The Predator’s Contract Partner
chapter-243

The day to leave the duchy had arrived. Lucerne often went to the officers’ club downtown.

‘Look at how even an inhuman person like him also has a social life.’

It was one of the few times when Elisha’s surveillance relaxed.

One tranquil afternoon, Elisha was having lunch and resting. She had some time and was sewing in the living room. Her companion was Sophie’s chatter.

“According to the duke’s maids,”

Sophie confided.

“It’s the first time they’ve seen the head of the family favor someone like this. That’s how much he likes the Madam. Moreover, from what I heard, the lord will give the lady a fortune.”

“The Head is doing it for Lucerne, not me.”

“That may be true, but if the High General gets it, he will share it with you, Madam! Because the general cherishes his wife. Couples share half of everything.”

Elisha strangely felt excited since last night. So, when Sophie talked, she was less pointed and less discouraging than usual.

“… … Nonsense. The Cartier family never spends money on unnecessary things.”

The Cartiers were like that. If something had to be shared and divided fairly, they assassinate the other side and get away with it. They were born that way.

“The general is frugal, isn’t he? But he doesn’t spare any cost when it comes to his wife.”

“It’s enough, Sophie.”

Elisha shook her head. Money was Lucerne’s most abundant resource anyway.

‘I don’t really know the source of that wealth.’

She had heard that Gaju had not lent Lucerne much of his property during this time. Maybe she should dig into that, she thought.

“Sophie, you’re very friendly. It seems like you quickly become friends with people wherever you go.”

“I’m pretty good at that. Hehe, I grew up in a house with a lot of brothers.”

Sophie smiled brightly.

“What other things are the maids saying?”

Sophie was forthright.

“Carola, that woman is crazy. These days, she stares at the wall, cries and says strange things.”

“Really?”

Elisha calmly nodded, encouraging her to continue.

“But there is another strange rumor going around. About Jacob, the duke’s eldest grandson. They say he was very angry. When he returns, he says he will tell the patriarch to kick Carola out. Pansy got into a fight with another maid and she said that.”

Elisha nodded. It was expected news.

“I see.”

Elisha suddenly realized that it was time for tea. Sophie, who was quick-witted, rang the bell to summon the duke’s servants.

Soon, the duke’s servants set the tea table. Elisha always brewed tea herself.

She only drank rose tea these days. Elisha picked up the plate containing that day’s roses and smelled them. It also had a fascinating scent today with subtle dark and aromatic notes.

“These are the rose petals I picked this morning. It would be nice if you could use them for the tea.”

“Thank you.”

Elisha stopped when she saw her tea. She looked out the window. The weather was very nice, and the wind was just right for the beginning of fall.

“It’s a beautiful day,”

Elisha said.

“Would you mind setting up a place in the garden? I want to drink tea outside. A seat right next to the entrance is enough. Under the biggest tree. Please serve it there.”

***

Ian was watching.

‘What should I do?’

He slowly reflected on what happened this morning.

Lucerne had several secret identities. Among them was heading the merchant association and intelligence guild that he secretly operated.

He had to receive reports and deal with matters related to them.

So Lucerne went to the city near the Duke’s House on the pretext of regularly going to the officers’ club.

Inside the club was a secret office rented by Lucerne. However, because it was a hidden room, a limited number of people could come in and out since even the people in the club were unaware of its existence.

In that office, Lucerne managed everything from guild work to government affairs. He saw things that he would not handle in the Duchy of Cartier. That’s why he went to work today, too.

It had been an ordinary day until then.

‘You were obviously in a very good mood this morning.’

Lucerne looked a little easygoing this morning. Ian immediately noticed: ‘It’s clear something good happened between the general and his wife.’

Lucerne sat on the bench in his office with his arms crossed and slowly looked at the documents. Although he had a rather careless attitude, he always handled things thoroughly.

Then Lucerne saw a correspondence. It was an urgent letter that arrived this morning. Unlike the others, the note was marked with a particular red string.

Ian knew the meaning of the document with the red string attached.

[Urgent News Regarding The Cartiers.]

The Cartiers were always the subject of top surveillance by the guild members under Lucerne. Pressing information related to them was denoted with a unique mark so Lucerne could first receive the news.

And Lucerne’s expressionless face as he read the letter instantly turned cool. He looked at it for a while and made a bewildered expression.

And then an oppressive and bleak atmosphere began emitting from him.

‘What the hell did you read?’

Ian was highly observant.

***

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