The Predator’s Contract Partner
chapter-48

Chapter 48

“General, it’s been a while.”

“Congratulations on another victory.”

Lucerne introduced Elisha as his wife. Numerous people flocked towards her, many wanting to kiss the back of her hand. She kept some distance from them, with her eyes gazing at them politely.

“She’s really beautiful.”

“Actually, I thought it was just a rumor, but she’s more than what they say.”

Many people whispered about Elisha. Some people were already rushing to invite her to their events.

‘It looks like being a general’s wife will be troublesome.’

Elisha looked at Lucerne. Fortunately, he cut people off for her.

***

Only after Lucerne went to the men’s cigarette room was Elisha able to take a breath.

Ladies gathered around her, inquiring about her background.

“I’ve never heard of Lady Elisha’s parents. However, since you are from a noble family of the Old Kingdom, then you must come from a venerable, historical family.”

“Yes, it is an old family. But no one in the capital knows about them. I am also looking forward to meeting many new people,”

Elisha responded evenly, treating everyone with equal ambivalence.

Fortunately, she was used to how noblewomen spoke. She served Carola and Jacob, so she had had to deal with numerous ladies.

“Did you hear?—The Marquis of Fullmoon’s wife is so pitiful—who knew he was such a pervert?”

“I heard she fell ill. How funny. When a husband cheated on his wife, she was indiscreetly bragging that her man was different. Those who seem spotless have more to hide, don’t they?”

“According to the servants, they’re getting divorced and fighting a lot.”

Elisha, too, had heard rumors that the Marquis of Fullmoon family was being ridiculed and humiliated in high society. It was pleasing news.

“Lady Elisha, what do you think of the rumors about the Marquis of Fullmoon?”

The ladies observed Elisha with strange, expectant eyes. The Marquis of Fullmoon was the father-in-law of Jacob, the eldest grandson of the Cartier family. Elisha couldn’t bring herself to say anything good about the Jacobs.

“I do not know.”

She skillfully evaded the question and changed the topic.

“I don’t know much about affairs in the capital. Are there any interesting events coming up soon on the social calendar?”

“Ah, yes. There’s a temple festival soon, and Saint Undine will make a public appearance. Everyone is waiting with bated breath for it.”

“Because Saint Undine is very beautiful. It will be a bigger event than there was for Prophet Risralpho.”

The Prophet Risralpho was not a priest while he was alive. It was said that one day he realized the will of the gods, and he became a prophet. He predicted and prevented a flood and two plagues during his lifetime. Additionally, all of his lesser divinations came to fruition as he had foretold.

Moreover, Risralpho’s reputation was spotless, and he died young. It meant… … .

‘It means he’s making a lot of money for the temple.’

Prophets were deemed a step lower than the Saints. But Risralpho was a famous prophet. So when he died, after the five years of customary mourning, the well-preserved body of Risralpho was put on display in a glass coffin, earning a tremendous amount of money from the exhibition for several years.

Risralpho’s corpse was then preserved by wizards and sold in bone shards. For astronomical money.

It was said that the temple made a fortune after Risralpho’s funeral.

Because of the myth, having a bone fragment of a prophet prevented misfortune and brought in wealth. Besides, the value as a collectible is enormous. There were also those who had blasphemous hearts and participated in such bone-carving auctions as an investment.

“My husband has a piece of Risralpho’s bone. Because of this, he was able to buy land in the capital, and the price went up tremendously.”

“How incredible. Such fortune……. I am sure it is from Risralpho’s blessing?”

“Is it a blessing?”

Elisha asked indifferently while drinking champagne. The ladies’ expressions changed.

“What?”

“No, nothing. Risralpho accomplished many great things while he was alive. For example, finding the source of an epidemic or predicting a flood.”

“That’s right! Besides, he even pledged to donate his body. How meaningful even helping the poor in death.”

When the bones of the prophets were sold, the money fell in the hands of the temple. The money was then used ‘to help the poor,’ so it was commendable. Only Elisha was softly smiling with ridicule.

‘If it were me, I would never let my body be sold. Is it something noble?’

Moreover, the temple said that “part” of the proceeds was used to help the poor. Even that word was meaningful. Elisha had never seen that the monetary records were made public.

***

‘But why are men looking at me?’

Elisha stroked her cheek. She kept recalling her past life. When she saw men staring at her strangely, she wondered if there was still a scar on her cheek.

Then there was the sound of the terrace door opening. Elisha’s eyes widened.

‘Marco.’

Lucerne’s cousin and the Duke’s second grandson. It was Marco. He seemed normal, his steps even, but she intuitively thought he was a little drunk.

Elisha’s shoulders stiffened.

“Oh, who is this? Hello, should I call you Lady Elisha now?”

“I didn’t know you would remember my name,”

Elisha responded with an icy countenance,

“I was about to leave. Please excuse me.”

Elisha turned her back. She was about to leave, notifying him to maintain the bare minimum of courtesy. At that moment, Marco grabbed her wrist tightly. Her eyebrows frowned.

“What is this?”

“I heard from Arien that you were clinging on to Lucerne in public and doing perverted things, umm? Anyway, there are plenty of quiet-looking bitches like you. You must have thought your future is secure because Lucerne has some Cartier blood in him. But regardless, that bastard will remain a nobody his entire life, unable to become the Duke. Do you really think the next Head of Cartier will leave him be with him running around like that?”

“What?”

Elisha wondered what she was listening to. Marco continued, interpreting her reaction to his liking.

“You better get in line too. Heh, you’ll find out with time. It is better to be the mistress of a man like me than to be the wife of an illegitimate punk.”

Elisha doubted her ears. So …….

‘Right now……. Are you trying to seduce me?’

It was unbelievable. She really couldn’t help but question if her ears were functioning correctly. Marco was looking at her with sinister eyes.

Elisha knew him well. He liked to bully and nitpick on the women under his authority, and he had often vented his anger towards Jacob on her numerous times. Furthermore…….

‘He was trying to do something weird to me.’

Whenever he saw her, He cursed her for being a disgusting, ugly woman, but Marco harbored a twisted lecherousness for her. It was partly because of him that Elisha shrank from and avoided men.

In her previous life, she was terrified and had to endure his sexual harassment. But now she……. didn’t. At least now she was on the same boat with Lucerne.

“Really? Is that so?”

Elisha donned a smile on her face without realizing it. It was a cold smile.

“Yes. Of course.”

Marco raised his chin and voice, perhaps gaining confidence from her reply.

“It would be better for you if you pleased me. After all, the Gaju’s words are law in this family.”

“I….”

Elisha said kindly,

“I only was recently introduced to the members of the Cartier household, so I don’t know much about the family. So, will Marco move on to the next generation?”

“…….”

Marco bit his mouth.

“The next time I see the Head, can I ask that? Has a successor to the ducal house been appointed? That’s what Marco said. May I pass it on?”

It was only then he realized he was being mocked. Marco’s hand trembled.

“You slutty bitch. You dare make fun of me? Oh, do you do this when you spread your legs to Lucerne?”

“No. She’s nice and pretty when she spreads her legs to me. My wife has a good eye for people.”

A heavy voice was heard. Elisha raised her head. Suddenly, the door to the terrace was open, and Lucerne was standing there.

“I—I… … .”

Marco’s face turned white. She wanted to laugh at him. Cartiers were like this. Demeaning and ridiculing behind Lucerne’s back but unable to utter a word in front of him.

Click— Lucerne closed the terrace door. He blinked, and the curtain closed on its own.

“The garden is quiet. There’s no one is here.”

And the terrace door was tightly closed, separated from the ballroom. Marco was sweating. Elisha quickly moved to Lucerne’s side.

“I heard a lot of interesting things about my wife.”

“…….”

“Let’s try and recall it again, shall we? What did you say?”

Lucerne approached him, his red eyes shining dangerously. Marco’s body began to tremble.

“Oh, you must have a bad memory. When I was young, I was taught that if I was dumb, I’d have to learn by getting beaten.”

Shhhaaaa—

Something black appeared in his hand. Elisha recognized it. It was Lucerne’s shadow beast.