Chapter 12

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The next day, Eliana deliberately did not leave the room. So was the library. She asked for a cup of hot tea, drank it, and read the book Benny had brought.

Everything was a show.

It was a sign that Eliana, who was more flirtatious about everything, was deeply heartbroken at the fact that her first social debut was ruined. However, Eliana expected this as well. Sharchen would not let her and Karman enter together at all costs.

However, as a king wins the hearts of the people, she needed to win sympathy for the unlucky Baroness from the baron’s servants. Although noble and a stepmother, she was a poor woman trying to get married and live in a family that was no different from a commoner. Eliana was creating such a woman, ‘Eliana Rose’.

In fact, Eliana didn’t feel hit at all. Of course, Karman’s behavior was outrageous and angry.

However, it only served as a valuable foundation for her next action. She will proudly go out of this place. With wealth and honor, she would proudly leave this Hunter family at her feet. She would go so high that anw wouldn’t even make eye contact with them.

Karman was greatly mistaken. It was just the illusion that everyone will fall for him just because he’s married them. Of course, Helen was deeply in love with him, and although she and other wives were seduced by his appearance, wealth, honor and character. But it was their story.

Eliana Rose was different. Although Karman Hunter could ignite Eliana’s ambitions, he could not ignite her compassion or heartbreak. To Eliana, Karman was just a husband and someone else’s side. He was no different from an enemy on the battlefield worth defeating.

Eliana fiddled with the coin Gillian had given her. Both sides of the coin were heads. Eliana laughed out loud at Gillian’s consideration that he had prepared so that she wouldn’t read it wrong.

“Ellie, did you have any good ideas?” 

“No. That blunt navy guy did something pretty cute.”

Eliana said while showing the coin. Benny turned the coin back and forth and grinned.

“So, how are you going to use this cute naval master?”

“It’s still a secret. I need to do a little more research. Who should I introduce to the cute guy?”

“Are you really going to go in with them?”

Eliana shook her head. Eliana wasn’t going to enter the social party with Gillian and Helen Hutt. However, she planned to move in the same group after entering. The Baron’s current wife, Eliana Rose, was helping to signal the return of his ex-wife, Helen Hutt, to the social world.

Now that scandals were spreading all over the streets, if Eliana entered with Gillian, she would be criticized as an unclean woman.

It was clear that he was going to get pointed. However, if the position was different and the three of them moved together, it would be a different story. And this was all the more so when Eliana was utterly insulted by the Hunter family and rumors were misrepresented that she was sobbing in the hallway.

“You didn’t cry, but people are exaggerating too much.” 

“It’s all good. By the time this rumor hits the streets, I’ll be a woman who has collapsed from crying.”

Eliana spoke as if she didn’t care and turned the page. The book she was reading was “How to deal with poisonous flowers”, but what’s inside was something else. It was high-quality information about families that had been attending the parties consistently for several decades.

Eliana already knew the daughters of many families through learning. And even the tastes and habits of famous wives were memorized. But she needed to learn one more time.

Some of them were interested in social parties, and some kept their distance from them.

Those who Eliana needed were close to the socialites. Because through them, she will be able to reach nobles who did not attend parties. Eliana Rose imagined the faces of the royal family she had never seen before. Benny, who was peeling a peach, asked.

“Can I really go home tomorrow?”

“Yes. Other than Benny, who can I send? You are the only one who can understand the situation in the family well.”

“It’s because I’m worried about you. I don’t really like that girl named Lujan either. There’s something gloomy about this house. When that happened yesterday, nobody was on our side.”

Benny said as if she was really upset. Their family was poor, but Eliana Rose was now a Baroness, but it seemed even worse.

Benny let out a long sigh. Eliana took a sip of moderately cooled tea and continued.

“Benny.”

“Yes.”

“Remember the winter we spent together in the living room?”

“How could I forget that?” 

One year there was a terrible drought. The Rose family had an exceptionally difficult winter. The inside of the house was so cold that there was no difference in temperature from the outside, and even the wind blew through the unmaintained cracks here and there.

The whole family lit a fire with only a small amount of firewood, brought all clothes, blankets, and sheets, and gathered in a circle in the living room. There they ate, slept, and worked there. Otherwise, she couldn’t stand it. It had been a long time since she threw away the face of the noble.

Eliana felt the cold skin of her younger siblings who were sleeping clinging to her thighs while sewing. It was Benny who filled the seat next to her at that time. 

“I’m not going to let that winter happen again. Not to you, to my parents and siblings.”

“Ellie…”

“If the price is this kind of pain, I am willing to accept it.”

“I’m willing to accept it a thousand times.” Eliana’s clear eyes lit up. She had the stamina, which had been honed over many years. Poverty had made her stronger and smarter. Benny looked into Eliana’s eyes and just nodded.

“Yes, I shouldn’t have said that. You are none other than Eliana Rose.”

“You’re the only one on my side here, Benny. So please go see my family on my behalf. I’ll prepare a little more in the meantime.” 

“Don’t worry about the family. But are you ready?”

“When you come back.”

“When I come back?”

“We are going to visit the Hutt family.”

At Eliana’s words, Benny looked around. Then she continued speaking with her voice lowered.

“What? Ellie, are you sure? Rather than having a secret meeting like in a bookstore, you are just going to the Hutt? Karman Hunter won’t stand still…”

“What will he do if he doesn’t stand still?”

“Ellie.”

“Aren’t you curious?”

“You’re really….”

Benny laughed as if she couldn’t stop it. Eliana giggled, looked around and continued.

“I thought it would be great if I could actually meet Helen before the party. But these fools won’t give me a chance. So I have to do it my way.” 

Eliana smiled brightly. It was essential to win Helen Hutt’s favor to capture Gillian Hutt’s heart.

However, there was a limit to communicating through letters. If Karman hadn’t been so harsh on her, she could have created many opportunities, but now efforts were required.

It was a move that Karman’s former wives had also seen. Of course, they went to get specific advice on whether Sharchen and Karman’s relationship was real and what to do. Eliana needed no advice. Because she knew very well what she had to do in this situation. But if Helen had sympathy for the fourth wife (Eliana), who was more despised than herself, there was nothing more than that. It would be a bonus if Gillian Hutt would be angry about her situation.

Eliana was contemplating how she could win Helen’s heart and get out of this mansion. Because that was the most important thing.

Benny looked at Eliana, who was full of interest in the future, smiled and sat down.

“It would be a good idea to write a letter to the Hutt before I go home.”

“Exactly what I want of you right now.” 

“Ellie, promise me one thing.”

“What promise?”

“You will never do anything that puts your life in danger.”

Benny looked at Eliana with serious eyes. Benny knew. Eliana Rose was more than anyone else ready to sacrifice for her family. Even if she would lose her life in the process.

Eliana was such a great woman. That was why Benny wanted to protect Eliana even more. There was a reason for coming to her side. And seeing the situation in reality, her pain was beyond imagination, and Benny’s worries grew day by day. 

“Don’t worry, Benny, I love my family.”

“…”

“But I love myself just as much. I would never do anything that would cause Benny to worry. I swear by the name of the Rose.”

The Rose family used the expression ‘by the name of the Rose’ when swearing with everything. Although they were poor nobles, it was also a sign that they loved and cared for each other. 

After hearing Eliana’s words, Benny sighed and continued. 

“I also swear by the name of the Rose.”

“….”

“I will risk my everything to protect you from death.”

Benny’s promise was firm. Eliana looked at her like that and smiled. Eliana was confident. She will make more people swear allegiance to her in the name of the Rose.