Episode 48

“General, long time no see.”

“Congratulations on another victory.”

Lucerne introduced Elisha as her first wife. A large number of people gathered and wanted to kiss the back of Elisha's hand. Elisha kept some distance from them and she stared politely.

“You are beautiful.”

“Indeed, I was the only one who heard it. It is more than a rumor.”

Many people whispered to Elisha. Some people were already hastily trying to invite Elisha.

'It seems like a troublesome position to be a general's wife.'

Elisha saw Lucerne. Fortunately, Lucerne cut off people instead.

*​ *​ *​

It was only after Lucerne went to the Cigarette Room, where only men gather, that Elisha could breathe.

After a while, noble ladies gathered around Elisha. They tried to ask various things about Elisha.

“I've never heard of Lady Elisha's parents' house. If she is a noble from the Old Kingdom, then she must come from a family with a long history.”

“Yes, it is an old family. However, no one in the capital knows about my family. I am also looking forward to meeting many new people.”

Elisha did not go over to anyone and responded dubiously.

Fortunately, Elisha was familiar with the conversations of noble ladies. She waited on Carola and Jacob, and she also had to deal with noble ladies.

“So- the Marquis of Fullmoon told me to be so pathetic, so she was a pervert.”

“The Marquis of Fullmoon was bedridden. She is so funny When her husband cheats on her, she secretly brags that her man is different. Are there more people who look normal?”

“The servants said that since we got divorced, there would be many fights.”

Elisha heard rumors that the Marquis of Fullmoon was being disgraced in the social world. That was pretty good news.

“Lady Elisha, what do you think of the rumors about the Marquis of Fullmoon?”

Her nobles looked at Elisha with her strange eyes. The Marquis of Fullmoon was the father-in-law of Jacob, the eldest son of the Cartier family. She thought Elisha couldn't say anything good about the Jacobs.

“I do not know.”

Elisha deftly turned her words around.

“I don't know much about capital socialites,” She said. Are there any fun events coming soon?”

“Ah. It's the temple festival soon, and Saint Undine will appear to the public. Everyone is waiting for that.”

“Because Undine-nim was very beautiful. It will be a greater event than the Prophet Listralfo.”

The Prophet Listralpo was not a cleric while alive. It is said that one day he realized the will of the gods and he became a prophet. He predicted and prevented one flood and two pestilences during his lifetime. Other than that, he was right in every little prophecy.

Besides, Liszt Ralpo was also rather well-groomed in his appearance. He died young. That means…….

'It means making a ton of money at the temple.'

The prophet struck as a miracle of a level lower than that of the saint. But Listralpo was a popular prophet. After he died, as was customary, after a five-year funeral, the well-preserved corpse of Listralpo was exhibited in a glass coffin, earning huge exhibition fees for several years.

Listralfo's corpse is then dried by a sorcerer and sold in fragments. It turned out to be really astronomical money.

In the temple, it is said that he made a lot of money after Ristralpo's funeral.

It was because of the popular belief that possessing a piece of the prophet's bone would ward off evil and bring wealth. Besides, the value of his collectibles is enormous. There were also those who disrespectfully took part in the auction of such bone fragments as an investment.

“My husband has a bone fragment of Mr. Listralfo. Perhaps thanks to that, he was able to buy land in the capital, and the price went up a lot.”

“Incredible. That great thing……. Are you sure Listralpo is blessing you?”

“Is it a blessing?”

Elisha was drinking champagne, she asked nonchalantly. The faces of the ladies changed.

“Yes?”

“No. Nothing. Ristralpo did a lot of good while he was alive. He could pinpoint the source of an epidemic or predict a flood.”

“Right! Besides, you even pledged to donate the body. It's what all prophets, saints, and high-ranking clergy do. How significant. He helps the poor even to death.”

When the bone fragments of the prophets are sold, the money goes back to the temple. The money was used to help the poor, so it was a truly beautiful thing. Only Elisha quietly laughed.

'If it were me, I would never let my body be sold. Is it noble?'

In addition, the temple said that 'a part' of the proceeds was used for the relief of the poor. If any of it has meaning, it will be there. But she, Elisha, had never seen her settlement details made public.

*​ *​ *​

'But why are men staring at me?'

Elisha caressed her cheek. She kept thinking of herself in her previous life. When I see men looking at me strangely, I imagine that there are scars on my cheeks again.

Then there was the sound of the terrace door opening. Elisha's eyes widened.

'Marco.'

Lucerne's cousin and the second grandson of the Duke. It was Marco. Marco was quite smooth, but gave a slightly crushed impression.

Elisha's shoulders stiffened.

“Who is this? How are you, should I call you Lady Elisha now?”

“I didn't expect you to remember my name.”

Elisha responded with her cold face.

“Because I was about to leave. Excuse me.”

Elisha turned her back. She was going to leave her seat with minimal courtesy. Then Marco grabbed Elisha's wrist tightly. Elisha's brow furrowed involuntarily.

“What is this?”

“When she heard from Arien, she said that she hangs out with Lucerne and does her perverted things. Uh? She's more of a modest-looking bitch anyway. I thought they fixed it after Lucerne sold it as Cartier's blood. Anyway, he can't be the head of the household even if he goes all his life. Will the next head of household leave a bastard running around like that?”

“Yes?”

Elisha wondered what I was listening to. Marco kept talking about how he interpreted Elisha's reaction.

“You better stand in line. Heh, you'll find out with time. It is better to be the mistress of a man like me than to be the main wife of an illegitimate child.”

Elisha doubted her ears. So…….

'To me now……. Are you flirting with me?'

She really couldn't help but doubt her ears. Marco was scrutinizing Elisha with dark eyes.

Elisha knew Marco well. He took out his anger on Jacob several times with Elisha, who likes to harass women and pick faults in everything. Furthermore…….

'He tried to do something strange to me.'

Every time she saw Elisha, she cursed at her as a disgusting ugly woman, but Marco harbored a strange desire. Marco was at least 30% responsible for Elisha's avoidance and shrinking from her men.

Elisha from her previous life was scared even when Marco harassed and harassed her, and she had to put up with it. But now she……. It wasn't. At least she was on the same boat as Lucerne.

“Really, is it?”

Elisha had a smile on her face without even realizing it. It was a cold smile.

“Then. No way.”

Marco lifted her neck, perhaps gaining confidence from Elisha's answer.

“It would be nice to look good for me. After all, in this family, the head of the family is the law.”

“I.”

Elisha said kindly.

“I just met the Cartier family, so I don't know much about the family. Then, did Marco go next?”

“…….”

Marco shut his mouth.

“Can I ask you that next time I see the Head of Household? Has the successor to the headship been decided? Marco-sama said so. May I pass it on to you?”

Did you know that I was being mocked? Marco's hands trembled.

“This naughty bitch. Do you dare tease me? Hey, is it like this when you spread your legs against Lucerne?”

“I don't. When you open your legs to me, you are kind and pretty. My wife also has eyes for people.”

Then a heavy voice was heard. Elisha raised her head. Suddenly the door to the terrace was open and Lucerne was standing there.

“I-I…….”

Marco's expression turned white. Elisha wanted to laugh at him. Cartier's enemies were like this. He despised and laughed at Lucerne from behind, unable to say a word in front.

Widely. Lucerne closed the door to the terrace. He blinked and the curtain closed by itself.

“The garden is so tranquil. No one is here.”

And the terrace door was tightly closed, separating them from the ballroom. Marco sweated. Elisha quickly approached Lucerne.

“I hear you say a lot of interesting things to my wife.”

“…….”

“Let's review it one more time. What did you say?”

Lucerne approached Marco. His red eyes shone dangerously. Marco's body started to tremble.

“Oops, you must have a bad memory. I learned at a young age that if you have a bad head, you have to learn as you go along.”

Shhhhh.

Something black was formed in Lucerne's hand. Elisha recognized it. It was Lucerne's shadow demon.