Resetting Lady - Chapter 169

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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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“The Evans Estate was uncomfortable mentally, but the meals and sleeping quarters were top-notch. It’s a bit disappointing.”

“Really? I think this place is pretty decent.”

“Comparatively speaking.”

The inn’s meal wasn’t luxurious either, but it was greasy and edible. Grilled chicken, boiled eggs, peas, and tea were served. Looking at the innkeeper who was winking at Karen, it seemed he had put some effort into it.

Karen sighed and grumbled while having breakfast at the inn.

“I think the problem was going empty-handed.”

“That could be it.”

Isella pretended otherwise, but she was materialistic. If Karen had brought a gift she would like, she surely would have met with her. That’s what Karen thought.

“How exactly should I approach being near Isella? Can you imagine what kind of gift would be good?”

“Money is the best. The best gift is cash.”

“This is Isela Evans we’re talking about. To make enough cash to please her, I’d have to sell our entire house and land, wouldn’t I?”

“Ah… that’s true.”

Nancy racked her brain, but as a gypsy, it seemed difficult for her to imagine a gift that would satisfy the immensely wealthy Isella’s heart. If even Karen found it difficult, there was no reason Nancy would be any different.

“Maybe we can find a good gift while wandering around.”

“I hope so.”

Karen began walking briskly through the streets to choose a gift first. She had to be near Isella. Because the probability of Raymond visiting her was very high. And to meet Isella, bringing a gift had the highest chance of success.

The weather was nice.

This time in the late morning, close to lunch, the streets were bustling with activity. Karen stepped toward the small town that was even more refined than the capital. The capital had an antique charm as it was an old city, but this place had been cultivated by the Evans Family for hundreds of years to build their support base.

The building walls were pure white and the roofs were unified in red. Overall, it was a vibrant small town. Merchants on the street were soliciting customers toward Karen. Karen stopped next to one of the shops.

“Cheap fruit for sale! We also sell juice! We’ll give it to you cheap, so take a cup!”

“Orange juice for the young lady, right? One cup, please.”

When Karen was looking at the merchant selling fruit on the street, Nancy quickly asked. After drinking only bitter tea this morning, she wanted to drink something sweet. But when Nancy paid the amount written on the price, the merchant smiled with a troubled face.

“Oh my, you need to buy two cups.”

“I don’t need any.”

“This is sold as a bundle of two cups at a cheap price. If you want to buy one cup, you’ll have to pay more.”

“What? Ah, forget it. You’re pulling some ridiculous trick.”

“What?”

When Nancy made threatening gestures at the merchant and started a quarrel, Karen stopped Nancy. She didn’t want to ruin her good mood over something trivial.

“Just buy two cups.”

“Miss!”

“It’s fine. You can drink one cup.”

“You need to save money!”

“That much is fine to spend.”

“Oh my, thank you. Once you try it, you’ll know. It’s a taste that won’t make you regret the money at all.”

“Miss, if you do that, those merchants will take all your money!”

“It’s just buying two cups of juice.”

Nancy grumbled, but she didn’t want to raise her voice over something trivial either. The merchant put the oranges in a juicer and began squeezing them. Then he gave Karen juice in a thin glass. Karen slowly drank while walking. As the sweet pulp moistened her mouth, her mood improved considerably.

When she glanced at Nancy, she too seemed to find the taste decent as she was concentrating on drinking. What caught her eye next was a shoe shop. When Karen stopped walking, Nancy asked from beside her.

“Are you going to buy shoes? As a gift for Miss Evans?”

“Well, Isella wouldn’t get shoes fitted at a place like this.”

And it didn’t make sense for someone else to gift shoes. Shoes were the most sensitive item among women’s clothing. How could she gift shoes to Isella, who ordered even each glove through her favorite seamstress? No matter how well Karen knew Isella, she didn’t remember the exact shape of her feet.

“Then there’s no need to stay here. Let’s quickly go somewhere else.”

“But I want to buy one for myself.”

“Miss… the money…”

“Oh my, welcome! What are you looking for?”

“Do you have good leather?”

Karen opened the door and went in.

And she bought and wore a pair of shoes made from fine lambskin. Even for Karen, buying ready-made products was quite rare, but she wanted to wear them immediately with just slight adjustments to the heel and frame rather than wait for them to be made.

“Shall we go look at accessories next? Or rather, is there anything you want to eat?”

“Miss Karen!”

Nancy worried about the light wallet from behind, but Karen was intoxicated by the immediate happiness. Since Karen thought she could win money through gambling if she was in a hurry, she had no reservations as long as it wasn’t extravagance at the level of buying jewelry.

Karen continued to buy various things after that. The pleasure she felt from consumption itself made Karen excited. Even if they had no great value, new objects, unfamiliar merchants talking to her, and the spring weather on streets she rarely visited were joyful to Karen.

‘How peaceful.’

Karen felt her steps become lighter with her refreshed mood as she walked the streets. The newly made shoes, despite not being luxury items, fit Karen’s feet perfectly. It was a small stroke of luck, but the satisfaction was great.

She had never walked these streets with such a light heart. For decades, she had either been running toward death or had given up everything and despaired in isolation. How narrow her world had been.

But now the midday streets under the blazing sun were overflowing with people Karen didn’t know. Except for Nancy beside her, they were all strangers. Peace washed over her, felt among unfamiliar streets and unfamiliar people.

The last place she visited was a jewelry shop.

This would be the kind of place Isella might like. And this jewelry shop also dealt with Verdick. She had occasionally seen Isella and the jeweler talking. When Karen approached the door with Nancy, an employee opened the door and bowed politely.

“What have you come to see?”

“I came to see if there’s something to gift to a young lady my age. What would be appropriate to gift to an unmarried woman?”

An elderly man adjusted his glasses and examined Karen.

“If she’s as young as you, miss, light accessories would probably be sufficient.”

“The person I want to give a gift to is Isela Evans.”

“Oh, I apologize.”

As soon as Isella’s name came up, the man’s face changed to one of understanding. And he went inside the display case and brought out several boxes.

“If it’s Miss Evans, she takes most items with priority. But she hasn’t seen the items here yet.”

The man opened the boxes one by one.

“Emerald is one of the things Miss Evans mainly uses. The green color goes very well with blonde hair.”

It was a box with emerald earrings and a necklace together. The green emerald seemed to overflow with vitality despite being a mineral. It was decorated with gold and silver, but the emerald’s characteristic cutting looked somewhat dull to Karen.

When she was with Karen, she didn’t wear emeralds that much – had Isella’s taste changed after meeting Karen?

“What else is there besides emerald?”

“She also loves sapphires very much. And she likes rubies too.”

“She liked rubies?”

“It’s her favorite gemstone.”

“…She liked rubies.”

Karen picked up the ruby ring the merchant offered. It was red, transparent, and beautiful. It was the finest pigeon blood color. The gem that seemed like a blazing sun was large and brilliant, and the small, transparent diamonds beside it emphasized the red light even more.

“Would you like to try it on?”

“Yes.”

When it went on Karen’s finger, it fit perfectly as if it had been made for her. Karen looked down at the ring and thought it really suited her well. But what she was buying this time wasn’t for herself. And while Isella until now might have liked rubies, the Isella that Karen knew hated rubies.

And Karen could guess the reason, which made her feel strange. Isella really did hate her. To the extent that she came to hate even the red gemstones she had loved most.

“What other things are there?”

“There’s a newly arrived diamond necklace.”

“Please show me.”

The necklace the merchant offered was one Karen knew.

“…This is.”

“It’s made only of the finest diamonds. It’s excessively luxurious, but there’s nothing better than this for a gift.”

It was a familiar object.

It was what Raymond had gifted to Isella.

Karen looked at the necklace decorated brilliantly with small diamonds and lifted it with her hand. Nancy’s eyes widened beside her. Karen remembered how Nancy had worn this necklace before and laughed.

“Don’t covet it. You’ll die.”

“Yes… But it’s incredible.”

“The previous one was quite flashy too.”

“Still, with something like this, it would be good to convert to cash later…”

“Our shop’s items are not mere commodities. Each piece of craftsmanship contains the artisan’s heart. It will surely create a special relationship with Miss Isella.”

The owner coldly cut off Nancy’s words and put the necklace around Karen’s neck. Then he showed Karen a mirror.

It was still a beautiful necklace and looked good for hanging oneself. Karen looked at the necklace around her neck and thought of the countless times that had passed. This necklace was once again around her neck like this.

Then another hand appeared in the mirror. Someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

“That necklace doesn’t suit you very well.”

A familiar voice, familiar hand shape, and familiar scent. The smell of gunpowder. Karen could tell who it was without turning around. And the person behind her could easily know without seeing Karen’s face.

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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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