid.'”

Elisha remembered the contents of the contract. Lucerne said that she would prevent her betrayal. If she gives false information. If your identity is flawed. In that case, the contract marriage is null and void.

“Why is that?”

“From the beginning, this deal was nonsense. Because you lied about the source of your information.”

“…….”

Elisha had a foreboding feeling.

“I don't know where you heard about it and how you know it.”

Lucerne whispered.

“You told me. She roams the secret passageways and gathers information. For years.”

“…… Right.”

“Did you know Jacob was mentally ill?”

“…….”

Elisha's movements stopped. This was really first-time information. Jacob sometimes had trouble controlling his emotions. So he showed a tendency to violence. However, he did not know that he had a disease in the past.

'No, there is no record of being hospitalized. He's never been to recuperation. Apparently, Jacob has been living back and forth between the duke's house and the capital's mansion for several years.'

Elisha was careful not to get caught in Lucerne's judo newspaper.

“The story of that cute little ghost. Let's start there The office that Jacob used was his deceased father. It's where Stevan used to be.”

In an old mansion, rooms for family members are assigned. In such a place, even the location of the room was power. Lucerne hasn't been able to use his family's space on the third floor for a long time. However, Jacob inherited his father's office.

It was the room used by his successor, eldest son, and eldest son for generations. The room was a symbol of Jacob's power.

“So what?”

“He saw my father's ghost in that room. Until just a few years ago.”

Elisha's body hardened.

“So he pretended to use the office. He thought my grandfather would look at me badly if he found out I was exhibiting delirious symptoms. That's how our family is. If you show that you are sick or injured, you may go out of sight of the family head. Jacob had to pretend to be dignified in the office.”

“…….”

“Besides, you know that there are a lot of photons in my house, right? There is a small room next to Jacob's office. He hid there like a rat and took care of everything. But you didn't know about the space. Because after Jacob got better, the room was completely filled in for his treatment. And that too without the owner knowing.”

Elisha really didn't know. Her whole body trembled.

'That…….'

She couldn't help but know. Elisha in her previous life is because she started working as Jacob's slave since about last year. Jacob had no one to tell her about her flaws. Although Elisha knew many of Jacob's weaknesses. She hadn't known until a very long time ago.

“So. I knew you were lying from the fact that you spyed on Jacob's office to gather information.”

“Then why?”

Elisha bit her lip.

“Why did you sign a contract with me?”

“Because it was a contract I could find fault with and break it at any time.”

Lucerne said affectionately.

“It's like a contract with exception clauses. Besides, I liked the collateral.”

“…….”

“Okay, Elisha? From the day you entered my room in your pajamas. I never trusted you for a single day.”

“…….”

“Actually, you knew that too. That your empty lies are nonsense.”

Elisha was speechless.

“You didn't expect me to be bewitched by you and turn a blind eye to you?”

Lucerne whispered.

“You've been too drunk on my favoritism, haven't you?”

Elisha felt the blood draining from her body.

“When I sign a contract with someone below me, I always do deals that benefit me. So I can't As long as you break the contract, I can have you whenever I want.”

“…….”

“So, you were meant to be like this. From the beginning.”

Lucerne stroked her hair affectionately.

“Your behavior was lacking, so I just pulled the moment quickly. Oh okay. Congratulations on one That you satisfied me at night enough that I want to 'protect' you nicely here.”

“…….”

“I warned you. From the beginning.”

Lucerne whispered in Elisha's ear.

“So you should have stimulated me moderately.”

Elisha wanted to close her eyes. Of all imaginable assumptions, the worst came too soon. One gesture from Lucerne was enough.

She fell into the abyss he had prepared. So easily.

*​ *​ *​

Elisha was burying her face in her lap. She needed time for her too to regain her usual cool.

'Emotions are poison.'

To be honest, I think I was a bit careless. Recently, he has been very special to Elisha. There were times when the two of us were a bit mischievous. However, in front of people, she always put on the side of Elisha. So, with that halo on her back, no one could ignore Elisha.

'Even the head of household only praised me.'

After all, Lucerne was Elisha's weakness.

'I did my best.'

It was always like that in her previous life. She did her best under the given circumstances. She struggled to survive. But she didn't reach them. Elisha was just a slave class.

'If this happens, I might really get a divorce.'

Elisha wanted to laugh bitterly. Lucerne's surname improved, she probably won't divorce her. But if there is another opponent. If that opponent offers a better 'contract' to Lucerne. If so, she will be divorced. The case was not good for Elisha. Even if she gets divorced, she'll be locked up here.

If her Lucerne gets tired of her, if she acts on her whims……. Will I be able to save her life then?

'No matter how much I do, it doesn't change. That's right.'

Thanks to her Elisha, Lucerne got a lot of things. The family head's trust, Marco's downfall. And Jacob's power weakened, and both men lost their wives. Now Lucerne even has Elisha. She could keep her locked up and use her to her heart's content.

'I'm a fool who believed for a while. Why didn't I know?'

No. It wasn't.

There were too many hints.

'It could be, but then the general will receive it and share it with the lady! Because the general cherishes the mistress. Married couples share half of everything.'

She knew the truth That the Cartiers do not share anything with anyone.

If Lucerne has to share the power it has won with Elisha. Then she knew that Elisha would end up like this.

She said, 'Many things will be different if you give birth to grandchildren. Wouldn't your child be different? Depending on what you choose The fate of this duke might change.'

The family head's words may also have been a trap. If Elisha gives birth to Lucerne's child. It is as if the utility of Lucerne and Jacob is disappearing from the family head. Is that really a blessing to Lucerne?

'I guess not.'

So, it was best for Lucerne to clean up Elisha now. He was just acting rationally…….

'I was a fool.'

I know, but I overlooked it. I'm intoxicated with sweet feelings for him. It was a self-digging grave. Elisha wanted to scream and cry and suffer.

The resentment she had accumulated over her two lives tormented her heart.

But the most painful thing was different. There was still a stupid, futile feeling left in her heart.

Her heart, enchanted by a single flower, was hurt by that insignificant thing.

'It's the worst broken heart.'

Elisha thought. As expected, Lucerne had a knack for hurting Elisha. Her wildly nurtured hopes were crushed.

Her unrequited love has also ended. The second time, it wasn't that it didn't hurt.