Chapter 10


    Come to think of it, why do you still y a harpsichord? Everyone ys the piano these days.


    Because of the difference in their timbre. And this one has been with me since I was young, so I just keep on ying on it.


    Actually, she wasnt ying the harpsichord for the sake of its timbre. The simple truth was that they couldnt buy a piano. Though her family didntck anything, they couldnt easily buy luxury goods.


    To put it more bluntly and more vulgarly, we couldnt buy such things because we dont have money.


    To maintain ss and decorum, it was best to leave it unsaid. Of course, Ise had a keen eye to notice this, however, she had no sense of consideration. No, she didnt even feel the need for it. No matter what, she wanted confirmation that she was better than Carynne.


    While touching the harpsichords keys, which looked different from a pianos, Ise asked.


    Hmm, should I give you a gift? Is it difficult for a harpsichord tuner toe all the way here in the mountains? When I listen to its timbre, the overall tone is a bit


    Its alright. Imfortable with this.


    Its incredible how she would utter rude things so casually. Carynne smiled as she looked at Ises face. Spending money and buying something for someone she hated, how leisurely she did things that werent at all supposed to be easy.


    However, the feelings of this old woman whos over a hundred years old wouldnt change just because of the minor mistakes a young girl would make. If she was going to do something more dangerous in the future, make the scalerger. This huge liar had a softplexion.


    Miss Evans, if youre feeling bored, lets walk around the fief.


    Ise agreed without any qualms.


    * * *


    Bowen, the attendant, carried their luggage and followed them from a distance. Ise wasnt very pleased that it was him waiting on them, a man. To be exact, she was conscious about the fact that it wasnt the maid that she hit, but Bowen instead.


    You know, about yesterday.


    Yes?


    I saw something scary.


    I see.


    That maid, you know, where is she? The ck maid.


    Hmm Ise, I think shes fully reflecting on her actions.


    No no, thats not it.


    She nervously cked her shoes together. Carynne answered in a worried voice.


    She asked for a vacation. She said she needed to take a break for a little while.


    Ah Thats a relief.


    Carynne pondered for a moment. Would it be better to ask her now or would it be better just to feign ignorance? Rationally speaking, the right choice was to bury the topic.


    Carynne chose Nancy for her first kill because the timing was just right, and even without the maid, she could continue on with her daily life without significantly affecting the novels future events. Even if Nancy disappeared, the overall plot of her going to Ises vi or her meeting Raymond would remain unchanged.


    So if she wouldnt ask Ise, she would just be able to proceed with her next killing without any difficulties.


    What did you see?


    Carynne instead chose to act curiously.


    I saw your maid with her head cut off at the neck.


    Pardon?


    So out of the blue, right? But as you saw, the bed was clean and the ne was there.


    Her neck?


    Yes. Now that I think about it, its ridiculous.


    Like this. <i>Shhk,</i> she pretended to cut herself on the neck.


    You must have seen it wrong.


    Its just really


    Thats weird. Carynne never cut her neck.


    Is she alright, that maid?


    How fun.


    * * *


    Ugh,


    I-I apologize.


    While Nancy was on her vacation, Donna, a young maid, was instead braiding Carynnes hair. Since she was only a year younger than Carynne, she was generally in the position to just learn about her work while doing small errands.


    Carynne was about to ask about when Nancy would return, but she soon sighed at her own forgetfulness and closed her lips. It was getting mixed up, time.


    Its fine. Wet the brush first.


    She couldnt believe that Donna, who had clumsy hands, was sent here. Thanks to that parasitic father-daughter duo, the servants seemed to have a lot more work to do. She was already missing Nancy.


    Were the negotiations with the Evans family ever this long? Its such a cumbersome period for Carynne as she already knew the ending anyway. If Evans were to pave the roads just as he pleased, many would rush in and the Hare estate wouldnt be able to handle all those people.


    Projects that usually took a decade to finish werepleted in mere months by Evans, and as he had already purchased the area surrounding the fief, he tried to collect taxes excessively. However, he failed in that department, so he went bankrupt and all the rights to the territory were handed back to the Hare family.


    One could suppose its because of his wickedness. Carynne closed her eyes.


    She didnt really feel any resentment towards Verdic Evansjust a sense of admiration at how fast his hands moved.


    Seventeen-year-old Carynne Hare. Thats how everyone saw her, but she was actually an old woman who had already lived through 100 years. Even so, she couldnt im that she knew all about the secret of how the world worked.


    Repeating the same time period at the age of seventeen, even a hundred times over, did not mean that she gained knowledge that would rival that of schrs whove made fantastic discoveries. And the problemy with innate ability, with milieu, with endeavor.


    She knew well enough about matters between men and women, however, business was a whole different thing. After decades of repeating the same events, shed attempted to stop her father and tried to sabotage the deal.


    But in the end, she found that the best method was to give this area away and waitter for Raymond so <i>he </i>could pressure Evans. So far, Carynne had been exacting vengeance in that manner. There was once a time when Evans tried to protect the Hare territory after receiving that pressure. Its worthless to do that in this life, but its still not so pleasant to think that what was once owned would be lost to another.


    How many people havee from the Evans household?


    Um Theres Verdic Evans and his daughter, Ise Evans. Then theres three specialists, two servants, one maid. Each of the three specialists also have one each of their own servants, and then there are two exclusive coachmen.


    Looks like your mouth has gotten better.


    Yes.


    It must be hard for you.


    Yes.


    Donna didnt hide her hostility. At that moment, Carynne felt a bit ufortable. Its awkward how Donna wasnt a maid from Raymonds mansion, nor was she Nancy, who cared for her like a mother would.


    Even if the Evans family was the one wholl upy this household, yes, this maid and the other servants were people of the Hare family. And of course, she was born and raised on thisnd.


    There are five people we have to wait on as guests of the family, so the work has increased threefold. Sleepes only less than three hours these days. Do you know just when on earth theyre going to leave, Lady?


    Im not sure. Me too, I hope theyll leave soon.


    Though they wouldnt disappear until they take over this household.


    As she soaked her face in cold water in a basin, she realized that another day had begun. Its still dark out. Carynne, who stayed up all night, was suffering from the weight of fatigue.


    The thought crossed her mind that she felt so tormented that she wanted to die, but she soon considered this notion to be funny. How extravagant it was for a murderer toin about being so tired that she wanted to die.


    Who was called to be Ises attendant?


    Its Sera.


    Donna replied with a very negative expression. Its fun to see her look like that.


    How is she?


    Whats the matter? Tell me honestly.


    When Carynne spoke with a small smile, the maid muttered with a pale face.


    Sheined that her meals didnt suit her taste.


    Hm.


    Thats actually a fact, and Carynne agreed with her on that. Because the roads were cumbersome, ingredients of high quality couldnte into the fief, and the greenery that did grow on thend were mostly ornamental trees, so theyre not good for eating.


    Apart from that, since the main livelihood of the territorys people was handicrafts rather than farming, not only themoners but even the fief lords family had a firm lifestyle of a simple diet. For a millionaires youngest daughter who was used to all kinds of luxurious delicacies, this ce was surely torturous.


    And she pped someone for not taking good care of her clothes.


    Goodness.


    Isnt she arrogant? After all, shes also just from the working ss like us.


    In the end, shes saying that Ise was like her, but she didnt like how the young woman was showing off.


    Carynne just smiled. Evans wanted to have the Hare household, and they wouldnt be able to stop him. What would it matter if they were to beughed at. Seeing how Carynne stayed silent, Donna realized how presumptuous she was being.


    I apologize. I went overboard.


    What for. In front of God, humans are, after all, not equal.


    Maybe.


    Eyy, of course everyones different even in front of God. Unlike me or Ise, Mdy holds a precious status.


    In the end, it was about status. Her family didnt even have great territories like dukes, counts, barons and such. Judging by the standards of this world, the Evans family held more influence than a considerable number of aristocrats, so it was absurd that Ise was beingpared to a maid like Donna. In terms of wealth, the Evans family was a few levels higher than the Hare family.


    While looking at Carynnes apathetic expression, she went ahead and emphasized the difference between Ise and Carynne.


    Even so! Youre different. Mdy has received Gods blessing.


    Was it because someone said Youll be the most blessed woman in the world when she was born? Carynne snorted. Why would anyone take such words seriously.