However, it wasnât easy to figure out who Carynne had chosen.
Most of Carynneâs life revolved around Isella Evans. She lived in the room next to Isellaâs, running small errands for her and accompanying her on outings. Whether it was shopping, attending social events, or even participating in charity work at the cathedral, there was little sign of her being with any other man.
Outside Isella Evans, the only man Carynne interacted with the most was Zion Electra, but even their relationship didnât seem particularly close.
Though Carynneâs beauty drew attention, with men often trying to help or flirt with her, there wasnât anyone she saw frequently enough to introduce to her father. Dullan began to suspect that Carynneâs talk of a man was simply a pretext.
And she had grown annoyingly beautiful.
Her waist was slim, and her now slender body fully showed the marks of womanhood. Her skin glowed with a brilliant radiance, and even in the dark interior of the cathedral, her fiery red hair rippled and shimmered, emphasizing her graceful appearance.
It wasnât just her outer appearanceâher demeanor was entirely different from when she was younger. Carynneâs steps were careful, her speech was soft, and a smile always lingered on her face. Before long, rumors of the dazzlingly beautiful yet graceful Carynne Hare spread throughout the grand cathedral.
When Dullan thought back to the time she had thrown hot soup in his face or tried to hang herself as a child, the sight he was facing right now felt like a miracle.
But it was beauty without purpose. Carynne showed little interest in any man, focusing solely on attending to Isella. Carynneâs life had become that of a mere handmaiden to Isella.
âWhy am I even here?â
After a month, Dullan started to feel frustrated.
Catherine, Dullan, and the fief lord were all interested in which man Carynne would meet, who she would fall in love with, and whether she would have children or not. None of them cared about who her master or companion was.
Dullan had been curious about the man in Carynneâs life, but he couldnât care less about what clothes she and Isella were buying. He didnât care what restaurants they visited or what operas interested them.
His task was incredibly simple: to prevent her from having a child. To ensure that Carynne Hare lived on forever.
But since Carynne wasnât showing any signs of being with a man, Dullan had no choice but to continue silently watching her every day, from the sidelines.
Endlessly.
Without exchanging a single word, without making eye contact.
And, just as before, Dullan slipped the medicine into Carynneâs meals. Everyone in the cathedral would become even more devout.
* * *
Then, one day, Carynne didnât return to the cathedralâs lodgings. Dullan finally realized that the day had come.
Although it seemed as though there had been no man when he watched her, perhaps Carynne didnât want Isella to see her with another man. Or maybe the man stayed away when Dullan was around. Hadnât Carynneâs letter to her father confirmed that she was involved with someone?
The fact that neither Isella nor Carynne had returned to the lodgings made it clear. Both had likely gone to meet their respective men. Dullan thought back to whether he had given Carynne her contraceptive. Yes, he had. Even if she spent the night with a man today, she wouldnât get pregnant, nor would Isella, as a bonus.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
ââ¦Absurd.â
Dullan felt uneasy, unsure why he was so bothered by something he already knew.
He was aware that Carynne had a man, but the fact that she hadnât come home unsettled him in a strange way. And not knowing why he was so displeased made him feel even worse.
Which man was she spending the night with?
ââ¦Hmph.â
Dullan confirmed that Carynne hadnât returned and sat down in a chair, opening the scripture. Truthfully, knowing who her partner was didnât matter to him. He hadnât confirmed it, but that wasnât important either.
What mattered was ensuring she wouldnât have children. And that had already been sufficiently handled.
Dullan had instructed the staff working at the grand cathedral on how to mix the contraceptives into the spices used in the meals. Without even realizing it, those preparing the food would make sure that no one staying at the cathedral would ever have children.
Considering the amount of medication Carynne had ingested during her stay, it was certain that she wouldnât conceive for at least a year.
She wonât have a child.
With that, his task was complete. Whoever Carynne spent her nights with, that was none of his concern. It wasnât important.
Eternity was what mattered.
To dispel the vulgar thoughts creeping into his mind, Dullan turned his eyes to the scripture. The words on the page seemed to draw closer to him. His actions might be those of a heretic, but even so, the scripture was his guiding principle.
Eternity, heresy, purity, truthâ¦
Flee ye from the sin of fornication, for all other transgressions doeth a man outside his body, yet this sin corrupteth the cathedral withinâ¦
But I say unto you, whosoever gazeth upon a woman with lust hath already committed adultery with her in his heart, for the seed of iniquity is sown in secret, and the soul is stained in the sight of the Lord.
âDamn it.â
Of course, every verse he turned to was like this.
It wasnât the scriptureâs fault. It was his own eyes. Realizing the state of his mind, Dullan closed the book. He simply couldnât concentrate. He pressed his hands over his eyes and sighed deeply.
ââ¦Hah.â
Sheâs probably asleep by now.
Dullan couldnât suppress his thoughts any longer.
What expression does she wear in bed? How does she call out to her partner? It must be vulgar.
He shouldnât care, but he couldnât help it. Heâd been preoccupied with her pregnancy and childbirth for over a decade, and it had shaped his thoughts. Naturally, to conceive, one had to engage in intercourse. It wasnât strange. He wasnât strange. If anything, it was Carynne who was filthy, engaging in such acts before marriage.
Dullan sat there, unable to sleep the entire night.
And when she still didnât return the next day, or the day after thatâ¦
He began to feel that something was truly wrong.
* * *
Dullan skipped the grand mass, claiming illness, and instead made his way to the lodgings where Isella and Carynne were staying. He didnât need to check which room was Carynneâs. It was the first place he had checked. And he had secured a spare key long ago.
Knock, knock.
ââ¦â¦â
As expected, there was no sound. She still hadnât returned. Dullan inserted the key into the lock and turned it. The old door creaked open slowly.
Creak.
The room was much like his own, with no significant difference. A desk, a wardrobe, and a bed. As a woman of society, there were extra clothes strewn around the wardrobe that hadnât yet been put away.
Dullan ran his fingers over the fabric, but feeling a sense of wickedness in his actions, he stopped. It was difficult to keep from imagining the skin beneath the clothing.
Shaking his head, he prepared to leave. It was clear that Carynne hadnât returned. He had thought she might have come back while he was away, but after checking for the clothes sheâd worn the previous day and not finding them, it was clear she hadnât.
Not yet.
âReverend Dullan, what are you doing here?â
/subliminalwayfarer