Episode 86

Elisha had a softer expression. There was even kindness in her eyes as she looked at Nora.

“Nora, sometimes you need a decoy to obscure your true target.”

If you go back to the beginning of the story, it was from the conversation between Lucerne and Elisha.

'Please let me meet someone.'

'Great. Both are possible.'

When Elisha said this, Lucerne replied casually.

'Which do you want, Gunner? Or Rosaria.'

'…… How did you know?'

'The card that I handed over to you is the corpse of Lystralfo. What are you going to do with that card? Of course, I will destroy Merha. If Merha is gone, Marco is nothing special. The only person you can say is connected to the temple is the Archbishop of Rosaria. If you want to ask for her help, you will meet Rosaria, and if you want to collude with the other side of Merha, you will meet Gunner.'

Elisha shuddered at the fact that Lucerne had already grasped her own intentions and nodded her head.

'I want to meet you both. And……. There's something I want to do with the Gunner.'

Elisha made a suggestion. The corners of Lucerne's mouth naturally rose. That, too, was the same as Lucerne's idea.

Elisha suggested defeating both Gunner and Merha. She did, and she asked to raise a third person, Rosaria, to the great pope.

However, even considering the same move, Lucerne hesitated for two reasons.

'But Elisha, there is a problem with that number. Would Rosaria really want to become the great pope? And if she does, how far can she last?'

Thinking of that time, Elisha became nervous again.

'I had a hard time convincing this person.'

Lucerne said.

'Lady Rosaria is stepping back from the power struggle. She's just worried that if she rises to a high position, she won't be able to protect her orphaned girls. But, I just want you to make them realize that they can eventually recreate the girls who are being starved by someone like Gunner.'

'…….'

'Besides, even if you make Gunner the great pope, he's like a wolf, and he'll soon plan to stab you in the back. Maybe if the family head held out his hand, he'd run to it.'

'You know, Elisha?'

Lucerne whispered.

'You are now attempting to make the temple independent of the Cartier family. I said If I commit treason, I will not be safe.'

'How can someone who has never lost say something like that?'

Elisha looked at Lucerne without avoiding her eyes, she said.

'He's thinking of destroying the Cartier family anyway.'

Lucerne raised the corner of her mouth.

'Elisha.'

Said Lucerne, gently running through her Elisha's hair.

'You can't play pranks on me. Is that really all?'

'…….'

'Why do you want Rosaria to be the great pope, huh?'

'Because it's not right for someone like Gunner or Merha to become the pope.'

'I didn't know you had a sense of justice. Nora is enough for such an innocent person under my roof.'

'It's not like that. I……. He grew up in a monastery. It is the last bastion for children like me who have been abandoned at home so that they do not fall into hell. And I think the role of the temple is to make many such bastions.'

'…….'

'Of course, that's not all. Lucerne. Because that's what's best for you. Even if you make Gunner the great pope, you will buy the suspicion of the family head and buy the vigilance. Miss Rosaria is a man of integrity, and if he becomes the great pope, his suspicions will be less. At least he can avoid being reprimanded for doing it out of a lust for power.'

Upon hearing that, Lucerne readily spoke.

'Great.'

'Yes?'

'Her wife wants it, so you have to listen. I have to win your favor so I can get between your legs tomorrow night.'

'…….'

Elisha blushed at those words. Lucerne also realized at that moment that he had intended to make Rosaria the great pope from the beginning.

'Stop teasing me.'

'Is it going to be a joke?'

'…… Can.'

Elisha rarely responded politely. Even when talking about work these days, it was not easy to maintain composure. Suddenly Lucerne had an idea and she stared at Elisha.

Her eyes met, and at that moment she kissed violently. You're right in saying that she was kissed.

'Therefore.'

The moment their lips parted, their lips were wet with saliva. Lucerne gently caressed Elisha's hips and waist.

'Shall we get into bed and plan something bad like we always do?'

The plan thus born was the whole story of all this. Elisha slowly induced Lucerne with the painting she thought of.

In fact, she didn't even need persuasion. Even if Elisha threw out a simple hint, Lucerne materialized the plan, and the scheme flowed like water, as if it had been one person's idea from the beginning.

The ghost commotion that drove Merha mad was just the beginning of all these paintings.

And Lucerne and Elisha dazzled Gunner.

The next step was to convince Rosaria. In a private meeting with Rosaria, Lucerne said.

'I have something to say about Merha.'

'What do you mean?'

'Merha will soon be dismissed. She will find out that Merha has committed her serious crime, and she will never be able to escape as I will strangle her myself.'

Rosaria's face went white.

'Lady Lucerne! Are you saying this knowing that I will never intervene in temple power struggles?'

'Of course I know.'

Lucerne said calmly.

'I'll pretend I didn't hear it. I want to intervene in this.'

'You'll do it.'

'…….'

'If Miss Rosaria doesn't become the High Pope, then the Gunner she hates so much will become the High Pope.'

Lucerne continued to speak leisurely.

'I ask you one thing. Patience no matter what happens, Archbishop Rosaria stays away from power struggles. Are you really not greedy and have endured it all this time?'

'…….'

'Did you just sit there and see that all the situations you've looked at so far aren't definitely winning fights?'

Lucerne stared at Rosaria with red eyes. Her eyes, which were reddish-brown when we first met, became clearer as the years went by.

'How would you feel if Gunner, who became the pope, couldn't afford to eat more money than he thought, and again put his hands on the cost of your orphans' lives? Do you have the confidence that he won't regret it today?'

'…….'

' My wife asks me to tell you. She is a woman who speaks the truth. Yes?'

Rosaria's hands trembled. It was truly crueler and sweeter than the devil's whispers.

'Two High Priests and the Archbishop, the position above them. That's the only person who can be a candidate for the Grand Pope right now……. But my position is literally an honorary one. It's a place in name only. But who will elect me to be the great pope?'

'I can make you the only candidate. It's actually an election campaign, but spending money on it seems so stupid.'

'Do you think the householder will watch something like that? How are you going to defeat the two candidates for the Archpope?'

'If that really happens, then you can decide.'

Lucerne rose from his seat.

'Then. This much. My wife is a woman who will do big things if you leave her alone for a long time, and she needs to be picked up.'

As Lucerne tried to leave, Rosaria grabbed him.

'Lucerne.'

Rosalia called him by name, with the title of honor that was only nominal disappearing before he knew it.

'Is it your plan, Lucerne, to make me the great pope? Or is it Elisha's plan?'

'I'll tell you about that after Rosaria-nim makes a decision.'

Lucerne closed the door and went out.

And indeed, two candidates fell with obvious gains. Due to the ruse Lucerne and Elisha concocted.

*​ *​ *​

Nora and Ian looked admiring as they sat in the carriage and listened to their story.

“Then…….”

“For the first time in a while, the temple will be freed from the influence of the head of the Cartier family.”

Elisha said calmly. Nora was shocked.

'If you are an upright Lady Rosaria, you will really focus on the charity work of the temple rather than stealing money. Those who are my masters……. You did a great job.'

Nora has been a little resentful of Lucerne and Elisha lately. Elisha couldn't hate her at all, but she still couldn't understand holding her hand with a fallen man like Gunner.

'I'm so ashamed I can't stand it. Suspicion of the two of you with shallow thoughts.'

Nora even brought tears to her eyes.

“Really sorry. I couldn't trust you.”

Elisha comforted Nora.

“Sorry. I wanted to tell you, but we had to keep our mouths shut because we didn't know what would happen.”

Elisha spoke kindly like her own sister. Lucerne strangely felt that the figure was offensive.

“If you want to cry, leave me to cry alone. He's all grown up, so why are you treating him like a kid?”

When Lucerne spat, Elisha looked Lucerne in the eyes and walked away from Nora.

But her eyes were full of worry, so Lucerne winked at Nora. Nora corrected her expression.

Only Ian, who did not care even at this time, said cheerfully.

“Wow, the hard work is worth it. All good! Then hang upside down and imitate ghosts, or recite terrifying lines. Forge Listralpo's handwriting to make a fake blackmail. Can I stop doing that?”

Elisha said softly.

“I was surprised by Ian's acting skills. Even I, Merhara, would be crazy. You did very well until the end.”

“That's because the script is great. A ghost that cries out to be let in because it's cold, I cried. Who the hell is thinking of that line? You gave me only what you wrote on a note.”

“When I was young, children often told ghost stories in monasteries. I was pretty scared when I was younger. It was a compilation of childish stories I heard back then.”

“There is nothing you cannot do. Lady.”

Ian said brightly.

“Ian. I did well this time. You've been through a lot.”

Lucerne praised infrequently.

“Why did you say that……. Ugh But I want to stop doing this. I see your hands shaking. I can't be a spy because I have a small fence.”

Lucerne said it was absurd at Ian's rudeness.

“Is that guy like a criminal at handwriting counterfeiting, a first-rate actor at disguise, and an acrobat at stealth on the roof?”

“Well that's it.”

Ian shrugged her shoulders.

“Ian. It's not good to deny nature. You've lived a good life.”

Lucerne said soothingly. If it wasn't for the look of contempt, it would have sounded very friendly.

“Why don't you go home and praise Lapis and Lazuli like that?”

Said Elisha.

“Look at what they do.”

Then the carriage stopped. The wagon they rode on had arrived at a dark, empty ruin, quite far from the capital's main road.

This road led west. However, the gate continued to the west, so few people used it.