Episode 185
“Everywhere but here there is scandal about the Cartier family.”
Things involving the Cartier family have always been related to the central power. The stories Undine uncovered were shocking.
Some of them have intertwined interests, giving the enemies of the Cartier family an excuse to bite them.
“I hear there will be a lawsuit going on. Besides, it was the first time I saw that great householder collapse in front of people. Maybe the head of the family should also take responsibility. Isn't it fun The day will come when even that proud family will decline.”
“…… Okay?”
“Besides, Undine-nim. How can you do such a trembling thing. There are many tiring things at the temple.”
Rosaria sighed and added the following words.
“Besides, doesn't everyone know? That Lucerne had influence on my becoming the pope.”
At the word Lucerne, Elisha hesitated.
She honestly wondered if Lucerne was doing well. On the one hand, I was worried about whether he was healthy, and on the other hand, I was sick of myself wondering about it.
“If you don't want to hear about Lucerne, I will stop talking.”
“No, it is not. Words…… Please.”
Elisha shook her head.
“Lucerne keep putting the pressure on.”
Rosaria spoke without filter.
“He said he wanted to meet you.”
Elisha shut her mouth. The pressure probably includes extremely 'forceless' threats. He could move a lot of troops. The Black Lions were nothing short of his privates.
“But, as you requested, I have rejected all of them. All-out visits to the saintess candidate are prohibited during the verification period.”
“If he keeps sending visit requests, I will handle it.”
Elisha thought maybe she should send him her hair one more time. She couldn't have been more certain than that. It was a notification that meant 'I don't want to meet you.'
“Let's have some tea or something.”
Elisha and Rosaria entered the temple.
* * *
Squeak. Elisha poured tea. Rosaria took a sip, savoring the scent of the tea.
“Are you all right now?”
“I have always been fine.”
Elisha humbly replied. Rosiraa sighed and shook her head.
“I don't know. Elisha. To be honest, everything is complicated. Lucerne would have done that to you…….”
Rosaria's gaze moved to Elisha's neck. Rosaria now knew what was etched on the nape of Elisha's neck.
“Exactly what Jacob did. And Lucerne saved me from Jacob. But the trace tattoo on the nape of my neck is the same for him.”
“Isn't it fortunate that he is slightly better than Jacob? That guy is your husband.”
“He is Katie too.”
Elisha said calmly. But she said it and her heart throbbed.
“Okay. Cartier.”
Rosaria muttered over and over again.
“Anyway, Cartier's reputation fell to the ground. Can't cover the sky with her palms They will go down in history as the family that drove one saint mad and stole another prophet. At this rate, it is difficult for Kati to win back her public sentiment. It is said that at the coffin opening ceremony that day, even the food provided by the angry crowd was hit. How glad you didn't see it. After all, aren't you also the daughter-in-law of that family?”
Elisha raised the corners of her mouth as if to show her words. She would never have imagined that she would ever see such a sight in her lifetime.
“So she thinks Lucerne will be her next successor?”
“The successor is already decided.”
Rosaria said.
“The rest of the descendants have become like that. But didn't she turn her back on the imperial family and the temple at the same time? So she has no way to renew her mood other than to make Lucerne the head of state.”
Elisha understood Rosaria's words. In any case, Lucerne was the sole victim of this story and the direct heir to the misfortune of being falsely accused of being an illegitimate child. If he takes over the head of the household now, the family of the Duke of Cartier will at least keep face.
“Besides, Merha is dead too.”
“Are you Merha?”
It wasn't surprising. Mer, who had already lost all the trust of her family head and was imprisoned in the temple dungeon by Lucerne.
“Did Lucerne do it himself?”
Rosalia made her strange face and nodded her head.
“On that day, after the temple event was over, Lucerne immediately came to see Merha in the dungeon.”
“Did she cut with a single knife?”
“First……. Her cause of death was ruled a suicide. Don't even imagine her dead body.”
Elisha nodded her head. Merha was the only living enemy Lucerne could hold her guilt against. Lucerne could not have dealt with him with merciful hands.
“Have you preserved her body long enough for her funeral?”
“…… Okay.”
“Then he was more moderate than I thought. Lucerne has such a grudge.”
She said it calmly, but Elisha's stomach felt hot.
Elisha imagined the state of Lucerne. Would he have despaired? Or maybe she was shocked?
Elisha left Lucerne in such a state and fled. She said that if she were to be dragged back into his hands…….
'No, it's useless to think about it now.'
Elisha refreshed her mind.
If he really wanted to see Elisha again, she wouldn't have mildly 'requested'. He was more than enough to occupy the Holy Land. He has many ways to indirectly occupy the Holy Land without having to send troops.
“Three weeks have passed now.”
Rosaria said.
“There is a limit to how long I can protect you. Elisha. If you put pressure on the Cartier family, the fight will escalate. Before that, find your way to live. After the promised hundred days, I will send you right away.”
“All right.”
Elisha reflexively rubbed the nape of her neck.
Perhaps she, Elisha, will fall into the hands of the Cartier family the moment she leaves this sanctuary. Rosalia spoke coldly, but she couldn't hide her concern for Elisha.
“Elisha. Now let me speak as your master. Are you okay?”
“…….”
“How surprised she was to hear that Lucerne had imprisoned you. But are you okay with Lucerne becoming the head of the Cartier family? If you feel bad about Lucerne, that will hurt you too.”
“It is what I want him to be the head of the household. Lucerne is more suitable for shining from above. And I just want to get away from it.”
Rosa Ria had a face that wanted to ask more of her.
“Do you care about Lucerne? Lucerne is also a disciple of Rosaria.”
A complex light passed over Rosaria's face.
“Personally, I would never side with him.”
“Please speak comfortably.”
Elisha said calmly. I didn't want to set her nails up and hate Lucerne. She tried not to think anything of Lucerne anymore.
Now, the only feelings Elisha could give to Lucerne were very little sadness and sympathy. Besides, if she gets a divorce, she will be a stranger.
“But I can't help but imagine it once. The woman she knew as her birth mother was actually a woman sent by her enemy, and the life in which she raised herself in someone else's nest for her own gain. Anybody would be seriously hurt. After all, he had been abandoned and betrayed by the world since her infancy. That she had such a life full of unhappiness and malice. Well. He has no choice but to pray to God.”
“There are many unhappiness in the world. That too will change now. Because I will have all the power in my hands.”
“Is that so?”
Rosalia sighed and shook her head. And that was the end of her sympathy for Lucerne. Elisha decided to tell her what Rosaria would be most curious about.
“Once again, thank you for letting me stay here, Miss Rosaria. Do not worry. I will definitely give you information about her maiden name.”
“Where on earth did you get that information?”
Elisha gave a short laugh instead of answering.
“You will find out soon. She knows exactly where the saintess appears.”
Rosalia nodded her head. Elisha thought.
'She's actually not a saint, but a saint.'
The saintess is the greatest miracle among existing miracles. The goddess showed more definite power when she dwelled in the body of her woman. However, Elisha knew very well how her discovery of the saintess would turn out this time.
'The saintess hasn't been born yet.'
Now the saintess is waiting to be born in her mother's womb with her twin brother. Unfortunately, however, her saintess is born and she is stillborn.
And miraculous things happen. The power of the goddess was passed on to her twin brother from her saintess. And the boy becomes a saint with unprecedentedly strong power.
A saint is a much weaker miracle than a saint, so usually his divine power is much weaker than that of a saint. Therefore, even in her temple, she overlooks the existence of the twin brother and sister.
'Those with evil intentions are always smarter.'
The saint is kidnapped by a foreign force before he is three years old. She was put up for auction and she became a rare collectible. She then dies early in an unfortunate accident. Merha went wild over it.
'Saint, no. Missing her saint. What's happening!'
Elisha heard about it and knew about it. She knew very well where and how to narrow down to find her child.
She told Rosalia that she had a precognitive dream that a miracle of her god had descended on her and she said she had. If anyone else had said that, she would have ignored Rosalia.
But she made sure that Elisha set her example and that things fit into the future. Besides, she was Elisha Lucerne's wife. Sometimes people with a very sensitive constitution experience amazing miracles when they are with a transcendent being like the shadow of Lucerne. Rosalia seemed to have convinced her that Elisha's miracle was an apparition.
“I don't want to send you to the Cartier family twice. We are also doing our best to erase your tracking tattoo.”
“Yes, Lady Rosaria.”
Elisha answered silently.