Chapter 4

Viscount Tyrian glanced at Count Bupo with unease as the latter jumped from his seat, fuming with anger, leaving the pressed sofa in disarray, caused by his heavy buttocks, as it tried to get back its original form.

“I have no need for a used whore, I want a virgin! I can get anybody like her for far less! How dare you trick me?!”

“Sir, Count Bupo, that is… I’m really sorry. But, it has happened only once.”

“This is a mess, let’s rethink the exclusive supply of minerals. I just wasted my time for nothing.”

“Your Grace!”

An exchange of curses echoed in the hall making Carinne giggle sarcastically, the promise they made to get along has been annulled.

“This, damn… useless bitch!”

Cruel words were coupled with a flying teacup that met its demise hitting the wall, with its fragments cutting into Carinne’s skin, yet the pain was not felt; her body was tense and numb from the storm inside.

“You… You dare ruin everything?”

“You should have expected this to happen from the day you killed my mother.”

 “… You’re not going anywhere nice. Do you think I’m going to let you off the hook?! Come right now and lock this bitch up! Don’t give her anything for a week! Nothing but water!”

Two soldiers came in and grabbed Karine’s arms. She twisted her body in an attempt to be released, but unlike the maids from last time, it was not easy to get out of the soldiers’ grips, so she returned to glaring at Viscount Tyrian.

“If you survive this week, I will personally make sure you go through hell. Afterwards, I’ll sell you to somewhere with fewer requirements for the right amount, wait and see.”

Viscount Tyrian said, squeezing Karine’s cheeks with one hand, making her bite her inner cheeks.

 “If you give it away for free, no one is going to bother getting the whole thing, make sure you remember that.”

“Yes.”

“Try to make it out alive with that precious baby of yours”

With an insidious expression, Viscount Tyrian shouted at Carinne, then discarded her captured cheeks, conveying clearly that the tables have turned and that he was the one in control.

“Fucking pig. You, take out the sofa and order a new one.”

Viscount Tyrian clicked his tongue and walked away.

***

“Follow me, bitch.”

After a long time, Carinne came out of the basement and encountered Viscount Tyrian in the parlour. He did keep his words; unlike before Carinne was dressed in shabby clothes, and her hands were covered with dirt and dust. It had been 3 years since she slept with that man, and two years since her child was born. Carinne’s eyes were much more dry and soulless than the time before meeting Count Bupo two and a half years ago. She was mentally and physically devastated to the extent that her memories of being with that man were blurred.

Viscount Tyrian no longer let her out of the house or allowed her to socialize. For her, who survived a week without food, using water and bread left in the basement, the gates of hell were about to unfold. Viscount Tyrian abused her for long days, lashed her with a whip, and starving became a common occurrence.

He had discarded all semblance of respect for her as if he no longer cared to keep the mask he was wearing half-heartedly before. She belatedly realized that what Viscount Tyrian had done before was just a taste of what he was capable of, he proved himself to be much crueller and more atrocious than she had previously thought.

As Viscount Tyrian permitted the maids to treat her as they please, Carinne was given an excessive amount of work by the maids every day. If she couldn’t cope with it, she would starve or get hit or some other punishment would be given.

Her body became thin, her cheeks hollow, and her eyes were completely lifeless. She had honestly lost interest in living. It seemed meaningless now to desire freedom. She just wanted to die soon. She didn’t dare to take her own life, so she just wished this life would end as fast as possible for everything in the world was of no value to her anymore with one exception only, the child she gave birth to, her sole reason to breathe.

Proper washing was also not allowed either. Carinne was just sick and tired of everything. She hated all the soreness in her back that didn’t go away every night, and the wounds that burst open again after starting to heal.

Viscount Tyrian moved his arm to take out his cigarette as Carinne was bowing her head to his movement while trembling greatly. Watching her flinch, Viscount Tirian burst into laughter enjoying himself.

“You seem to be in low spirits. It would have been better for you to go to Count Bupo.”

It was an instinctive fear. If he raises his hand, he was going to hit. It was imprinted on Carinne over these years. Even if that hit wasn’t aimed at her, because it would normally be directed to her child. It has become a habit of hers now, to wrap her body around her child to shelter him from any hit. To the point that she developed a severe social phobia.

“Thank your lucky stars that you have finally become useful.” Viscount Tyrian laughed meanly.

He didn’t let Carinne be after ruining his 10-year plan. Viscount Tyrian had both power and authority backing him so she could not win against him no matter how hard she struggled.

“It is said that Archduke Baster Kaine is looking for a wife.”

“…..”

Carinne gave no response with her head down. It was a person she heard of. Rumour has it, countless people were dying in his mansion, and there were always bodies and blood around it.

It is said that the southern regions were in close contact with the borders of other countries and were often invaded because of the abundant resources. There are rumours that one will surely die if one were to look him in the eyes.

She heard that because of all those unpleasant rumours, he couldn’t get married even though he was of the right age. That was the gossip she heard three years ago. Now, he must have passed the marriageable age.

Besides, he was famous for not approaching women. There had been a story that one day he cut off the head of a woman who confessed to him, so who would want to be close to him? In any case, despite all his perfect circumstances, he was unable to marry any woman because of all the other terrible conditions. And it seemed to be the same now, three years later.

“If he’s not looking for love, then it won’t matter if you’re a little defective. I recommended you and they agreed.”

“… What did you choose to receive?”

“It is an exclusive distribution right for twenty famous horses from Quebec, silk, seven gold bars, and the unique fruits that come out there.”

Carinne shut her mouth. He wanted to sell off his defective merchandise even if the price was low. She would have laughed at Viscount Tyrian for this like she used to before, but she hadn’t done anything now, she didn’t have the energy to do so. Her daily hunger and fear of violence made her small and she didn’t want to make unnecessary actions that drove the anger toward her child.

“Well, who would agree to take a girl with a child? This will be a great opportunity for you. Because they said it was okay to bring the child.”

“… You said it was okay to bring children?”

“Indeed. If you do something wrong this time, then I’ll really… put Ami in a brothel. I heard that there are some men with that unique taste.”

“…”

“You will be leaving in a week, so pick a dress in the meantime and don’t let useless gossip make its way into the Grand Archduchy.”

Carinne didn’t respond, but Viscount Tyrian was confident that she would no longer make useless rebellions. He knew how to make people obey and submit with violence, and he did so for the past two years.

“Don’t needlessly provoke his temper and get your head chopped off and just do as you’re told. You never know when there will be a use to you again.”

“….”

It was good now. Anything would be fine as long as she could get out of this house. Even if it meant she would be trapped somewhere else in the course of her life and told to stay quiet, it seemed to be a merciful option.

“I’ve talked to the Archduke, so make sure to hurry and start preparing as of tomorrow. Get out.”

Carinne stood up silently and left the parlour that was filled with the rancid smell of cigarettes that made her feel like vomiting. She walked back and headed for the basement.

In what became her room, Carinne no longer lived alone. With her weary eyes, she opened the iron door and entered.

“Mommy”

Carinne bowed her head as if she was tired, looking at the red-eyed child sitting on the old mouldy bed. The boy, who resembled the red-eyed man she spent the night with, has her silver-white hair and was completely grim because he could not eat properly.

“Hu’t?”(Hurt)

 The child smiled wearily and asked.

“…No, it doesn’t hurt.”

Carinne stroked the child’s head once and laid on the floor. Even though the old carpet smelled damp, she wanted to lay alone.

“Is mommy … sick?”

The child, who was about 26 months old now, leaned to get out of bed and asked again with incorrect pronunciation. Fortunately, despite not receiving proper care, the child grew up healthy. She didn’t know if it was because the man had a healthy constitution or because of her.

“I said I’m not hurt!” Carinne said annoyed.

The child stopped moving and stiffened because he noticed that she was in a bad mood.

“Sowwy. Nitty will go shush.”

The child squeezed his mouth with both hands and quietly retreated to the corner of the bed.+

Lying on her side on the floor and closing her eyes, Carinne opened her eyes and slowly raised her body.

“…No, mommy is sorry. Nitty.”

She climbed onto the bed and held the child in her arms burying her face in his silvery hair, and patting the skinny child’s back which made anxiety desert his features.

“Mommy, whe’w did you go?” (Where)

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“we’ll be leaving this place soon. We are going outside.”

“Nitty too?”

“Yes, both Nitty and mommy.”

The child smiled widely and hugged Carinne tightly.