Chapter 168
Carynne walked down the hallway. Before that, she took out another tomato and bit into it. There were still plenty of tomatoes left, so it was okay. If they ran out, they could always get more.
As she felt the burst of pulp in her mouth, she thought about people.
Though they incite anger, disappointment and pain, she still needed all those countless people. Isella, Verdic, Nancy, Bowen, Donna, Countess Elva, even Crown Prince Gueuze.
As Carynne walked, she looked down into the main hall. There, a few days ago, Raymond had left a large broom, a bucket and a rag while cleaning up. He hadnt even finished clearing up here Carynne felt her face turning slightly red.
Seriously, this is too much Mm
Regardless of their circumstances, it was just too much. Carynne ran her hand over her cheek and descended the stairs. She should clean up at least this much while Raymond was still asleep.
She put down the basket of tomatoes beside her and picked up the bucket and broom.
Ugh, its filthy.
After leisurely surveying the area, it was clear that some time had passed. Carynne sighed as she looked at the dirty broom. It had dried up without any moisture, but it was covered in dirt. Carynne picked up the bucket and broom and headed towards the garden where the water source was located.
Why is it so dirty when theres no one else around? Having just the two of us here is simply impossible.
The mansion was so spacious that it didnt get dirty this quickly. Carynne grumbled while turning on the tap and filling the water jug. As the water began to fill, she rinsed out the dirty contents.
Oh my.
Whats this?
Carynne picked up the dirty rug that plopped to the floor. Something was sparkling.
If she were a little younger, say about twenty years younger, she would have screamed.
She knew what this was. She picked up the shimmering object and examined the bucket with her other hand.
It was dirty.
She could tell what this was.
It had turned brown over time, and there was no mistaking what it was.
Carynne stared blankly at the object in her palm.
How unexpected.
It was someones fingernail.
* * *
Dont think about it.
She couldnt explain how she had returned. Somehow, she stumbled back to the bedroom. Carynne lay down next to Raymond again.
Animal blood? Raymond always prepared meat. Like lamb or beef. Raymond would never bring back an animal dripping with blood like this.
But it wasnt just blood.
Why was there a fingernail?
Carynne wondered if there was any animal with nails resembling human fingernails.
Sheep, cattle, horses, chickens
No matter how much she thought, she couldnt think of an animal with nails resembling human fingernails.
What could it be?
No, who could it be?
Carynne.
Yes, Lord Raymond.
Carynne almost screamed for a moment. Raymond asked in a hoarse voice.
When did you wake up?
She had to smile naturally. Fortunately, it wasnt that difficult.
Dont get up, Raymond.
Okay.
And, you know shouldnt we have a meal now?
Alright.
Raymond took Carynnes hand.
Its nice having you beside me.
She couldnt pull her hand away from him. But she didnt ask any more questions.
Why were you cleaning up bloodstains?
Whose fingernail was that?
She didnt want to hear lies. She had to ask, but I didnt want to hear the answer. She was afraid of being disappointed. She needed to be considerate.
Carynne felt Raymonds face descending onto her lips again and closed her eyes.
She had no doubt about Raymonds love.
So, she couldnt ask.
* * *
Really, who owned this fingernail?
After Raymond just left, Carynne sat alone in the room, staring down at the object she had picked up.
It had glinted at first, but upon closer inspection, it was just an ordinary piece of fingernail. It had simply sparkled in the sunlight and water.
It was hard to make any guesses, unlike when she had seen Donnas severed hand. It was difficult to determine whether it belonged to a man or a woman. It had even been immersed in dirty water.
Judging by the size of the nail, it wasnt from a thumb, but it looked like a mans ring finger or a womans index finger.
The tip was damaged, but that alone couldnt guarantee its origin in the socio-economic hierarchy.
On the flipside, there was a tooth-like mark on it. Although it wasnt covered in flesh or blood after being washed in water, there was still something that could be discerned.
This fingernail wasnt broken. It had been pulled out.
It must have hurt.
Carynne raised the fingernail and examined it in the sunlight, but even then, it was difficult to deduce anything more from it.
She had only grown older, but she lacked knowledge. Its for this reason that she couldnt possibly deduce anything from this small little fingernail.
Who could it be?
She buried herself deeply into the bed again. It was still warm from Raymonds lingering presence. And he was probably in the kitchen right now, preparing a meal for the two of them.
She didnt doubt Raymonds love. He wasnt the kind of man who she would doubt.
There was no one else like them in this world. Only the two of them could truly understand each other.
Raymond loved Carynne even when she had murdered people. But back then, he was the one to keep an eye on her, not someone suggesting, Shall we live our lives together by killing people?
Now, Raymond was older than Carynne. Much older.
Old geezer.
Youre not calling me that, are you?
Once again, she almost screamed for a moment. Raymond looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Even if its true that Im old, you shouldnt make fun of my age. Were both in the same boat.
Raymond extended his hand to Carynne with a smile. She took his hand, and he helped her up.
Would you like us to have our meal here?
She shook her head.
No, Ill go downstairs Here, too Wed have to clean up.
She didnt want to eat in bed. They would have to change the bed sheets. When Raymond saw Carynnes expression, he turned away, looking embarrassed.
He genuinely seemed like an ordinary man.
She stared at the meat. Raymond always served meat. This time as well, it was meat.
Meat.
Carynnes mind conjured up a horrific image, and she closed her eyes. What an excessive imagination.
That couldnt be the case. The meat in front of her was beef. It was a taste she was familiar with.
But human flesh What did human flesh taste like? Did she know what human flesh tastes like? In reality, even if human flesh was in front of her, she probably wouldnt be able to distinguish it.
Carynne, it might be best to stop eating. There are plenty of other things we can eat, so you dont have to force yourself with that expression on your face.
Only after hearing Raymond call her name did she manage to break free from her imagination. She lifted her head to find her knight looking at her with concern. Her face had been tense, and she realized that she had been caught in her anxiety.
Raymond got up and poured water into Carynnes cup. It was warm water. She watched as the dried lemon slice in the cup swelled in the water and then lifted the cup to take a sip. The warm water eased her throat.
I knew it, youre not feeling well.
I guess not.
Carynne replied with effort.
Im feeling disturbed because of what you were cleaning up.
She muttered silently to herself. Suddenly, the indigestion weighing heavily on her stomach felt like nothing.
Stop being on my case, will you.
That, well Im sorry.
Carynne knew that Raymond had heard her muttering, given the way he bowed his head heavily when he sliced the steak for her. However, she had no energy to correct her delusions. She had endured quite a bit of his tormenting for the past few days, both physically and mentally.
Theres no way that Raymond would serve her anything strange.
Nevertheless, she refrained from touching the meat and instead reached for the tomatoes she had been eating earlier.
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