Chapter 108
Why wont he just do it himself?
Seeing the direction in which Verdic Evans moved through life, he could be considered as Zions senior. However, Verdic married a fellow merchants daughter and had a child with her.
The Marquis explained it briefly.
When Verdic Evans was still a bachelor, his wealth was less than a tenth of what he has now. Perhaps even less.
I see.
And regardless of how low House Saytes influence had become, its still ridiculous that a baron household is going to be in-laws with a family from a foreign country. How impertinent of them. Even now, foreign aristocrats keep coming in because of their countrys civil war How dare for a merchant, even.
The marquis stared at the floor. He seemed to be genuinely offended.
A foreigner like him is making a fortune in the arms industry recently.
Marquis Penceir was also financially benefiting from the arms industry and with defense fortification. Raymond felt a sense of shame. He was still only a student. He didnt know that Verdic was trying to make money and gain power in this way. It never even crossed his mind that Verdic might share it.
Verdic Evans doesnt trust me.
That doesnt really matter.
Marquis Penceir fiddled with the handle of his quill.
He did put you in the military, so who knows. I dont know myself. If it was me, I would have put you in the Assembly. Its quite helpful to learn the law as well. But in any case, he sent you to a military academy, so dont waste the opportunity. Do your best in this place. You have no choice but to play the cards youre dealt.
Yes.
You said before that youd follow whatever I say, right?
Yes.
Then become the perfect knight. And what I mean is the kind of hero that kids would go crazy forto the point that everyone would start rooting for you.
The marquis eyes were, strangely, gleaming. From the outside, it looked like he was just joking, but Raymond could see that the marquis was being serious.
Just strive to live an honorable life. Thats the most difficult thing to do, but for you, it wont be hard at all.
And take good care of your face.
Raymond couldnt say anything back when the marquis added those last words, passing by his side. But that last part wasnt going to be difficult. Raymond was lucky in the way that he was born with good looks.
Whether the marquis was just trying to steal Verdics property, which was Raymond. Whether he just needed another subordinate under his command. Or whether this was just some kind of game akin to raising a plant for him.
Whatever it was that the marquis was thinking, Raymond thought it didnt matter.
Raymond now had a purpose, and it wasnt difficult to do. It was just as the marquis said.
Living the way he did now, he then went on to receive medals and accolades. A few high officials despised Raymond, and some of his colleagues were jealous of him, but aside from them, the cheers that he received were much louder.
And three years later, Raymond received the title of a knight. The crown princes son met Raymond, looking up at him with twinkling eyes.
Are you Sir Raymond Saytes? Ive heard a lot about your reputation through Marquis Penceir.
Raymond stared at Prince Lewis face for a moment. Behind the boy stood Marquis Penceir.
It was the highest honor.
The royal familys envy.
* * *
Verdic Evans noticed that Raymond was trying to remove the leash that he had fastened on the young man. Raymond kept striving to establish himself thoroughlythrough honor, through ethics, through the acclamation of all those around him.
God damn it That brat.
Verdic threw an inkwell. He tried to appropriately adorn that brat as a present to his daughter, but all that brat was doing was ungratefully taking everything while trying to run away.
Verdic Evans called his daughter. As always, Isella Evans appeared the moment her father called her, embellished in clothes that were all bought by her father.
Its time for you to get married.
All Raymond Saytes needed was an opportunity to break his engagement.
He did not need a big opportunity. Thats not what he wanted. He would get close to someone out of necessity, but anything serious would rather just cause problems.
Anyone would be fine. Raymond was confident that he would be seen as a good husband by any woman. He was a man who would fulfill duties faithfullyas long as it was not the daughter of Verdic Evans.
But there was one requirement that anyone else would be able to understand. It was perhaps on the same line as the reason that Verdic Evans chose him. Perhaps also the same reason that Isella Evans chose him. A reason that other people wouldnt think was strange.
He needed a woman who was so beautiful that Isella Evans would not be able to compare.
Will it be alright?
* * *
I fell into a novel.
He did not believe Carynne Hares words, but he was bothered by what she saidthat she died and died and died for one hundred years because she couldnt find true love. In a strange way, she looked as if she was blaming him. Carynnes features were already peculiarly precocious, but when she said that, she seemed like a whining child.
You promised to believe.
He tried, but an adult wouldnt easily believe what she had said. If he believed her, then he should go to the asylum first. At that moment, Raymond had to stop himself from clicking his tongue. Shes still young.
If I find true love, then Ill be free from this curse. Ah, please. Can you stop making that face? I know what youre thinking.
Im trying.
But her words were too far out there to even say that its a murderers excuse, and there was even a romantic aspect attached to the story. Even while he was six or seven years old, he already knew that he should disregard any story that sounded like nonsense, just like hers.
Its a bit immature.
Youre not really trying, are you?
Carynne glared at him, and at this, Raymond raised both hands and answered.
Because a promise was a promise.
I am Yes I really am.
Was she pretending to be crazy to avoid the repercussions of her sins? Raymond glanced sideways at Carynne, who was studying some reference materials. Even so, her story was consistent. Even if its all made up, it was too detailed and logical. Was she truly crazy?
Raymond sighed, wondering if he really was going to just focus on her face and nothing else.
Seeing Raymonds sullen expression, Carynne spoke in a loud voice.
I also know how strange it sounds. But please just try.
Yes.
The more absurd it was, the more it was difficult to ignore. In any case, Raymond tried to play along with Carynne. Raymond went around auction houses with her to look at old books. They met people and also bought antiques together.
What am I doing right now, I wonder.
But surprisingly enough, this was quite fun. Carynne was a good conversation partner and she had various hobbies as well. Raymond was equipped with plentiful general knowledge, so he naturally gravitated towards like-minded people.
That person has got quite the fastidious temperament, but he seems to like you quite well anyhow.
Thats because weve already been acquainted before.
Carynne shrugged as though to say thats not a big deal. As Raymond witnessed the kind of attitude that he himself had to acquire with great difficulty, he felt a little dejected.
Certainly however, he had no choice but to admit that Carynne was a captivating lunatic. Not just her appearance was attractiveeverything about her was.
She would often grumble about how he, the Raymond of this iteration, did not love her. He wanted to ignore her words whenever she said that, but it was difficult to ignore. Raymond wondered why he felt that way.
But he couldnt quite figure it out.
Was it because he became close to her out of necessity? No. In the first place, Raymond approached Carynne while suspecting that she was a murderer. It was Carynne who knocked on his door while saying that she needed him.
In the relationship that was between them, Raymond was at least blameless. Rather, the problem was Carynne. Someone
No, thats not it. I know I should have secured evidence and just turned her in.
Raymond approached Carynne out of necessity, and the thought of leaving her alone made him feel guilty. All this was because of his own conscience. It was not because of her.
Why am I here, doing this?
Raymond sighed as he scanned through the useless antiques that Carynne kept buying. Before he knew it, an entire room was full of them. Raymond was spending too much time living within the bounds of her delusion.
At some point, Raymond realized that he was spending too much time with Carynne.
Those useless hours they spent in social gatherings, watching live performances, walking around auction houses, searching for records of the past and chasing after delusions. It was perhaps the first time in all of Raymonds life that he wasted so much time like that.
Those days passed by in a blink of an eye.
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