“The emperor will protect Jewel.”
Lucerne was amused at a careless Elisha, who noted dully,
“By no means. At the end of the day, Jewel is not the emperor’s biological son. In peaceful times, he can love and take care of Jewel as if he were his own child. But the true nature of those in power is revealed when they have something to lose. In this case, what’s at stake is the imperial family’s relations with the duchy. He could lose it. The emperor might dislike the duke’s power for being too strong. But he won’t want to break the truce like this.”
“Therefore?”
“He will abandon Jewel.”
Elisha remembered Yepnen, whom Jewel was abusing. Did the emperor not know about it?
“Adopted or biological. There must be people in this world who can love and raise children equally. But the sovereign cannot be like that. Such a kind person cannot sit on the emperor’s throne no matter how peaceful the circumstances surrounding them may be.”
“… … .”
“It’s the powerful who can abandon even their own children.”
Lucerne was satisfacted.
“Brilliant insight. After all, I have the best woman.”
Elisha blinked lazily.
“… … Furthermore. Ilione is your guardian and next in line to the powerful emperor. So, it’s not a loss to sort out the affairs of the imperial family and let them be indebted to you.”
That was the picture Elisha was drawing.
The imperial family was originally on Lucerne’s side. After this incident, Ilione would fully trust him. Because Elisha purposely made it that way.
Additionally, Rosaria was behind them. Lucerne now has the imperial family and the temple as his allies. Both powers would protect him. The scales were already tipping.
“Indeed, you are exceptionally talented in assisting me. Even though I never asked for it. I suppose I’m very moved because I’m at a loss at how to respond?”
She thought Lucerne’s eyes were cold. Did he really appreciate it?
‘Fat chance.’
Lucerne was no fool. This path that Elisha was leading them on, and everything she did, was ultimately to free herself. There was no way that Lucerne didn’t know that.
“What is your take on Carola and Jacob?”
Lucerne explained briefly.
‘Carola! I can never forgive you! I’m going to cut down the bitch right now!’
The echo of Jacob wielding a sword and shouting loudly shook the entire duchy. He was so angry he lost his reason and ran amok.
Instead, he said, the Head had difficulty deterring him and putting her in detention.
“The patriarch is more frightening. Jacob will go wild all the way, but Gaju will take revenge on Carola more thoroughly.”
“Isn’t that more mature?”
“The family head is more sophisticated. Just like you are detaining and abusing Merha.”
“You’re asking me to keep him alive, aren’t you?”
They exchanged glances. He gently held Elisha in his arms, and she buried her cheek in Lucerne’s arms. He stroked her soft hair.
“What is it? You must be in a good mood.”
“Since you listened to my request, I feel good.”
“Now you’re trying to manipulate me.”
Lucerne was puzzled. But he didn’t seem offended.
“But why Prince Jewel?”
“What?”
“I understand that you wanted to get revenge on Jacob and deal with Carola. But why did you choose Jewel as the person that would be destroyed with them together?”
“… … .”
“Do you have any grudge against the boy?”
In her previous life, Jewel was a mad prince and sadist who abused women. He was relatively quiet now.
In addition, Jewel’s verbal abuse towards her came to mind.
‘A pitiful lowlife. Why do you live like you’re already dead? I’d rather be dead if I were you.’
A few years later, Jewel and Carola did have an affair.
‘They say you’re a witch that’s a thorn in Carola’s eyes. Why the hell would you bother a nice, sweet lady like Carola? You’re so ugly that you must be jealous of pretty girls like Carola. I hear you flirt with her husband at every opportunity?’
Many people abused Elisha because of Carola, like Mimosa, who was always around her. However, none of them trampled Elisha’s pride as cruelly as Jewel. Ironically, when Jewel bullied her, it confirmed that she still had something resembling pride left in her.
‘Carola only meets men like herself.’
Carola, too, had some perverted tastes. So, of course, the men she met were also degenerates.
One day, Jewel made Elisha don only her underwear and hit her with a cane. Her pale skin was quickly stained with red plum marks. Jewel was exhilarated to see it. It was the same with Carola.
‘Oh, seeing her crying makes Carola so excited. The prince is such a good person who punishes bad people. Thank you for protecting Carola!’
Fortunately, Jewel was very picky about faces, so he did not touch her sexually.
That night, the two locked Elisha in an enormous chest. It was where Carola usually kept her clothes and valuables. On top of what looked like a coffin, a twenty-three-year-old Jewel and the older Carola had sex.
Carola exclaimed: ‘Carola’s more excited because Elisha’s underneath.’
‘Carola feels so good.’ etc.
Even thinking back on the unpleasant memory made her feel dirty. It was also the most bizarre and strange thing she had ever experienced in her previous life.
‘Carola, he was your future lover anyway.’
Elisha thought indifferently.
‘So, wouldn’t it be better to get involved a little earlier? You should thank me.’
