Chapter 257: Chapter 257

“…As a relative, I… was worried since she hasn’t returned.”

“This is the women’s lodging. Even as a priest, you shouldn’t be here.”

It was one of the cathedral workers. Fortunately, the excuse seemed to work, and there were no further questions. Dullan stepped back. The worker closed the door, locked it, and then proceeded to open the room next door, beginning to pack up the belongings inside.

“What… a-are you doing?”

“The young lady who was staying here has decided to return home. I’m packing her things. Are you going to keep watching?”

The worker eyed Dullan warily, then glanced sideways at the clothing, jewelry, and other items made of gold, silver, and gemstones. If Dullan hadn’t been standing there, it looked like the worker might have pocketed some of the valuables.

“Aren’t you going… to pack Carynne Hare’s belongings?”

“Well, I’m not sure, I only heard about Miss Isella Evans returning home.”

Dullan could do nothing but stand there dumbfounded, watching as the worker packed up all of Isella’s belongings. He was confused. Where had Carynne Hare gone?

Even after a day or two, it didn’t seem like anyone had touched Carynne’s belongings. Unlike with Isella, no one came to pack her things, and Carynne herself hadn’t returned.

“Dullan, you may not know this, but young people staying here often take overnight trips.”

When he asked the vicar, the man dismissed his concerns, saying it was likely just an overnight stay.

Dullan wasn’t sure how far he should go. Should he step back and observe, or should he raise more questions? If the head of the grand cathedral said everything was fine, it wouldn’t be appropriate for an outsider like him to interfere.

Was it genuine concern or just curiosity? Dullan didn’t even know what he wanted anymore. It wasn’t until over a week later that he finally found out where Carynne Hare had gone.

A week later, someone came looking for Dullan.

“Reverend Dullan Roid?”

“Y-Yes… That’s me.”

It was a sharp-looking blonde woman. She didn’t know Dullan, but Dullan recognized her.

It was Isella Evans, the woman who had lived with Carynne. The daughter of the wealthy Evans family, she was arrogant, extravagant, and had treated Carynne like a maid. She was also someone Dullan found irritating, as he would inevitably become indebted to her family one day.

However, there was no reason for Isella to seek him out now.

“When exactly did you start staying in the capital? It wasn’t easy tracking you down.”

“For a f-few weeks…”

“If I’d known you were here, it wouldn’t have taken me so long. You must have known that Carynne and I were staying here, right?”

“……”

Dullan felt uncomfortable with the way Isella questioned him, almost as if she were interrogating him. There was no reason for their first meeting to be like this. Dullan wasn’t yet the fief lord of the Hare estate, and Isella wasn’t Verdic Evans.

“Do you really have no idea why I’m here?”

“…I can’t t-think of anything.”

“Why are you here? And what about Carynne Hare?”

Dullan frowned. He had been secretly watching Carynne, but there was no way Isella could have known that. So, he felt justified in being angry.

“…I’m here to a-attend a symposium… And as for Carynne Hare, I haven’t spoken to her since we were children.”

He had been observing her from afar, but it wasn’t exactly a lie—he hadn’t spoken to her directly. Still, Isella continued to scrutinize him, her expression doubtful.

“If that’s really the case, then it would have made more sense for her to point to Zion.”

“W-W-What are you talking about…?”

“…Can’t you stop stuttering? It’s really hard to listen to you. I’m already frustrated enough, and now I have to deal with your stammering.”

“If you d-dislike conversing with me, you’re free to leave.”

Dullan felt uncomfortable around Isella, who had suddenly requested a meeting only to act irritated. As Dullan pointed to the door, inviting her to leave, Isella removed her hat and placed it on the table.

“You can’t possibly not know that Carynne Hare is staying here. It’s strange that she pointed to someone who’s right here, and your behavior is suspicious. What’s going on?”

I wish I knew so I could just tell her to leave.

But neither Dullan nor Isella was actually ready to end the conversation. Since it concerned Carynne, Dullan couldn’t simply ignore what Isella was saying, and Isella clearly had more to say to him.

However, Isella found talking to him frustrating and exasperating. Dullan was exactly the type of person she hated dealing with—someone she didn’t even want to look at, let alone get involved with. He had a creepy demeanor and couldn’t even speak properly.

Would he really help Carynne? Just looking at him made her skin crawl for some reason. His appearance, his speech, and his entire presence were unsettling and repulsive.

“……”

The conversation stalled, and an awkward silence fell between them.

“Isella, are we done here?”

“Sir Zion. It seems that Reverend Dullan doesn’t really want to talk to me.”

As the conversation dragged on, a well-dressed man entered the room. Isella gave Zion a glance, signaling him to speak on her behalf.

Zion smiled awkwardly as he stepped in. Noticing Dullan’s frown, he seemed to understand the situation and sat down next to Isella.

“Good day to you, Reverend Dullan.”

“…Who are you.”

“I’m Zion Electra, a friend of Miss Isella. I’m also acquainted with Carynne Hare.”

“……”

To Zion, Carynne was more like an extra baggage than someone he actually cared about. But, of course, he couldn’t say that. Dullan awkwardly accepted Zion’s outstretched hand for a handshake.

“You’ll soon receive a message from the royal family, Reverend Dullan. It concerns your marriage to Miss Carynne Hare, which Crown Prince Gueuze is eager to arrange.”

“…Marriage?”

Dullan Roid’s eyebrow twitched.

To avoid any misunderstandings, Zion quickly clarified.

“You understand what that means, don’t you?”

“…She’s a mistress.”

“That’s correct.”

A royal mistress. The husband of a mistress.

In other words, a puppet husband.

“I understand you’re a relative of Miss Carynne Hare, so naturally, you’ll help with this, won’t you?”

“…I’m currently…”

“I trust you’ll assist without hesitation. It’s not too difficult, really. Other people will help as well, but I wanted to make sure you were informed.”

Zion Electra smiled as he spoke, nodding toward Dullan.

And with that, the conversation was over.

Not long after Zion left, Dullan received a more formal explanation from a royal envoy.

Crown Prince Gueuze wanted Carynne Hare as his mistress.

Not just a mistress for a day or two, but someone he wanted by his side long-term. It was clear he intended to do what he had failed to do with Carynne’s mother, Catherine.

Even though rumors would spread and people would call it immoral, no one wanted to displease the prince who was soon to become king. The current king’s life was nearly at its end, and Crown Prince Gueuze’s ascension was inevitable. Since it had been many years since the Crown Princess, mother of Prince Lewis, had passed, there was little ground for criticism.

Crown Prince Gueuze wouldn’t let Carynne slip away.

Catherine had used marriage as an excuse to flee to the Hare estate, where she stayed until her death, never returning. It was clear Gueuze wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.

The wedding was to take place in the capital. There would be a blessing ceremony at the cathedral, followed by a celebration at the royal palace, where Carynne would stay.

“…No mention of leaving the pa…lace.”

Dullan traced his fingers over the end of the letter. Crown Prince Gueuze intended to keep Carynne in the palace permanently, just like his other mistresses.

“…Why me, of all people…”

Dullan had often heard about Crown Prince Gueuze from Catherine.

The prince had a penchant for mutilating people. He committed many atrocious acts. Yet, despite all that, despite everything… Catherine had still…

Dullan shook his head.

Why had Carynne chosen him as her puppet husband? Was it, as Isella and Zion suggested, a plea for help? A way to escape from this situation?

But Dullan knew Carynne better than most.

From the past she couldn’t remember to the present, Carynne had always acted rationally, even in the midst of madness. Even when she was drugged and tried to hang herself in the garden at night, there had been a pattern.

If Carynne had named him, there must have been a reason. The problem was that Dullan didn’t know what that reason was.

Why?

Carynne had already declared their engagement broken. Through the lord, she had even said she wouldn’t ever see him again. So why had she chosen him, even as her puppet husband?

Was she asking for help?

From a man she had discarded?

/subliminalwayfarer