Resetting Lady - Chapter 18

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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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“Really… honestly, the reason you haven’t served this until now… ah, no, that’s not it. Today I feel as though I was born just to taste this.”

At Verdick’s praise, the Lord stroked his beard with satisfaction. Then Raymond and Isella also put some in their mouths, and their expressions changed as well. However, the young people found the subtle difference in taste unfamiliar and only offered brief, conventional compliments. This displeased Verdick, who prided himself on being a gourmet. How unreasonable to give equal portions to such immature people who couldn’t properly enjoy food.

“Could I taste this again during my stay?”

“Heh, there’s not even one left now, so you’d have to wait quite a while to taste this again.”

“It’s regrettable that I couldn’t taste it before.”

“Don’t feel disappointed. Our estate doesn’t have good hunters, so that was all we had.”

“Then please give me the opportunity to hire better hunters. I’ll gladly pay any amount. Really… may I call the chef? I can’t contain my admiration.”

Shortly after, a plump middle-aged man stood before Verdick, wiping his sweat.

“Truly excellent work. I didn’t recognize your true worth in other dishes until now, but I finally realize your hands are suited for more delicate cuisine.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“How on earth did you achieve such flavor?”

“The potatoes were topped with salt and butter melted in a 1:1 ratio…”

“No, no, I’m more curious about how you prepared the meat.”

“Wild birds fed only figs and apples for a month were drowned in wine and cooked in a high-temperature oven…”

“No, rather than that, um… my apologies.”

Verdick cleared his throat impatiently and composed his voice.

“I’m curious about that seasoning combination. I can’t figure out what spice it is. It doesn’t seem like any herb I know.”

“I…”

The chef hesitated.

“Please. Is the recipe that secret? Lord, I’ll pay a fair price. I simply cannot forget that taste.”

“Well, the thing is. Actually, that herb is…”

“…because I added it.”

Dulan answered quietly.

“…”

“…”

“It was truly excellent. Thank you, Father.”

Only Raymond responded in the silence.

The fact that Dulan, the future lord, had interfered with cooking was not particularly praiseworthy.

What he should be doing was administrative work beside the Lord, and as a priest, handling the ceremonial occasions of the estate’s people. Even giving praise had become awkward.

“I heard that Aeven Monastery, where Father Dulan stayed, values medical care above all else and recommends adequate nutrition rather than forbidding gluttony. My knights and I received much help there.”

“Oh my, you should have mentioned that earlier.”

Isella quickly chattered.

“I wanted to hear various perspectives. I thought Miss Evans’s view of fasting to share more with those below was also not wrong.”

“I see.”

“Though Verdick seems to disagree.”

Isella’s face reddened. She had so fervently criticized the Hyer family, yet Verdick’s greed didn’t match her words.

“I also enjoyed it greatly, Father. In my humble opinion, what was added on top appears to be medicinal herbs – what do you think?”

“…Cor, rect. I don’t always inter, interfere with cooking… but sometimes I intervene when I think it’s necessary.”

“Thanks to you, I gained not just taste but health as well. Thank you.”

Indeed, too valuable to be just a lord’s puppet. Verdick saw Dulan differently now. He had merely been an obstacle. If Dulan and Karen married, no matter how much Verdick monopolized actual power, the Hyer family would continue to hold final decision-making authority.

Fortunately, he was incompetent at management and had a stutter, so Verdick hadn’t paid much attention, but with this level of skill, he wanted to coax him into continuing to handle his cooking and health. Verdick licked the oil in his mouth with his tongue.

“…”

Karen still hadn’t put the wild bird in her mouth. Verdick secretly hoped she wouldn’t eat it and would yield her portion as he watched her. Their eyes met.

Karen smiled slightly.

He tried to look away in embarrassment, but Karen kept watching as she opened her mouth and put the bird in. He looked away from her chewing. It was unpleasant. And seeing Raymond watching Karen made him even more displeased. Damn knight, how much money have I spent on you!

Isella, noticing Raymond’s gaze, immediately sulked.

“Hmph, is someone sick? It tastes good, but it’s not really work that Father needs to do…”

Verdick firmly stepped on his daughter’s shoe. Enough already.

“I’m not feeling well.”

The Lord answered with an almost forced smile.

“So I’d appreciate it if you’d stop tormenting Dulan, Miss Evans.”

In the bleak atmosphere, the chef quietly disappeared, saying he would prepare refreshments. And the Lord cleared his throat and declared a recess for everyone to attend to their business.

Since the formal dinner would continue for over three hours, the Lord headed to the smoking room, and Verdick hurriedly followed.

* * *

Isella wiped her tears and fixed her makeup.

The woman in the mirror was a mess. Her rhetoric, her makeup, everything.

“This makes me look like a cheap villain…”

Why is that woman so pretty? She looked at her weak blonde hair. It wasn’t golden. The roots were dark brown, and though money had made it soft, it looked like a broom compared to Karen’s. She cursed her mother for not bearing her beautifully, then shook her head.

Money, or the abilities she had built up so much – the ability to distinguish documents, discern numerical differences within them, and exploit legal loopholes to make money – she had prided herself on these being so precious, yet felt them all fade before Karen Hyer’s natural beauty.

‘How many people do you think marry for love?’

But Father, you have a mistress. When I was five, I saw you kissing the tutor. You always respect Mother but don’t treat her as your only woman. Of course, Mother knew and quietly changed tutors. What saddened me most was seeing Mother being affectionate with the servant. What’s wrong with dreaming of love? What’s wrong with it?

Thud.

She punched toward the mirror. But the mirror didn’t break, only her hand hurt.

Through the mirror dirtied with handprints, her blurry impression became even more blurred.

“Ha…”

In the fairy tales she read occasionally between endless document analysis, there were always princesses and princes who loved perfectly. Their love never changed. The prince always loved the princess, protected her, and they lived happily together.

Isella still couldn’t forget the day she first met Raymond. He was the prince from fairy tales. A girl’s dream. Though he didn’t love Isella from first sight, that was okay. There were far more stories that ended happily even if the first meeting was just ordinary. With time, he would see her merits, and then, and then…

“That’s… impossible…”

She let out a hollow laugh.

Change her attitude and act pitiful? Ha, Isella mocked her own weakness. How comfortable Karen must be. Pretty and poor, appearing pitiful – how convenient. Isella imitating that? How disgusting for the wealthy to pretend to be poor.

The important thing was that women’s eloquence and abilities were overshadowed by appearance. Even if a talented woman generated much profit with her abilities, that was worth less than a beautiful woman’s smile. Merchants wanted talented women as employees, but their preference as lovers was infinitely low. Isella had seen such cases far too many times. Sickeningly so.

But she thought Raymond would be different… because Father said so. At some point, Isella realized that Father’s mistresses were always younger and more beautiful than Mother. She realized the truth too late. No, even knowing, there was nothing she could do. That’s an excuse.

Rather, if she hadn’t even studied, it would have been more miserable. And besides studying, Isella had poured enormous amounts of money into beauty. Various cosmetics for her face and hair, and stylish clothes for her body at least made her look decent. But how could one change things like natural facial features, body proportions and shape, or skin and hair color?

Human value lies not in appearance, and we should cultivate inner beauty so God may look upon us favorably… blah blah blah, damn it.

If she didn’t speak and just sat observing her surroundings, occasionally throwing in a word or two like Karen, she could clearly see she’d become even more miserable. She’d become like a weed that dies from lack of attention.

She fixed her makeup. She gritted her teeth.

Sir Raymond, you still have to marry me. You were sold to our family. Evans never lets debts go unpaid.

“…Haha.”

Raymond’s clear laughter came from beyond the terrace. His shining blonde hair flickered in glimpses. So he can laugh like that. He was genuinely laughing. Karen’s voice could be heard little by little too. They seemed happy. Isella suppressed the urge to rush in and grab her by the hair. She listened carefully. Their conversation could be heard faintly.

“Isn’t that so?”

“Wow… Sir Knight, you’re incredibly confident.”

Raymond was laughing while looking at Karen when he spotted Isella. Isella knew he had definitely seen her. But he paid no attention and continued his conversation with Karen.

“I’m quite a popular groom candidate.”

Cruelly, as if his engagement to Isella meant nothing to him.

“…To say that yourself is really… impressive.”

“Isn’t it?”

“How would I know? I saw you for the first time that night.”

Raymond bent slightly at the waist to meet Karen’s eyes.

“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“You know me.”

Isella held her breath.

* * *

During the brief break, Karen plucked decorative flowers one by one as she calculated. She struggled desperately to untangle her confused thoughts. Who was the person Father had seen?

Certainly Nancy had strangled Karen. But had she definitely died? No, no. If she hadn’t died, surely another accident would have occurred. Then from where was it not a fantasy? Karen was doubting her own thinking, but that only tormented her more.

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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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