Chapter 3

“You crazy bitch!”

Smack, smack!

“You miserable excuse for a human being!”

She lost count of how many lashes she received.

It was only after Viscount Tyrian had sufficiently unleashed his rage that he carelessly tossed the blood-drenched leather whip onto the floor.

“It’s filthy. Get rid of it and replace it with a new one.”

“Yes.”

Viscount Tyrian approached Carinne, snatched her by her hair and lifted her off the ground.

Carinne let out a groan as she knelt on her bed, trying to ease the pain.

“How dare you run away?! Haven’t I told you? If you attempt to escape, I will catch you, sever all your limbs, feed you to wild animals, and dispose of your body in the garbage.”

“Agh...”

“Do as you’re told, stay put, and get married to Count Bufor. Got it? That’s the only way you can repay me for all I’ve done for you.”

Carinne gritted her teeth in silence.

When Viscount Tyrian released his grip, Carinne collapsed onto the bed and let out a groan.

Her nightgown was ripped to shreds and disheveled. The leather whip was soaked with the blood that dripped from her back.

The viscount didn’t often pick up the whip, but when he did, he mercilessly whipped her until her skin bled profusely.

One saving grace was that the wounds eventually healed and either left faint scars behind or disappeared entirely. The scars were not easily noticeable unless one took a closer look.

“If you try to run away one more time, I’ll chop off one of your fingers.”

Damn it.

Carinne clenched her teeth. Despite his warning, she knew he wouldn’t do it. He was desperate to sell her at a high price, and for that, she needed to have all of her limbs.

“You’ll not be given any food besides water for the entire week.”

“…”

“What a spiteful bitch.”

As Carinne remained silent, Viscount Tyrian expressed his disapproval with a click of his tongue and walked out of the basement.

Crouched on the floor, she whimpered softly due to the searing pain in her back.

It was just as dreadful as it had always been.

***

As sunlight streamed in through the window, the man sleeping in the bed gradually opened his eyes.

A pair of crimson eyes were revealed under his open eyelids.

Unlike the previous day, his vision wasn’t blurry and he could focus now.

“Are you awake? Yesterday’s sudden New Moon caught me completely off guard. Forgive me for not being able to come sooner.”

A man in black bowed his head while kneeling before the man on the bed.

The man on the bed flicked his hand dismissively, clearly annoyed. His hands fumbled around the bed beside him before he burst into a fit of laughter.

“She didn’t even tell me her name, and she vanished without so much as a goodbye,” he mumbled in despair.

While indulging in a night of intimate lovemaking, he asked for her name and other details about her several times, but she chose not to answer and instead, she seized his lips.

Initially, she was as cold and unyielding as a stone, but after a couple of times, she began to respond with enthusiasm, and he could truly relish the experience.

It was nothing more than a transaction.

He also did it because he dreaded the thought of something going wrong if he had introduced his benefactor to a tavern.

Despite initial doubts, their compatibility surpassed his expectations, and the woman quietly disappeared.

I had a feeling this would happen when she refused to tell me anything...

He never imagined he would drift off into such a deep slumber.

When the New Moon came around, he couldn’t sleep well because he was uncomfortable, but he slept in late at the unfamiliar inn.

That, too, was a strange experience for him.

“What a pity.”

“Pardon? What are you referring to?”

“See if you can find the woman who was with me yesterday. She was about this tall,” the man said, pointing to his chest.

The man licked his lip and silently decided that if he could, he wanted to help with her pursuit of vengeance.

“As you command.”

The kneeling man lowered his head in acceptance of his order.

The man slowly got up from the bed. Stripped of all clothing, his naked body was on display.

“Thank you.”

Before he dozed off, the woman had given him a hug and whispered those words in his ear.

He hadn’t expected her to vanish so abruptly after that. She didn’t even leave a note.

He let out a short sigh before getting dressed.

If I find her, what should I do? the man wondered, chuckling softly to himself.

Eventually, he too left the inn.

◆◆◆

Clunk!

With the door closed, the basement once again fell into darkness.

Carinne sighed deeply while lying diagonally on the bed. The viscount rarely used his hands to hit her, but he seemed quite incensed this time.

“Oh, I feel so invigorated.”

Her face went through a spectrum of colors, from red to white to pale, which was quite a sight to witness.

The man, known for wielding his whip with authority, finally threw a punch outside the basement.

She gently embraced her stomach and leaned against her worn-out bed.

Bringing the child into the world and raising it would be a challenge, and she also had doubts about whether the viscount would grant her any freedom.

I pray that the worst-case scenario doesn’t come to pass.

Viscount Tyrian had invested heavily in Carinne. He would try anything he could to get his money back somehow.

She hoped that Count Bufor wouldn’t decide he didn’t care and take her anyway.

“Is it truly impossible to escape?” Carinne heaved a heavy sigh.

Despite her anxiety, thankfully, Viscount Tyrian didn’t come to her again that day. In fact, he didn’t show himself again for another week.

For the duration of the week, Carinne’s daily rations consisted of a few pieces of bread and a bucket of water.

Because the basement door remained shut, Carinne had to stay in the dank, gloomy basement room and sustain herself on merely a handful of bread slices for seven days.

Thankfully, she had some food she had stashed away in advance. The dried beef jerky remained fresh for a long time, and she had also managed to store some water.

She was accustomed to this level of hunger, so it didn’t faze her.

She shut her eyes and endured the familiar darkness. It was her regular routine, just like every other day.

***

“Welcome, Count Bufor! Thank you for making the long trip to be here. Haha. Come this way.”

“Ahem, yes. Thank you for inviting me.”

The man of considerable build and rolls of flab shuffled in, using a handkerchief to dab at his sweaty forehead.

As Count Bufor came stomping into view, Carinne held her breath.

He’s so vile.

Apart from the smell of sweat exuding from his body, the most filthy thing about him was his wicked stare. Passing by Carinne, Count Bufor scanned her from head-to-toe and smiled. The drooping skin lifted, exposing a row of yellow teeth.

“Follow me, Carinne.”

“…”

Viscount Tyrian had extended an invitation to Count Bufor for dinner.

Carinne’s belly was slightly bulging, but she could easily hide it by wearing a dress.

That morning, there had been an issue when the maid had tightened her dress too tightly, showing complete lack of concern for the baby in her stomach. Carinne had to forcefully grab the maid by her collar.

Suppressing her disgust, Carinne trailed behind Count Bufor and Viscount Tyrian.

The flowy dress she wore at the behest of Viscount Tyrian, the white powder she used to lighten her complexion, and the lip gloss on her lips were all atrocious.

She bit her lower lip. Any resistance to authority would trigger a violent outburst from the viscount. Should she attempt to escape and be caught, not only she but also those who assisted her would face danger.

As a result, all those around her anxiously observed her every move.

There was no way Carinne could escape from this place.

I want to be free.

Carinne trailed behind Viscount Tyrian and stood behind him. From his seat across the room, Count Bufor had a prime view to admire her.

That was precisely what Viscount Tyrian had in mind.

She regretted having to use her baby in such a manner, but there really was no other way. Viscount Tyrian was determined to sell her for money, even if it meant severing the tendons in her limbs.

Without the viscount’s permission, Carinne couldn’t sit down, so she remained standing as she nervously bit her lower lip.

“I’ve been very patient. I think it’s about time. How about having the wedding next month, Viscount Tyrian?”

“Yes, yes, even tomorrow is fine with us,” Viscount Tyrian said, flashing an awkward smile. His obsequious demeanor hinted at his unease.

Suppressing a chuckle, Carinne used her hand to cover her mouth.

“Unfortunately, there’s... a slight hiccup.”

“A hiccup?” Count Bufor asked in a heavy tone, as if weighed down by his own mass. The sweat from his body was soaking the sofa.

Suppressing her urge to grimace, Carinne flashed a smile. “I’m pregnant.”

“What?”

“Around half a year ago, I had a sexual encounter with a man I met at a tavern and it looks like I am carrying his baby.”

His tiny eyes, usually imperceptible even when open, suddenly grew large as he looked toward Viscount Tyrian.

Viscount Tyrian’s expression revealed a sense of utter defeat as he glared at Carinne.

This crazy bitch!

He was unable to utter his profanity out loud, so he glared fiercely at Carinne, clenching his jaw. With a soft grin on her face, Carinne affectionately rubbed her stomach.

“Is it true?! Viscount Tyrian?”

“It... It’s true, but miscarriages happen all the time, and since no one knows about it, we can handle this matter in a discreet—”

“Shut up!”

A burst of saliva spat out from Count Bufor’s mouth.