Resetting Lady - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Duke, please speak honestly.”

Duke Fankair was now continuing to evade and trying to send him to a secluded place. And he was trying to definitively make Karen the culprit. The reason was simple. It wasn’t friendship toward Guiz, nor loyalty to the king. But Duke Fankair tilted his head slightly. He was testing the waters.

“What do you mean?”

“I know that you have succession rights after Prince Guiz and Prince Louis.”

Duke Fankair really didn’t want to escalate things. Since he would become the future king. He looked at Raymond and slowly nodded.

“…Yes, I will be the next king.”

Now Duke Fankair no longer needed to worry about the old king’s feelings. Raymond stood up and said to him.

“Duke, I will live for you.”

“How touching.”

“Please spare just my fiancée. I will obey for life.”

And Raymond also knew the duke’s weaknesses. The duke would know that too. Raymond said he would obey the duke with words while his eyes gleamed fiercely. As if he would cut his throat if he didn’t comply.

“I will abandon all the honor and pride you mentioned and live only for you.”

“I was the one who told you to live that way.”

“Duke.”

Raymond looked the duke in the eye and said.

“Prince Louis has passed away. I wish to serve a new king.”

“…”

“I have tried to live an exemplary life until now, but I no longer need to. Since Prince Louis is gone.”

“…”

“Use me and discard me as you wish. But just one thing, I want only my fiancée’s life. She committed no crime.”

Duke Fankair closed his mouth. And fell into silence again. But it didn’t last long. He opened his mouth.

“Explain why Karen Evans committed no crime. Give me a convincing explanation, in detail.”

It worked. Raymond took up his fountain pen on the parchment before Duke Fankair and scribbled while speaking.

“If we reveal Prince Guiz’s collection, it would be quite convincing that Karen accidentally killed Prince Guiz while struggling.”

“You’re asking me to consider the damage to the royal family’s honor?”

“I will pay that price.”

Raymond pointed to himself. Duke Fankair shook his head.

“Prince Louis.”

“He was certainly… stabbed by Prince Guiz with a sword.”

“Didn’t you say Karen was holding the sword?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t Karen who stabbed him, it was Prince Guiz.”

“Evidence?”

“I can’t call it evidence, but Prince Guiz was the first to take down the sword hanging on the wall. He used the sword first, and then Karen picked up that sword.”

Thinking through the sketches step by step, it all fit together.

“The possibility that she killed Guiz first, then killed Louis afterward?”

“Impossible.”

“Why?”

“She couldn’t reach that height.”

“Ah.”

It was a simple fact.

“Looking at the sequence, Prince Guiz took down the sword first. This is natural since only he could reach it. And with that sword he… Prince Louis… Actually, I don’t quite understand. Wasn’t Prince Guiz the first in line for succession? He could have just waited.”

Duke Fankair brushed it off casually.

“Because he’s royalty. So when Guiz and Louis were fighting, Karen strangled him from behind… But why did she pick up the sword again?”

“That would be because of her maid.”

“Maid? Ah, you said there was one more. Why?”

The fact that Donna existed was quickly forgotten. But Raymond could understand why she died.

“One of her arms and one of her legs were found at Countess Elba’s mansion… Prince Guiz sent them to Karen. They had been dried for a long time, and were confirmed to be hers through identifying features.”

And the reason Karen killed Donna was simple.

“For euthanasia.”

“Hah.”

Duke Fankair rubbed his temples with his hand. He seemed to have trouble understanding.

“Then why did she say she killed them all?”

Raymond thought he knew the reason.

“That is…”

To start over. To thoroughly drive herself to execution. Because execution seemed more interesting than suicide. Because she thought that too would be a new experience.

“She has… mental illness.”

That was all Raymond could say. Duke Fankair sighed and placed his hand on Raymond’s shoulder.

“What you’ve said is merely situational speculation. Most trials consist of confessions and witnesses. And His Majesty wants a culprit. He is greatly angered by losing his children.”

“…I see.”

He would feel the same way. Duke Fankair answered.

“At least make sure your fiancée doesn’t talk nonsense. I’ll try my best.”

“Thank you.”

Raymond stood up from his seat. He had to persuade Karen. That life was precious. That she shouldn’t give up until the end. Even if it meant throwing all honor and pride into the gutter.

“Why did Prince Guiz… hate Prince Louis so much? He was just a child.”

Raymond thought of the young royal who had looked at him with expectant eyes.

His chest felt hot. He was too young to die like that.

“Royalty are competitors. Not children. And Guiz has been… tormented by delusions that Louis wasn’t his child ever since Prince Louis was born. Well, it wasn’t really a delusion.”

“…What?”

“I thought you knew. Prince Louis was a late son His Majesty had with his mistress, Mrs. Bercel. There was some kind of deal between the deceased Crown Princess and the current king.”

“…Was that so.”

“The Crown Princess was barren or simply couldn’t have children. Perhaps Prince Guiz was the problem.”

Duke Fankair smiled bitterly and stood up.

“In any case, His Majesty will now consider your fiancée an enemy. Whether it’s one son, two sons, or perhaps one son and one grandson. What does any of that matter? You just focus on appeasing your fiancée. I must go to His Majesty.”

* * *

“…Karen Evans will come out soon.”

“Right.”

Raymond went to the prison where Karen Evans was confined. Because she had killed the royal heirs, Karen was imprisoned where political prisoners were held. If Karen had only killed a maid like Donna, she would have been locked in a rough place and become prey for male prisoners and guards, but she had killed too big of figures. So ironically, Karen was clean and safe.

“Come out.”

“Thank you.”

Karen opened the door and approached Raymond under the guards’ gaze. It was different from a regular prison. This place, like a regular room, had a table and chairs, carpets on the floor, and even a painting of the Virgin Mary on the wall. But a prison was still a prison.

The guards stood expressionlessly holding guns and ropes, and the windows had bars. But looking at Karen’s face, she was extremely peaceful as if it weren’t a prison. Karen even had a slight smile.

“Lord Raymond, your face is a mess. Please keep yourself tidier.”

Raymond, having been scolded, smiled bitterly and pulled out a chair in front of Karen. Without a servant, he had to pull it out himself. Karen sat in the chair Raymond had pulled out. As if it were natural.

“You’re still beautiful.”

Even in this situation. When would Karen stop being beautiful? Raymond suddenly had that thought. Why was this woman beautiful even in the midst of all this? Had he gone mad? But regardless of what emotions Raymond felt looking at Karen, Karen seemed indifferent.

“Thank you.”

Raymond, who had been running around everywhere, was more tired and disheveled. Raymond sat at the table in front of Karen. The guards were watching from behind. Raymond said to them.

“I’d like you to step out for a moment.”

“Impossible.”

“What could I possibly do here? I’m just having a hard time with this situation as her fiancé.”

Raymond offered a pouch of gold coins. The guard didn’t take it.

“I won’t accept it.”

“Don’t be like that.”

As the two had a small scuffle, Karen giggled.

“Wow, Lord Raymond. Have you fallen to the point of offering bribes now? How corrupt.”

“…Karen.”

Raymond’s face reddened slightly. When Raymond hurriedly turned his head, the guard stepped back with an amused expression.

“I’ll be right outside the door. And I’ll keep the door open. That’s as far as it goes.”

“Fine.”

Karen’s eyes sparkled as she placed both hands on the table. It was as if she were playing a game.

“Hmm, are you interrogating me? How interesting. I thought it would come to this eventually.”

“Do you find this situation amusing?”

“What else can I do but find it amusing?”

We had already confessed our love since that starlit night, but we knew well that our love would never come to fruition.

“Karen, Count Fankair will become the next king.”

“Oh my, really? Ah, since Prince Louis is dead, that’s how it works… I wonder what the coronation will be like.”

Prince Louis loved you… Raymond tried not to think beyond that.

“You might be able to see it.”

“I don’t think so?”

You know why it won’t happen. Karen placed her arm on the table and rested her chin on it. She even crossed her legs. Tap, tap. He could feel her foot swaying. You can’t save me. It’s already too late. Watching her defiant attitude, Raymond sat down and clasped his hands together. He had to persuade her.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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