Chapter 19

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“Are you going to remarry Jedia Teneb?”

Helen’s voice trembled for a reason.

Jedia Teneb. He was the most promising figure in the royal treasury, and the eldest son who was terribly cherished by the Duchess of Teneb. It was Jedia Teneb, who said that there was no marriage if it was not related to the royal family.

“What if he falls in love with me at first sight and cries and clings desperately to me?”

“Uh… that could happen.”

Eliana said with a playful expression on her face. Helen sighed in relief when she realized she was joking. Eliana smiled and continued. 

“I am not in a position to decide to divorce. My family receives financial support from the Hunter family.”

“But he… ”

“Yes. He told me that the first night I was nothing.”

Eliana stared into the distance as if she remembered that night. In fact, she didn’t feel any emotions in her heart. She didn’t know Karman was such a crazy man. But in front of Helen, Eliana had to arouse her sympathy.

After pausing for a while, Eliana opened her eyes and said as if she had escaped from thoughts. 

“I don’t want to be left with nothing. Even if I can’t become Karman Hunter’s wife, I want to live a good life without being hurt. I want Helen to be like me.”

These words were sincere. Eliana felt sorry for the three women who suffered from their love for Karman. The two other women remarried, but Helen never went anywhere and still had a broken heart.

Karman Hunter was not responsible for anything. It was like it was unnecessary. He was cowardly and irresponsible from beginning to end. Eliana thought so.

However, she could not blindly blame him. Because he wouldn’t change. 

So she had to move on her own, more serious and active. She was planning to cross the threshold of one family and stand upright as the head of the Rose family. In the process, it didn’t matter if she was criticized for being wicked and benefited from men.

She would use them as a springboard to fulfill her ambitions, but she had no desire to marry any of them. Most of all, she didn’t want to divorce because of her problems with Karman. Responsibility for the breakup of this marriage had to be borne entirely by Karman Hunter and Sharchen. At least that was what she hoped for. That way there wouldn’t be a fifth victim. Eliana’s dream was clear and grand. For that, Helen’s help was desperately needed. She looked straight into Helen’s eyes with sincerity.

“Would you like to join me?” 

Helen had a timid personality. She licked her lips and spoke with courage.

“Can you give me some time to think?”

“Sure. Take all the time you need,” said Eliana, trying not to be impatient. 

Helen nodded her head several times and drank her tea.

Eliana opened her mouth in search of a topic to change the slightly heavier atmosphere.

“Ah, did the plants that Duchess Teneb gave as a gift grow well?”

“Some of them withered, but I did my best to save some of them. The flowers are really pretty. They are all precious plants from Conter. Ah! I have a flower I want to show you. Wait. I’ll bring it!”

Helen was happy again when talking about plants. Then, she walked first into the gorgeous garden.

Helen was a much sweeter person than Eliana had imagined. Eliana remembered the day when she was told the same cruel words like Helen experienced. Karman Hunter must have no idea of his crime.

Eliana swallowed a bitter smile. Then she looked at the beautiful trees and flowers towering high.

Gillian’s gaze, who returned from service in the army, stayed on Eliana’s profile for a long time. Gillian came to his senses and made a loud noise. Eliana then turned her head to look at Gillian.

“You came back early.”

“It was no big deal.”

“Helen went to get a flowerpot. I asked to see the precious flowers she received from Duchess Teneb.”

“You seem to have been better off without me.”

“It felt a bit empty. There was no laughter from Sir Gillian.”

Gillian’s gaze stopped again at Eliana Rose’s smiling face. He licked his lips and continued.

“It seems that your name is really Rose.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well…. That’s what it means.”

“It’s bland.”

Eliana shut her mouth as if not curious any more and took a bite of the cookie. Gillian’s gaze turned to her plump lips.

Although it has many thorns, it’s a beauty that dares to be called the queen of flowers. And that was Eliana.

Her elegant attitudes were seen with every move. Gillian could not feel that she had lived as hard as a commoner. As if she had been born with the fate of a rose.

“Brother, please hold this.”

Helen’s voice came from inside the garden. Then Gillian looked away from Eliana and hurried toward Helen. Eliana’s eyes, which seemed uninterested, stuck on Gillian’s back.

“Rose.”

After quietly reciting her surname, Eliana grinned. Thinking about the weight of a beautiful but painful name.

***

Eliana got out of the carriage on her way back to the Baron’s residence. She gave Helen a whole bag of presents, so there was no luggage.

Eliana and Benny walked lightly. It was to stop by the city for a while to buy accessories. It didn’t matter if it was a cheap necklace or earrings. Eliana originally had no valuables, and the more fake it was, the more gorgeous it was.

“If the price is cheap, I think I can pick up a few more. The butler said I could spend more to prepare for the party.”

“You never know when you will be capricious, but shall we use it to the fullest when we have it?”

Benny laughed at Eliana’s smile.

Butler Pepe had a particularly salty side to Eliana. She thought it would be the same for this social party, but as Karman gave him some instructions, he greatly increased the budget. Of course, even that was a far short amount compared to Sharchen, who used expensive clothes.

“I’d rather have pearls for earrings. Other gems are too fancy.”

“Yes. I think so too. It’s better to buy other jewelry, mainly small ones and make your dress sparkle. I don’t think the big ones can be cut precisely.”

“So please, Benny. I wish I could see it in person.”

Eliana couldn’t get into the fake jewelry store. It was because Eliana’s outfit was too beautiful and drew attention. People already knew that the woman wearing this outfit and makeup was the Hunter’s new stepmother and Baron’s wife already.

Eliana thought of Karman, who would run rampant on the road, figuring out that she had gone in and out of a fake jewelry store. She felt like she was going crazy thinking about it. Benny also waved her hands as if she was tired just thinking about it and continued.

“Because it is unavoidable. I’ll choose well.”

“I’ll trust Benny’s eyes. Then I’ll wait for you in front of the fountain.”

“Yes. I don’t know if people will let me in, so I’ll go around. If there’s anyone who tries to flirt with you, kick him. You know where I’m talking about, don’t you?”

“I’m sure of that.”

Eliana and Benny looked at each other and laughed. The fake jeweler was right inside the alley. Eliana broke up with Benny before entering the square. As if they weren’t together.

Eliana went to the front of the fountain, opened a fan, and half covered her face. It was fortunate that it was sunny. Eliana enjoyed the feeling of freedom she felt after a long time while looking at the clear sky. 

The wide Baron’s mansion was like a narrow cage to Eliana. She was barely breathing, but it would be a lie if she said she wasn’t stuffy. It was cramped like a corset tightening Eliana’s body. 

Eliana exhaled ‘whoo’ and watched the fountain where the water was dripping coolly. 

She once saw when tourists went to this fountain to toss their coins and made wishes. Late at night, she was in desperate need of coins and she fumbled around the cold fountain without a single lamp. It was a period when Eliana was still young to become a tutor and her learning was short. 

Recalling the red frozen hands, Eliana felt that a lot of time had passed. As she looked down at her hands covered in black gloves, a rumbling sound was heard from the right side of the square. A blonde man was being kicked out of the bar. He was pushed hard and rolled to the center of the square, but he quickly got up and sat down like a roly poly.

“Why are they hitting him?”

“He lost the game.”

“You must have cheated. You gambler b*stard!”

“How do you trick chess?” 

“You must have moved without me seeing you!”

“I have more than ten eyes to see, and they are all your gang!”

“So what! I will never give you money!”

The man’s rich blonde hair fluttered in the wind. His disarray hair was a subtle color between light brown and blonde. He was a young man who seemed to be the coolest person in the world just by looking at his back.

Eliana tried to take her eyes off him for fear of getting caught up in something, but for a moment something caught her eyes.

It was a clearly engraved pattern on the back of the man’s neck. The man quickly straightened his clothes, but it was after Eliana had already seen the mark. It was none other than a pattern representing the royalty of the neighboring country of Conter.