Isella returned to the banquet hall.
“I understand. But after this is over, I don’t want to see you again.”
“Yes.”
“Never at all.”
How would things turn out? If Carynne, as Zion had suggested, were to cleverly na Sir Raymond as her husband, would that make things go smoothly?
“Isella, but… is there sothing we need to be doing right now?”
“Just stay put, Sir Zion. I don’t think Carynne will na Sir Raymond.”
“Why not? If Carynne just nas Sir Raymond, like her mother did with Lord Hare, it would all be over.”
“There’s no way that’ll happen.”
Isella imdiately dismissed Zion’s speculation.
It was impossible. No matter how much people criticized Raymond for being reckless and indulgent, his public value was still significant. He was a famous soldier admired by Prince Lewis, a war hero, and young and handso to top it off.
“Even if Carynne requests it, there’s no way Crown Prince Gueuze would allow it. It would only make him doubt Carynne’s true intentions.”
“…Yes, I wasn’t thinking straight. Then, what do you think, Miss Isella?”
“Sir Raymond asked for help because… I think Carynne is more likely to na you as her husband.”
“…?”
Zion looked baffled as he pointed to himself. Why would Carynne choose him? Their relationship was not exactly good—in fact, it leaned more toward the negative. So why would she na him as her husband?
“That’s right. It’s the position of a mistress’s husband, so they wouldn’t let her choose a man she’s close to or soone of high value. A man with little status, soone already interested in another woman, would be a better choice. They need soone Crown Prince Gueuze would approve of, and you fit the bill perfectly.”
Zion rubbed the back of his neck.
He understood. If Carynne was thinking strategically, she would never choose Raymond. From what Isella said, it was clear Carynne would think the sa. Zion had been too narrow in his assumptions because of Raymond and Carynne’s relationship.
“Hmm, I guess I’d better prepare for a proposal then…. But why did Sir Raymond ask you instead of ? I would’ve understood if he’d just told . I don’t see why he dragged you into this dangerous plan.”
As Zion grumbled, Isella covered her mouth with her fan and looked at him.
“Because this plan obviously needed my approval.”
“Ah. Um, yes…”
“Are you unhappy with that?”
Of course not. Zion resigned himself to serving his master willingly. Having no choice was just part of the deal.
* * *
But Carynne didn’t choose Zion. Nor did she choose Raymond.
With a gentle smile at Crown Prince Gueuze, Carynne calmly made her request for a husband.
“Dullan Roid would be best, Your Highness.”
* * *
Dullan Roid had co to the capital for one purpose: to drug Carynne Hare.
When Carynne had been at the Hare estate, the manor’s servants or maids had regularly given her contraceptives in advance, but after she left the estate, according to Nancy and the lord, Carynne had likely stopped taking them.
Her becoming pregnant was not part of his plan.
[ There is a man I would like to introduce to you. ]
In the letter she had sent to the fief lord, she ntioned only that there was soone she wanted to introduce. She hadn’t provided any nas or descriptions.
Dullan wanted to see for himself. If this wasn’t her first life, she would’ve considered many variables in making her choice.
Which man had she chosen?
He was curious, but at the sa ti, he thought it didn’t really matter. Whoever it was had nothing to do with him.
Carynne had lived long enough to have opportunities to catch any man she wanted. With her beauty, it wouldn’t have been difficult. No matter whom she chose, the end result would be the sa. A rich man, a handso man, a famous man—it didn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter who it is.
What’s important is his own task. He would not let Carynne Hare beco pregnant. Never.
There was no such thing as a beautiful ending. Endings, by their very nature, beco dreadful. The story does not need a conclusion.
She does not need a child.
There is no need for an end.
* * *
Dullan had spent a long ti at the abbey, and since he was a priest, staying at the grand cathedral wasn’t difficult for him. When he arrived at the cathedral, the vicar greeted him warmly. Even the bishop himself summoned Dullan for a eting.
“It’s a great help to have you here at such a ti, Reverend Dullan.”
“I-I’m just glad to be of service… even with my limited abilities.”
“You’re really of great help. The capital is always short of hands. Truly… if any priest cos to assist, we’d be grateful, but to have soone from the Alburn Abbey—well, we’re deeply thankful.”
Doctors were welcod everywhere. Private hospitals charged exorbitant fees for treatnt and dicine, and the country’s public hospitals were few and far between.
The royal family demanded that the cathedral carry out relief activities, but as in any era or country, the governnt’s budget was always lacking. Especially for dical services aid at the poor, resources were even scarcer—there weren’t enough dicines, nor enough staff.
In such a situation, Dullan’s visit was a great relief for the people at the grand cathedral.
“Has the abbot of the Alburn Abbey been doing well?”
“Y-Yes… He is well.”
“The abbot ntioned that he was sorry to see you interrupt your studies. So, is your presence here for the dical symposium, to continue your studies for a while?”
“T-That’s right. Lord Hare is still in good health.”
The vicar had heard about Dullan’s academic dedication from the abbot and was secretly hoping that Dullan would continue down that path.
Though the lord of a small estate wasn’t of much interest to the vicar, a priest who pursued the study of dicine was another matter. Moreover, Dullan had been a top student for nine consecutive years.
“You can always inherit the estate when you’re older.”
“I’m still… considering it.”
As expected, Dullan’s habit of stamring and his inability to make eye contact seed more suited to the life of a scholar than a ruler of an estate.
So, when Dullan had announced his decision to halt his studies, the abbot, the prior, and other priests had all shaken their heads in disappointnt.
“I see. By the way, Lord Hare’s daughter is staying here, isn’t she? Wasn’t there talk of an engagent between you and Miss Carynne?”
“…Yes.”
The vicar nodded knowingly.
“Ah, but…”
“It’s not that kind of broken engagent, I-I assure you. But if word got out… it would be uncomfortable, so please keep it a secret. I wish to remain unnoticed.”
Dullan didn’t appreciate the way the vicar looked at him, as though he were so poor man who had been jilted. He hadn’t seen Carynne since they were children. Was it four years ago when he last saw her? Back then, Carynne had been nothing more than a mad, raging child.
He wouldn’t suddenly see her as a woman just because she’d grown older. More than anything, Dullan had no desire for that.
“I am simply… doing my duty as a servant of God.”
Dullan found the vicar’s sympathetic gaze uncomfortable. The vicar seed to think Dullan was a foolish man who couldn’t forget Carynne, chasing after her even after she had rejected him. Dullan knew how the situation looked, but he couldn’t deny it, so he remained silent.
Once he confird who Carynne’s partner was and administered the dicine at the right ti, his task would be over.
All he wanted was to satisfy his curiosity.
Nothing more.
/subliminalwayfarer
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