Chapter 30


    Carynne had fun making a scene out of showing Toms severe wounds. As she recalled the events of the previous day, she inwardly felt a little better.


    <i>Look at this.</i>


    <i>Bleurgh.</i>


    Ise retched.


    Resisting the urge to giggle, Carynne continued her little theater y, forcibly opening Toms mouth.


    <i>This was done by the vigers.</i>


    <i>Thats a bit</i>


    <i>Harsh.</i>


    <i>This is nothing. From head to toe, theres nothing left unscathed.</i>


    Carynne showed the sores in his mouth and his palms, then the wounds on his back. Tom wanted to scream, but he had no choice but to endure it all because he knew that no one here was on his side. Even if Carynne went as far as taking off his clothes, no one here would sympathize with him.


    <i>Ah.</i>


    No one here who would protect him.


    He was quick to pick up on things like these, and realizing this fact, Tom was filled with despair. No one felt sorry for him. The feelings directed toward him were limited to a slight revulsion, anger, and curiosity. In a position like this, he couldnt even garner any pity.


    Pressing hard against Toms twitching open mouth, Carynne looked at the fief lord.


    <i>Father, I wish to show generosity not as the Fief Lords daughter, but as the victim of the incident. I hope for a better future with forgiveness.</i>


    At Carynnes appeal, the fief lord snorted.


    <i>Stop that. Just let him be treated and send him back.</i>


    <i>This child is an orphan. In the end, its either the parish wholl take the child or Father should. Why dont you take action?</i>


    Verdic sided with the lord.


    <i>Miss Hare, there were no documents received. Let the parish take him in. Again, I must tell you that it wouldnt bode well to keep your enemies so close to you.</i>


    <i>An enemy? A child who doesnt even know how to fill out the papers? Who else would help this nine-year-old child thats been left alone? Look at his condition. Its only been a few days, but hes already be like this.</i>


    Shut it. Stay still. Carynne held Toms quivering shoulder. Tom opened his mouth a few times, but the only thing he could utter were groans and hah.


    <i>Will he be able to speak again?</i>


    At Carynnes question, Tom looked towards Dun with a pleading gaze. Reverend, please find out. Please, take a look. Please, at least say that I can speak again.


    But Dun didnt even nce at Tom.


    <i>Impossible. Not for the rest of his life.</i>


    <i>Thank you.</i>


    Tom was anguished.


    Carynne was satisfied.


    * * *


    Its quite charming to have apanion who couldnt talk. He was illiterate so he couldnt write. He couldnt speak either, and he had a short lifespan. This was the best.


    Carynne liked it because it seemed like she made a pretty good choice. Even when his body was in such a state, a boy was a boy, so he couldnt y the role of a maid. However, since he was still young, it was easy to have him apany her everywhere, and it was also easy to handle him because he was ill.


    Then, a few dayster, the body was gone. Carynne was not surprised. This time, it was Toms role to be surprised.


    Well look at this. As expected, right?


    The corpse disappeared again. Carynne pointed to the empty firece.


    Certainly, Thomas and Miss or Mister A, whose name we dont know, were both here. Ah, I can guess who it is.


    Its only been a day. Two corpses that had been here all day yesterday had vanished. Carynne left the door slightly ajar on purpose for this. However, there was no one at all talking about any dead bodies. Whoever did it, they were keeping it all hush-hush.


    Oh my god!


    <i>ck, </i>she pped once.


    The corpse is gone!


    Are you telling me tough? Tom tried to pull the corners of his lips up against his will.


    Ah


    Tom opened his mouth but his expression soon distorted in pain. There were holes in the roof of his mouth and his tongue. The most severe of his injuries was the swelling of his throat because of an infection. His breath was horrible because of the pus, so when Tom opened his mouth, Carynne covered her nose to block the stench.


    Dont talk. Just nod or shake your head.


    Tom nodded. The corpse of his dead father, which had already disappeared, was not important to him. All Tom could do was move his head, but even a reaction this small was enough made Carynne delighted. Just so her self would not copse, she needed someone to talk to.


    As she kept thinking about her ns to murder, she slowly felt that she was reaching her limit. There was only so much she could think while only repeating her thoughts to herself. She was talking to herself too much. There were many things to organize while shed talk about it, and for that, she needed a listener.


    Even <i>this</i> was still close to just talking to herself, but having someone actively responding in front of her was helping her a lot with sorting her thoughts.


    Carynne quite liked this boy who listened to her.


    This is what I think.


    Carynne picked up a piece of charred wood and drew on the floor.


    Well, its just a guess. Mmh I might be wrong.


    She felt her ears turning bright red. What if she got it all wrong? Having someone listen to her made her feel self-conscious and tense. But still, it was fun to y detective.


    Look here. The house is L-shaped, so the longer side that faces the south is the main wing, and from the fourth floor, itsposed entirely of bedrooms. The guest rooms are over here. Ises room is here, too.


    Even though her own room was on the same floor, her room was separated like this. Carynne shifted her gaze and focused on something thats far away. Arge mansion lined with simr rooms was scary enough in itself, but since the incident with Nancy, Ise had never experienced anything horrendous before. Thats why its unlikely that she hallucinated that night. Her testimony about seeing Nancy must be true.


    My room is a little far from here, and then the maids quarters are in the west wing The third room in the west wing is the servants quarters, and your room will probably be there. Mister Dane, the horseman, lives there, too. Anyway, its quite far away. So, after I killed Nancy What are you so surprised about?


    With his eyes wide open Tom made weird sounds again. In order to shut him up, Carynne had to raise the wooden poker.


    I have a bit of experience killing people. Mm, anyway, I brought her to this room over here to surprise Ise. After I gave her some paralyzing medicine, I strangled her.


    Toms body trembled. If his mouth hadnt been riddled with burnsif he could have been able tomunicate with anyone at allCarynne might have already nonchntly killed him. At first, Tom thought that Carynne didnt kill him because of sympathy, but within a few days of knowing her, he realized just how nave he was.


    This nobledy was crazy. Through and through.


    Carynne pleasantly recounted the murder she hadmitted step by step. Tom tried to pull himself back together so that he could concentrate on her words.


    I left Nancy in that room around four in the afternoon. It was about ten in the evening, on the dot, when Ise discovered the corpse. Theres plenty of time for someone toe in and cut off the head from its body But the person who could have done that <i>should</i> know what time the maids break time is. The only time that hallwayspletely empty is about half an hour. I already used up that time. That means, after that time, the servants would continuously being and going that hallway.


    She grabbed another piece of wood and drew a string of people with it. Then, she drew a line over the hallway diagram.


    At around midnight, I heard Ise running through the hallway, so I was waiting for her and went out. And didnt we go to the room together? Though she did change her stained clothes first. That was about ten minutesin total. Its impossible for anyone to clean up the corpse and avoid the eyes of the passing servants.


    Carynne was having fun.


    Tom watched Carynnes sparkling eyes. She looked so thrilled and delighted. A smile lingered on her lips and her voice was light, so he thought that he should also smile. Thats why he did. Because he thought that it would be less frightening.


    His smile didnt look natural, but that didnt matter. Whatever expression Tom had on his face, Carynne continued to smile just as she did.