Resetting Lady - Chapter 144

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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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Verdick unpacked his belongings at an inn in a nearby town rather than his own manor. It was a filthy place where only travelers would stay, but he couldn’t remain at Raymond’s estate either.

“Mr. Evans, will you be alright?”

“Yes.”

But it was far too dirty. Verdick scowled fiercely as he watched a rat scurry away to a corner. As he approached the table, another servant hurried over and removed his coat to lay it on the chair. Verdick slumped down heavily into the chair.

“Tell me what we should do.”

Linde sat across from Verdick while reading the situation, then pushed up his glasses as he spoke.

“First, it’s difficult to conduct an investigation without the Baron’s signature. The tax evasion from last time as well…”

“Damn it, replace the tax office director.”

“Mr. Keyman has worked for a long time and is a trustworthy person.”

“A tax evader is looking for trustworthy people. Just replace the incompetent ones.”

It seemed like he could hear Mr. Keyman crying. But since his own job was more precious, Linde didn’t defend Keyman any further.

“…I understand. First, there are limits to what we can do without a signature.”

“Know that I pay you to handle such things. You wouldn’t want to follow in Keyman’s footsteps.”

“I understand.”

“Three days.”

“…I’ll do my best.”

Linde answered with a face that looked like he wanted to cry. Verdick took out his pipe again and began puffing on his tobacco heavily.

“It would have been much easier with the former Baron Seyertes.”

Linde spoke while remembering the former Baron Seyertes. It was natural for Raymond’s older brother to inherit the baronial title. However, his health was too poor and he had to enter a nursing facility, so eventually his younger brother Raymond Seyertes received the baronial title.

“It would have been much better that way… What’s the point of talking about impossible things now.”

“How about requesting a proxy signature from the former Baron at the nursing home?”

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered that method. But the situation wasn’t clear for him either. There was no certainty that investigating the Baron’s estate would yield information about Isella. Even if they conducted an investigation, there was no knowing if this was the right direction.

He had tried to get Raymond’s cooperation to save time, but Raymond had openly mocked him and refused. This would have been unthinkable with the former Baron.

“This… bastard.”

“Pardon?”

“Not you.”

What should he do about that bastard Raymond? Raymond was practically raised by Verdick. He was nothing more than a toy bought for his daughter because Isella had taken a liking to him.

Young Raymond had been a boy overflowing with a sense of justice, hadn’t he even come running to report injustices to Verdick who was trying to swallow up his estate?

“That person is like a knight.”

Verdick had agreed. That was a person’s essence. It was something more fundamental, different from what could be changed through education.

That hadn’t changed even after Verdick had refined him. Even when money disappeared, family diminished, and he went to the army and to war. Each person has an unchanging essence. And Raymond had never been able to abandon that until now. He couldn’t say a single harsh word to Isella and had served faithfully even in the military.

But suddenly this sneering attitude? Verdick leaned back in his chair.

It could happen.

Verdick knew that Raymond didn’t welcome the marriage to Isella. So he might take Isella’s disappearance as an opportunity.

But ‘that’ Raymond?

Not even stamping a single seal?

Could a person’s character, attitude, and essence all be turned upside down overnight?

It was possible, but Verdick was now thinking of grasping at anything.

Once he started suspecting one thing, there were too many things to suspect. The woman who was with Raymond. Perhaps he had changed after falling for that woman. Men in love become fools. Raymond was still young in Verdick’s eyes.

Then perhaps Raymond had done something to Isella?

That was going too far. Verdick shook his head. That thought was excessive. Even if Raymond sought revenge against him, he wasn’t decisive enough to do something to Isella. That’s why Verdick had chosen him. Because he knew Raymond couldn’t do such a thing.

Even if he was a man in love, he didn’t think his essence would change. Even if he was burning with revenge against Verdick… But wasn’t he acting far too suspiciously?

Raymond had quit the military unusually quickly. It was because the Baron’s health had suddenly deteriorated rapidly and he had to inherit the baronial position.

Verdick had planned to put him in the Senate, so he was going to tell him to wait a little longer, but suddenly three mines exploded in succession. After dealing with that, Isella had disappeared.

The engagement verbally established with the former Baron had become a thing of the past, and Raymond had paid back all the principal in the meantime. Before he knew it, Raymond had become someone unrelated to him.

Could that be possible?

Could all of that be coincidence? Raymond hadn’t appeared in social circles either. Nor was he absorbed in managing his estate as a Baron. The Tess Manor he had visited again after a long time had changed too much. The numerous servants had vanished without a trace.

A manor with no one in it.

That estate where he lived alone with just a red-haired maid.

“What happened to Lord Hyer’s daughter?”

“Pardon?”

Hearing the sudden question, Linde looked at Verdick. Verdick was annoyed with his subordinate who couldn’t immediately understand. The man had been quick-witted, but was now at a loss with the continuously overwhelming drowsiness. Verdick suppressed his anger and spoke again.

“Lord Hyer. The place that was the terminal station for the southern railway expansion plan.”

“Yes, you’re referring to the Hyer Estate.”

“His daughter came a few months ago as the Lord’s representative. Do you remember?”

Linde thought carefully and then nodded.

“I remember giving her a tour then. Even amid the chaotic timing, she was quite a beauty…”

“Damn, not that. Anyway, didn’t she look exactly like the maid who was at the Baron Seyertes household earlier?”

Linde shook his head while cleaning his glasses. Since it was an action to drive away drowsiness, Verdick didn’t say anything. Linde put on his glasses and spoke.

“…Now that you mention it, they looked quite similar. She was wearing maid’s clothing and was soaked with water at first, but both her face and hair color were identical.”

“Right?”

“Of course, there’s also the possibility that they’re different people who just look alike.”

“Right. Since there’s no reason for those two to be there… We should keep all possibilities open.”

Verdick rubbed his chin. It was strangely itchy.

He felt bad. He couldn’t tell what he should grasp onto. But he couldn’t ignore the suspicious person before his eyes either. While conducting an investigation into the transported goods, he also had to look into that woman. What relationship did that woman, who was alone with Raymond, have with him?

“First, we need to confirm whether she’s really Lord Hyer’s daughter. Send someone to find out what Karen Hyer’s whereabouts have been.”

* * *

Karen glared at Raymond. Raymond was smiling shamelessly. She didn’t like that face. Karen asked in a sharp voice.

“Why are you letting him live and sending him away?”

“Do you want to kill him?”

“Verdick Evans recognized me the moment he first saw me. We have to kill him. You’ve experienced it until now. That man might find clues here again somehow.”

Karen grabbed Raymond’s arm as she spoke. She couldn’t understand Raymond. Verdick wasn’t a man to be taken lightly. His cunning had repeatedly overwhelmed them. She had to remember that the Verdick she met at age 117 had eventually returned to strike at Karen’s neck again. He was a man who would return for revenge even from hell if Raymond had killed Isella.

“Kill him right now… Kill him. It’s not too late yet. Chase after him and kill them all.”

Raymond held Karen’s shoulders soothingly. His hands were large and warm.

“You don’t need to do that to Verdick.”

“He’s killed me several times!”

Raymond smiled bitterly.

“I know, Karen.”

“Then how…”

“But Karen, I always think only of you, and only you are important.”

“I know.”

“Then wouldn’t that be fine?”

Karen gritted her teeth. But the intense emotions rising from within swirled in her mouth.

“If you wanted to torture Verdick directly, I’m sorry. But it will be fine.”

“…That’s not it.”

How easy that would be. But what tormented Karen wasn’t that. Karen wasn’t doing this because she wanted to kill Verdick, burning with revenge. That was trivial.

There was a bigger problem.

She couldn’t understand Raymond.

Raymond wasn’t telling Karen everything.

Why is there no consistency in your actions? You pulled out someone’s fingernails, killed all those foreigners you’d never met, killed someone’s daughter, yet why do you leave my enemy alone? Isn’t Verdick the one who should be killed?

Of course, if she calculated it, he might be right. With so many people, killing them all would be unreasonable. Verdick hadn’t come alone, and he was completely different from Nancy or Tom whom Karen had killed.

He was a middle-aged man with a solid social position. If they killed him, the incident might spread beyond what she and Raymond could control, like with Prince Guiz last time.

It might be right to just let Verdick live his life.

But, but.

I hate that I can’t understand you.

That was frustrating.

“Karen.”

“Yes.”

Raymond lowered his head to meet Karen’s eyes.

“I am, well, quite bashful.”

Karen answered that unfunny remark with an expressionless face.

“…Yes.”

“That was meant to make you laugh.”

Karen didn’t laugh. It wasn’t a situation worth laughing about. She was truly upset with Raymond. He hadn’t told her important things and had acted in incomprehensible ways.

“Your jokes aren’t funny.”

Raymond smiled somewhat bitterly. It was a face that looked truly ashamed. Like the face of an adolescent boy. Raymond stroked Karen’s cheek.

“There are parts I don’t want to show you, and things I want to handle myself. But I think I’ve been too sparing with my words.”

Raymond closed his mouth and stared at Karen while brushing her hair behind her ear. His face showed he didn’t know what to say. After looking at her like that for a while, Raymond finally lowered his eyes.

And slowly spoke to Karen.

“Verdick will die before long. You don’t need to be so impatient.”

A gentle voice whispered to Karen.

And it was an equally cruel voice.

* * *

Verdick will never find his daughter again.

Until he dies, he will wander around searching for where his daughter is.

He won’t be able to eat, drink, or sleep.

Because he might miss his daughter.

Because she might be suffering somewhere while alive.

He will live a life where he can’t do anything else but continue wandering around searching for his daughter.

And he won’t be able to give up either.

Because I plan to help him little by little so he can’t give up.

He will continue to hold onto hope, unable to give up, and search forever like that.

But he will never be able to find her.

Don’t worry, Karen. He will truly experience hell while alive.

I’ve already confirmed it.

Death would be too easy a revenge, wouldn’t it.

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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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