Chapter 181
Of course, when taking a calculating approach to this, he might be right. It would be unreasonable to kill everyone when there were so many to be dealt with. Verdic hadnt come alone, and he was a completely different person from Nancy or Tom, whom Carynne had killed before.
Verdic was a middle-aged man with a prominent social position. Killing him might lead to uncontrollable consequences, just like the incident with Crown Prince Gueuze a few loops ago.
Maybe its better to just let Verdic continue living
However, however
Carynne did not want to be understanding.
Its frustrating.
Carynne.
Yes.
Raymond bowed his head. Carynne met his eyes.
What I meant to say is Im sorry for that. There are many things that I cant help but be ashamed of.
Carynne responded with an expressionless face to that not-so-funny remark.
Yes.
I told you that Id make you smile.
Needless to say, Carynne was not smiling. It wasnt a situation to smile about. She was genuinely upset with Raymond. He didnt say important things and behaved in an incomprehensible way.
Your jokes are not funny.
Raymond chuckled with a slight hint of bitterness. There was a somewhat embarrassed expression on his facesomehow, his appearance right now reminded her of an expression an adolescent boy might make.
Raymond gently stroked Carynnes cheek.
There are parts I dont want to show you, and there are things I want to do on my own. But it seems like I kept too much of it to myself.
Raymond pursed his lips as he stared into Carynnes eyes. Then, he brushed her hair behind her ear. He looked like he didnt know what to say.
After staring like that for a while, Raymond finally lowered his eyes.
And slowly, he said to Carynne,
Verdic wont last long. You dont need to be so impatient.
The voice that whispered in her ears
It was as gentle as it was cruel.
* * *
Verdic wont ever find his daughter again.
Until the day he dies, he will search tirelessly, endlessly for his beloved daughter.
He will not eat or drink, and he will not be able to sleep.
Because if he does, then he may fail to find his daughter.
Shes possibly suffering somewhere, alivethats what he must be thinking.
He will keep living a life in which he can do nothing but keep searching.
And he wont be able to give up.
To ensure that he wont give up, I plan to help him. Just a little.
He will continue to hold on to hope. He will never give up. He will continue searching.
Forever.
Even so, he will never find her.
Dont you worry, Carynne. He will be trapped in a true, genuine living hell.
Ive already confirmed it.
Death is too much of an easy respite for the likes of him. Dont you agree?
* * *
I knew it. That woman was Carynne Hare.
Its not certain yet.
Even with Linds negating words, Verdic shook his head. There was no need to be more cautious at this point. This part needed a decisive conclusion to move his work forward.
Carynne Hare has gone missing, and a woman who cant properly state her identity has appeared elsewherea woman that looks like the spitting image of Carynne Hare. Wouldnt it be better to just think of them as the same person?
But why would she be in this region instead?
Do you think I know?
Verdic immersed himself in thought while looking at the report. He had to think. Why was that woman in Raymonds mansion?
He didnt know where they mightve missed something.
Raymond and Carynne.
The only one entangling them was Verdic himself. How did they get involved?
Its suspicious, but whats important is Isellas whereabouts. Even if this woman is related to Raymond, thats a problem for later.
The clock was ticking.
Verdic recalled what Raymond had saidthat there was some business he needed to attend to.
But Verdic knew most of Raymonds schedule. He usually took on unofficial tasks when Verdic and Crown Prince Gueuzes plans were aligned.
Most of the time, its because there was a need to test out a new weapon, and Raymond was the suitable experimental rat for the job. But this time, Crown Prince Gueuze hadnt mentioned anything to Verdic.
Who, then, gave him the task? Marquis Penceir, perhaps?
Regardless, the point was that Raymond wasnt in the mansion at the moment.
For that matter, why did he leave his house empty?
The Tes Manor was normally staffed with at least fifty servants.
But why was there only one woman?
What was he hiding?
Baron Raymond Saytes mentioned that hell be away for a while.
Verdic informed his subordinates. The men exchanged glances. Only one woman was left in the barons mansion. There was no reason for them to be concerned.
Understood. Then it should be enough for just one of us to go.
One man was enough to deal with just one woman. And with six armed men on their side, there would be no problems at all.
However, Verdic shook his head. There could be an unknown variable somewhere.
Send a telegram to my mansion. Tell them I need five more men herethe ones who can keep their mouths shut.
How do you plan to proceed, Master?
Ill be searching the Saytes mansion personally. Of course, Ill investigate that woman who calls herself Carrie, too.
Verdic was determined to investigate thoroughly.
No matter what hed find there.
Even in the worst-case scenario, Verdic had to take action.
There might be more people other than just Raymond and Carynne in that mansion.
Contact Prince Gueuze as well. Tell him Ill provide a chest of gold and all the artifacts and artworks Ive been talking about. Ask him to lend us some manpower.
Are you sure about this?
Verdic grabbed Linds collar. Sure about what? Sure about spending that money? Or sure about Isella? Each question that the aide uttered angered him to the degree that it was unbearable. How could any of this be fine! But these damn idiots were nodding off in front of Verdic.
In the end, no matter how much money he gave them, no matter how much he threatened and intimidated them, since the person involved now was not part of their families, they were incomparably more indifferent than Verdic.
Verdic could not bear to see it. How could these damn mongrels act so nonchalant with a straight face? Why were they fine?
You Never open that yapper of yours without thinking about it first. Got it?
Lind nodded.
Verdic had to find her.
His eyes were bloodshot, and a bitter taste lingered in his mouth. It had been so long since he had slept a full night.
But even so, he couldnt fall asleep. He didnt know where his daughter was waiting for him.
* * *
Carynne had a duty to be moved by Raymonds love.
No matter how intense that love might be.
To Carynne, he was always kind. But to others, he was cruel. That made him the perfect male protagonist. A man who was kind only to her.
Whatever he did, it was all for Carynne alone, even if she didnt understand, or even if she tried to keep him away.
His love was absolute. His love was perfect.
Carynne had an obligation to reciprocate his love.
But sighs and sorrow didnt cease. It wasnt because Carynne was a forgiving and loving saintess even to her enemies.
The image of the knight Carynne loved was consistent yet upside-down. It was heartbreaking.
The knight Carynne loved was now insane, all for the sole reason of Carynne herself. She bemoaned the fact that his methods didnt seem right.
If Carynne could remember all her deaths
Then, Raymond could remember them all, too.
Carynne died even on the day she had been completely confined to a single room.
Back when she was exactly 117, something went wrong. Before that loop, the day of her death was absoluteit could not happen a day early or a day late. But of course, when this absolute rule was broken right after that, she had started to move recklessly.
In this life, if she were to hold on and endure until that predetermined day, would everything be different? Unlike all the other times, would she be able to survive past that day?
She was anxious because there was no answer to her questions. She couldnt be sure.
She desperately wanted to succeed, but the only certainty she could cling onto was the fact that her mother had escaped from the curse of a repeated life only after giving birth to her.
But Carynne was barren. Since Dullan made her barren, the end for her would not come. Even if she married Dullan, the answer would not come. That guy could remember nothing. And even if she were to change anything, no one knew what exactly would change.
All she could do now was wait until that day.
But this time, could it possibly be a different day?
Even if it was, theres just one thing she had to do now.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶