Chapter 18.1
The Predator’s Contract Partner
âYes?â
âWhy, before, when Lucerne came to get permission from the Lord to marry⦠everyone heard. That the reason heâs proposing to Elisha is becauseâ¦â¦ because Elisha is in a pitiful situation.â
âAnd what else did he say?â
After hearing Elishaâs subdued voice, Carolaâs lips went up like a straight shot.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âAnd he said, I want to marry a woman who has a âno chance of her parents being upset.â I want to marry Elisha because sheâs a âpowerless, poor and desperate aristocratâ.â¦.â
Carola pretended to cry as if she was affected by what Lucerne said. He said he wanted to marry a woman who becomes a ghost at any time.
âCarolaâs heartaches. Thereâs nothing more precious than affection between men and women. Carola would be so sad if we were in Elishaâs shoes!â
(PR: Carola has a habit to talk in 3 pov so when she says âwe were in Elishaâs shoesâ she is referring to herself only)
Carolaâs voice became clearer and louder.
âElisha has been under Jacobâs protection all this time. Actually, wouldnât Carola, his wife, care for Elisha? Carola says this with the same heart as her motherâs sister.â
A smile spread across Arianeâs mouth.
âI didnât know the inside story, but itâs heartbreaking to hear it. Elisha is a very innocent-looking person, so I hope you donât get hurt.â
Ariane and Carola thought that Elishaâs pride would be destroyed. As if she had never been a laundry maid, Elishaâs back was upright and her eyes calm.
âThe only thing left is pride for fallen aristocrats like myself.â
It was the Cartier familyâs daughters-in-law that could destroy a powerless fallen noblewoman in a single blow with their mouths.
âElisha needs to know what everyone knows, right?â
Carola looked around with her eyes wide open and asked, Ariane retorted;
âOh, thatâs very thoughtful of you. Now that Iâm looking at the situation, you should really appreciate the gesture. Why donât you say thank you?â
Ariane especially looked forward to seeing Elisha humiliated.
âI wish you would cry. If you do it in front of the Lord, it will be great.â
But far from crying, Elisha looked very relaxed.
âWhy should I?â
âWhat?â
âCarola, why are you crying about what we all know? Did the High General ask you to tell me? You have a cheaper mouth than pigeons delivering a whole book.â
Carola doubted her ears. It was even the way she spoke. She had heard this way of speaking before. Lucerne spoke this way. His words struck you like a club on the back of the head, leaving you stunned.
âWhatâs going on?â
Carola quickly changed her expression as if she were naive.
âCarolaâs good intentionsâ¦â¦.â
Elisha looked at Carola incredulously as if she were a strange person.
âGood intentions? Where are your good intentions?â
Elisha retorted without giving Carola a chance to answer. There was even a cold smile around her mouth.
âFirst of all, youâre insulting your husband. I know you and Jacob are a very happy couple, so did your husband get married after seeing your mother?â
âWhat?â
âBesides, arrogance is the virtue of the nobility. If there are a hundred couples in the world, there are a hundred different types of relationships. So what if he is attracted to my poor family background? Why is that not love? Your premise is baseless without any context.â
âWell, itâs not like that. Carola isââ
âAnd besides.â
Elisha spoke clearly and cut off Carola.
âWhy do you say that I donât have my own family? Donât tell me, did you all forget how Lor the Great died?â
ââ¦â¦.â
âHow can someone who cares about me bring up my fatherâs story on my wedding day?â
As if she found it genuinely strange, Elisha tilted her head. She donned an expression like she really didnât understand. It was Jacob who killed Elishaâs biological father, Lor.
âThatâs in the past. How can you be so rude? Do you want to hide the past?â
Jacob raised his voice. Jacob was an ugly man with a stubby nose and rough skin. Jacobâs big face turned red and green.
âAre you actually blaming my family? Tell me!â
Jacob, who was drunk, slurred. It was then.
*Thunk.*
It was that moment, Lucerne kicked Jacobâs chair leg with his long legs. Jacob fell on his back.
â*Snort*!â
Jacob made a pig-like snort. He belatedly noticed what happened to him and scrambled to his feet.
***