Chapter 244: Chapter 244

Young men and women come to the Grand Cathedral in the capital with various problems. The bishop was already displeased with such people. Regardless of the problem, they had to follow the laws within the cathedral.

But Isella, who lived as she pleased, was nothing more than an unwelcome guest to them.

“Don’t ask me about Miss Isella.”

“I had an appointment with her, but she hasn’t come out.”

“How would I know if she has other appointments or if she’s sleeping in her room?”

His voice was clearly irritated.

Whenever Isella went out, she was usually accompanied by Zion. And if she had other plans, she always told him in advance. Even considering she might have forgotten due to being preoccupied with Carynne yesterday, Zion felt uneasy. Why hadn’t she come out yet?

“Could you at least check if she’s sleeping in her room? I’m just worried.”

“The Grand Cathedral is a sacred place, not an inn.”

“Reverend.”

Zion suppressed a groan inwardly.

This strict-looking priest showed no intention of cooperating.

“Then could you at least tell me if Miss Carynne Hare is here?”

“I don’t know that either.”

Suddenly, the priest avoided his eyes. The priest’s behavior was increasingly suspicious.

“Reverend.”

Zion stared openly at the priest’s face and spoke.

“Mister Verdic Evans—Miss Isella Evans’s father—is worried. He wants to see her. I’m in contact with him right now.”

“……”

“Reverend, I’ll ask you again. Is Isella Evans in her room?”

The priest could not answer.

* * *

“Your proposal is, well, not very appealing.”

Crown Prince Gueuze smiled, his eyes narrowing. His gaze moved past Carynne to Isella behind her.

“Aren’t you curious about my mother?”

“Little girl, don’t you think I can get enough information just by torturing you?”

Carynne looked at Crown Prince Gueuze and had to think desperately. How could she get him to grant her request?

Crown Prince Gueuze looked down at the trembling, turned Isella with keen interest.

“Even if it’s a sudden accident, I have enough ability to cover it up.”

“Can’t you show a little mercy to that child at least?”

“Why would I take any risk?”

“That child is the daughter of Verdic Evans.”

Carynne revealed Isella’s identity. Verdic had connections with Crown Prince Gueuze. It was Verdic who had captured Carynne and handed her over to Gueuze in the past. He must also know about Gueuze’s peculiarities.

“…Hmm, that’s surprising.”

Crown Prince Gueuze’s smile widened.

“But that doesn’t necessarily mean I have to let her go. Seeing how desperately you want to save her, it seems you’re placing your hopes on her. That makes me even more unwilling to let her go. Both of you, in fact.”

“If you show kindness to Mister Verdic, he would be more loyal to you.”

“He should be loyal to me anyway.”

Crown Prince Gueuze watched Carynne’s continued pleas with the amusement of watching a parrot perform tricks.

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m a man of many resources.”

Crown Prince Gueuze lightly tapped Isella with his hook. Despite the situation, Isella kept her eyes closed. She couldn’t open them, trembling with sweat and tears.

Carynne wished Gueuze would focus on her instead, but he was enjoying Isella’s reaction.

“You seem to be quite close friends.”

“I don’t think so, to be honest.”

Carynne confessed. From her perspective, they still weren’t friends. Their relationship had been rocky without much progress. Moreover, Isella was a burden to Carynne right now.

“Still, I don’t want that child to die.”

Isella’s sobbing was faintly audible.

Carynne was slightly moved by her own words. She thought her recent line was pretty good. She hoped Isella would be moved, but Isella seemed too terrified to even hear her. It was a bit disappointing.

“Hmm, then how about this, Your Highness?”

“What are you suggesting?”

“For instance, you could take me as your new mistress.”

Crown Prince Gueuze still didn’t know about her relationship with Raymond.

This time was different. In the past, he chose to use Carynne, Raymond’s fiancée, as a tribute, but this time he had obtained Carynne by chance. The daughter of Catherine, who had suddenly fallen into his hands. Carynne held the information.

“I’m willing to respect Your Highness’s hobbies.”

Unlike my mother.

Carynne fidgeted with her fingers.

“To be honest, I don’t really understand my mother. She called it true love, but I’m not sure if she loved my father that much.”

“…Keep talking.”

“My mother… she didn’t seem to care much about any man.”

Carynne had to choose her words carefully.

Her mother must have known that Crown Prince Gueuze couldn’t get her pregnant despite multiple attempts at life, so she didn’t choose him. But it wouldn’t be wise to tell him that. Carynne paused.

“My mother was… more obsessed with pure love.”

“……”

“She believed that my father’s love, without money or power, was more pure.”

Carynne wondered if it was too obvious a lie, but Crown Prince Gueuze’s reaction wasn’t bad. He was quietly listening to Carynne’s words. Carynne continued.

“……”

“But I’m different. I don’t mind if Your Highness takes me as a mistress. I’m satisfied with a few dresses and jewels. If you don’t want to make it public, that’s fine. But I’m just suggesting. Isn’t it a good deal? A woman who screams and resists under torture or a young lover who comes willingly, which do you prefer?”

“…You are quite bold.”

Crown Prince Gueuze stared at Carynne for a long time before standing up.

He went to the door. When he pulled the cord with a bell attached, the door opened, and men rushed in.

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“Take that woman back to where she came from. Only the blonde one.”

“Pardon, sir?”

Carynne and the men had the same shocked expression. For Crown Prince Gueuze to return a kidnapped woman was dangerous. Even an ordinary murderer wouldn’t do such a thing. Moreover, Crown Prince Gueuze was a man with much to lose. To do such a thing? Carynne found it hard to believe.

“You look surprised.”

“…Yes. Actually, I am.”

“I am confident we won’t be caught.”

Crown Prince Gueuze sat down beside Carynne and continued.

“Even if I have such hobbies, His Majesty will protect me.”

Then he looked at Isella.

“Verdic must act properly if he wants to keep his daughter safe. Do behave properly, Verdic’s daughter.”

Carynne felt a tickling sensation on her back.

She felt a sneeze coming but held it in. Isella’s fingers were quickly moving on Carynne’s back. She seemed to be trying to communicate something with those wriggling fingers.

“Hurry and take her out.”

“…Understood.”

The door closed.

Now it was just Crown Prince Gueuze and Carynne again.

Carynne looked up at Crown Prince Gueuze, who was smiling from ear to ear in the dark room. Although he had seemed so grotesque before, he no longer felt as scary.

“Shall we continue our conversation?”

Crown Prince Gueuze approached Carynne with a hook in hand. Carynne saw the object glinting in the light.

“What do you think about both?”

“……”

“I’ll enjoy both options. Starting with your innards.”

He pointed downward.

“Right down to here.”