Chapter 51


    Ise was nervous about Carynne catching Raymonds interest. Even as they smiled andughed when theyre in front of each other, drew portraits and spent time together over tea, they were not friends.


    They werepetitors for the heart of one man, and also the victim and perpetrator in terms of their family businesses. Ise knew that at the very least.


    But why was she forcing Carynne to attend the ceremony? She obviously didnt want her to be there.


    Is this a request from Mister Verdic?


    The reason why Ise was asking for Carynnes attendance against her will must be because of her father. Hes the only one who could supersede Ises whims.


    No! Its <i>my</i> request. Be sure to attend my engagement ceremony.


    Ise shook her head and strongly denied it, but Carynne didnt believe her.


    Haa. I understand.


    Ise narrowed her eyes, waving her folding fan lightly. Sheughed inwardly.


    It would be great if Lord Dun can also attend my engagement ceremony.


    Ah, so thats what youre thinking?


    Carynne finally understood what shes getting at. She got it now. This wasnt Verdics idea at all, and at this, Carynne, too,ughed inwardly. This was a trick to keep Carynne away from Raymond.


    But what to do?


    Carynne replied with an exaggerated shrug.


    Mm, Im thinking of breaking off my engagement with Dun.


    I beg your pardon?


    It just turned out that way.


    Ises nose scrunched up <i>hard.</i> She looked ridiculous.


    B-By chance Have you found someone else you love?


    If Carynne were to say, Yes, its Sir Raymond, she wondered whether Ise would rip out her hair right here. But Carynne hadnt lost her mind that far just yet.


    Who knows.


    At the vague answer, Ises expression hardened with tension.


    Youre truly a bad person, arent you?


    How on earth did youe to this conclu


    You broke your promise!


    Dun agreed though?


    Whaaat?


    We were strangers when our parents decided to promise us to one another. Even now, we havent gotten to know each other that much yet.


    Carynne smiled as she told a bold-faced lie.


    Your father will immediately die from.


    If something like that happens, so what? If hes already dead.


    That wont happen. But you know, I also want to go out to the city like you. And Miss Ise, didnt you tell mest time that youll definitely take me there? To the opera house in the capital.


    Ise showed just now how much a persons face could change.


    See youter, Ise. I also need to get ready, you see.


    * * *


    The preparations to the dcor werepleted magnificently.


    I heard you werent feeling well, Raymond asked.


    Yes. Im still a little tired.


    Was it alright to lose to Ise once? You never know. Friendship could also be true love, or something like that.


    This was on Carynnes mind as she nced sideways at Ise. Of course, that wasnt the case right now.


    Carynne made an effort to look more pitiful today. She tightened her corset to make her face look paler, put on a powder that was lighter than the usual, dulled down the color of her lips, and put on a slightly darker shade under her eyes. This was all to create the perfect image of a sick person.


    But you looked fine in the morning


    Ises reaction was much too funny, and Carynne subsequently leaned back towards Raymond. Naturally, he coughed Carynne.


    <i>Cough, cough.</i>


    Are you alright?


    Of course, she was only faking her illness. At the other side, Dun gnashed his teeth while the look in his eyes made him seem like hes about to throw a fit.


    Carynne furtively punched the air at him. <i>Piss off.</i>


    Entering the hall with the fief lord in tow, Borwen made a promation.


    The Countess has arrived!


    Carynne approached her father and whispered quietly.


    Have you thought about what I said in the letter?


    The fief lords face turned as pale as ashes. Uncharacteristically, Carynne clung closer to her father.


    Didnt you read it?


    I read it. Ive also prepared for it But I dont understand what you want.


    The fief lord took off his hat and whispered back equally as quietly, waiting for the countess to enter. His fingertips were shaking minutely.


    Why do you want me dead?


    You really dont know why?


    Carynne asked with her eyes wide open. She replied to the fief lord as if she truly couldntprehend his question.


    The fief lord looked at Carynnes expression, which seemed to say, Shouldnt you die? Its a matter of course. It was difficult for him to imagine what his own face looked like right now. Even his voice was hoarse.


    Yes. I really dont know.


    Carynne stared dazedly at her fathers face, then stammered back.


    Um, ah, riiight. Im sorry. Im being so terribly inappropriate. This is all so familiar to me that I dont know what it sounds like to others Ummm, yes Right.


    She truly looked sorry. She apologized for the inhospitable nature of the letter when what she was asking for was his death. The fief lord tried to brush off the stray thought that came to mind, then he struggled to reply.


    I did all those things for you until now. How are you going to get by without me?


    I have a few reasons, but First of all, Father, I dont need your protection. As I told you before, what I want is not a safe bubble.


    Carynne was a little disappointed that the fief lord seemed to not understand. If she were to kill someone else and hed cover it up, didnt he think that the de would turn ande right back at her? Wasnt that how people were?


    What Carynne wanted was a change to her environment even greater than before. And hadnt killing Nancy changed this much? After suffering through a long drawn-out illness, the fief lord would die. Hes set to die anyway, so it wasnt so unreasonable to make him die earlier.


    Still, since the time of his death would be moved up, there surely would be changes in response to this. In many ways, he was a safe subject to observe.


    And thats not the only reason.


    More than anything, what I want to see is a confirmation of love.


    Carynnes face was full of innocence. She looked her age at that momentit was the face of a child asking a question towards her father out of curiosity, then listening patiently for the answer.


    So, the fief lord vacantly stared at that expression and asked back.


    Love?


    Yes.


    That, right now


    You still cant understand?


    However, instead of giving the answer outright, Carynne raised one finger over her lips.


    <i>Shh.</i>


    Father, Lady Elva has entered.


    Carynne interrupted him. The fief lord showed an anxious and ufortable expression right then, but what was there to do? Right now,pared to exining the reason why she was demanding her fathers death, work was more important.


    Carynne herself found the situation hrious, so she bit her lower lip and schooled her features. A mockingugh, a bitterugh, an explosiveugh. Whatever kind ofughter. Dont do that. Dontugh. Concentrate on work right now.


    Lady Elva Fitzgerald. With a face that looked as though it was carved out of marble, she spoke with a full voice andmanded over her husband, and she also had a very impulsive disposition. She imbibed the ambition of a noblewoman, to the point that she also pushed her weak-willed husband into politics. And, she was also excessively fond of gambling.


    Its been a while, Verdic Evans.


    Thank you for epting my request, Lady Elva Fitzgerald.


    With a loud <i>ck</i>, she opened her fan and cast down her gaze. Even if its true that the vacation spot she was in until recently was nearby, it was due to Verdics pressure that she came here.


    She had lost in a gamble a while back, and because of this, she had borrowed arge sum of money from Verdic. This also led to her being forced to arrange a meeting between Verdic and Count Fitzgerald.


    Better take that Verdic down a peg or twoter.


    The fief lord whispered quietly.


    Verdics station was lower than the fief lord, Carynne and Raymond altogether. However, Verdic was the first person that the countess greeted, while Verdic replied to her with only a nod. This didnt seem to please the fief lord.


    That means something to you, Father?


    Once youre dead, it all wouldnt matterbut Carynne didnt say this out loud.


    Raymond was much too close.


    How resolute.


    The fief lord smiled bitterly.


    Lets talk more about itter. About why I have to do that.


    Lady Elva moved on to the fief lord.


    Carynne smirked because as soon as Lady Elva walked past Verdic, her expression hardened.


    Isnt a debtors position easy, Madam?


    Its the first time Carynne was meeting the madam this early.