Episode 90
It wasn't good in many ways. It was going well, but there was no reason for him to appear in front of the family head.
But at that moment another strange thing happened.
Elisha's heart was strangely relieved when Lucerne burst open her door and strode into her. Her body, which had been trembling in front of her guardian, stabilized and her pulse gradually became steady.
'Why am I like this?'
Elisha was puzzled by her own condition. In her previous life, she had passed over situations where her neck would fly off dozens of times, but she had never been like this.
“Lucerne, what's the matter, why are you running like this? It's the first time I've seen you like this.”
The family head stared at Lucerne as if observing it and said. Lucerne responded calmly without a single twitching of an eyebrow.
“You must not take her someone else's wife without permission. If you would like to meet me, if you had informed me in advance, I would have gone out.”
Lucerne spoke without even looking at Elisha.
“Yes, I guess this woman is important to you. Even though she's a treasure, she runs like she's been stolen.”
She said, “I can't stand it when someone takes even one of the worn-out basins lying around my house. How much more precious is a woman who sleeps in the same bed every night.”
Lucerne spoke without even laughing. Elisha wondered if she was sarcastic or not. Besides, what Lucerne said was a lie. He was the kind of person who didn't care about expensive art or golden ornaments lying around the house.
“Why are you so mad at my wife, dragging her to someone else's house and urging her?”
The housekeeper's eyes narrowed. He was weighing whether or not Elisha would be a weakness for Lucerne, and whether this was just Lucerne's grumpiness or possessiveness.
“There have been so many rumors about your wife in my ears, so I brought her to see for myself and determine if she is a villainess or not.”
“Why would someone who had no interest in my reputation care about my wife's reputation?”
“…….”
“Elisha, come here.”
When Lucerne spoke, Elisha felt a chill and she stood behind him. His sturdy back looked broad and large. It was like a castle wall.
“You're so open-minded and you never open your mouth in front of me, so I wanted to hear your wife's opinion on this matter. Whether I make my people talk or dance, it is my heart.”
This time, the housekeeper said without expression. Elisha's heart raced. She felt like watching two different monsters clash.
“Why is this woman from the head of the household? She is my woman.”
“Aren't you a member of my household? What's yours is mine, and I don't have enough influence on those who live well with Cartier's money?”
“This woman is mine because I bought it with the money I earned from green wages. If you have any complaints, tell Jacob, who didn't recognize the gem. I can't stand people touching my property.”
“Ha, such a cheeky bastard.”
“Didn't you know my nature and accept me into the family? This kind of personality of mine hasn't changed since I was five years old, so it's too late to get angry about that. If you don't like it, you should have disciplined it as a child.”
Elisha thought this conversation was bad for her heart.
'Who else would rebel against the family head this much if not Lucerne?'
Elisha was stunned. No one in this country has tampered with Lucerne. However, if the family head draws his sword, the imperial family will not be able to protect him.
“So what are you curious about?”
“What to do with this situation. But your wife was savagely roasting me with three tongues!”
Only then did Lucerne slowly examine the head of the household. And I realized that the emotions that lingered on the family leader's face were not anger, but arsenic that seemed ridiculous, and interest. It was none other than the feelings towards Elisha.
Lucerne's momentum softened a little.
“Aren't you angry about the election of the pope anyway? What are you accusing her of knowing?”
“Your wife really had nothing to do with Rosaria becoming the great pope? Didn't she say that this woman breathed on her?”
She said, “Whether she has a breath or not, she chooses what's in the best interest. What's the problem?”
“What is this again?”
The householder noticed that the couple's sophistry continued as if they were playing a game of throwing a ball, which was absurd. However, while talking to Elisha, he was already relieved of his anger to some extent.
“You know what your wife is? Since you have more or less control over Rosaria, she insists she cares whether you are an illegitimate child or not. Does that make sense? Could Rosa Ria be her parents?”
Elisha realized that Lucerne's outspoken vitriol definitely came from the family head. It was a poisonous tongue.
“Yes.”
Lucerne calmly replied.
“Are you crazy, Lucerne?”
“Rosaria is my parents. Because you are my godmother.”
“…… What?”
“I grew up in the temple, and Uncle Merha raised me directly. But since I was born outside of my family, I had no godfather, let alone godmother, until I was 10 years old.”
A godmother or godfather is a guardian within an aristocratic family. Usually, a relative of a parent's age becomes the godfather or godmother.
The godfather and godmother pledge is an oath that contains the will to take care of the child's parents if there is a problem. In a prestigious family, when a child's first birthday party was held, a godfather or godmother was always decided. Lucerne was born illegitimate, so of course he had neither.
“It did. I didn't pay attention to that part.”
“At the time, the head of the household was not very interested in me, right? I understand.”
Elisha began to wonder what the hell Lucerne had the guts to say.
She said, “At the age of 10, I throw a big birthday party to thank Jusoo for helping me to grow up to be 10 years old. However, I had no godmother or godfather until I was 10 years old, so I had a lot of trouble at the temple. Even if I wanted to leave an official record, there was no one behind me.”
The housekeeper's hand stopped.
“Did Merha refuse to serve as your godfather?”
“Yes.”
Lucerne nodded her head.
“When everyone was in trouble, Lady Rosaria, who was at the Great Temple at the time, said she would be named my godmother. She is such a weak-minded person. Will he sever ties with me for being the Great Pope?”
The head of the household had an expression that was deep in thought.
“So what will Merha do?”
“I am on my way back after meeting Miss Rosaria. My guardian is Sija's godmother, so how could I be cruel to my uncle? People are arguing for the death penalty, but you can't make it happen.”
At the word death penalty, the family head's hand flinched.
“The Prophet was murdered. Usually the death penalty is unavoidable, but……. As an exception this time, I promised to release them after a few years of perfunctory imprisonment.”
“…… So you're saying someone from the Cartier family will be imprisoned?”
“They say they won't hand it over to the imperial family, and let them live a quiet secluded life in the underground prison of Daishinjeon. I will look into life without lacking. Shouldn't the uncle reflect on that? Killed the Prophet. I was worried about the future of our family. Imagine if the Prophet cursed as he died. The downfall of a family is a combination of such misfortunes.”
Lucerne added quietly.
“Ristralpho was truly a prophet with divine powers. Is not it. Elisha.”
“You are right. If you thought about your family, you wouldn't commit such a terrible thing even if you were afraid of the curse. Wouldn't that be punished by heaven?”
Elisha also calmly added.
Even the head of the household could not ignore those words. Although he was not deeply religious, he knew that divine power was a power that actually existed, and that it was a miracle that prophets and saints actually manifested.
The family head asked quietly.
“Would Merha understand?”
“My lord.”
Lucerne smiled lightly.
“At the moment when Uncle Merha was accused of killing Ristralfo, Marco was also in Yurif, where the murder took place.”
“…….”
“I wondered about that and when I asked, he immediately admitted to the charges. Like someone trying to hide something.”
Elisha seemed to get goosebumps on the backs of her hands at Lucerne's numbers. Merha was also human and was her father. If Marco is implicated in the murder of Ristralfo……. Merha would admit to the murder in order to protect Marco and plan her future.
Gaju noticed quickly. He noticed everything, even at the slightest clue, and let out a sad moan.
“Really……. That's amazing. Fools, fools. In my mind, I want to kill Merha and his son right away.”
“The head of the household raised them with great care, but it can't be helped that he didn't learn the teachings. However, since they are of such good qualities, they will take this opportunity to change their minds.”
Elisha added. The words had a meaning.
Lucerne was no different from being raised by the family head. On the other hand, Merha and his son grew up receiving all the education as deficits. If you compare them with Lucerne, the Merha rich man is nothing short of lacking. It was like this.
At Elisha's words, Kaju stared at the two. He was constantly tapping his fingers on the marble table.
“Can you manage the temple well, Lucerne?”
“If necessary, I will.”
“What do you not need?”
“What do you need. The Cartier family is already strong enough. Is there any reason why our family should make excessive profits from the temple business while committing corruption? Besides, the profits from the temple business so far only filled the pockets of Uncle Merha.”
“…….”
Kaju let out a low sigh and nodded his head.
“How many years do you think it will take for Merha to come out?”
“We will solve it within 4 years.”
“I get it. Lucerne.”
Before I knew it, the tone of the householder had changed.
“Elisha, you. Tell me more about that story. What is your external impression?”
Elisha calmly replied.
“Of course, this situation is better than losing her influence over the shrine due to High Priestess Merha and Gunner's affairs. I heard that even if the great pope is in office now, his health is not good. Even if it's just a show, it's important for someone outside the Cartier family to serve as the pope. For long-term dominion, sometimes selection is also necessary.”
The corner of the housekeeper's mouth trembled slightly. He was forced to hold back a smile.
“Anyway.”
Said the housekeeper.
“He has nothing to swear at, since he brought a woman like me. At least you, Lucerne, are able to communicate a little, so I guess it's thanks to your wife.”
“Doesn't a man change once he gets married?”
“…… If that's true, take her and live with her. Because a woman with a tongue like that is starting to wonder how she would cook you.”
“If you wish.”
Lucerne's eyes flashed for a moment.
“Don't take me when I'm not there. What if I want to break it in the palm of my hand? I will never touch another person's hand ever again.”
Elisha flinched at her body.
'He's saying this because he's in front of the family head.'
I knew Lucerne's intentions, but……. She was honestly afraid. Lucerne's words sounded like they were intended to be heard by Elisha. If the householder tried to conciliate Elisha, she couldn't help but imagine her inner meaning that she wouldn't let her go.
