Chapter 6

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Sharchen’s face hardened coldly. It was clear she was angry, but she didn’t say any more. She seemed to realize that even if she spoke more, Karman would not listen to her wishes.

‘I’m glad you’re not a stupid kid.’

Eliana thought so again and started eating. After calming down for a while, Sharchen told Karman a story that only the two of them knew.

“Baron, may I ask you a favor?”

“Of course. Anything.”

“Can I go back to the rose garden I went to last time? It’s so beautiful that I keep thinking about it.”

“Anytime, if you wish.”

“Then I go there and stop by the lake. I want to ride a horse again.”

“You might get hurt.”

“We can ride it together.”

Seeing Sharchen smiling brightly and showing affection, Eliana showed no expression or reaction. Maybe Sharchen said it on purpose because Eliana’s last name was Rose. If Sharchen was trying to provoke her, Eliana thought she’d be better off ignoring it.

As she savored the food, Eliana acted like she was eating alone. The more Sharchen went on, the more she took out her memories with Karman and bragged about it.

Karman looked at Eliana briefly in response to Sharchen’s chatter. 

After a light meal, Eliana wiped her mouth with a napkin and looked at Sharchen.

“Oh, thank you for allowing me to eat, Sharchen. I was worried Lujan was rude to visit you, but thanks to you, I had a delicious meal.”

“Did you tell her to ask for permission to eat?”

Karman asked Sharchen. Then Eliana smiled softly and got up from her seat. Sharchen said, raising her eyebrows straight away.

“How can I make that decision? The Baroness is saying things to get me in trouble again.”

“Well. Believe what you want to believe. Then I’ll leave first.”

Eliana walked away. The rift between Sharchen and the Baron was necessary for the next step in her plans.

As she climbed the stairs step by step, she enjoyed the silence of the dining room. Stepmother Eliana Rose’s plans had only just begun.

***

Eliana Rose’s name began to spread in social circles.

The Baroness wearing her peasant’s clothes was like a hot potato. From the vulgar rumor that she enchanted the Baron, that she was a witch who made poison and performed black magic.

Eliana didn’t stop the rumors from spreading.

The rumor must have reached Karman’s ex-wife, Helen, as well as her brother, Gillian. They had to feel that she was different from the other ex-wives. Eliana needed it to get them on her side.

As the date of her first social party was set, Eliana spent more and more time in the library. 

She would stay in the library alone even when everyone else was asleep. She had to memorize what the women liked and hated. However, there were too many ladies, and the relationship between the families was complicated. It was only after spending days and nights in the library that Eliana could feel things organized in her head.

“Oh, madam.”

“What’s going on? Lujan.”

“We don’t know what the Baroness is doing in the library, Sharchen’s maid told me to come and ask……If you prepare poison or anything like that.”

“….”

“Are you going to kill her?”

“What? Oh no!”

“All the books I study are from this baron’s family. There are some herbal medicine books here, but there is no recipe for poison, so please rest assured. Of course, I’m also terrified of poisoning from Sharchen’s side, so let me know about that as well.”

Lujan’s face turned white at Eliana’s pouring words, and she nodded her head again and again. After the last time Eliana said she was going to fire her, Lujan had become a little more hesitant.

Lujan did not leave immediately, hesitating in his place, and then continued.

“Ah, madam.”

“Do you have more to say?”

Lujan suddenly fell low on the floor, trembling like an aspen, and continued speaking.

“Ah, please don’t fire me!”

“…”

“Sincerely, now with all my heart, I will serve you, Baroness. Please take me with you! Lady Sharchen will abandon me!”

Lujan pleaded with tears in her eyes. Eliana stared at the top of her head. It didn’t matter whether her tears were sincere or not. She was someone who couldn’t be on her side from the beginning. Eliana didn’t need someone who sticks like a bat to the side that has the slightest bit of victory.

“Why me?”

Lujan looked up at Eliana with tears in her eyes at Eliana’s words.

“Madam! Please have mercy on me!”

“Bring proof, Lujan, that I can trust your allegiance.”

Eliana didn’t intend to trust her completely, but she smiled brightly, thinking Lujan could be put to good use.

Lujan looked at Eliana anxiously. As if such a reaction was not expected at all. Eliana was reading all of her confusion. 

“Yes, I will.”

Said Lujan. Eliana didn’t think she was speaking the truth. A person who once became a spy has no choice but to remain a spy forever. Even if she was sincere now, Sharchen would not let her off easily.

“Then go find something to prove. I’ll finish reading the books and go back to my room.”

“I, I will pick you up.”

“Do you have a lot of time?”

Eliana’s face, with heavy makeup, was cold and scary. Lujan immediately bowed her head and walked out of the library with quick steps. Eliana was planning to bring Benny, the maid of the Rose family, whom she has been living with for a long time, as her maid.

Benny was a maid, but she was also a member of the Rose family. When she was no longer able to pay a maid’s salary, Benny did not leave the family. She shared poverty with the people of the Rose family and was loyal. No one in the family, including Eliana, thought of her as a simple maid. Eliana started doing various things and was able to pay her salary even a little bit, but she didn’t clear all her sorry feelings.

By inviting Benny to become her maid in the Hunter family this time, Eliana wanted to give her who had suffered hardship a luxury, and a trustworthy servant for herself.

At first, Eliana couldn’t take anything with her due to the tension of having to adjust to this house. But now it was different. She had to suck up everything that could be sucked in, and throw away the things she didn’t need at once. Only then could she live.

Eliana took a book on herbal medicine and a book called The History of the Witches. Thirty minutes from now, the guards guarding the library change. He was exactly who Eliana was looking for.

He was born into a poor family and worked diligently. However, due to poor family circumstances, he could not stand out from his superiors, so he stayed only as a guard.

Information circulating among the Baron’s guards and maids could be obtained quickly by going to the labor market. Just pocketed a little money and all the information came out. Eliana has often made such a deal in order not to offend the noble ladies.

Therefore, it was easy for her to receive high-quality information about the Hunter family and their servants. She chose him to be planted within the guards. This was because he held a weapon that could shake the hearts of desperate and good people.

Thirty minutes passed, and when a sound was heard outside the library, Eliana picked up two books and opened the door. The guard saluted consciously, and Eliana dropped the book, pretending it was a mistake. She could see the guard’s eyes fluttering at the title of the book, 『The History of the Witches』.

“Oh, I’m sorry, can you pick up my book? As you can see, my dress is uncomfortable.”

“Yes.” 

He closed the cover of the book and handed it to Eliana. At that moment, Eliana pulled him tight. The distance between the two quickly grew closer.

Eliana pulled him straight into the library. The guard was in a state of panic.

Tick, the door was closed.

“Listen to me from now on. I’m going to ask you to bring these two books and go to my room. Then, surely, the people will ask what happened.  Then you tell them it’s hard to say. Yes? I have to make it a little more earnest.”

“Huh, madam.”

“Shh.”

“Even if they give you money, don’t tell them anything. Say the Baroness told you not to never say anything. And if you like the amount of money, tell them, the Baroness seems to be studying witches and herbs.”

“…!”

“It’s okay to gossip that I like you. Then there will be a person who regularly gives you money to dig up my information. You can make money that way.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I heard that some of the soldiers who work for the Baron are caring for their sick parents in difficult circumstances.” 

“….”

The guard, Joseph, said nothing. It was true that his family was difficult, and his parents were also ill. His eyes shook.

“I know because my father was ill too, and I had lived a life without a paycheck. Use me, guard Joseph. I need your rumors….”

“But, in what way…… !”

“For now, just take the books. I will explain it step by step later.” 

After hesitating, Joseph accepted the book Eliana had given him. It seemed he had accepted the temptation she threw. 

“I give you information, you make money. I want it that way.”

“Then what should I do… … .” 

“You’ll tell me what they asked you.”

“….”

“And will you love me?”

Eliana Rose smiled beautifully and opened the door to the library. The guard’s face turned a little red. Eliana did not care about it and started walking with firm steps. There was certainly no woman of her type in the realm within 100km of this place.

The guard may have fallen for her charm, which was completely different from the women he had ever met. It would be better if he was sincere. Because the truth would be easier to use. 

Just like Karman Hunter who abused Eliana’s sincerity for his love. But those who were involved with her would not suffer losses. Eliana had no intention of robbing the poor. Her goal was for those who had more.

Eliana continued walking, thinking of Gillian. The guard didn’t say anything.

He led Eliana to her room. Then he handed her the books and disappeared. Whether he will do what she said or not will be known tomorrow at this hour. 

However, Eliana was sure that he would have no choice but to hold the hand she reached out. She knew. The feeling of a person who has to earn a living alone in a poor family.

She looked out the window, thinking of her family. It was tiring to live day to day with endless head rolling. But Eliana also couldn’t shake her hand. The hand of the witch-like baroness she had created.