The Stepmother Loves Harems - Chapter 35

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***

Karman’s dance skills were neat and accurate. All Eliana had to do was follow his lead. Karman continued while holding Eliana.

“Eliana. I don’t want to ruin my fourth marriage.”

“What do you mean ruin?”

Eliana said as they gently made their way to the center of the banquet hall. Eliana Rose was truly the center and the flower of today’s ball. Karman said, pulling the beautifully moving Eliana towards him.

“You’re a smart woman. The Hunter family needs a woman like you.”

“So? If I am, then what are you going to do? After all, the real baroness has been decided anyway.”

“…….”

A smooth turn.

Eliana returned to Karman’s arms after sending lovely gazes to the people her eyes met. Before Karman could answer, Eliana spoke without a smile.

“Are you going to adopt me this time?”

“Don’t mock me.”

“I’m not mocking you, I’m serious. I don’t want to go from being your wife to your daughter.”

Eliana smiled and stroked Karman’s arm. Karman bit his lip then released it as he watched her act differently from her tone.

“What if I don’t divorce you?”

“What are you going to do about Sharchen?”

“I’ll think about that later.”

“Isn’t that the most pressing matter? Two wives in one family. You’re too greedy.”

Lightly slapping Karman’s chest with her hand, Eliana gestured as if she had heard something funny. If anyone saw it, they would think that she heard a funny joke while dancing. However, the conversation between the two was serious and heavy.

Eliana didn’t want Karman’s mind to change so bluntly. It was also very sudden. Just until recently, Karman would often yell whenever he saw her.

‘In the end, is jealousy truly one of the most powerful ways to take a man’s heart? This man is so immature, so immature.’

Perhaps it was for political purposes. Compared to Sharchen, Eliana was faster in calculations. If Karman took advantage of her, he would only benefit and suffer no damage. Is that what Karman is aiming for? However, that is much too complicated and he probably was just stubbornly approaching her.

Eliana looked up at Karman as she moved her body to the beat. She could hardly tell what he was thinking.

Eliana brought her face closer to him on purpose. Karman could not quickly dodge and his expression stiffened. With a distance where their noses could almost touch, Eliana tilted her head.

“I don’t know what sort of trickery you’re trying to pull, darling.”

“Get away.”

“Why? Are you afraid that I might kiss you?”

“…Eliana.”

Karman scolded her in a low voice but Eliana responded with a dazzling smile.

“Well, it’s not like I’m not a woman at all.”

Karman’s face turned red. He was clearly flustered and it was evident that he was at a loss of what to do. At least it wasn’t the wooden block attitude he had shown her on the first night.

But was this a good sign for Eliana? If she were to be asked that question, her answer would be no.

Eliana could feel that he was holding her waist gently, but also cautiously. Like his mere grasp would break her. With this, Eliana didn’t find much attraction to Karman, who could neither embrace her tightly nor kiss her passionately.

Nevertheless, she was still disappointed at the fact that even in this brief moment, he did not have the backbone to show interest in her. She also felt pity for the wicked Sharchen.

A woman who had to welcome three stepmothers and become a foster daughter to a man like this for the rest of her life.

Eliana didn’t really know what love was. She had no idea how great a devotion it was made of. She could only reckon that there was something passionate that was unlike the affection between family.

However, at least for Eliana, love for a lover could never be more passionate than her love for her family. No man had ever made Eliana fret, and she couldn’t afford to.

It would probably be the same in the future. Until the Rose family could stand up, love was a luxury to Eliana. Eliana, finishing the last turn, said as she hugged him.

“Karman. Don’t become a coward who betrays love.”

“Do you even know what that means?”

“Of course.”

Eliana laughed and moved away from him. The song was over. Eliana greeted him politely then called him from a reasonable distance.

“Karman.”

Eliana and Karman’s eyes met.

“Don’t fall for me. At the very least, you don’t deserve to.”

And with the most charming smile in the world, Eliana stepped away. Those who did not dance applauded and cheered, and Eliana greeted them brightly then vanished into the crowd. Watching the hem of her dress disappear with a rustling sound, Karman let out a low sigh.

***

Eliana headed towards the open terrace in the direction of the garden. It was so she could catch her breath before meeting Madam Seamus.

It was purely coincidental that she learned of Jackson Seamus. It was because he wanted to find out about Eliana first. He had subtly looked into her. This was due to Pepe, who was on the verge of being fired, and the Baron’s administrative authority that would be transferred to Eliana.

Rather than being intrigued by the promiscuous rumors about Eliana, he seemed to covet the Baron’s fortune that Eliana was going to hold. Eliana deliberately gave him information about herself and therefore learned a little more about Jackson Seamus. Jackson Seamus was the kind who had frequent meetings with wives who had a little more money.

The jealous Madam Daisy Seamus did not know of his manipulative behavior. That was why she exploded when she heard that he had ties to Eliana, who was at the peak of licentious rumors.

‘If it were another wife, she wouldn’t have attacked them so publicly.’

It was only possible because it was Eliana. There were bad rumors around her and her family was in decline. She screamed because she thought she was right.

But who she really wanted to attack was her husband. She wanted to tell him to return to her and to strongly protest his wandering outside.

“But why are you taking it out on me?”

Eliana hated this kind of disregard, no matter how bad the rumors about her were. And as she thought about ensuring that she apologizes to her before handing over the information about Baron Jackson, the wind blew. Eliana closed her eyes in the cool breeze. She wanted to relax for a little while.

“Who the hell are you?”

Hearing the voice filled with frustration, Eliana opened her eyes. It was Jedia Teneb. Eliana turned her body halfway and looked at Jedia.

“What do you mean?”

“With your own hands, you shook the people and the banquet hall in its entirety. People may not have noticed, but they’ve all started acting like puppets under your plans. All too willingly.”

Jedia raised his glasses once. Eliana leaned her hand on the terrace and said.

“What about it?”

“Pardon?”

Jedia said dumbfoundedly. Eliana said with a soft smile.

“I didn’t approach each one of them and ask them to do it, doesn’t it look like it just happened like that? Jedia, I’m not an outstanding man like you. I’m just a lady who entered the aristocratic society for the first time today.”

“…….”

“It’s not right for you to question me as if your assumptions were the truth. Haven’t you thought that that could be thoroughly insulting to me?”

“You’re trying to turn me into a discourteous person.”

‘It’s like I’m talking to a wall.’

Eliana felt stifled. Jedia inherited his conservative and vigilant attitude from his father. Even in the Ministry of Finance, they said that the only time he causes trouble is when he runs into something that doesn’t fit his principles. She had been expecting this to an extent from the moment she heard that, but she never thought that it would be this frustrating.

Eliana forcibly swallowed the negative feelings that she was about to vomit from inside, and continued with a smile.

“People with strict standards sometimes break. Since they have no flexibility. Jedia is just like that right now. Is it strange if I’m not someone who meets your standards?”

“…….”

“Then I must be a strange person to Jedia. Didn’t you say that my approaching your mother was uncomfortable? Alright. Then I won’t go to the Duchess of Teneb first.”

“Why are you suddenly listening so well…?”

Jedia asked, as if she were up to something again. Eliana had no intention of the sort. She just said it so that Jedia’s first impression of her would not end badly.

But when he said it that way, her feelings changed. What am I up to? Would you look at this guy. She altered her intentions.

“Of course, I can’t just say it for nothing.”

“I thought so.”

“Pff.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“A man such as yourself is so transparent.”

“I think we both are.”

“I see. Then let’s not pointlessly waste our energies and just say it, shall we? What we both want?”

Eliana’s demeanor was leisurely all the way through. Jedia wanted to make her feel uncomfortable with the conversation she was being dragged into, but even that hurt his pride. He bit his lips then continued as he let go.

“Good. Say what you want. Let’s hear how ridiculous it is.”

“I won’t tell you if you just want to hear it.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you if you’ll listen. If you’re just curious, walk.”

“…….”

“The chips you have.”

Eliana spoke like a dealer running a gambling game. Jedia’s brows furrowed at her bright smile.