Episode 198

And the day passed as usual.

Elisha occasionally had her thoughts about her little Astina.

When she first looked back on her past, her memory was incomplete. At the time, she really thought she was running away from Jacob, and that she died the moment she hit her head on a stone in the woods. But as time went on, she realized her own faults.

She's a dead daughter now. Even her Astina's name and appearance came to mind exactly.

'Miss you.'

She was really weird. She's the only daughter I've seen twice in her life. Maybe it's because she has ten months in her belly.

She is a child who doesn't even exist in the reality she lives in now. She was so affectionate and missed.

'But I barely……. She's out of the Cartier family.'

However, she was entangled with the family and suffered too many misfortunes. I didn't want to go back to their world.

Elisha got into the habit of gently stroking her own stomach. She would then remove her hand as if in surprise.

If she wants to see him again…….

*​ *​ *​

That evening Elisha received a letter. This time she was also a letter from Lucerne. She opened her letter.

“This…….”

The contents of the letter were literally a series of numbers. It is the amount settled from an unknown company, interest on bonds, and dividends on numerous rights.

It was truly a huge sum of money. Elisha doubted her eyes.

The next page of the letter was a short message from an accountant in Lucerne.

[You are the rightful legal partner of Lucerne de Callas, Lucerne de Cartier and Lucerne de Lore…….

The following payments are made twice a year…….

This is an exclusive right, throughout the duration of the marriage…….]

Elisha quickly scanned her letter with her eyes.

She easily understood the gist of the letter.

“…… You're going to get a 15% share of Lucerne's annual income? Is that such a huge amount?”

The accountant kindly commented. This was the best condition of any Cartier family's wife ever, she said.

'It must be that this person is going crazy.'

The amount written on the statement…….

It was an amount that even the country could afford.

What was binding Lucerne and Elisha now was a huge debt and a marriage contract. However, if this amount was settled every year, now it was a debt and it was meaningless.

Elisha sat in a small mansion in a small town in the province and had everything in her hands.

Elisha was stunned. What Elisha should have received was not such an absurd bill of lading.

Divorce alimony is too small compared to what Lucerne got thanks to Elisha. Other than that, there was nothing she deserved from him.

'Who asked for something like this?'

I wanted to go to him right away, but I held back, fearing that even he would deepen our relationship. Apparently Lucerne's eccentricity was unusual.

Okay. This was different from the Cartiers she knew. Elisha hesitated. She wanted to go and throw the bill in his face, but held back.

And she sent all the letters back.

*​ *​ *​

Again, time passed so easily.

Elisha went for a walk in the afternoon as usual and stopped by the temple. But that day, unlike usual, the living room on the first floor was very noisy.

“I can't stand not inviting the people of our Rose Mansion.”

“That's right! They are ignoring us.”

“Not jealous. Jealousy. Huh. So funny And the party venue is right here! Are you mocking us!”

In the mansion where Elisha lives, many wealthy single women lived. Moreover, since they are all independent, it was common for them to gather often to have meals or tea gatherings. Elisha was minimally attending all of those meetings. For some reason today, the neighbors were swearing at someone and heating up.

Elisha quietly goes up to her room and is caught by them.

“Ma'am. Come and see! Oh my gosh. How could this happen?”

The woman who caught Elisha was a woman named Amelie. The eldest sister of the mansion's residents and a wealthy heiress, she lived just below Elisha's. So she is the leader among the women living here, and she is the granddaughter of Mrs. Seton, the chaperone and caretaker of the place.

“What is it?”

Elisha asked calmly.

“A boat party. Did you hear about the party?”

“I hear it for the first time.”

“The mayor's wife borrowed a boat this time, anchored it by the river, and held a big party. But you didn't invite a single person from our mansion to that party, did you? It's true that I had an argument with her at the last charity party. That's why you come out so mean.”

As a catalyst for Amelie's words, the other neighbors added one word at a time.

“I am really angry. I heard you poured so much money into that party!”

“Anyway, those wives are the problem. What? If rich women like us don't get married, do they harm the morals? It's like a star really. No matter how others live!”

Elisha also knew at first glance. Even in this palm-sized city, there was a similar group of socialites.

From the wives of wealthy merchants to the leisurely singles living in this mansion. And the native aristocrats, led by the mayor's wife, were the center of that small world.

At first glance, Amelie was not on good terms with her mayor's wife.

As Elisha knows, the reason why the mayor's wife and Amelie had the biggest fight recently…… Because of the dress.

“No, in the capital it is fashionable to wear boots under an ankle-baring dress. Blame me for going out in that dress. What is it? Katrin Does she know what she's talking about? She says she has a duty to lead the fashion and manners of the city.”

No matter how small the group, when several aristocrats gather, a fight will inevitably begin. In this case, it seemed to be a quarrel between the residents of Rose Mansion and the socialites, led by the mayor's wife.

“Okay. I hope it works out.”

Elisha said calmly. After this small quarrel is resolved anyway, they will find the next dispute.

Then Amelie grabbed Elisha.

“Hey, Mrs. Laure has dignity and dignity for her age. Besides, I heard that Mrs. Laure's husband is a member of the Black Lion Knights working for the general?”

“Oh, if it's the general, that Cartier's……. How could that happen?”

“Did you?”

In an instant, people's attention was drawn. Elisha looked away from her.

“…… I will go up.”

“For a moment!”

The ladies caught Elisha. They looked at Elisha with their bright eyes.

“Perhaps……. Don't you want to go to a party on board?”

Elisha answered firmly.

“No, not at all.”

*​ *​ *​

However, Elisha had to break that will. It was because the residents, including Amelie, were the kind of strong people Elisha had never seen in her life. They begged and persuaded her Elisha for 3 hours.

'…… There are people who are carefree like this.'

Elisha recalled the hell she had been living through. So many memories in it.

She didn't know such a world existed. And she did not know that the day would come when she would be able to live calmly in this world.

After that, things went smoothly. No matter what Miss Amelie did, an invitation from the mayor's wife arrived in front of Elisha.

Elisha made sure not to sell Black Lion's name.

'This is also an experience.'

'Looking at you before, you don't seem to be socializing at all. Can't you just go with us as if you're saving us just once?'

They attended the party through Elisha's invitation and wanted to give Catherine, a woman called the mayor's wife, a shot.

'I don't want to get involved in a dispute.'

'What about the dispute? It's just that this city is like this. It's because there's nothing to do but pretend. This is all an experience.'

Elisha wasn't really interested, but……. On the one hand, she knew she couldn't live like this for the rest of her life. Even if she lived in the temple at least, she needed to get along with the people around her to some extent.

Besides, Lucerne was still a part of her life, she said, and there was no reason why she couldn't go to the party. She was separated and not a widow. Besides, their marriage was now nominal.

'Let's enjoy the day comfortably like normal people. Yes?'

Amelie spoke earnestly one last time.

*​ *​ *​

'There are many rich people in the world.'

Elisha thought while drinking champagne indifferently. She was not to be ignored as a small town.

The party on board was held on top of a borrowed boat docked on the river at the end of the city.

“Here, that face is that face. Everyone knows them, but sometimes even strangers from outside the country come in and cause a stir.”

“Is that so?”

Elisha responded nonchalantly to Amelie's words. Amelie soon went to the call of her man, an acquaintance of hers. Elisha remained alone and watched the people slowly.

At that time, she felt people's eyes on Elisha.

'Is that woman the mayor's wife?'

Elisha knew the physiology of socialites. In every insignificant gathering of nobles there was a queen. In this case, it must have been the mayor's wife.

“Nice to meet you. Ma'am.”

Breaking through the crowd, the mayor's wife approached. Elisha knew that her name was Katrin.

“There have been many rumors about my wife, but I have never seen her. So she risked being disrespectful and sent an invitation.”

Elisha greeted her face-to-face out of courtesy. And always the queen is surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting. So did Catherine. However, people could not take their eyes off the dress Elisha was wearing.

“By the way, where are these clothes from? Is it the capital?”

“It's the first time I've seen embroidery like this. Maybe that necklace…….”

Elisha was wearing her clothes and jewels given to her by Lucerne. I tried to make it as inconspicuous as possible……. He had too much money, and had only given Elisha the most expensive. Maybe that's why it looked like a tee was coming out.

Some women looked at Elisha with admiring eyes, while others looked at Elisha blatantly. A few women shone a jealous light. Originally, in a small city, small actions seemed big.

Katrin said with a thin smile.

“I heard that your wife's husband is a lifelong knight of the Black Lion. Are you Sid? Are you famous?”

“…… I do not know. It seems to be that way.”

Elisha gave a gentle answer. She wasn't lying Lucerne was a very famous knight belonging to the Black Lion. Moreover, since Lucerne had the right to appoint Sid, it was as if he were Sid.

They exchanged glances busily.

“So are you really Sid? Sid is less than thirty in all.”

“Are you the one who recently became a seed?”

“However. I heard that there are not many married people among the seeds.”

Katrin smiled broadly and said,

“Could I hear her husband's name by any chance?”

“…….”

Elisha realized too late that she was caught up in a nuisance. She was under no obligation to say the name of Lucerne, and she was not in the mood to believe it.

“Perhaps……. You're not lying, are you?”

“Yes?”

Katrin looked at the people and she said cheerily. For some reason, Elisha's expression was interpreted as 'starting an attack'.

“Why, you know. This world is very hard for a single woman to live in. People like Mrs. …. I heard that there are cases in which people deceive people by saying that they got married in a fake way. If so, don't worry. The people of this town are kind, so I won't hurt your reputation. Therefore……. I was wondering if you need my help.”

Katrin glanced Elisha up and down her.

“Don't we have any connections in the capital's society? Does the wife's husband really exist in Black Lion? Whether or not You can find out how much of it. Lorraine. It's the first time I've heard that last name. There was no such article in the Black Lion seed!”

“Right. Your wife comes from an aristocratic family. Besides, her uncle is from that famous general…….”

Apparently, the woman named Katrin was a relative of a military official. Elisha looked at Catherine.

'…… Do your research properly.'

Elisha wanted to bite her tongue. She was also annoying to deal with.

“Tell me clearly. You lied, right?”

Elisha looked at her and raised and lowered the corner of her mouth once.

“What if it's a lie?”

“…… Yes?”

“If you cheat, is it illegal? I was wondering if I should go and get investigated and get stoned at a crossroads.”

At Elisha's calm words, Katrin's face quickly turned red. Elisha even thought Katrin was very cute. Among the aristocrats Elisha had experienced, there were not many people who easily revealed their shame.

“This person…….”

Then someone interrupted. It was Amelie.

“No, what are you talking about, this woman? Didn't you quarrel with us about everything from before? Why are you doing this to Madame Laure?”

“Oh my, who is this? Miss Amelie, the rude tomboy. How did you get here? I never invited you.”

“Oh my gosh. Now you're saying you're going to reject us openly. Ma'am. It's really rude.”

To make matters worse, things got bigger and bigger. This time, Elisha's neighbors, including Amelie, rushed in, and her fight became fiercer.

'There's no such thing as watching a skit.'

Elisha looked at them and thought. Rather, should I side with Amelie?

“Madam, hold on…….”

Then one of the servants came up to Catherine and whispered something. Catherine's face brightened.

“Everyone. Pay attention for a moment. Look. What is the beginning of our dispute? It is none other than Mrs. Laure. Did Madame Laure lie or not? Isn't that a problem?”

It was clear that Katrin had decided to make Elisha her scapegoat today. Catherine said confidently.

“The general who happened to be passing by here said he was attending our party. It went very well. He could just ask him if he knew this woman. If this woman's husband is really a knight, there's a good chance that the general knows her too!”

Elisha doubted her ears.

'Luzerne is coming here?'

It couldn't be.

It was clear that she was an impostor impersonating Lucerne. But soon it happened.

At that time, someone came up to the second floor of the deck, where the onboard party was held. There were several tall knights around. Elisha unwittingly gripped the railing of her boat.

He was surrounded by people and talking about a few things. When Lucerne appeared, the party on board quickly became noisy.

A light breeze blew through his hair. Elisha realized that even at this moment, he was horribly handsome.

'Really, you're here. Why the hell is Lucerne here…….'

Lucerne's eyes, which were slowly scanning the surroundings as if looking for something, reached Elisha. Elisha bit her lip. It was an unpleasant encounter.

*​ *​ *​

Elisha was really burdened by the current situation.

'I came here for no reason.'

She shouldn't have succumbed to Amelie's coaxing. Her head hurt all over.

Lucerne found her Elisha and came close to her with her strides. The women looked at him with admiring eyes, and the men could not take their eyes off him.

“Nice to meet you. General.”

Fortunately, Lucerne did not come to Elisha right away. Catherine blocked Lucerne in the middle. Elisha sensed his subtle annoyance even from afar.

However, it was clear that Catherine was a fruit similar to Carola. Because, completely unnoticed by her, she began flirting with Lucerne.

“Oh, the general is coming like this. What a great honor. Coincidentally, there is a person in our group who has a husband who is serving as a knight in the Black Lion. Do you know this person?”

Said Catherine. And they both came. Elisha squeezed her handrail. She was careful not to bite her lip. Heart pounding, pounding. She jumped ominously.

Lucerne came close to her.

After Lucerne looked at Elisha with strange eyes, she replied casually.

“Yes. Of course I know.”

“Oh, really?”

Admiration grew among the women. Katrin asked, her eyes shining.

“Who is this person's husband?”

Lucerne answered silently.

“This is my wife.”

The party on board was, of course, noisy. The sound of water in the wind. The sound of people talking non-stop.

But what dominated the party as much as that moment was silence. Katrin smiled and asked.

“What…… Say?”