In fact, even if it were true that Elaine was trying to seduce L’Arch, it was something to be laughed at and passed over. As long as L’Arch doesn’t fall for it.
And until now, L’Arch had been a cold-hearted man who ignored not only Elaine but also Lorina and other girls.
‘But something has definitely changed since the end of last year.’
It all started when L’Arch suggested that Elaine not work as a maid.
At that time, Rubaine thought it was just because the maids’ habits had worsened, so he accepted L’Arch’s suggestion.
However, L’Arch didn’t stop there and continued to express opinions about Elaine’s treatment, such as asking him to make clothes for Elaine and starting Elaine’s education.
Then, he finally ended up saying, “Elaine is my property.”
And now, listening to Lorina’s story, it seems that Elaine also realizes L’Arch’s usefulness and is trying to use him.
‘She is a little smart….’
Rubaine gritted his teeth.
“Lorina. I don’t want you to talk about this anywhere else, I don’t need to tell you why, right?”
“Of course, Count. If I had planned to go somewhere else and spread the word, why would I have come straight to the Count?”
“Okay, thank you. And you don’t have to worry too much about Elaine.”
“Yes?”
“That girl will never get involved with L’Arch. I have never thought of anyone other than you, Lorina, as my daughter-in-law.”
At those words, Lorina blushed again and averted her gaze. An uncontrollable smile bloomed shyly at the corner of her mouth.
Rubaine looked at the scene happily and thought that it was a wise decision to completely separate Elaine from L’Arch.
And the next day, Rubaine called his wife and L’Arch.
“This year, we need to select a saint from our family. You know that, right?”
“huft…Damon still seems like a child, and I’m too worried to separate him from us.”
The Countess drooped her eyebrows as if she would shed tears at any moment. But L’Arch seemed unimpressed as if he was being told the obvious.
Seeing the look on L’Arch’s face, Rubaine cleared his throat and declared.
“Damon is not the one joining the temple as a saint. I’m thinking of sending Elaine.”
“What? Really?”
“What?”
This time, the mood between the Countess and L’Arch changed to the opposite. The countess’s complexion was colored with surprise and joy,
but L’Arch’s eyebrows were deeply frowned.
“What do you mean by that all of a sudden? You’re sending Elaine away, leaving Damon, who’s perfectly fine?”
“Well, as your mother said earlier, Damon is a little late for his age. He’s still a child.”
“Late? It’s not an outstanding level, but it’s a normal level.”
Then this time the Countess came forward and scolded L’Arch.
“L’Arch! Damon is still young. Can’t you take pity on your younger brother?”
“Isn’t he only one year older than Elaine?”
“Elaine, she’ll take care of herself! “Why are you so upset about not being able to take care of Elaine?”
“I’m not saying I need to take care of Elaine, but we need to make sure Martin and Damon do their ‘duties.’ Just think what I did when I was their age!”
The countess kept quiet as if she had nothing to say at L’Arch, who had been a dignified and intelligent successor since he was young.
Rubain thought he should end the argument before L’Arch protested further, so he deliberately spoke in a louder voice.
“Hmm! Well, anyway, we decided to send Elaine, so you know that. I just finished talking with the high priest of the Temple.”
Rubaine tried to suppress L’Arch’s dissatisfaction by talking about the authority of the head of the family whenever possible.
However, L’Arch gave up surprisingly quickly.
“If that’s what father thinks, there’s nothing I can do. However, if you do that, you will have to give up the connections you will make within the temple. Who will join Elaine in the temple?”
“Are we such an unremarkable family that we have to rely on connections made among children?”
“Hmm…so, you’re saying that you sent Elaine to the temple and don’t want to worry about her anymore?”
In response to that question, Rubaine just cleared his throat.
Even though that was how he felt, Rubaine himself knew that admitting it was an act of no conscience.
Meanwhile, L’Arch was a little annoyed by his father’s decision, but he quickly changed his mind.
‘Well, Martin and Ellie will continue to mistreat Elaine if she stays in this house anyway, and father may try to sell Elaine somewhere. It would be better to leave her in the temple until I gain power.’
It was perfectly natural for L’Arch to think that Elaine belonged to him, but strangely, ever since he’d made that statement, he’d felt as if his father, Count Newt, cared more about her.
It wouldn’t matter if it was beneficial to L’Arch, but the problem was that it didn’t seem to be that way.
“Anyway, I understand. But please promise me one thing.”
“Promise?”
“From now on, please leave the management of Elaine’s life and her future after leaving the temple to me. I don’t mean to just hand over Elaine to be the second wife or mistress of such a family.”
“What, what do you mean? Then what are you going to do?”
“Why are you so surprised? Of course, I need to raise her much better than she is now and bring her a better man. In our family, Elaine is someone we cannot afford to waste.”
“Ah, that’s right. hahaha!”
L’Arch looked strangely at his father, who looked somewhat nervous and anxious, and then stood up.
Rubaine spoke to L’Arch indifferently.
“Oh, and the Count Dardil family contacted me saying that he would like to hold an engagement ceremony for you and Lorina before the saints’ initiation ceremony.”
“Why was there a condition that it had to take place before the saints’ initiation ceremony?”
TL: Initiation is the action of admitting someone into a society or group, typically with a ritual.
“I heard Lorina also joined this time. Her sister was originally scheduled to enter the temple but a cold she’s had since late fall turned into pneumonia. Tsk.”
TL: Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
Even if the pneumonia was completely cured, it would have been difficult to send the child, who was in poor health, to the temple.
L’Arch nodded.
“Tell him to proceed as he pleases.”
Rubaine was greatly relieved to see L’Arch accepting the engagement without any hesitation.
‘Yes, that guy is not the kind of guy who would forget his position just because of Elaine. I guess I was a little sensitive.’
Contrary to his worries, everything went as planned.
The temple decided to accept the nephew, not the direct line of Count Newt, as a saint, and there was not much opposition from L’Arch to send Elaine to the temple, and his engagement to Count Dardil’s daughter will take place soon.
Rubaine left the room feeling much more at ease.
* * *
About a month before the saints’ initiation ceremony, Elaine was suddenly notified to attend a dinner.
She was puzzled, but after considering the date, she nodded.
“I guess they’re going to say they’re sending me to the temple today.”
[I guess it was like this in your past life too?]
“Yes.”
Elaine smiled as she recalled the day of her previous life when her opinion was not reflected at all.
‘This was because it reminded me of Rubaine, who seemed to be doing me some great favor, even though it was the same as kicking me out of the house.’
And this time, it was almost exactly the same.
“Elaine. We have decided to send you to the temple as a member of our family. Normally, it would be impossible because of your origin, but I am making a special effort to send you to the temple….”
“Yes, I understand.”
Elaine didn’t want to hear any more of that, so she quickly answered that she knew.
“Go to the temple and devote yourself to prayer and service with the mindset of washing away the original sin of you and your mother.”
It was better to be called rude than to hear such deceitful words again.
However, Rubaine narrowed his eyes and looked at Elaine, probably surprised that she accepted this news calmly, and then asked.
“Did you understand what I just said correctly?”
“yes. You’re saying that this time’s Newt saint is me, not Damon, right?”
“Yeah, that’s true, but….”
“I guess I’ll have to pack my things soon. Oh, by the way, I understand that there are some items that I need to prepare personally in addition to those provided by the temple. I also need to have a luggage bag. I think I have to go to the store downtown and buy it, but I don’t have the money.”
Everyone in the Newt family looked at Elaine blankly, at a loss for words for a moment, seeing Elaine start thinking about packing her things without even asking why she was joining the temple as a saint instead of Damon.
Among them, L’Arch was the first to come to his senses.
“I also have business in town this Thursday, so let’s go out and buy it together.”
“Do we really have to go together?”
“So, who do you think would entrust their wallet to you?”
L’Arch reacted sharply and ignored Elaine’s sharp refusal.
It looked quite different from Lorina’s story about Elaine seducing L’Arch.
‘Rather, it feels like that girl, Elaine, is avoiding L’Arch.…’
Rubaine quickly rolled his eyes and looked between L’Arch and Elaine.
Even now, Elaine looked uncomfortable with L’Arch, and although L’Arch feigned indifference, he sometimes sent cold and deep gazes toward Elaine.
‘Anyway, sending Elaine to the temple is the best option. L’Arch will also make up his mind if he can’t see Elaine. He’s getting engaged soon.’
Rubaine thought simply, completely forgetting his past of being obsessed with Mariel even though he had a wife and children.
Meanwhile, Elaine was not happy at all about the unexpected situation.
Unlike her previous life, when she heard the news that she was joining the temple as a believer instead of Damon, she was so confused that she couldn’t say anything, but now she was happy to ask them to buy her the things she needed.
‘But why did L’Arch get involved in that?’
‘I expected my uncle or aunt to stop L’Arch, but they just showed a slightly subtle expression and didn’t oppose L’Arch’s opinion.’
Rather, Martin, Damon, and Ellie seemed more surprised.
‘Anyway, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to buy the things I needed. In my past life, I didn’t prepare properly and ended up in difficult situations from the beginning.’
* * *
