“Milady, how much longer?”
“Not yet. Just finish organizing things a bit more over there.”
Carynne was reading the documents her father had entrusted to her.
“And let me finish reading this.”
“Everything’s ready.”
Nancy came forward with three big bags in her hands. As expected, she was strong. She’s robust and talented. She’d have been an impeccable maid if not for her itchy hands. Oh, and also if not the occasional brainwashing. That last part’s a huge dealbreaker.
Setting down the last of Carynne’s luggage, even a small purse atop the other bags, Nancy asked.
“What must be done?”
“I’ll have to pay Verdic Evans a visit and make him sign all necessary documents regarding his relinquishment of the business.”
The immediate change that occurred in this iteration was that Isella and Verdic Evans were not coming to this residence. But of course, this didn’t mean that Carynne wouldn’t be meeting them at all.Still, this alone was such an enormous change that it puzzled Carynne.
“Go directly to Verdic Evans, have him stamp and sign it. We’re already done discussing it, so all you need to do is go there and have him do that.”
Despite everything, it would be unwise not to read through the contract properly. Maybe in this iteration, Verdic intended to lay a bigger business trap.
‘…But I can’t find anything.’
Though she had scrutinized every single word, Carynne couldn’t find anything wrong with the contract. It was just a neatly written document.
‘…Why the hell?’
Carynne knew everything about how the business would go. It’s quite unthinkable that Verdic was pulling out now. Testament to this was how the man had gone on to adopt Carynne for the mere sake of continuing the business.
Even if it wasn’t a place where money grew on trees, the Hare estate was renowned in its own way. And considering just how much Verdic had already invested thus far, it’s just too unlikely.
After all that, was he really going to throw it all away?
‘Has Verdic gone mad?’
This move would just put him at a deficit. By all accounts, there’s absolutely no sensible reason for him to do such a thing. He’s been preparing for this business even far before the point of time that Carynne would start the loop anew.
“Milady!”
“Fine. I’m coming.”
Carynne put away all of the papers that she was reading. It’s impossible to understand. And besides, it’s not as if she could do anything about it.
“Has everything been packed?”
At Carynne’s question, Nancy nodded as though she was waiting.
“I’ve packed your clothes and belongings, Milady. It even seems like most of what you own has been packed… But anyway, please check it.”
“You already did it personally so it’s fine. Did you pack enough socks?”
“Yes. Milady, Shall I pack the chestnut-colored dress as well?”
“No. It’s too outdated so I don’t like it. I’ll get new dresses in town.”
Carynne put on the fief lord’s signet ring on her finger. She herself was the proxy. It would be ever so simple to go to Verdic, stamp the documents and formally discard it.
“I heard a rumor that the clothes there are nice.”
This was a good thing. Carynne knew not only Verdic’s mansion in the capital well, but also Verdic’s villa in the countryside. The seamstresses and the fabrics they had were pretty good.
Just the thought of being able to get fitted for new clothes made Carynne feel better. She wouldn’t have to grovel in front of Isella—she had the ability to purchase things through her father’s money.
Good.
“I’ll buy it aaall with money.”
“That’s swell and all, Milady, but will you be the one doing the signing? Not Lord Dullan?”
“My birthday has already passed. I’m an adult already. I’m qualified to be Father’s proxy. It’s not like me and Dullan got married. Borwen, load that over there.”
Carynne pointed out the large trunk to Borwen, who was standing by the door.
“Don’t say anything to Dullan.”
“Why would I do such a…”
“If you don’t, then good.”
Carynne hit Borwen lightly. The mere sight of his face was giving her a headache.
* * *
The carriage ran for a long time, and Carynne gazed at the flitting scenery out the window. She had gone this road many times before, but it was the very first time that there was no one by her side. Not Dullan, not Raymond, not her father.
“Milady, please bring your head back in. We’ll be entering the forest in a little while.”
“So?”
“It’s dangerous because of the branches, of course.”
Carynne leaned back again.
“It’s been a while since I’ve heard your nagging.”
“What do you mean?”
“It wasn’t you last time, but someone else.”
“You hired a maid other than me? When exactly?”
“In a past life.”
“…Ahh.”
Nancy had been in high spirits until now, but her mood soon dampened.
Carynne chuckled. Staring at Carynne for a moment, Nancy asked.
“Theeen… Why did you hire someone else?”
Because I killed you. I got bored in that past life, so I tried to see what would change if you died. And really, the beginning changed quite a lot. What would change again if I killed you one more time?
Of course, Carynne didn’t say that. She wasn’t in the mood to do so right now. She chose to say the partial truth.
“You died.”
“…How?”
Nancy asked back in a slightly shocked tone.
“An accident.”
“What kind of accident?”
“Just something that happened. Why are you asking so much? You said you don’t believe me.”
When Nancy kept prying, Carynne replied nonchalantly.
Anyway, you don’t even believe me. I won’t give you the answer you want to hear.
Nancy grumbled back.
“Even if I don’t believe it, it’s still unsettling. I cast divinations as well, but I don’t put my faith in it. But I do cast it once in a while out of curiosity.”
“If you don’t believe it, why bother with the divinations?”
“Say, I eat tomatoes on one particular day and have a nightmare that night about dying, that’ll be the reason why I won’t like eating tomatoes the next day.”
Carynne blinked. As expected, she couldn’t understand.
“It was Donna.”
“Donna who?”
“One of the laundry maids. Brown hair, one year older than me… The one who braids her hair into pigtails.”
When Carynne explained in detail, Nancy tilted her head to the side and soon remembered.
“Ah, her. But why her? She can’t possibly be better than me at this job.”
“Who knows.”
There’s not much reason behind it. Carynne’s father and Dullan knew that she had killed Nancy.
They assigned a slightly less capable, weaker young woman who was around her age as her personal maid. Probably… a kid who just wouldn’t be looked for if she ever disappeared and died one day.
“Of all people, it’s Donna from the laundry area. It hurts my pride a little.”
“Why?”
“Everyone who works with her really dislikes her. She’s a good kid, but a bit tactless.”
But she’s braver than you think.
Even when one leg and one arm had been hacked off of her, she persevered until the very end to crawl forward and sink her teeth into the crown prince’s leg—without fear of guns and swords.
“I see.”
At that moment, Carynne felt a little lonely.
She felt that she wouldn’t ever meet that Donna again, not unless she’d repeat the same things as before. Kill Nancy, chop Thomas to pieces, watch her father die in a fire.
“Is Donna still a laundry maid now?”
“Yes. If you’d like, Milady, should I have her reassigned to you? I’ll send a telegram to Helen when I go back.”
“No, never mind.”
She didn’t want to act the same way and see the same things. If she did that, the novelty would just fade. She wanted to leave that life to that iteration.
“If it gets too hard, I can erase your memories.”
Nancy reached out to hold Carynne’s hand.
“Because that’s what I’m here for.”
However, Carynne pulled her hand back.
“Don’t. I just want it to stay this way.”
Closing her eyes, Carynne folded her hands together.
Even if she was exhausted, even if she was sad, she wished to be intoxicated with sorrow.
* * *
Verdic Evans met Carynne as his hair was very disheveled.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lady Carynne Hare.”
It’s the first time Carynne was seeing him with his hair so messy. He always had it neatly sculptured with grease.
But now, his hair was disheveled, his clothes were crumpled.
“Lady Hare, are you here as His Lordship’s proxy?”
“Yes, I’ve come here on behalf of my father. Is it an inconvenient time for me to have come?”
“Ah, no. It’s alright.”
The current Verdic didn’t even seem to notice that Carynne was staring at his hair.
You really do get to see all sorts of things the longer you live.
Carynne, who was staring at him, slightly pinched up the skirt of her dress and followed after him with a steady gait.
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