Resetting Lady - Chapter 164
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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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She had come to this place to see that boy.
But Nancy and Bowen, who hadn’t heard that, had the same expression as the man before them.
“…Excuse me?”
“That child helped me recently. I want to see him, where is he?”
The bakery owner looked at Karen with a confused face. Then he turned his head toward Bowen behind Karen, but he didn’t know either.
“What do you mean? Who would help the young lady? The young lady has never… um… hardly ever gone out…”
Nancy also asked from the side, but Karen didn’t respond.
“Please call him quickly.”
When Karen continued standing there, the man went outside and called for Tom. Then the door opened again and a small boy with disheveled hair entered. He was dirty and gaunt, a boy with large eyes. He didn’t resemble his father either. But Karen knew how much venom those boy’s eyes could contain. Thinking of that, she smiled brightly.
“Hello, Tom.”
It had been a long time.
And Karen was glad to see that boy. When she smiled with joy, the boy starved for warmth approached Karen. Stammering, he spoke to Karen.
“…Did… did you call for me?”
“Yes, thank you for helping me last time.”
Tom looked bewildered. Of course he did. His amusing Karen had happened at least five more deaths ago. But that didn’t change the past when he had entertained Karen. So Karen had deliberately come to find him. Because she doesn’t forget the past.
She keeps her promises. And this was the easiest good deed to perform.
Karen smiled as she took off her gloves and extended her hand to Tom.
“Won’t you come with me? I’m grateful, so I want to have you work at the manor.”
“…Excuse me?”
Tom’s eyes widened. Bowen and Nancy beside them said something in surprise to stop her, but that couldn’t change what Karen had decided.
“Don’t you want to come with me? If so, then it can’t be helped.”
“…No, no! I want to go! But… I…”
Tom was slightly frightened by this inexplicable good fortune.
“I really want to go…”
Tom looked scared but didn’t miss the opportunity given to him. Tom was fine even if Karen was mistaken about something. Tom gladly accepted her offer.
* * *
Nancy chattered away.
“Young lady, do you know how much I wanted to come to the manor?”
“You’re working here now, so that’s good.”
“Do you know how hard it was to get in?”
“I don’t know about that.”
Nancy seemed quite displeased that Karen had decided to bring Tom into the manor. Come to think of it, this was the first time she had brought Tom to the manor this early. It was always after Karen was in danger from Thomas, and after Thomas died, that Karen would take in Tom out of concern.
“The young lady wouldn’t know because you’re the young lady… but for a wanderer like me, just living in one’s own home like that boy Tom is already tremendous luck. People like us can’t settle down. So when Lady Catherine took me in and I came to the manor, it was really… really tremendous luck. And I really worked hard.”
Perhaps upset that Tom was taken in for no reason, Nancy continued grumbling. She thought she had grasped tremendous luck after hardship, but this boy Tom had seized good fortune for no reason at all. Nancy didn’t want even her own luck to be diminished.
Karen could see through Nancy’s feelings. Nancy was indeed somewhat selfish.
“Are you jealous of that child?”
“I can’t understand it. Young lady… does the Lord know?”
“Father will have no choice but to allow it.”
Karen knew well that her father was someone who would give in when pushed.
“Nancy, if we just leave that child there, he’ll die after being abused by that man. Do you think that’s right?”
“…”
Nancy said nothing more.
And even after saying that, Karen had to clench and unclench her fist at her own shamelessness. Her hand felt itchy.
“So don’t be jealous of that child.”
That child had lived miserably enough until now.
This was a whim. Karen knew her actions weren’t pure goodwill. Like when she started killing, this too was just another life choice. But this time, she wanted to do this.
There was no coin now. Karen had to think and decide for herself.
* * *
If she had killed, perhaps this time she’d try living kindly.
Actually, it wasn’t such a tremendously different choice. The life of a gentle, kind young lady was something Karen had tried several times. But thinking that this was real life, not a book, and that there were other people besides herself, made her heart race just like when she had killed.
‘This seems fine too.’
Karen bit her quill pen and pondered. The days waiting for Raymond were thrilling. And Karen planned to live faithfully until he came. Every day was new. Though not much time had passed yet, she tried to live earnestly every day, every hour.
Tom was receiving plenty of affection as a carriage attendant. Though he wasn’t by her side most of the time, the older servants found the sociable and quick-witted Tom endearing, and Tom also knew how to please the servants well.
The sociability he had honed for survival was shining. Even though only three days had passed, Tom had adapted well as if he had been working there for a long time.
Karen remembered that Tom had fallen ill. But perhaps because she brought him early this time, Tom didn’t seem to have much physical strain yet. Maybe this time Tom could defy fate and live.
Karen had such thoughts. Maybe this time Tom would live. And maybe this time she too would succeed.
“Young lady, what are you doing now?”
“Making plans. How is Tom doing these days?”
“How long has it been since he came? It’s only been two days.”
“I can’t believe it’s only been three days since I opened my eyes.”
“Is that so…”
Nancy was quite grumpy. She was completely different from Donna, who had worried about Tom. Karen chuckled. In this life, Tom wasn’t the son of a condemned man, but just a boy from the slums. The Lord sent someone to Thomas to inform him that his son would work at the manor, and had him come. Unlike last time, it was smooth from the start.
“So that… was bringing that boy Tom to live at the manor also part of your plan?”
“Yes.”
“To be honest, I don’t like it…”
“I know. But what are you doing now?”
Nancy was bending over and peering into the fireplace.
“I’m looking for gold pieces… Cough, cough. I don’t see any.”
She seemed to have choked from talking inside. Nancy pulled her face out and spoke to Karen.
“Young lady, you don’t know because you grew up so sheltered. Children like that grow up not knowing how to repay kindness. Even lying to bring that child in… Sigh. Yes, even if you did something to that child before as you said, you don’t need to do that in this life.”
Karen smiled as she answered Nancy.
“I want to live in various ways.”
“Oh my, I told you not to trust him. You shouldn’t trust people.”
Was it okay to say so openly that she didn’t trust him? Karen couldn’t help but laugh looking at Nancy.
“As one woman to another, I’ll tell you. Karen, you’re crazy.”
…Someone she had tried not to remember also came to mind.
Karen shook her head. She wasn’t someone she could do anything about.
What could she do by thinking of Isela Evans now?
Isela was ultimately a rival. Karen and Isela couldn’t be friends. The reason it ended like a maid before was because she had actively supported Isela marrying Raymond.
And now Raymond could never go to Isela.
The connection between Karen and Raymond couldn’t be severed. In the last life, Raymond went to Isela… Don’t think about it. Karen squeezed her eyes shut and opened them. Why hold onto regrets? Why try to feel remorse? Don’t sympathize. She wasn’t in a position to sympathize with anyone else.
If she wanted to sympathize, let her sympathize with Tom, with Nancy, with other poor and lowly people. Isela wasn’t an object of sympathy. Isela was Verdick’s daughter. Someone to be hostile toward, not pitied. And above all, Karen had Raymond. And Isela had liked Raymond.
A rival. An enemy.
Karen rested her chin on her hand and wrote his name on paper with her pen.
Lord Raymond Sayertes.
Her knight.
The important thing was only one person in this world. Karen reminded herself once more. Even if she decided to live more generously this time, she mustn’t forget what was important. What was important was Raymond.
When would Raymond come? How long would she have to wait?
“…Oh no.”
Karen regretted not coordinating with him in advance. If they had arranged in advance when and where to meet, she wouldn’t need to wait like this. She regretted not deciding beforehand what to do if she died before dying.
But Raymond had looked so desperate then that Karen couldn’t bring herself to assume her death and talk about what would happen after failure.
Even on the 100th time, the 105th time, until the very last moment, Raymond couldn’t give up hope. He hoped that if he blocked Karen from everything in the world, it might end. He ultimately failed then, but it wasn’t something not worth trying.
‘If I had died trying various other things then, I would have regretted it too. Rather than regretting showing sympathy needlessly… doing it that way was more right.’
Karen affirmed Raymond’s choice. The method he chose was the best method. At that time, it was difficult for them to choose any other method. If she could die before that day, let’s see if she dies afterward too. And let’s prevent all things that could cause death. Raymond had accomplished that.
But despite that, Karen had died.
But it was okay.
Though dying this time was regrettable too, there was another opportunity. Though she hated dying, this was only the second time repeating with Raymond. It was still far from getting tired of 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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