As liquid flowed from beneath the crunchy red sphere, Carynnes unpleasant thoughts resurfaced. This was serious. But still, it was better than at. She continued to chew on the tomato.
She couldnt understand why she was so surprised.
Why was she feeling so confused?
Yesterday, while you were asleep, the delivery carriage ca and went, Raymond said.
She took the tomato out of her mouth in response.
But why did you only bring this?
You cant eat anything properly right now anyway.
Even so, does that an our choices have now been limited?
She glared at him, but he just shrugged and replied matter-of-factly.
I thought you might need at. Your face has looked too pale since earlier.
Do we have any sweets?
Yes.
Give them to right now.
If you eat sweets, itll only spoil your appetite. Ill give them to you after the al, once your digestion has settled.
Carynne was shocked and opened her mouth wide. She gripped a firm tomato in her hand and gave Raymond a stern look.
Youre not going to suggest that I skip even my dessert, are you? Do I have to be restricted so much that even my als are being policed?
Its just a suggestion.
Trying to control , arent you?
Thats not it. I just
Raymond stopped talking. And eventually, with a sigh, he caught the tomato that she had thrown at him.
Should I have let it hit ?
I threw it because I knew youd catch it, so dont bother.
Raymond placed the tomato on the dining table and sighed.
I probably still should have gotten hit and pretend to act pitiful in front of you. Anyway, fine, I understand.
Raymond raised his hands in surrender.
He seed much too accommodating. It was hard to think of him as the sa man who was preventing her from eting other people.
So, Carynne threw another tomato. Raymond, once again, did not let it hit him.
A quiet al finally ca to an end, and he brought so sweets for her. Seated on a mint-colored, long sofa, She examined the sweets he had brought for herchocolate-covered biscuits and apple pie.
Lance made these, didnt he?
Her face lit up. Lance, who used to be the pastry chef at the Tes Mansion, had a distinctive touch that was instantly recognizable. Since Raymond wasnt particularly fond of sweets, she praised him to encourage Lance to improve his skills. Consequently, she had to pay more attention to her figure as ti went on.
The generous sprinkling of almond powder and the crispy outer layer of the pie seed slightly overdone, but she preferred it that way.
As she bit into it, the sweet taste spread in her mouth. She closed her eyes and savored the sweetness. It wasnt incredibly luxurious, but for her, who had been deprived of sweets for a long ti, it was enough. She wanted to eat sothing other than at. While Carynne enjoyed the snack, her eyes closed in bliss, Raymond asked.
Are you satisfied?
She wasnt completely satisfied. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
A little.
People were so simple. Once their desires were fulfilled, their tension and depression disappeared. Nothing had changed, yet her body had involuntarily beco happier. She couldnt help but smile at herself. It wasnt a bitter or mocking smile, but a content one.
Would you like one?
Thank you.
Well, youre the one who brought them anyway, Sir Raymond.
Raymond accepted a piece of pie from her and ate it. While watching Raymond chew, Carynne asked him a question.
How is Lance doing?
Hes ntoring bakers in the city.
I thought hes already retired.
Hes not old enough to retire yet. Lance still hasnt gotten married.
Oh my.
She was surprised by the unexpected remark. Lance was older than Raymond, and it was unusual for him not to be married yet. Typically, by his age, soone would already have a couple of children.
I didnt know that. Well, its not really important, she answered. We didnt really have the ti to discuss that. Does Xenon also fall into that category?
No, Xenon he got married a long ti ago.
I seem to have missed out on a lot.
As she talked about people who were no longer here, she felt a sense of regret. She realized that this wasnt the life she had wanted. She said to Raymond,
Sir Raymond, dont you ever feel like you need more people around?
When she asked this question, he looked sowhat awkward.
Carynne, as you know the first ti you died was inside this house.
Was it?
Yes.
How did it go again?
Carynne averted her gaze and reached for another snack. As the sweet taste filled her mouth, the mory ca back.
The first ti she died, it was through poison.
Id like to avoid anything risky since we dont know how things will be within a year.
Raymond sighed and got up. She realized that he was going back to work. Due to their excessive indulgence of each other for the past few days, the work had piled up and had to be postponed.
What kind of work was he taking on right now? She was curious. Even though Raymond and Carynne shared the sa space, they were constantly missing out on what was important to each other. They were delaying the present to a year from now.
Endure. Dont ask. Its not what matters.
I hope you can be patient for a little longer. Lets do whatever and go wherever we want after a year.
But how much did he really know? She was curious. She tried to hold it in.
Raymond got up and turned to leave againto go to his office, where he was doing things that he wasnt telling Carynne.
Maybe he wasnt staying in that office at all. Maybe he was doing sothing in another place that she didnt know about.
But, whatever he was doing, Carynne didnt need to worry about it. Theres no need to know. He wouldnt harm her.
But still
So, who owns the fingernails that youve pulled out?
Raymond stopped in his tracks. Carynne regretted asking the question. Raymond turned around. Carynne lowered her head.
It felt a bit uncomfortable to look at him. Would he get angry? Or would he feel awkward? She just rembered that she already decided not to ask him.
But she just couldnt bear not to.
Carynne.
Raymond approached her and knelt down on one knee. He looked up at Carynne from beneath as she had bowed her head. He placed one hand on hers.
His face looked so incredibly gentle and so incredibly affectionate, showing no signs of dirtiness or cruelty.
Is that why you were uncomfortable all this ti?
She unclenched her fist. Inside it was the fingernail she had found. Raymond took it from her and put it in his front pocket. Looking into Carynnes face, Raymond spoke.
Its necessary work, so theres nothing to be scared of.
Necessary?
It was a very clear answer. Raymond didnt get angry, nor did he seem flustered. It was because it was sothing he considered perfectly natural.
Yes. Its to gather as much information as possible. Theres nothing for you to be scared of.
He gave Carynnes shoulder a firm squeeze. Then, Raymond got up.
So please dont think about such things.
He was willing to handle the dirty and unpleasant tasks himself.
* * *
Raymond brushed his disheveled hair nervously and picked up the pliers.
Damn it.
He didnt want to show any dirty business to Carynne, but he had made a mistake. Raymond felt pathetic about himself and nudged the thing in front of him with the pliers.
Its been dead for a long ti.
But he had obtained everything he needed, so it didnt matter.
Raymond knew well that even if Carynne tried to kill soone, she would do it very clumsily. With her feeble arms, she wouldnt be able to do it properly.
Such rough tasks were up to the husband.
Raymond began to clear away the ss in front of him to finish his work.
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