Chapter 10

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“I, Eliana Rose, have done a great disrespect to Lady Sharchen and Baron Karman Hunter. I apologize deeply, so please take back your words.”

It was like kneeling. But it was Karman Hunter’s face that became redder. It was as if Eliana had acknowledged her ignorance in front of all the servants. He was just trying to scare her a little, but with Eliana’s response, everything became sincere. Eliana was now a woman who had given up her pride to protect her family and bowed down. 

Now she wasn’t a Baroness, she was just the eldest daughter of the poor Rose family. Sharchen opened her eyes wide, not knowing what to do.

“What are you doing in front of everyone? Get up.” 

As Karman Hunter shouted, Eliana slowly straightened her back and said with a dry expression.

“In front of this place where not only Sharchen, but also the servants and the guards are present, you said that you would cut my family’s support….”

“…”

“Is it just for you to see me like this?”

As Eliana spoke, Karman shook his head.

“… That’s a misunderstanding. Don’t make a fuss with unnecessary actions.”

“Alright.”

Eliana sat back down at the table without speaking back as usual. Sharchen noticed the tension between the two of them and continued.

“I am not familiar with this situation. It’s so frustrating.”

She spoke as if she didn’t understand anything. However, she could not hide her joy in the fact that Eliana’s momentum had diminished. Sharchen wanted to flatten her nose at this point. So that something like this wouldn’t happen again. However, she also had to protect the image of a good Sharchen.

“Baron, why don’t you tell me about the promise you made to me next? I don’t know if the Baroness will be offended….”

“…”

Karman stopped moving at Sharchen’s beautiful voice. On the surface, it looked as if Eliana was subdued by Karman’s power, but on the inside, it was completely different. Eliana Rose was not losing at all.

Karman didn’t want to lose like this. He didn’t even want Sharchen, whom he loved, to be wary.

Eliana had already taken her hands off the tableware and sat quietly with her head bowed. It was as if she was willing to endure all the power that Karman wielded with the lifeline of her family. The expressions of the guards standing behind her were not good. Because they are all commoners, they couldn’t help but sympathize more with Eliana emotionally.

‘You’re really not an ordinary woman.’

Karman was so impressed with Eliana Rose’s ability to control the situation in an instant. And at the same time, when he made her an enemy, he had a hunch that his damage would not stop at this level.

‘You’re a dangerously attractive woman. Eliana Rose.’ 

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he pinched his knee hard. He had to pull himself together. His woman was only Sharchen. Recalling that fact, Karman spoke coldly to Eliana.

“No. You don’t have to.”

“Baron.”

Sharchen called him with a troubled voice. However, the call rather contained an instigation that seemed to encourage him to speak quickly.

“At this social party, I will enter with Sharchen.”

Eliana looked up and looked at Karman. It was a look that he didn’t expect. There seemed to be tears in her eyes. Sharchen continued as if nailing the last nail.

“Madam, I hope there is no misunderstanding. I hope you are not too sad. It’s not because I’m special. We always have been like that, and always will be. So I hope Madam understands generously. I hope you don’t get mad at me.”

Sharchen was pretending to be reasonable, but it was a kind of show off. She felt a strong desire to show that Karman was her man. Eliana nodded with tears in her eyes.

“I will obey the will of the Baron. Then can I get up first?”

Karman’s eyes followed Eliana for a long time at her voice mixed with weeping. Then Sharchen continued speaking as if she wanted to block the gaze. 

“Yes Yes. Please go ahead, Madam. The baron and I have a lot to talk about separately.”

“Then….”

Eliana stood up and staggered for a moment. She was dizzy, as if she was shocked. Her navy blue dress fluttered. Today, in a dress with few frills and not flashy, she looked slender.

As Karman’s body flinched, Eliana’s gaze turned to him. The moment Karman had no choice but to get up, Eliana’s mouth opened.

“Joseph.”

“….”

“If you don’t mind, can you help me?”

Karman turned his head. Among the guards standing behind him was the guard who had been flirting with Eliana. Karman was in a bad mood, but he couldn’t say anything because he had just attacked her like a bomber. Guard Joseph approached with a serious expression and supported Eliana.

Eliana climbed the curved staircase, one step at a time, supported by Joseph. She even leaned on Joseph’s shoulder as if she was very dizzy. Karman’s gaze could hardly fell from the two of them.

****

“Thank you, Joseph.”

Arriving at the Baroness’s room, Eliana sat on the sofa and touched her head. Joseph didn’t go back right away, he stood there, and then spoke.

“Madam.”

“Yes?”

“If we get past this hurdle and grow further….”

“….”

“I will ensure that such a humiliating incident as it is today will never happen again. I promise you.”

Joseph looked serious as if he had been insulted. Eliana smiled helplessly and told Joseph.

“I will accept the promise of my dear comrade. I also have no intention of making you stay in the position of a guard. Let’s do our best.” 

“Yes.”

She reached out her hand gently. After hesitating, Joseph knelt down as if swearing allegiance to her and kissed her briefly on the back of her hand. Then he left the room hiding his red cheeks. As Joseph left and the door closed, Eliana cleared her weak expression. 

She knew in advance what had happened at dinner today. It was because it was the news that Lujan had brought to swear allegiance.

Of course, she knew that every Baroness that had ever passed through the Hunter’s family had not attended the social gatherings with the Baron. Even if it became a gossip, Karman and Sharchen have been using the excuse that they were good friends.

However, to stop supporting the Rose family had greatly stimulated Eliana. Lujan also said that such a word actually came from Sharchen’s mouth, and that Karman had promised to do what she wanted.

Eliana trembled, but she couldn’t stay still when she heard the news. So it was a series of acting.

“How was my performance?”

Eliana asked softly, and Benny said as she took off the hair accessories from Eliana’s hair.

“It was acting, but it was sad because I felt the sincerity.”

“There’s nothing Benny can’t see either.”

“Because we are that desperate.”

When she heard that Karman wanted to stop supporting the Rose family, Benny also had her hands trembling. It was because she knew Eliana’s father and mother, who had barely started treatment properly in return for joining this family.

Eliana smiled weakly, leaned her head against Benny, and continued.

“Did you get a reply from Gillian?”

“Yes. Tomorrow at three o’clock at the bookstore near the pier.”

Eliana said with a smile at those words. “What do you think, Benny? Will Gillian accept my proposal?”

Benny replied with a smile similar to hers.

“If he doesn’t agree, he’s an idiot.”

At Benny’s words, Eliana smiled brighter. Then, vigorously, she got up from her seat. “Okay, let’s pick out a dress for tomorrow’s outing.”

“Look at the navy blue dress I made. Because I really did my best.”

“Shall we see Benny’s skills?” 

Eliana smiled like a little girl and entered the dressing room. To prepare a combat suit to capture Gillian Hutt.

***

Eliana arrived at the bookstore earlier than the promised time and bought a few books. They were books about culture written by old ladies, an autobiography, and a book on how to cultivate flowers. 

These were just books that were for pastime, but Eliana wanted to find tips about social gatherings in this book. In short, it was about finding a way to look good.

Lujan went back to the Baron’s residence first with some books that Eliana had bought. Benny entered the bookstore only a few dozen minutes after Lujan left.

Eliana was reading a book in the same seat. She didn’t buy some of the most important books. It was because Sharchen would check in the middle anyway. She thought she wouldn’t read it, but Sharchen’s maid, May, might read and tell her the gist of it.

Eliana left all those possibilities open. About two-thirds of the time she had read the book, a man with a low pitched voice stood next to her and picked up the book.

“You’re dressed as bizarre as I heard, Mrs. Hunter.” (Gillian)

“I take it as a compliment, Sir Gillian.” (Eliana)

“I heard you’re a geek too.” (Gillian)

“Yes, but let me correct one thing.” (Eliana)

“What?” (Gillian)

Eliana reached out as if to find another book. Soon, Gillian and Eliana’s faces came closer together. As Gillian tried to lean back, she brushed Gillian’s collar with the back of her hand and said as she picked up a book from the bookshelf right in front of him.

“I am not Mrs. Hunter.”

“….”

“I am Eliana Rose.”

She escaped like a soft snake, making eye contact with Gillian for a moment. Eliana took the book she picked up as if to calculate it, turned around and continued.

“Is the coin heads or tails?”  (Eliana)

She had written down a password in the letter which she had sent to Gillian asking for a meeting. The head meant to accept the proposal, and the tail meant to reject the proposal.

“Check out the book and see.” (Gillian)

“Okay.”

Eliana Rose went to the counter and handed over her book. She didn’t pay, but a coin was given to her from the bookstore owner.

Eliana took the coin in her hand and left the bookstore with Benny. She smiled quietly. The coin was heads.