The Predator’s Contract Partner

He seemed to be having fun just imagining it. She blinked.

“… … What do you really want? I’m not used to this.”

“Don’t do anything suspicious. Keep my collateral safe. Listen carefully.”

“… … .”

“Elisha, that’s enough for me.”

Lucerne smoothed out her neckline with satisfaction.

“You can do better in the future, right?”

Elisha nodded her head slightly. That was the easiest thing to do as long as she was his possession. She thought, ignoring the strange discomfort that passed by.

“Alright.”

Lucerne said.

“Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

Lucerne looked into Elisha’s eyes and whispered. His eyes were full of quietly hidden possessiveness.

Elisha didn’t know why those words sounded like a strangely ominous warning.

***

While spending the summer at the Duchy of Cartier. The Head freely bestowed money. Unexpected profit discreetly fell on Elisha as well.

‘The property is only meaningful if I can divorce safely.’

Elisha thought indifferently.

If Lucerne demanded a large amount of alimony and said there was a disqualification in the contract, all of her assets would be taken away. Elisha flipped her hair.

Now, in front of Elisha was Mimosa, covered in sweat and giving off a foul odor. She sat at a table and slowly prepared tea. And she leisurely opened her mouth.

“How is it, Mimosa? Is the stable work worth doing?”

“It’s so hard. Do we have to go this far?”

“You know the lord, Mimosa. Your and Pansy’s lives depend on it. How many times have I told you that if I were to bring you out, there needs to be a justification?”

Elisha answered leisurely.

‘I can’t work at the laundromat. It where vulgar collateral, those bitches, used to do. When are you going to take me out?’

‘Gosh. If it’s that hard, I’ll give you another job.’

Not long ago, Mimosa complained to Elisha that she couldn’t work in the laundry anymore. So she took her out of the laundry, and Mimosa’s job was cleaning the stables.

Two out of three times, Elisha gave Mimosa the harsh task of cleaning the stables. But one time, she just sent her back without doing anything.

‘Compared to what I went through, I’m being generous. I remember celebrating when I thought I was being treated well because at least I could eat properly.’

Elisha suddenly remembered an incident from her past life. Mimosa also had a long history of bad blood. The most representative one among them is… … .

‘Mimosa, this bitch seduced Jacob. You’re the bitch who’s harassing Carola, so you should get scolded!’

It was during her previous life when Elisha had just started working for Jacob. One day, Carola came in accompanied by her maids, pounced on her, and poured an unknown liquid on her face. She said it was some kind of magic poison.

The poison burned Elisha’s cheek and left her with a burn scar.

‘Carola. Do not worry. I’ll chid this bitch!’

At that time, it was Mimosa who poured the liquid on Elisha’s face. She then kicked her several times as she rolled on the floor in pain.

‘I could make Mimosa’s face the same. But is it worth it?’

Perhaps if Mimosa had known what had happened in her past life, she would have been grateful to Elisha for not retaliating more severely.

She didn’t care if Mimosa exploded after tormenting her. If Mimosa does something stupid, she can use that as an excuse to clean up the mess.

But she found human psychology truly strange. She acted as if she had some kind of loyalty to her these days. She noticed her thoughts and offered information she didn’t ask for.

This was because Mimosa and Pansy were slowly regaining their positions to the point where they could move around freely in the Dukedom.

“I have something to report to you. Pansy keeps visiting Carola. Plus, where did she get the money? She must have coaxed the knight guarding Carola with gold coins. It seems like she secretly brings Carola food too… … . Anyway, Pansy is strange these days. Her eyes are blank, as if she’s lost her mind,”

Mimosa said, looking at her.

“Shall I watch her more closely?”

Elisha paused at those words. Soon, she shook her head.

“Just leave it. Don’t do anything.”

“Yes?”

“Pansy must be having a hard time these days. She needs the space to breathe like that.”

“… … .”

Elisha ignored Mimosa’s puzzled expression and tilted her teacup.

The rose tea, the pride of the Duke family, was excellent.

‘I guess Carola’s patience was slowly running out.’

By now, Carola would be going crazy with resentment.

‘And it looks like Carola’s family is continuing to try to negotiate.’

Plus, Jacob would be coming back soon. She heard that Jacob asked several times if Carola was still alive.

Bad ingredients were provided. Herbal medicine monopoly. Carola is still barely able to maintain her sanity. And Jacob, who was still a little bit angry at Carola.

For Jacob, Carola was his third wife. He took his first wife before she came of age, and she died an unfortunate death. His second wife also did not last long.

For a man like Jacob, women were expendable. However, Carola was a little different. They were a couple who were also partners with the same goal.

So Jacob could have persuaded the Head to release Carola. Then, Gaju would have the justification for releasing Carola since he secretly coveted the right to supply the herbs. Elisha was well aware of what they were going to do.

‘Carola is a nuisance. I hope she doesn’t come out.’

Lucerne also said it.

‘Now it’s war.’

At the same time, Rosaria’s words also came to mind.

‘The best soldier does not win a war; it is to prevent the root of war.’

Elisha lazily turned the pages of the book in front of her. It was a strategy book written by Rosaria. When she was in the capital, she met Rosaria a couple of times and got some advice from her. Other than that, she was sad that she couldn’t take more classes. But Rosaria will praise her. Because Elisha was implementing her teachings well.