Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Looking at the fief lords sobbing face caused a subtle but strange stir within her. It wasnt a newfound surge of affection. Rather, it was a hint of unpleasantness and a dash of joy at seeing another person at their worst. And there was also a sigh of relief, as though saying, ah, you also cant do anything.

Carynne felt a little reassured about the fact that his supposition that love was the condition, that love was the answer, that absolute belief was the answer, was ultimately wrong just as she thought. Even so, there was a faint bitter taste lingering in her mouth that couldnt be removed by that reassurance.

What are you crying about? Smile, Father.

Carynne smiled instead of him. Are you sad? Are you frustrated with yourself? But you have to smile. Im smiling, too, see. And then youll have to smile in front of my predecessor who already went ahead to the next frontier. This is the extent of loves answer, just as Mother said.

Father, you dont believe Mother. You just used Mother as an excuse. If you really believed her, you wouldnt have hesitated. You know, seriously, if you believed even a word of it, then why have you not died? Theres no reason for you not to die, right? Isnt this world without your love all black and white already? Isnt it all meaningless?

Right? Isnt that how love is supposed to be? If not, then its just so unfair.

At the very least, if I, if Mother, if even many more women out there are meant to feel love to the extent of dying for it, then shouldnt it be reciprocated by that much? Shouldnt you love her that much, too?Reêad latest novels at novelhall.com

Catherine I

He could no longer say the words I love you.

Thats what I thought.

Carynne touched his hand lightly and closed her eyes.

You said its unconditional, that kind of emotion. Mmh. Alright. Ill tell you what I think. Father, Father, listen to me.

She twirled around in a dance and gently pointed at the portrait.

First of all, I would like to express my thanks to both Father and Mother for giving me hope. Thank you. Mother also went through this strange phenomenon of dying and coming back to life in the same novel, but she solved it in the end. Ive been given hope. Wonderful. How promising.

Then, she continued.

It seems like I dont need any love.

Even with a frowning face, its possible to smile.

The fief lord still had that noose around his neck. He continued to clutch onto the rope with trembling hands. Carynne sighed and then told him.

If you cant even kill yourself, just come down from there. Your neck must hurt.

NNo, no. I believe.

The fief lord answered urgently. However, in the end, he still couldnt kick the chair from under him. Carynne just frowned and sighed, then she went on.

Its too late.

Its not not, too late.

It is. The very moment you hesitated, its already too late for you, Father.

Humans were complex, just as they were unfathomable.

Finding it funny how his face now showed a bit of satisfaction, Carynne laughed at the fief lord. He didnt have the courage to kill himself in the end, but he had enough gall to make his daughter commit patricide.

But before that, there are some other things Im curious about. Before you and Mother started seeing each other, did you ever meet the other men who were courting Mother? Or by chance, has she left something like a peculiar memento?

I

Clatter!

At that moment, the fief lords eyes bugged out. His legs were shaking. His face was distorted. His groans rang out in the room, but that sound, too, did not last long. Tom was faster than Carynne. Its certain that he had just been biding his time until he could rush in. The moment Carynne raised the silver candelabra and turned to face him, the boy ran away.

Keugh

Tom had been standing by the door, but he ran forward quickly and pulled the fief lords leg. Even when he was being kicked, Tom used his entire body to hang on and pull down. The platform where the fief lord had been standing was pushed out, and in the struggle, the noose properly caught his throat and strangled him completely. Its faster than youd thinkto run out of breath.

Then, he stopped moving.

Hes dead.

But more importantly.

Why?

Carynne was entirely disconcerted. Why? Just why the hell? So flustered now, why the hell are you here?

What just happened?

The act of murder had been done in a blink of an eye that she couldnt believe it happened.

At that very moment, Carynne really couldnt think of anything at all.

For something that never once happened before, for something that she couldnt have foreseen, it was too big of a shock that she couldnt properly feel entertained.

What just happened.

Carynne belatedly picked up the silver candelabra, but her father was already dead. Stabbing him here would be nothing but an act of scratching on a lump of meat. Carynne blinked. What was it that she felt. Emptiness? Anger? She didnt know.

She ruminated.

Tom!

Yet she couldnt figure it out.

Why did it turn out like this?

It happened in an instant.

Tom killed the fief lord.