Chapter 42.2
The Predator’s Contract Partner
âIt doesnât do him justice.â
âRigh⦠t.â
Lapis was relieved when Elisha seemed fine.
âDid you think Iâd feel bad seeing this?â
âWell⦠Thatâs right. The General is already married, but I donât know why heâs having an affair with the princess. Anyway, everyone is stupid.â
Lapis grumbled. Elisha smiled quietly.
âWhatâs wrong with this? Everyone likes them because they look good together and get along well.â
ââ¦Madam is weird sometimes.â
âWhat?â
âWhy, when I see those childish young maids, they laugh and gossip over small things every day. Honestly, even if I think from a male and female way* [*from a love/relationship point of view], I would have felt bad about this article.â
âBecause Iâm not young. Besides, I donât like wasting emotions. I know well that my husband doesnât commit adultery with the princess. But, even if he does, I canât help it.â
Does the madam not like Lucerne? Lapis became curious.
âIndeed, that guy⦠it must be because youâre an awful bastard.â
Lapis felt a little sorry for Elisha, but she seemed to have forgotten about it already.
âMay I peel a peach for you?â
âYes!â
Then there was the sound of the door opening. Elisha raised her head while holding the knife; Lucerne was standing in the doorway. She was flustered.
âI canât believe the butler didnât even notify me that he was back.â
It was polite to greet and welcome her husband after a long absence. Elisha put down her knife.
âHuh?â
But Lucerne looked strangely offended and unhappy. His eyes were on Lapisâ apple slice.
***
As soon as Lucerne arrived home, he witnessed a bizarre sight.
âWelcome, General. Congratulations on your victory.â
Lucerne quietly returned home. The butler rushed out to greet him.
âYou donât know how surprised I was when you came home at dawn without a sound a few days ago. Are you back for good now?â
âNothing will happen for a while.â
The butler smiled. Lucerne walked into the house. When he had stopped by a few days ago, he hadnât even looked around the house because he was quietly entering the room. The servants he hadnât seen in a long time hurriedly bowed their backs.
âCongratulations on your victory.â
âCongratulations on your return, General.â
Lucerne greeted with a wink. Wait a minute⦠he looked around the house slowly. Something seemed to have changed.
âWas everything okay while I was gone?â
Lucerne asked. The butler replied,
âQuiteâ¦.. A lot has happened.â
The inside of the mansion was a little different.
Firstly, the maids and servants were wearing matching ensembles. Additionally, they all look new, very clean, and elegant. Finally, the paintings were properly arranged on the wall, and all the precious pieces were inside.
Fresh flowers were in the vase. After looking around for a long time, wondering what had changed, Lucerne realized: the mansion was clean.
âDid the servants clean the house?â
âYes, according to the ladyâs instructions.â
âIs that all she did?â
âItâsâ¦â
The butler spoke enthusiastically about what Elisha had done:
She improved the placement of household goods, organized the warehouses, and stored lists of expensive items that had been randomly placed. She fixed servantsâ shifts, relocated maids, created public laundry areas for clean clothes every day, and increased rest areas for employees.â¦.
It was a significant business reform.
âShe did that in two months?ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âTwo months and six days.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âGeneral, I donât know if I can ask you this.â
âWhat?â
âBy any chance⦠Where did you hire her?â [t1v: LAWLLL]
Lucerne halted in his steps in the doorway of his office.
âWhat do you mean?â
âSheâs soâ¦â¦.â
The butler said with moved eyes.
âSo perfect. I was wondering where the General had strategically recruited her. Iâve never beheld anyone so excellent at their job.â