Episode 58

Arien wondered if she was dreaming with her own eyes.

Arien had never had a long conversation with Lucerne. The party hall seemed to be in a commotion, but Lucerne was standing among the people. All the women around him were staring at him admiringly.

Then Lucerne looked at Arien, and she lightly bowed her eyes.

She made eye contact. That alone made the ladies look at Arien, and Arien became the object of jealousy at the party tonight.

Seeing it in front of her eyes, Lucerne was a truly terrifyingly beautiful man. Arien was tall for a woman, but Lucerne's head was way above her, so she involuntarily became shy.

“Since the general is getting married, you often come to banquets like this.”

Arien said, trying to keep her expressionless. However, it wasn't that she was really expressionless like Elisha, but that she was forcibly holding her face about to turn red, so she wasn't very graceful. Her usual elegance was all the more so because Arien was her greatest pride.

In fact, she was Arienne, and she hated running into Lucerne at a party or banquet. Because……. Because everyone in the world compared Marco and Lucerne.

People said that the House of Cartier faded when they stood next to Lucerne. Especially since Marco was halfway in every way.

The couple's reputation in aristocratic society was bound to follow each other. Each time, her proud Arien shuddered at her.

But that Lucerne is standing in front of her……. Arien habitually and unconsciously compared Marco and Lucerne. She was comparing a block of stone to a gem of the highest quality.

She said, “I don't think I'll ask the general for help. But thanks for the offer.”

“I don't think so.”

“Yes?”

“I heard you raised your voice at the real estate office not long ago, saying that there is a piece of land you want.”

“…….”

Arien's face went pale. The land of Yurif Lucerne was talking about was being prepared for purchase under the order of her husband-in-law, Merha. Merha urged her to use a borrowed name so that she would not be caught buying the land.

“How do you…….”

“Don't let me know what you want. This is the basics of the Cartier family, but unfortunately you've learned less about this family, Arien. My wife learns very easily.”

Lucerne's expression instantly became boring.

“I know that? Your husband flirting with my wife.”

“…….”

“So, I'm going to take away your husband's precious thing.”

“…….”

“Looking at your expression, the land seems more suitable than you.”

Only then did Arien's face turn white. It was only then that she realized that her Lucerne had made fun of her.

“General.”

Then Elisha came over. Lucerne calmly looked at Elisha, then she grabbed her by the waist, wrapped her arms around her, and pulled her by the hook.

“Looks like you had a nice conversation.”

“Is it comparable to talking to you?”

Elisha raised the corner of her mouth slightly. Elisha asked Lucerne. Arien said she couldn't stand being compared, so she asked for it.

Elisha expected. Arienne would be in a state where she might die by now.

Elisha was calm, but she said a word with an attitude that seemed to disparage Arien.

“Don't tease people too much, General.”

“Ha, you guys…….”

“Arien!”

Just then, Marco came running vigorously. People were buzzing and looking at them.

“Marco!”

“What are you doing now……. Lucerne. This child. Are you forcibly harassing my wife who hates it?”

Elisha was dumbfounded by that statement. Rather, it was Marco who had teased Elisha not too long ago.

“You have a rich imagination.”

Elisha quietly added a word. Marco turned her head toward Elisha. Anyway, Marco didn't even have the courage to stare at Lucerne for a long time.

“This lowly thing!”

Marco turned an arrow at Elisha. As Lucerne raised her eyebrows, Marco's words faded.

“Marco, I won't talk too much because I'm not worth dealing with.”

“…….”

“Your wife is very light-mouthed.”

“Oh, that's just like Carola.”

Elisha added expressionlessly.

“You buy a piece of land, but you go around all over Yurif. It's so upsetting.”

Lucerne pulled Elisha's waist with her hand with force. Elisha was surprised inside that Lucerne was good at acting as well. He was a very nice person when he was on my side.

“I cannot help but covet that land again. You pissed me off first, so I have to punish you.”

“What?”

“How dare you flirt with my woman.”

Humility spread among the people at Lucerne's words. People's eyes were full of joy. Elisha realized how much the imperial aristocrats really liked the Cartier family's scandals.

“Lucerne, don't do this and go in quickly. You were supposed to meet the builder tomorrow.”

Elisha leaned on Lucerne's arm and whispered. Lucerne nodded her head.

“I hear you are trying to build a new villa. I'm going to build a villa there for my wife.”

Marco's face went pale and she swung her head back to glaring at Arien.

Her eyes were just like this.

'What are you talking about?'

He probably thought that information had been leaked from Arien and was swearing at her.

Arien as Arien, she seemed to be burning her face roaring with shame.

'Are you beating up on a bitch like that?'

Elisha roughly read Arien's expression in her. In her previous life she had seen Arien's similar face.

“General, as promised. You bought the land in my name. It's the land that Marco decided to buy for Arien. If it's a gift, that's right.”

Elisha looked up at Lucerne and said.

“Sure, I'll buy you.”

Elisha said this without thinking, but Lucerne stared blankly at Elisha for a few seconds before she whispered. Elisha smiled faintly and nodded her head.

“See you at the auction house.”

She even gave Arien, the Lucerne, a laugh and left her post.

Next day. Rumors circulated that Lucerne and Marco had a fight involving their wives. And they decided to fight over the new villa.

It was always only a matter of time before the rumors circulating in Yurif spread to the capital.

*​ *​ *​

“Are you satisfied?”

“Yes, you did well.”

Elisha calmly nodded her head. Marco has a lot of inferiority complex, while Arienne only has high self-esteem. So Marco had low self-esteem and was the type to easily blame others.

Arienne isn't used to her nitpicking, so the two of them fight each other, so she won't be able to think rationally. The provocation was too easy for Elisha, who knew them through and through.

“If you fought openly like this, it will go into the ears of Carola and Jacob.”

“Those fools have a habit of making fun of everything.”

“Then, this time, we have to go along with the buntang.”

Elisha and Lucerne faced each other. The two exchanged glances almost simultaneously.

Oddly enough, at times like these, Elisha even felt as though Lucerne and her were meant to be in nature. As a master-servant relationship, or as a business partner.

“Maybe there will be a land auction going on.”

“I guess so.”

“The stakes will be high if Carola and Jacob step in.”

“But since they don't know the value of this land, there will be a limit to how much money they can spend. How much can you afford?”

And Elisha was stunned by the amount Lucerne had told her.

'How on earth are you so rich?'

Elisha knew that Lucerne was rich, but she had never heard of him running a business in earnest. I was curious about the source of that wealth, but Elisha didn't dig into it.

“You don't have to spend that much money,” She said.

“Looks like our little ghost can.”

“There is a way. And.”

Elisha said calmly.

“I will definitely win. I swear.”

“…….”

Lucerne looked at Elisha as if to judge her.

“Okay, since I decided to watch this case the way you want. I must prepare the prize and wait.”

Elisha gave her a small nod.

“This time, the prize……. Let me pick it up, please.”

“Okay.”

Lucerne said quietly.

“But in case your crap is discovered, I will choose the punishment.”

Elisha was silent. But she meekly nodded her head. She didn't expect to be able to easily buy Lucerne's trust anyway.

“I will make sure that doesn't happen.”

*​ *​ *​

It didn't take long for it to become known that there was a rivalry between Lucerne and Marco over worthless land.

They each said that they would build a new villa for their wives and that they would buy land in their names.

Yurif was already a bubble where land prices were as high as the center of the capital.

Moreover, the land in question for Yurif was land whose owner had 'disappeared'. These lands were often auctioned off at public auctions with starting prices that were significantly higher than their actual value.

Not to mention, the state has the right to moor the land as the taxes are overdue for eight years. However, there was a possibility that the owner would appear again.

So, in order to purchase the land, the price that included the 'just in case, compensation to be paid to the owner' was set as the unit price of the land.

If the owner returns, he must pay a hefty indemnity. If the owner did not return, the money was returned to the state after 10 years and used as a tax.

“As expected, the Cartier family is not normal. I never thought that rich people like that would engage in such a futile battle of pride.”

“Is this for a day or two? Remember. The last time, the first grandson and the second grandson competed over the famous horse.”

“Ah, right. At that time, the price of five buildings was gone, right?”

“But this time, the general is competing.”

“As expected, when my woman is caught, her man's eyes are turned upside down!”

“I heard that the land is a land of garbage that may or may not have hot springs?”

Therefore, such a public auction product was usually not sold, and it was an item that would be sold only after several failed bids and reduced prices. Those who saw the two fighting over the land, of course, thought it was a competition due to foolish air travel.