Chapter 75
Yeah, she knew this would happen.
Raymond grabbed Carynnes arm. It seemed as if he had rushed to get here. He was panting a little. With a flushed face, he spoke in a whisper.
Stop.
Okay.
Carynne nodded slowly. Actually, she wasnt planning to do this. She could have killed Isella here and that would be fine. If she couldnt kill her, then thats also fine. If she was really planning to kill Isella, she would have run straight to the bed and immediately cut down the other girls throat. Thats what it looked like right now. However, Raymond wasnt aware of this. Her wrist started to hurt. Carynne spoke again.
Youre already holding my hand and stopping me from doing anything.
So please let me go. I understand. This is something I cant do.
She already knew that she couldnt do it.
Im telling the truth, so let me go.
Carynne realized that her face was stained with tears. Raymond was just staring at her. Then, he took the scissors from Carynne with his other hand.
He led Carynne to a chair and made her sit, then he cuffed her hands together.
You dont have to do this, she said.
Do you think Ill believe you right now?
I dont think I can even believe my own thoughts.
Carynne burst into tears, into laughter.
After Raymond had bound Carynnes hands, he then began to change Isellas bed sheets. He moved deftly, very unlike a noble man.
As Carynne watched him change Isellas sheets and IV line, she asked him.
Have you confirmed it?
He should know what she was talking about. Raymond replied.
Yes. There was a corpse in the area you told me about.
And as soon as Carynne heard this, she couldnt help but let out a peal of laughter even as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Good. What a relief.
She could be certain now.
She was repeating the same past.
Even if Nancy had muddled her memories, this fact couldnt be denied.
I see.
Carynne was overjoyed. She could finally be sure. It was so difficult to live with doubts that constantly lived inside her mind. She let out a relieved smile.
Sir Raymond. I have a confession.
You know, I. I believe that this world is a world within a novel.
Mm.
Raymonds expression changed subtly. Was that a smile? But the situation was too dire for him to have interpreted that as a joke. Carynne cried and laughed.
Ah, I shouldnt look crazy.
Fortunately, Raymond didnt say anything. And he just stared at Carynne. So she continued.
Its not a figure of speech or a metaphor. I know how it sounds. But to me, this is the truth.
I need help. Half of my daysmy nightswere entirely Raymonds. I cant spend my time just working like this.
Until now, Ive constantly dreamt about death. No, to be honest theyre not dreams. Until now, I have died over and over again, one hundred times. After the novels plot is finished, I keep going back to the start.
Carynne, slow down.
You have to believe me. I supposedly came to this place for the first time in my life, but tell me, how is it possible that Im taking care of Isella better than a professional nurse? Tell me, how do I know whats going to happen in the future? If this isnt enough proof, if you still dont believe me, then I can show you more.
Even if we have to meet for the first time again, Im certain that I will love you. You dont have to be scared. I will protect you.
But he couldnt even remember.
Its alright. Everythings alright now. I believe you.
How about this time?
Carynne leaned back on the chair she was sitting on. She could still feel the blood dripping. She lifted her bound hands and clutched her clothes tightly with her fingers. Her wounds were so bad that her dress had come loose because she couldnt wear it tightly.
With her back exposed, Carynne said to Raymond.
Ive been killed by Mister Verdic one hundred times so far.
Murder. And he probably knew.
This time, perhaps it would be difficult for you to love me.
Please help me.
If thats the case, then shouldnt she at least appeal to his sympathy?
* * *
Earlier, when the corpse was found
Raymond left it to Xenon to mark the spot on the map where they found the corpse, then he urgently rushed back to Evans mansion. As he ran, the revolver in his pocket made little noise. His objective was certain.
That woman.
Carynne Hare, now Carynne Evans. The red-haired woman who had replaced Isella Evans as his fiance. Still, the woman who suited him better.
Carynne Hare.
This matter was of concern if he had just found the body himself. The problem was Carynne Hare. Now, Carynne Evans. That seventeen-year-old girl. The girl who was the target of his gun.
How far involved was she in this? How far could he ignore it? No, he couldnt ignore it any longer.
The things he wanted to ignore were the same things he couldnt ignore because Carynne considered herself to be Raymonds partner.
In fact, Raymond wasnt expecting much from Carynne. It was enough for her to have a beautiful appearance. It was also fun to talk to her because of her wit.
At first, he thought about loving her. He believed that he could come to love her. The moment he first held Carynne in his arms, he felt himself shudder. Because of her beauty, because of her madness.
And she was the one who proposed that they should side together, to hold each others hand.
With her wide eyes filled with tears. With her seething voice.
Mister Verdic is my enemy.
So, lets hold hands and be partners. Raymond agreed.
However, the moment he saw the dead body of that woman, his heart gave up. Carynne was holding his hand only to manipulate him.
Thats funny.
Teaming up for a bigger goal was something he could have done a lot longer. However, if Carynne was just trying to hold onto him to shake him, then it was a different story. If she had decided to hold his hand, in the meantime, they should cooperate at the very least. It wasnt about pride or justice. It was a matter of priority. It would be impossible to do anything if he was merely at her mercy.
Verdic Evans.
Raymond did not believe that Carynne held pure hatred for Verdic. Because, from the very beginning, the fief lord did not kill himself.
She said that the fief lord killed himself? That kind of situation was plausible enough. However, Raymond saw that one of his shoes had come off. If the cause of his death truly was suicide, then it would be unusual for him to have struggled and had taken off only one shoe.
Struggling was common when dying in that way, but both shoes should have still been on unless they had been taken off in advance.
He wasnt wearing comfortable slippers. The shoes he had on were fastened by a string. His other shoe had been tied tightlyexactly how a nervous person would have done it.
However, the fact that the other one had been taken off made Raymond think of the opposite conclusion.
The fief lord may have prepared himself to commit suicide, but there was someone who had clung to his leg in the end.
Carynne was connected in some way. She didnt kill him herself, but it was clear that she had a hand in this.
The carriage when Raymond had faced her. Then, the two women who were missing from the mansion where that carriage was stationed.
And another missing woman, Isella Evans
Rather than the fact that he had saved Carynne from that mansion at that time, he thought could use this instead. But then, he regretted it. Since he could put some pressure on Carynne and since they had a common hatred for Verdic, was it right to judge that he could use her well? Then he should have just pressed her more.
As it was, he was just being swayed by Carynne. And what Raymond had to do at this moment was to not report this. The cost outweighs the benefits. And he didnt have any proper evidence.
Unlike how it was done in the military, the forensic methods in the cities were few and far in between. And above all, Raymond was a soldier, not an investigator. This was the capital, not the battlefield. There was nothing he could do.
Did she calculate even this?
It seems like nobles have too many things to think about.
Murder. Perhaps, serial murders.
Raymond was not a detective and not a part of the police force. For just a little while more, he wouldnt even be a soldier any longer.
But there was something that Carynne didnt know about him. Even if he had joined hands with her, he had a different sense of duty. He stood by the side of justice.
Rather than just his resistance against Carynne and how she was dealing with him, he had a greater sense of duty when it came to catching a murder suspect. If she was a murderer who was killing for pleasure, if she was someone who couldnt keep her moralsif she was like a gun that couldnt be controlledthen he had to take responsibility.
Two months from now.
It would only be two months from today that hed officially enter the noble council. The position was practically his already, but it was still a crucial period.
He shouldnt meddle in dangerous things. Eighty percent of his position would be attributed to Verdic. Raymond was best at shooting the head off of some person a distance away. In the setting of a conference, it wasnt his strong suit to deal with people who were in seats of power.
But it didnt matter. If Carynne would continue to kill, if she really was using him, then it was unacceptable. Something evil was being done in front of him, and it should be prevented. Even if it was at the cost of losing his wealth and honor.
So, he finally arrived at Evans manor. Raymond raised his head and glanced at the door to Carynnes room.
The lights were off. Was she still asleep? If so, then thats better. Raymond took out the revolver and the handcuffs from his coat pocket.
Then, he knocked on her door. Better to capture her first, then think about it later.
Carynne?
There was no answer. Was she really still not awake?
Knock, knock.
He knocked once more. He couldnt hear anything inside. Raymond clutched the revolver in one hand.
Creak
Raymond opened the door. There was no one inside. The bed was covered with blood and bandages. The smell of alcohol stung his nose.
Whose blood was this? There was a significant amount of blood strewn inside. What happened in Carynnes room that so much blood had been spilled?
And there wasnt just blood, but also bandages and alcohol. Someone had been badly hurt. And they had been treated.
He calmed down his panting breaths. Raymond felt that he should calm himself down a bit more.
After ruffling his hair with one hand, he raised the revolver and thought of pointing the muzzle into his mouth.
Click, click, click.
He loaded it with bullets and rolled the barrel. Then, he pointed it at his temple. The cold metal of the gun cleared his mind.
If I pull the trigger like this, I will die. Dont think.
When Raymond had been called to war as a sniper, he was rather comfortable with it. He didnt have to take responsibility for anyone else out there.
But as a noble, he must think. He wouldnt be able to survive without thinking. Raymonds plan until now was not bad.
But was it really?
Hiiik!
!
Lo Lord Raymond?
It was a servant of the Verdic family. Raymond took off the gun. As though he had been caught pleasuring himself, he felt a wave of shame wash through him.
What on earth
But the servants words were cut short by a question.
Wheres Carynne?
Then, the servants eyes wavered.
She She
Had she been arrested for being complicit with murder? How far was she connected with this case? Or was it the other way aroundsomeone else was helping her kill?
One particular theory flashed through his mind, the one that he was deeply suspicious of.
That Carynne was conspiring together with Verdic from the very start.
Then everything would make sense. If this truly was the case.
Speak.
However, the answer that came back to him wasnt what he had been expecting.
Trembling, the servant replied.
She went to work at Lady Isellas room.
So she didnt run away after murdering someone.
Was he overthinking it?
Raymond turned his head and looked at the room once more. She went to work. But this room was left in too much chaos for her to have gone out to do such a mundane thing.
Whose blood is this.
U-Um.
M-Master Verdic punished her.
Punished?
Because the Lady had gambled
This blood was Carynnes. But why was this servant so anxious that it seemed as if she didnt know what to do?
Whats your connection to this.
I-I have no power. I am merely a servant, sir. O-Of course, I thought that the Master had been too harsh, but
Raymond was perhaps disappointed to figure out why the servant was trembling so badly. Shes thinking that he was angry about the fact that Carynne had gotten hurt.
That was the natural conclusion. He and Carynne had been acting intimately these days. They spent time together, they laughed, and even talked at dinner every night in front of Verdic. Its no wonder that this was what the servant thought.
Huu.
Feeling that his nerves were a little less taut, Raymond went up to Isellas room. He silenced the sound of his footsteps.
He heard Carynnes muttering voice inside the room.
If you die
Raymond opened the door. Carynne was holding a pair of scissors.
At that moment, without thinking, Raymond moved. By the time he came to his senses, he was already holding Carynnes wrist.
Carynne wasnt surprised by his sudden appearance. She just stared at him, then she asked.
Do you love Miss Isella?
At a time like this, was she joking? This woman must truly be crazy.
Raymond bound Carynnes hands. Then, he looked at Isella. IV fluids and blood wetted the floor of the room.
He hurriedly rolled up the sheets and examined Isellas body. But there was not one wound on her body. The blood was coming from Carynne. The maid said that it was Carynne who got hurt.
All Carynne did was cut Isellas IV tube. What he could see from her was a face full of tears, then her back. It was filled with manifestations of malice. He had seen a lot of these wounds before. This was by no means just a product of discipline. She had been hit with the full strength of an adult man.
Shit, what exactly happened that it came to this? Has Verdic gone mad? Did he detest gambling that much? Raymond was beside himself with angertowards both Verdic and himself. Was he not just thinking of pointing a gun at her just now?
The two of us I think we need to talk.
It was more like he was talking to himself now, and he felt depressed. What was running through him right now was, certainly, sympathy.
And he sat down and looked at Carynne. Then she told him something unbelievable.
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