Resetting Lady - Chapter 17

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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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“Yes.”

“Ha.”

Despite the lord’s expression that couldn’t hide his displeasure, Isella continued speaking resolutely.

“Looking at the commercial district that this business aims to improve, the state of it was truly appalling. Not just the hygiene, but the average nutritional status as well – I thought systematic improvement was necessary.”

“Huh. Is that statement based on evidence?”

“Of course. Even though I couldn’t go out for a while due to illness, I conducted thorough research through documents, and I’m presenting the conclusions I reached from that.”

Lord Hyer stiffened his face slightly and redirected his words to the bold girl’s father.

“Verdick, your daughter is quite something.”

“Haha, my lord. Please look upon her kindly. Our youngest daughter is not only beautiful, but also knowledgeable and curious.”

But who wouldn’t recognize that rudeness?

Karen quietly reached out to fill the water glass. Isella usually enjoys pretending not to think. She wants to be seen as light and cheerful. But in this setting, Isella changed her attitude as easily as flipping her palm, wanting to make a good impression on Raymond.

Since there was Karen, who was incomparably beautiful as a pure maiden, and who had even suffered a rather romantic accident, she would only be compared unfavorably, so she calculated it would be better to show her virtues as a wife.

When Raymond, being a soldier, was away, she probably wanted to show how suitable she was as a mistress of the house. Even if it seemed rude, if she was lacking as a beloved lover, she wanted to demonstrate that she at least had sufficient capability as a wife.

But that wouldn’t be quite appropriate for Raymond.

Karen could feel Raymond glancing at her sideways.

‘Ah, this time too.’

Verdick and Isella were accustomed to marriages arranged through mutual assessment, and Karen also knew to some extent that this was natural. Who could mock the countless people who live their lives according to their own standards? The story of a princess falling in love with a stable boy isn’t even used in fairy tales these days.

The Evans family needed to think more simply.

Raymond was a nobleman, capable, and though he spoke gently, he wasn’t Verdick. He wasn’t a merchant and wasn’t particularly skilled at calculating gains and losses. He was still a young man in his twenties who had spent a period that was hard to imagine from his handsome face in terrible circumstances.

Moreover, Karen wasn’t a stable keeper’s daughter but a semi-noble, and she was more than twice as beautiful as Isella. And since Raymond was destined for a baron’s position, to put it differently, Isella had nothing to offer but wealth.

“Haa.”

Karen let out a small sigh and put down her utensils.

「Karen felt upset seeing her father being embarrassed.」

She looked straight at Isella and said:

“I didn’t know you considered restraint a virtue.”

「Karen said this with a slightly displeased expression while looking at Isella’s attire.

Isella laughs and taps Karen’s arm.

“Oh my, Karen, don’t say such things. I’m not saying to endure like a monk – excuse me – unconditionally. Appropriate consumption and leading culture are necessary. My dress and accessories can hardly be called excessive consumption. What do you think, Sir Raymond?”

“Miss Evans. I haven’t received much teaching from my elder brother, but I learned one thing clearly. Not to interfere with women’s spending.”

Isella laughed loudly with a clear voice.

“Of course, if she were a spouse, I’d have to interfere.”

The laughter stopped.

“I’m not blaming Miss Evans. Mr. Verdick Evans is a gentleman who is generous with his family.”

“…Yes.”

“Of course. Sir Raymond. I’m always generous with my family.”

Verdick said, spreading both arms exaggeratedly. Subtly emphasizing that if he became part of his family, this would be nothing.

“Still, I’m pleased.”

Karen interjected.

“Miss Evans saying that now must be because our household’s meal appears excellent even to Miss Evans. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

Isella Evans picked up her water glass. The corners of her eyes were trembling slightly with anger.」

Thud.

“Isella?”

“Bowen.”

“Ah, sorry… I’m sorry, oh my.”

Isella had dropped her water glass.

The water glass was filled again. Isella picked up the water glass and said to Karen:

“What I mean isn’t to endure unconditionally. As I said before, appropriate consumption is necessary. It’s just… this meal is so excellent that I worry it might be sinful… Sir Raymond, what do you think?”

Her attitude had suddenly become meek. Raymond answered gently as expected.

“I’m enjoying it very much. Given my profession, almost all food feels luxurious to me. After trembling behind rocks for about two days wondering if bullets might fly, I feel grateful for everything.”

Karen felt a sharp sensation stabbing at her eyes. She looked at Isella. The corners of her eyes were trembling.

Isella picked up her water glass and drank.

The water in the glass had to be drunk.

What changed the slightly tense atmosphere was the main course.

Smelling that aroma, everyone seated at the table picked up their utensils to carve the meat.

When the footmen lifted the covers on the plates in front of each person, there was one bird cooked that was far too small compared to the size of the cover.

A bird that had been fed only figs and grapes for a couple of months was fragrant from its very flesh. It was a bird fattened to about six times the size of an ordinary wild bird. With its feathers plucked and flesh thoroughly fattened, the bird looked too clumsy to fly.

“Come to think of it, I heard it’s traditional to wear a hood when eating Ortolan. What do you think, Miss Evans?”

“Yes, yes?”

Raymond had spoken to her first for the first time. But Isella couldn’t be happy about that fact. She had just delivered a speech about gluttony. And the very next dish served happened to be a dish representing gluttony.

“Would you like to wear cloth? To hide your appetite from God.”

Though he spoke with a smile, the content wasn’t favorable. Verdick stepped in for his cornered daughter.

“Haha, Sir Raymond, please don’t be too mischievous. She’s still young, isn’t she?”

“Miss Evans already possesses sufficient insight and judgment, and I respect that.”

“Hmm, indeed.”

Verdick went “Hmm,” then continued speaking.

“Actually, our daughter, you see, has many things on her mind these days.”

“Huh, truly a daughter with abundant business instincts. Our Karen, rather than doing such things, reads scriptures or enjoys other stories. Isn’t that sufficient for a girl of that age?”

“Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant.”

Verdick, suddenly having the initiative taken by the lord, turned his head toward the lord.

“Then what?”

“Well, I heard a maid made a mistake with my child.”

“You mean Nancy?”

Verdick immediately nodded.

“You know about it too, my lord?”

“It was quite noisy.”

At the lord’s reproach, Verdick glanced disapprovingly at his daughter. But Isella was staring at the lord’s mouth and paid no attention to her father’s eyes.

“So a while ago, she said she wasn’t ready yet and wrote a resignation letter.”

“…Is that so? I thought she was enjoying a vacation.”

“After finishing her vacation.”

And the lord shrugged and stabbed the small bird with his fork.

“A few days ago, she came directly and said she absolutely couldn’t do it, then left.”

Crunch.

The sound of bones being crushed as the bird was chewed could be heard.

* * *

Father, who did you see? Who did you speak with? The woman you saw, spoke with, and sent away – my maid is dead. I killed her with these hands.

Questions overflowed. But Karen didn’t voice the questions lingering in her mouth. She didn’t show suspicion either. Experience creates composure. Karen simply looked at her father and continued speaking.

“Nancy did that… It’s rather disappointing.”

The lord swallowed his food, wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, and said:

“What can you do? That’s how wanderers are originally.”

With a slight smile, apparently finding the taste quite good, he looked at Verdick.

“How about it, Mr. Evans? Was that a satisfactory answer?”

“Of course, my lord. Rather than that, I’d like to taste the dish now.”

“As the host, I can confidently recommend it.”

The meal continued.

The whereabouts of one gypsy woman was cheaper than the dish.

Verdick then put the meat in his mouth. A skilled chef had made cuts at the neck, allowing the meat to be cleanly placed in the mouth. Verdick loved this wild bird dish very much. He closed his eyes to concentrate on the taste.

The mashed potatoes that first met his tongue were mixed with butter and lightly placed on top of the meat, seeming to melt smoothly in his mouth. When he broke through the fluffy particles, the oil that emerged moistened his throat, and when he chewed the meat, the sweet fragrance of fruit wafted richly.

The rich taste of wine thoroughly soaked between the flesh delightfully tickled his tongue. The sensation of small bones weakened by high heat crumbling between his teeth added to the pleasure of chewing. And when the small lungs and heart inside burst between his teeth, sweet juices spread throughout his mouth.

‘Oh, this taste.’

At the main house, they used to mock the tradition of one bird per day and eat two or three at a time. This sinful dish requiring careful attention was greatly loved by the entire Evans family. Roasted wild bird was considered luxurious food by everyone and was served as fine cuisine everywhere. So Verdick prided himself on being an enthusiast who knew everything from various seasonings and cooking methods for this dish to suitable garnishes.

‘What on earth did she use?’

The harmony of meat, garnish, and wine was sweeter than anything, but the true delicacy was the following combination of bitter and sour tastes. He had experienced adding sourness to meat for a refreshing flavor before, but the subtle bitterness felt on the tip of his tongue was a first. Verdick wondered if it might be burnt, but was astounded by the ensuing harmony.

It was a taste that toyed with his tongue. A shock as if his taste buds were being assaulted. That flavor wasn’t unpleasant, but rather enhanced the other tastes while being mysteriously exquisite in its own right.

‘I can’t describe this as bitter. What is it, what would be appropriate?’

“Get a hold of yourself, Evans.”

Verdick opened his eyes. A few tears had gathered at the corners of his eyes. It was so exquisite. A pleasure greater than sleeping with any beauty. Verdick felt a sense of duty that he must claim the Hyer Estate. This was greater than any scholar’s research.

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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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