Episode 18

“Yes?”

“Why, Lucerne-nim came to ask for permission to marry from the head of the household before. That's when everyone was listening. The reason she proposes to Elisha is……. It's because Elisha is in a pitiful situation.”

“And what else did you say?”

Hearing Elisha's calming voice, the corners of Carola's mouth went up as if she couldn't see them.

“And he said this again. That she wants to marry a woman who has a 'parental family that is unlikely to climb'. She said she wanted to marry Elisha because she was a 'powerless, poor and desperate noblewoman'…….”

Carola pretended to weep over what Lucerne said of her and moved her line. She said that she wanted to marry a woman who could create ghosts at any time, she said that.

“Carola is heartbroken for her. There is nothing more precious than love between a man and a woman. If Carola were in Elisha's shoes, she would be so sad!”

Carola's voice grew clearer and clearer.

“Elisha has been under Jacob's protection until now. In fact, isn't she the one who took care of Elisha, his mistress? She's what Carola says as if she were her own big sister.”

A smile spread across Arien's lips.

“I didn't know the inside story, but after hearing it, my heart hurts. Elisha-sama seems very innocent, so I hope she doesn't get hurt.”

Arienne and Carola, she thought. Elisha's pride would collapse. As if she had forgotten her past, where she was doing laundry, the appearance of Elisha, standing calmly with her back erect, looked like this to them.

She said, 'She comes from a twisted, ruined aristocracy with nothing but pride left.'

The powerless, downfall aristocratic women were the daughters-in-law of the Gekatier family, who could topple them with just one blow of wind from her mouth.

“You should know what Elisha knows too. Yes?”

Carola opened her eyes wide and looked around her. Arien agreed.

“Oh my, you are so considerate. Until you look at it like this. I really have to thank you. Why don't you say thank you?”

Arien looked at Elisha with particular anticipation.

'I wish I could cry. If I do it in front of the head of the household, I'll be properly photographed.'

But rather than crying, Elisha had a very calm expression.

“Why me?”

“Yes?”

“Carola. Why are you repeating what everyone knows while even crying? Did the general ask you to deliver it to me? Your mouth is softer than the pigeons delivering the telegrams.”

Carola doubted her own ears. It was even a method I had heard of. Lucerne used to use this method. A way to say that the back of the head was beaten with a club.

'Isn't this what it is?'

Carola quickly changed her expression, pretending to be naive.

“Carola, with good intentions…….”

Elisha looked at her Carola openly, as if she were a strange person.

“You mean good? Where is the good intention here?”

Elisha spoke before Carola had time to reply. Even a cold smile hung on her lips.

“First of all, your wife is dishonoring your husband. I know that your wife and Mr. Jacob have a good relationship, but then did her husband marry her wife's parents?”

“Yes?”

“…….”

“Besides, arrogance is said to be a noble vice. If there are a hundred couples in the world, there are a hundred different types. Even if he is attracted to my Korean and American parents, why isn't that love? I just don't know the context.”

“That, it's not like that. Carola.”

“Furthermore.”

Elisha spoke clearly and she cut off Carola.

“It's true that I don't have any parents, so why are you saying that? Could it be that everyone has forgotten how the high lord Lor died?”

“…….”

“How could someone who cares about me bring up my father's story on my wedding day?”

Strange, Elisha tilted her head. It was a look that I really didn't understand. It was Jacob who killed Elisha's biological father, Lor.

“That is in the past. Maybe I'm not so polite Are you saying you want to cover your face?”

Jacob raised his voice. Jacob was an ugly man with a stubby nose and dark skin. Jacob's big face turned red.

“You, in fact, are you saying that you have a grudge against our family? Tell me!”

Jacob, who had already drank wine, said in a drunken tone. It was then.

Widely.

That was the moment. Lucerne kicked Jacob's chair leg with his long leg. Jacob stopped and rolled on his back.

“Quack!”

Jacob made a noise like a pig. He belatedly realized what had happened to him and hurriedly got himself up.

“You shouldn't raise your voice in front of the head of the household. You have no manners.”

“This……. This……. Are you a guy who hides the things you can't say in front of the head of household? Where is this……. Uh…….”

Lucerne silently glared at Jacob.

“Where…….”

When Jacob and Lucerne seemed to be fighting, Carol raised her voice. She didn't forget to tremble as if she was afraid to die.

“My lord! Carola is so scared! The general is not that kind of person. When the wrong woman comes in, a dispute is already brewing in the house. Isn't that right, Arien?”

“…… I see. You're supposed to be patient, but you're whining so that you don't be careful, and you start a fight!”

Arien added.

Gaju's eyes were already annoyed. He did not like the fights of his daughters-in-law. But he didn't stop. It was because I was quite curious about how Elisha would react.

Elisha didn't budge this time either.

“Why is this a family dispute? I'm the wife of the general and you're an Imperial nobleman, so isn't it just a dispute?”

“…….”

It was nothing to say. Lucerne is not the enemy of this family, no one dared to object.

In addition, Lucerne was a general with command authority over all soldiers in the Empire. No matter how great he was, he had to pay respect to the general.

Carola quickly became a rude military woman to the general's wife. Carola, who was quick-witted, quickly realized about the trap of logic she had fallen into, and she became even more resentful. Arien shut her mouth before she knew it.

She said, “You seem to enjoy meddling in other people's affairs, so let me give you a piece of advice.”

Elisha said softly.

“I think. It would be nice to ask the head of the household for forgiveness.”

Caroline's eyes widened.

“She said that even though Carola was a bit loud, she was the kind of woman that Carola was…….”

“She doesn't care what kind of woman Carola is.”

Elisha gently cut her off. Her Carola's expression was blank.

“I am advising you that you should apologize for saying something you shouldn't have said in front of the family head.”

“What are you talking about? She never made a mistake, Carola!”

“'The most important thing between a husband and wife is affection.' You upset the head of the household with such stupid words.”

“What?”

At those words, everyone's faces turned stunned. The saying that affection is important between a couple was just an idiom, a natural statement.

“Carola, her wife is the wife of the eldest son of the Cartier family, a great family. So, you should be an example for noble ladies. She's hungry for her spouse's love. A weeping woman doesn't fit in this household. She is such a precious person. Why is she sobbing about personal things like other people's love affairs? Her weakness…….”

Elisha said with calm eyes.

“I think it is a sin. There are many sins in the world, but weakness is the greatest.”

The gaze of the housekeeper changed. He tilted his head.

The householder first suspected that Elisha was not a trained actor.

She is a cool, detached and clever woman in everything. She was the most excellent and perfect female figure in his opinion. So. Elisha was the perfect daughter-in-law for his taste. She was strangely fond of her.

The next question was that. Unless that's really acting…….

'Where was that thing hiding, and how did Lucerne get it?'

*​ *​ *​

Elisha was able to guess at the people of the Cartier family even with her eyes closed. Because she spent her last life trembling among them. She even knew something about her hometown.

One day in her previous life. Jacob once 'rented' Elisha to the householder for several months.

She said, 'There is a woman under you who is good at making double ledgers like a ghost. Please lend me some.'

Her tone was asking for a few months for her dog. In this way, Elisha was sold for money and became the head of the household for several months.

During those months, Elisha served him around the household. It was because the head of household had a lot of doubts, so he entrusted the work to Elisha and enjoyed checking on it from time to time.

At that time, Elisha learned how to please the family head. The family head was very fond of her Elisha's competence, and sometimes praised her.

'It was the first time my ability was recognized.'

Even if I worked hard to death, I lived every day being run over by my feet like a dog. Elisha, with her low self-esteem at the time, thought she was an incompetent idiot.

Then, when she received the praise of the god-like being, Elisha's heart melted. In time she came to follow him.

'As you know, it is a family tradition that the butlers do the double ledger making. My butler is old and sick, so would you like to learn some work?'

The householder even offered to Elisha to work by her side. Elisha believed in the generosity of the housekeeper. So she pleaded before the head of the household.

'Jacob is holding me in debt. Please save me Have mercy on me for living like a slave.'

Now that I think about it, it was a really stupid plea.

'Elisha, your sin is weakness. The one who tramples is not guilty. However, your strength is what has kept you alive until now, so there is nothing to be unfair about. You are living your life.'

'…….'

'Remember. Weakness is the greatest sin.'

The housekeeper said as if it was annoying.

And, just because Elisha appealed to her feelings, the head of the house cut off all attention from her. She was that kind of person Elisha then said she felt hopeless and gave up all hope in her others.

'Now I know what kind of person the family head is.'

So, on the contrary, Elisha could only say what the family head liked the most.