Chapter 43

Chapter 43

There was once a time when I wondered if there was a secret to my own birth.

Its not something like being the Emperors illegitimate child, is it?

You catch on quick.

The uninteresting joke quickly softened the mood and was a good way to let go of the previous topic of the conversation.

Raymond wasnt the only one whos talented in that aspect. Carynne smiled and brought up the engagement.

After hearing that the Countess is coming, I feel a bit nervous.

I know what you mean.

Carynne contemplated, tapping her foot against the suitcase there. Its not just her birth. Raymond was handsome, cheeky and bothersome with the way he constantly butted into Carynnes businessstill as ever, still as ever.

Carynne brooded over those words. From what she could recall, the engagement had never progressed this fast. This development had been slower before. And the presence of the countess in this engagement ceremony was no different than a stamp on that marriage already.

I was aiming for you, Sir Raymond, but what a shame.

Haha, its a pity.

Its a young girls dream, so dont take what I said seriously, alright?

Dreams were meant to be broken. Just as water in a glass was meant to be downed.

Raymond was not a huge presence in Carynnes life right now. But Carynne felt a creeping displeasure.

Here she was, floundering in a sea of chaos in her own head as she had just shot someone to death, yet Raymond and Isella were having it easy with the oh so sweet worries of whether this marriage was something they really wanted or whether this would turn out to be nothing but a marriage of convenience.

Then would Raymond marry Isella? Somehow, Carynnes insides felt all twisted up. Clearly, it wasnt because she was jealous of how another woman had bagged a good man for herself.

If it was true that all this in the end was just a product of her madness, then she would need to plan for a bleak future aheadwhether shed die or whether shed go straight to jail.

And yet, they would just live happily ever after.

This was what she couldnt bear to envy. Carynne chewed the inside of her cheek. Seeing as how she loathed to genuinely bless the couple, she must be the villain then. With a bit of a screw loose.

* * *

Unexpectedly, Borwen led Carynne to the studyshe thought shed be incarcerated immediately. The gun was confiscated though, but that didnt seem like enough of a punishment.

The only order given to me is to protect you unconditionally.

So, how much are you being paid?

Youll be shocked when you hear it. The money being spent to protect you and support your endeavors is no joke.

Even though hes her father, Carynne knew very little about the fief lord in front of her. He was not an important character. Carynne chewed on her lower lip. An important character , huh. Perhaps this description would fit him now. And apart from that, whats important right now was something else.

Youve already heard about it, but right now, Im terribly confused, Father.

Her voice trembled a little. She cleared her throat. Truthfully, she wanted to grab her fathers throat right now and yell at him to spit out the truth. But she held it in. She had waited a long time before this. If she could do that much before, then she could compose herself and do it again.

Right Missus Deere is dead, he said.

Yes.

Carynnes heart was about to burst out of her chest. The fief lord didnt seem to be shocked by this. What was he thinking, she wondered. How far would he condone her. Who was she.

Right, yes of course. Ill have to contribute to her funeral expenses.

The fief lord rubbed the wrinkles around his eyes. Carynne saw sweat glistening from his hands. The temperature around them was much too cool for him to start sweating like that, so she could guess how he was feeling right now.

I know youve already heard from Borwen.

Stop changing the subject. Im the one who killed her.

For a moment, the bewildered fief lord opened and closed his mouth.

Why did you kill her?

I was in a bad mood.

Though insincere, she answered truthfully. Even if she tried to give a long drawn out reason, in the end, the root of the matter was simpleshe killed someone because that person made her mood sour, and that woman wasnt even a good opponent to kill.

If Borwen hadnt appeared and helped at that moment, then it would have been really difficult to deal with the aftermath.

Thats why I killed her.

And in this very instant, Deere was nothing but a stepping stonea key character.

Carynne wondered what the fief lord would say after this. Hearing his daughters answer, the fief lord quietly answered.

She was a tremendously meddlesome person, yes. She must have irritated you a lot.

What a poor excuse for her actions.

Carynne did not respond. Was he still somehow trying to protect her? Even now, right in front of her very eyes. She did not expect this kind of answer.

Itll be alright.

The fief lord placed his hand over his daughters shoulder and gripped heavily. Rather than encouraging Carynne, it seemed as if he was trying to comfort himself.