Episode 193

“Wow, I didn't expect to meet you in a place like this. Elisha. Why aren't you with the general?”

“Why are you here?”

At Elisha's question, she looked around and whispered.

“It's okay to talk here, but would you like to go somewhere quiet?”

“No. Tell me here You're not going to say anything bad.”

Elisha said softly. However, because Lottie also went through all the prenatal battles, her eyesight was one hundred steps.

Lottie couldn't hide her sad look at her wariness revealed in her Elisha. But she soon straightened her expression.

“Elisha also knows about the coffin opening ceremony, right? Oh Maybe she even watched the coffin opening ceremony. All the people of high status have flocked…….”

“…… Yes.”

“Why has there been a fuss since then? The Cartier family.”

Elisha listened to Lotty.

“Since then public criticism has grown and our debt has been forgiven. Because Jacob-nim has lost his power.”

At those words, Elisha easily guessed her line. Originally, the members of the Cartier family were cautious about trespassing on each other's property. So, the head of the family disapproved of the existence of the collateral for a long time, but he just didn't take any action.

'Because that Jacob has now fallen.'

So, being conscious of the world, he must hastily organized them.

“So now you are free too. It worked.”

Elisha said calmly. In a previous life, Lottie with freckles becomes Jacob's mistress. Struggling for her life, she died in a gruesome brutality by Carola's hand.

“But why are you selling stuff here?”

“Ah. I work at the capital city's business association. This town is on an errand.”

“…… So?”

“Yes.”

Elisha thought that was a very strange story. She didn't believe in coincidence. Besides, Lottie looked pretty good in her manners. Lottie hesitated and spoke up.

“Hey. I just wanted to say thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“We. You were in the position of working to death in the laundry. After that our recruits were brought to the temple. After Elisha married the general, our existence was an annoyance to the general.”

“…… Okay. Lucerne did that to wash my identity.”

“Yes! But one day, people from the ducal family suddenly came and told me to leave the monastery. Everyone begged me to live in a monastery instead. There were also people who spurred on this opportunity. What do you think I would have done?”

“…… How did you do it?”

“I lay down asking for money and endured.”

Lotty said with a grin.

“If you don't give me money, I go to the newspaper office and make a fuss, saying that I will also sue this proud family. In the end, the butler of the duchy came and gave me a lot of money.”

Lottie's story was quite exciting and eventful. That's how she ended up holding some of the money from the women.

Then Lottie got a safe bachelor mansion like Elisha in the capital. She was then lucky enough to get her job, so she was learning the trade. Elisha remembered that Lottie was originally from a merchant family.

“I was with you the night before you disappeared. No way. Uh, well She didn't expect to go to the general and throw herself at her, but……. She thought it was great though. Elisha was the only one among us who changed the name. The day before, she recalled many conversations she had with Elisha.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Then Jacob seduced me. Let's spend the night Remembering Elisha's advice, I finally refused. You did that to me Jacob is definitely not. In fact, he was shaken.”

“…….”

“When I think about it now, I feel dizzy. I wish I had hooked up with that guy then. Carola would have been killed by that crazy bitch. And now everyone is openly swearing at Carola and Jacob. You couldn't curse even behind us and were trembling.”

Elisha recalled her last conversation with Lottie. Clearly then, Elisha told her to be careful and avoid Jacob.

Yes, Lottie's life has changed. It was also thanks to Elisha's advice. Elisha felt strange again. It was a feeling similar to hers.

“Well done. That's great.”

Lottie's face brightened a little at Elisha's calm words.

“And……. I have something to apologize for.”

Lottie hesitated.

“Before we were kicked out of the Cartier family in the first place. When sent to a rural temple. I was so grateful to Elisha. Her temple life was heaven compared to laundry life. But other women don't think so. Everyone was jealous of Elisha and cursed at her. I'm sure I'll be good at catching a man, too. Elisha should be enjoying herself in her mansion by now.”

“…….”

It was obvious what words had been exchanged. Elisha just laughed.

“At that time, I didn't want to offend other people, so I couldn't say anything in front of them. I've always been the youngest So I'm sorry I couldn't take your side then.”

“I see.”

Elisha nodded her head. Elisha realized why Lottie had vociferously sided with Elisha among her ladies. It was because there was regret inside.

“It's okay because I bought it well. You don't have to worry about that.”

Her freckles smiled wide. It was a much older smile.

“Madam. Would you like some more tea?”

Just then, the young cafe owner approached. Called Madame Margaret, she was a pretty slender beauty. And…… She was Agent 1 of Lucerne. I already knew because she introduced herself with her own mouth.

“No, it was going to happen now.”

Elisha said expressionlessly. Margaret ran her eyes across her freckled face.

Elisha said hello with her freckles. Such a brief and accidental meeting ended.

*​ *​ *​

After that, Elisha never met Lottie. But one day, Lottie carefully left a message for Elisha at the cafe. She said she wanted to see Elisha again.

'It's not that I hate him.'

Elisha recalled her past life with Lottie. She certainly wasn't all good. But Elisha, who couldn't ignore her, next met Lottie at her cafe.

“I am really sorry. Elisha. That is……. The store told me to write down my emergency contact number. It's not like this is a guarantee. I don't have a family I really don't know who to contact.”

Elisha hesitated. She thought she might have been too harsh with Lottie.

Elisha knew why she wrote down the contact information. Employees needed a place to contact in case of sudden accident or injury.

It couldn't be someone who was in office within the same high society, and most of them were family members. Monasteries like Elisha wrote down their contact information at the monastery.

Besides, a woman who lives alone is looked down upon just by asking someone for a favor like this. Elisha develops sympathy for Lottie.

“I will do it.”

Said Elisha. The desire to keep a distance from Lotty did not change much. There was no other reason. Now, she didn't want too much to do with people connected to the Duke of Cartier.

However……. It could have been a little bit of help from time to time. Lottie was overjoyed by the words, and she thanked her several times. That day, Lottie left first, and Margaret came over and whispered as she removed the teacup Lottie drank from.

“Shall I investigate that lady in detail?”

“No. That's fine.”

Elisha said she knew Margaret was going to do an identity check on Lottie, but she did. Margaret meekly nodded her head.

*​ *​ *​

It was such a peaceful and peaceful day. Elisha said she learned a lot about herself.

She was wary and shy. She was tired of meeting new people, but she didn't hate it enough to be rude to strangers.

She and she liked to read books, but she was limited to practical ones.

…… And she got lonely

“I am selling a portrait of General Lucerne de Kayas. This painting was drawn by an artist who saw him in person in the capital and was shocked by his good looks.”

From time to time, peddlers came to the market selling things that women in the capital might like. Elisha looked at the various pictures of Lucerne on her keyboard and almost coughed up her cough.

'Ah, it's about now.'

Elisha found a book about the seeds of the Black Lion Knights.

Seeds start to gain considerable popularity around this time. It was because a famous novelist had published a biography praising their bravery.

“Are you selling this book too?”

“Ah, it's a special edition of Western clothes straight from the capital, so it's a bit expensive. A valiant knight order popular in the capital these days. It is a biography of the Black Lion seeds.”

“It's okay. Please.”

Besides, Elisha didn't cut the price a single penny.

The peddler thanked him and put in a portrait and a used book.

When I got home, I found that one was a portrait of Lucerne, and the second-hand book was a love story that was in vogue these days. Elisha laughed.

'I have everything.'

*​ *​ *​

But for some reason I couldn't abandon the portrait.

'They don't look a lot alike.'

Elisha looked at the portrait. Even if he hates him so much, is afraid of him, and resents him……. I missed you even then He's also sad.

My heart was still beating. Eventually, she sandwiched the portrait between romance novels. Both of them hoped that there would be nothing to do.

*​ *​ *​

“So. Why the hell are you doing this here? Are the rumors true?”

And sometimes unexpected guests would come. The first guest Elisha greeted was Ilione.

“Illione. How do you feel…….”

“How? How can you do that to me You are our friend! I even made a secret to the general to help you. But to think that Elisha was a candidate for her holy woman. Besides, are you separated now? What's happening! Is it my fault that I couldn't attend Undine's coffin opening ceremony? Besides, there was such a big thing. Won't you come and see me?”

“Ah…….”

Elisha was overwhelmed by Ilione, who spoke at an incredibly fast pace, and was at a loss for words.

'Well, if I put my mind to it, I'd be able to easily find where I am.'

Elisha used her real name when she first moved in. Elisha de Lor. However, her surname, Laure, is completely unknown compared to 'Katier' or 'Kayas', her last name as a knight for life in Lucerne.

'If the marriage lasts, Lucerne will change her surname to Kayas, so I'll have to follow suit.'

But Elisha thought that such a thing would not happen. Besides, Elisha was the nominal head of the Inama Rohr family. Her mistress often took her maiden name even after her marriage.

Anyway, Elisha had to calm down her excited Illione first.

“Come here, I'll treat you to tea.”

Elisha escorted her Ilione into her house. Illione looked around the inside of her house curiously.

“Hmm……. It's cozy.”

Said Ilione. It was the people of Lucerne who prepared everything, including the furniture of this house, and it was equipped with quite luxurious furniture.

Elisha led her Ilione to a small table set by her window. She then took out the tea leaves from the red tin case and slowly prepared to pour the tea.

As soon as Ilione sat down, he started talking about his recent situation.

“It's really not that crazy these days. Haven't you heard of the capital? It's been a while since I saw the general's face.”

“…… Did you?”

“Okay. As you know, hiding the magic crystal mine is a felony on the level of drug trafficking. It is said that the Cartier family is illegally mining magic stones in their own mountain, and the workers there are slaves and prisoners imported from abroad. So, Obama told me not to approach the general who was so fond of. The Cartier family will probably pay the greatest amount of reparation ever.”

Elisha hesitated. She expected that the imperial family would be at odds with the Cartier family, but she did not know that they would immediately unite Lucerne and reject them.

“No way…….”

“Ah, don't worry, the general won't be arrested. The Grand General wasn't the one who became the enemy of the family until now. But in this chaos, you can't be completely free. The meeting was held for several more days to determine whether or not to retain the position of general. It hurts, very much.”

Elisha tried not to worry or think about Lucerne. So his face hardened even more, and Ilione waved his hand.

“Ah, don't worry. I didn't come here to think of something. Today, I'm just here as Elisha's friend, so there's no political significance! Anyway, everyone rushes like gnats to reduce the power of the Cartier family this time, making a fuss.”

Illione's cool, uncompromising style of speech remained the same. Besides, Ilione also knew that Elisha was imprisoned. I was carefree because I didn't know what happened after that.

There was also good news. Ilione said recently that she was on the verge of being crowned crown princess.

“I wish Elisha could come to my appointment, too. Did you fall in love with the Cartier family? Or, as rumor has it, the general……. Did you ask for a divorce?”

“It's not like that.”

Elisha shook her head.

“I can't tell you everything, but Lucerne is not asking for a divorce.”

Illione seemed to think she was a bit odd. But she didn't dig any further when Elisha turned her back.

Elisha had a long conversation with Ilione. It's been a long time since she had a long conversation with someone, so Elisha was very unfamiliar with that feeling.

Elisha escorted her to her front door when Ilione went back.

“Elisha, can we see each other again?”

Ilione asked. Elisha didn't answer and just looked at Ilione's face.

“We……. Are you still friends?”

“Sure. Why do you say that?”

A faint relief appeared on Ilione's face.

“If I become the Crown Princess now, she will be busy. You came here very hard today.”

“I know, Ilione.”

Elisha gave a short answer.

“I'm late to tell you, but……. I'm glad you came.”

Ilione smiled.

“Maybe she will be the last friend Elisha ever had. So I hope to see you for a long time in the world I live in.”

Ilione said calmly. Elisha hesitated her hand.

She said that if Elisha becomes a really normal woman. Will she still be able to maintain a friendship? It won't be.

People like Ilione aren't free enough to keep friends without a basis for a relationship. If Elisha and Lucerne get divorced, people like her will never meet at the same level as her for the rest of their lives.

“Then don't disappear. Elisha.”

Said Ilione. Elisha shut her mouth.

“And how much my sister misses you too. Me really A child sings that she misses Elisha.”

Elisha thought of the cute prince and smiled vaguely.

“See you again, Ilione. Be healthy always.”

Elisha gave such an answer after thinking for a few seconds.

Okay. Now, Elisha could run away whenever she wanted. There were no trace tattoos on the nape of the neck anymore. Lucerne's agents were close by, but…….

'Our purpose is protection, not surveillance. If you need help, I'll come running to you, but I won't follow you or trespass, so trust me.'

Agent of the cafe. The day Madame Margaret revealed her true identity. He said so

'Should I believe that?'

But if Lucerne was going to cheat on Elisha, she would have cheated right away.

Oh okay. Now you are really free

If you take one more step, you may part with Lucerne forever. It may be possible to escape from the Cartier family.