Resetting Lady - Chapter 153

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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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04. Wouldn’t it be enough?

“Didn’t I say she’s not Karen?”

“Yes, this woman is Cally. Not Karen. I met her by chance in the forest. We formed a connection and have been living together like this.”

“There’s no one who can verify Cally’s past activities, is there? She has no family either.”

“Since her entire family is dead, what can be done about it?”

It was mealtime, but she felt like she might get indigestion.

Verdick and Raymond were raising their voices.

Karen looked at both of them while drinking water. The cold water with lemon floating in it refreshed her throat. Verdick certainly has strong vocal cords. His voice doesn’t even get hoarse.

“Look at that woman and the portrait I brought!”

Verdick pointed his finger at Karen as he spoke. His voice became rougher when addressing Raymond.

“Even though her face is identical to Karen Hyer’s, do you still plan to say that? Can you prove this woman existed before the date Karen went missing?”

“Do I really need to prove that to you?”

“…”

Karen looked at Verdick’s face while listening to Raymond’s response. It seems Raymond also plans to stick with the Cally setting.

“The meal is fine. But Mr. Verdick, judging by the freshness of the meat, it seems you used my estate’s hunting grounds, which is problematic.”

“The dish you’re currently eating was made by my chef, so how can you say such things?”

“Then I won’t eat anymore, so you’re welcome to leave.”

‘Childish…’

But his words seemed to hit Verdick properly. Childish and illogical sarcasm makes people even angrier. Verdick’s face turned completely red. He made “Th-this…” sounds while breathing heavily. Watching such Verdick, Raymond added words. It was an unexpected statement.

“…Very well.”

“What?”

“Mr. Verdick Evans, I’ll grant you permission to investigate the transported goods.”

Now? Karen’s eyes widened. The investigation rights for transported goods that Raymond mentioned were just bait. There wasn’t any proper information there. Verdick should know by now that he can’t obtain anything from there.

“This house is still…”

“Yes?”

When Raymond responded innocently, Karen realized he had said those words on purpose. Verdick couldn’t very well say to Raymond, “I already searched through everything illegally and found nothing. Let me finish searching the house.” Given Raymond’s offer of investigation rights, Verdick wasn’t in a position to say anything.

“No, no. Thank you.”

Verdick could only say those words in the end. “I haven’t searched this house thoroughly enough yet” – he wanted to say this, but no matter what, it wasn’t something he could say in front of the house owner. Especially in front of a nobleman like him. Verdick swallowed his curses.

Seeing Raymond so readily agree to let him investigate the transported goods meant any clues had probably already disappeared. He had already investigated behind the scenes through Linde, even bribing related parties, but no proper clues existed. Only that it was shipped from this region came up, which was far from sufficient to find a connection to Raymond.

Rather than investigation rights for transported goods, he needed to search this house.

He needed to get information from that woman.

But Raymond had already returned.

Verdick swallowed a groan. Clues kept seeming within reach only to disappear repeatedly. If it were completely unrelated, he could cleanly forget about it, but that wasn’t possible.

Verdick was being tortured by hope.

The well-cooked food was cooling before his eyes. Verdick realized he was exhausted by sadness and fatigue. It was tiring. Wrestling with Raymond and Karen without getting answers was exhausting, and the situation with Prince Guiz was also becoming complicated. The businesses he had postponed were constantly requesting his confirmation.

Regardless, Raymond tapped the dining table with his finger and said to Verdick.

“Please hurry and finish your meal.”

“…”

Verdick lowered his head to his plate. Karen and Raymond slowly finished their meal while watching him.

And Karen had a stomachache.

* * *

“Mr. Verdick.”

“What is it?”

Verdick looked at Prince Guiz’s subordinate who had come to see him. They were parasites who provided no help while only consuming money. Verdick didn’t particularly like Prince Guiz or these men, but his opponent was the future king.

“You must know that Prince Louis passed away recently.”

“…I’m well aware.”

Prince Louis died at a young age. Of course, Verdick had foreseen his death. That’s why Verdick bet on the prince rather than the crown prince.

The current king and young nobles thought Prince Louis would surpass Prince Guiz to become king, and they worked to make it happen, but in Verdick’s view, it was impossible.

Prince Guiz had perverted tendencies and didn’t shy away from gambling and drugs, but actually there were many such nobles and royals. The countless people who came to Verdick would show their darkness without hesitation.

Verdick always felt like he was dealing with monsters when facing them. He had to feel that he himself was just one chess piece, a common money-grubber, nothing more than a money bag. Because that’s how they treated him.

That’s why Verdick had to be careful when judging people. Many nobles would despise him to his face but send letters asking to borrow money behind his back. And Prince Guiz, even if he was soaked in drugs, surprisingly had no particular health problems.

He was a middle-aged man in his prime, vigorous, and the laws regarding royal succession were extremely difficult to change. It was impossible for the current king, who was on his last legs, to change them. The king was holding on with senile stubbornness, but that didn’t make it possible to change Prince Guiz’s predetermined future.

That’s why Verdick bet on Prince Guiz.

He gave him women, gave him money, and begged him. Sometimes he deliberately asked favors of him. More often than not, like this time, it wasn’t much help, but he had to create opportunities for Prince Guiz to show off to him.

Prince Guiz was young, healthy, and even when he killed people, he always chose those who wouldn’t cause any trouble. He was cruel and had strange sexual habits, but that wasn’t a big problem for Verdick.

He had the highest possibility of becoming the future king, and if so, it was right to align with that future as much as possible. He couldn’t take unnecessary risks.

And he was right.

Because Prince Guiz ended up killing his own son.

“Should I offer congratulations to him, or should I offer tears?”

“Please offer tears during the day and congratulations at night.”

Verdick let out a hollow laugh.

“He’s quite greedy. Since the funeral will be held simply, there’s no need to go, right?”

“Yes, he sent word that he’d like to receive a congratulatory gift.”

“…Tell him I’ll sponsor the exposition he’s planning.”

“Understood.”

As someone who deeply loved Isella, he couldn’t understand Prince Guiz, but actually understanding Prince Guiz would be impossible for most people. Verdick suppressed a sigh while writing a letter to the manor.

Prince Guiz planned to hold a world exposition that he would lead as soon as the funeral ended. Of course, most of the money needed for it would have to be paid by Verdick. Verdick pondered ways to minimize possible losses. His head ached.

“And also.”

“…”

When he said those words, bad news always followed. Verdick looked at the messenger delivering the message.

“He said to tell you he really wants to see that woman presumed to be Karen Hyer once.”

“…This isn’t the time for him to be doing such things.”

He had killed his own son, but Count Fankair was still going strong. He had guarded the frontier for many years and commanded quite a large military force.

“He knows what he’s doing. But he said it would help with verification.”

“Right now that woman is with Raymond Seyertes. And since he’s officially retired, extracting her from him won’t be easy.”

“He’s not demanding it right away either. He said things might be settled by next spring.”

“He’s confident.”

Even though Prince Guiz was the first in line of succession, the king wasn’t handing over the throne to his son. But he was quite popular with the citizens who didn’t know his true nature.

His appearance of doing drugs and getting drunk, and rumors that he was ruined after his first love died, gave him a sense of familiarity. The current king was therefore also under pressure about why he wouldn’t hand over the throne to his son.

Now that Prince Louis was dead, he would have to make a decision even faster.

Verdick scratched his head. When his thoughts turned to how he should hand over Karen, dozens of methods and schemes came to mind. Most of them required a lot of time though.

“It’s difficult right now.”

“Yes, I’ll convey that. And…”

The man paused again. Verdick became anxious.

* * *

As Raymond had said, Verdick couldn’t stay much longer. Verdick heard the news and collapsed on the spot. It was a story he didn’t want to hear. He didn’t want to give up hope until the very end.

He cursed himself for thinking just moments ago that he was too tired, that he wished there was no hope. He shouldn’t have done that. He should have moved differently. It wasn’t about searching houses in this place. The transported goods weren’t the problem. He should have gone somewhere else, not here.

“A body presumed to be Isella has been discovered.”

And the location was a distant place completely unrelated to here.

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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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