Chapter 4

Viscount Tyrian couldn’t hide his restlessness as he faced Count Bufor.

In a fit of anger, the count sprang up from his chair. The sofa, pressed down by his weight, took a while to regain its original form.

“I don’t want a worn-out whore, I want a virgin! I can buy a whore like her with my money any time! How dare you deceive me?!”

“Count Bufor, I-I’m sorry. But it only happened once.”

“Be quiet. I’ll have to reconsider giving you my exclusive supply of minerals. You’ve wasted my time.”

“My lord!”

Disgusting words were exchanged between them.

Carinne snorted and turned her head. Birds of a feather indeed flocked together.

Count Bufor glared at Carinne and Viscount Tyrian and then stomped out of the drawing room.

“You damn, useless... bitch!”

The teacup soared through the air and crashed against the wall, shattering upon impact. A piece of the glass bounced off the wall and grazed Carinne’s cheek, but her tense body did not immediately register the pain.

“How dare you... mess up my plan!”

“You should’ve considered that when you took my mother’s life.”

“You’ll suffer for this! Do you think I’ll set you free?! Lock this bitch up immediately! Don’t give her anything for a week! She gets nothing, not even water!”

Two soldiers barged in and seized Carinne’s arms. Her body writhed in an attempt to escape the soldier’s grasp, but unlike the maid, they were not easy to overwhelm.

Contorting her face, she gave Viscount Tyrian a harsh stare.

“As long as you’re alive, you’ll experience hell. I’ll find a way to sell you, just wait and see,” Tyrion said as he pressed Carinne’s cheek with force with his hand.

Carinne scrunched up her face as she bit down on the inside of her mouth.

“Remember, anyone who gives her water will not make it out of this place alive.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s see how well you live with your beloved child,” Tyrian said with a harsh look on his face. He released his grip on Carinne’s cheek and flipped the table.

“Damn you, you filthy pig. Throw away the sofa and order a new one.”

In a fit of frustration, Viscount Tyrian clicked his tongue and stomped his foot.

***

“Tsk, dirty bitch.”

After a long time, Carinne emerged from the basement and encountered Viscount Tyrian in the drawing room.

Viscount Tyrian’s statement was somewhat correct. In contrast to her previous appearance, Carinne was now wearing ragged clothing, her hair was a mess, and her hands were caked in dirt and dust.

Three years had passed since she had slept with the man. Her child was born two years ago.

Carinne had become thinner and lost the spark in her eyes since her encounter with Count Bufor two and a half years ago.

She was so drained mentally and physically, her memories of being with the man were now very hazy.

Viscount Tyrian now barred her from any kind of socialization and kept her confined to the house.

After surviving solely on water, bread, and meager rations in the basement for a week, she experienced hell. Her days were filled with Viscount Tyrian’s relentless abuse. He frequently lashed her with a whip, and she was routinely starved.

Now that he had made the decision to shed the mask he had been wearing, he exhibited no mercy towards her.

Carinne experienced the delayed realization that Viscount Tyrian’s actions up to that point were simply an introduction. She had underestimated just how cruel and cowardly he truly was.

Carinne was tasked with handling whatever the maids couldn’t handle in a day. In the event that she was unable to accomplish those tasks, she was punished with starvation, physical abuse, or some other dreadful means.

Viscount Tyrian also granted the maids the freedom to treat Carinne as they wished.

The once lively spark in her eyes had faded, her cheeks were hollow, and her body had become gaunt.

Truthfully, she had no motivation to continue living.

Her quest for freedom seemed unimportant now. She simply wished for a swift death.

She was unable to take her own life, thus she prayed for life to end as quickly as possible.

In her eyes, there was nothing of value left in the world, with only one exception: the child she had conceived and brought into the world.

Her child was her only lifeline.

She was prohibited from even washing herself. She was utterly exhausted just by living. Night after night, the pain in her unhealed back and the constant reopening of her wounds were unbearable.

Viscount Tyrian shifted his arm to retrieve his cigarette, and Carinne’s crouched body quivered at the movement. The viscount chuckled with amusement as he watched Carinne flinch.

“You’ve lost your nerve. Marriage to Count Bufor would have been the smarter option for you.”

Her fear was instinctual. When his hand went up, a blow followed. Over time, that became ingrained in Carinne’s mind.

At times, he would direct his hand towards her child instead of her. It was now routine for her to use her entire body to shield her child from danger.

She had also developed an extreme social phobia.

“Be content that you’ve finally become useful for me again.”

An ominous laugh erupted from Viscount Tyrian.

She had ruined his ten years of work, and he made sure she suffered as a result.

But try as she may, Viscount Tyrian’s control and authority were too formidable for her to outmatch.

“I heard that Archduke Vaster Kayen is looking for a wife.”

“….”

Carinne kept her head down and did not respond.

She had heard of him. Rumor had it that countless people died in his manor, and that there were always dead bodies and blood in his midst.

Additionally, the southern area shared borders with neighboring nations and was incredibly abundant in resources, making it a frequent target for invasion. It was rumored that those who gazed into his eyes always ended up dead.

She’d heard he couldn’t find a wife even though he was of age, because of the abundance of malicious rumors.

That was what she had heard three years ago. By now, the time frame he had in mind for marriage must have already passed.

Additionally, he was also renowned for steering clear of women. There was even a rumor that he decapitated a woman who confessed her feelings to him.

In light of such rumors, who would risk getting near him?

Despite having all the perfect conditions for marriage, he was unable to find a suitable partner due to the terrible rumors about him.

Three years later, his situation appeared unchanged.

“He is fine with your imperfections as long as love is not what you seek. He said yes when I recommended you.”

“What are you getting in return?”

“One-year exclusive distribution rights for twenty famous horses from Quebec, silk, seven pairs of gold bars, and the unique fruits produced in the region.”

Carinne closed her mouth. Even though his product had a flaw, he seemed to have struck a good deal for himself.

Previously, she would have chuckled at him, but currently she showed no reaction. She had no energy for such things.

The combination of her constant hunger and fear of violence had taken a toll on her, making her feel small.

Her main goal was to avoid any unnecessary trouble and shield her child from the viscount’s anger.

“I mean who would take a woman with a child? This is an excellent opportunity for you. He said your child wasn’t an issue for him.”

“He said it was okay for me to bring my child?”

“Yes. If you screw this up, I’ll... sell you and your baby to the brothels. I’ve heard rumors about people who have a particular affinity for that kind of thing.”

“…”

“You’re leaving in a week, so get a dress by then. Don’t let any useless chatter reach the archduke’s ear.”

Carinne didn’t respond, but Viscount Tyrian was confident that she would no longer engage in futile resistance. He was skilled in using violence to control her, and had been honing his tactics for two years.

“Don’t lose your head by needlessly offending him. Just do what you’re told. One day, there may be more things to exploit from him.”

“…”

Carinne didn’t care anymore. She would do anything to leave this house, even if it meant staying quiet for the rest of her life.

“I gave notice to the staff, so start getting ready tomorrow. Get out.”

Carinne stood up without saying a word and left the drawing room. The sickening stench of cigarettes that filled the place made her feel like retching.

She moved towards the basement, where her room was now inhabited by someone in addition to herself.

Weary-eyed, she stepped inside after opening the iron door.

“Mommy!”

With a tired expression, Carinne lowered her head and took in the sight of the red-eyed child sitting on the worn, moldy bed.

Her child had silvery-white locks like hers, and the crimson eyes of the man she had spent the night with. However, due to lack of food and nutrition, he had a scrawny appearance overall.

“Are you hurt?” the child asked, tilting his head.

“No, I’m fine.”

Carinne gently caressed the child’s head before lying down on the floor.

The old carpet’s dank smell stung her nostrils, but she yearned to be left alone at the moment.

“Mommy, are you hurt?” the child asked again, struggling to get off the bed.

The toddler, whose pronunciation was still imprecise, was now approximately 26 months of age. Despite lacking proper care, the child fortunately was growing up healthy. Carinne wondered if it was the man’s or her sturdy constitution that was responsible for that.

“Didn’t I tell you I’m fine?”

There was a tinge of annoyance in her tone. The child suddenly halted his attempt to come down from the bed. He could sense that his mother wasn’t in a good mood.

“I’m sorry. Nitty will keep quiet.”

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

She was lying on the floor with her eyes closed, but she suddenly opened her eyes and sat up.

“No, I’m sorry, Nitty.”

Climbing onto the bed, she cradled the child in her arms.

Burying her face in the child’s silver hair, Carinne tenderly patted the child’s small back as she held him tightly in her arms.

The little one pressed his face onto her body.

“Mommy, where were you?”

“The viscount said we’ll be able to leave here soon. We’re going outside.”

“Nitty too?”

“Yes. Nitty and Mommy together.”

With a beaming smile, the child wrapped his arms tightly around Carinne.