Resetting Lady - Chapter 203
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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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“Lord Raymond?”
“…Your Highness.”
Raymond looked at Prince Louis. He could kill him instantly by twisting his neck. Prince Louis had witnessed him. And in Prince Guiz’s chamber, no less.
If this reached other people’s ears, especially Prince Guiz’s, he would be finished. No, even if only Count Fankair learned of it, his life might be in danger. In his past life, he had done much more work for Count Fankair, but not in this life.
It was confusing. Killing Prince Louis and escaping would be the best option, but that wasn’t what Karen would want. He didn’t want to do that either. Raymond limped as he moved forward.
Where could Karen be? Even thinking was exhausting and draining. He wanted to stop thinking altogether by her side.
“Lord Raymond! Where are you going now? Father is currently attending the banquet, so why were you in Father’s room?”
“Your Highness, I don’t know either.”
Raymond continued walking. Where should he go now? Why wasn’t Karen in the basement? Had Prince Guiz already killed Karen? Or where else could she be?
Raymond walked. For now… So where should he go? What should he do first?
“Lord Raymond?”
“Good evening… Countess Elba.”
“I didn’t expect to see you today.”
It was a familiar face. This made it even harder to kill everyone he encountered. With Countess Elba’s appearance, the prince’s gaze that had been directed at Raymond was withdrawn.
Raymond greeted Countess Elba and picked up one of the bombs he had planted earlier that was right beside him. He should remove it.
“What is that?”
“It’s nothing important. It’s something I dropped earlier. It’s somewhat dangerous, so you’d better stay away.”
“Oh my, you should be careful. Even if it’s military property, if something big happens, it’s a death sentence.”
“Thank you for the wise advice.”
And he was somewhat shocked by his own actions. In the midst of all this, he was thinking of removing the bomb. Raymond smiled bitterly. Countess Elba also soon lost interest in Raymond and warmly greeted Prince Louis who was behind him.
“Oh my, Lord Lewis. It’s been a long time.”
“Hello, Countess Elba. How is Lady Lian doing?”
“Very well. She misses you terribly. But she didn’t come today.”
“To attend the banquet?”
“Yes. It’s not really a place for Lian to come. I won’t be staying very long either.”
“I see. I’m thinking of hosting a tea party soon, so I’d be happy to see Lian then.”
“I look forward to it very much.”
Countess Elba and Prince Louis exchanged light conversation. Raymond turned his back and walked away while taking out several notes that Sion had left from his pocket. There were three of them. They had been placed at regular intervals by time.
Two of the papers were blank. Guiz hadn’t come from the time Sion was supposed to enter until the head servant made two rounds. The last paper clearly had writing on it, visible even while folded.
As he had expected, Prince Guiz had entered somewhat late, so he would still be in the banquet hall. Raymond unfolded the paper.
“Lady Elba usually doesn’t attend banquets hosted by Father.”
“I heard this one might be somewhat different.”
“What’s different about it?”
“Well… that is…”
Countess Elba hesitated, finding it difficult to speak to Prince Louis. Prince Louis urged her on.
“It’s fine, so tell me.”
“I heard he plans to show a new person to everyone.”
“…A woman, I suppose. Someone who might become my new stepmother?”
“I don’t think that’s it. She’s still young, and from a family that’s not very distinguished.”
“Who is it?”
“Do you know someone called Karen Hyer?”
Prince Louis shook his head.
Raymond was grateful that he had his back turned.
* * *
“What on earth is going on here?”
“Shh. Isella, calm down.”
Sion placed his finger on Isella’s lips. The place they were in was mainly where men and women had secret meetings, but that didn’t mean making loud noises was a wise choice. Even if it was large and splendid, it was still the heart of enemy territory. Let’s not draw attention.
But Isella grabbed Sion’s finger that had touched her lips and pulled it away. As her tension eased, her voice grew louder and fear turned to anger.
“Do I look like I’m in a state to calm down? Why is Karen there! Because of whom did I go through all this trouble and risk danger to come here…!”
“Perhaps she devised her own way to survive. If she gets on his good side, at least she won’t die immediately.”
She had survived by getting on Prince Guiz’s good side. She had survived far too well. To secure the position of his mistress. Karen beside Prince Guiz that he had seen earlier was incomparably splendid. At least she didn’t seem likely to die anytime soon.
Was it fortunate? But future matters had become more troublesome. How could they extract someone who had caught his eye as a mistress?
Women who become mistresses of royalty go through similar stages. High nobles do the same. This country’s law is based on monogamy and doesn’t recognize illegitimate children. Also, this country, heavily influenced by religious thought, views it as improper for unmarried women to have scandals with men.
So those in power marry their mistresses to men with weak political influence or one of their subordinates, giving her a position.
‘Ah, is that why?’
Sion thought Karen might be planning to escape from Prince Guiz using the same method as Catherine.
First, she enters the position of his mistress to appease Prince Guiz. But mistresses of royalty and nobility must be married women. It’s different from being treated like a corpse in the basement, unable to appear in public at all – a mistress is different.
Sion was well-versed in high society gossip and knew about Catherine and Guiz’s past as well. Catherine had escaped from Guiz using her legal husband as a shield.
If Karen also designated Raymond as her fake husband, Karen’s chances of escaping from Guiz would greatly increase. Only Sion knew about their relationship, excluding the two of them. Since Raymond and Karen’s relationship wasn’t official, marrying Raymond would create an opportunity.
“I understand.”
“What?”
“If she’s to be a mistress, they’ll definitely arrange a marriage first, and she’ll probably ask to designate Raymond as that husband, won’t she? I heard Karen’s mother Catherine also resolved things that way.”
“…What? What did you say?”
“To make her a mistress, she’d have to be a married woman. Seeing how he officially brought her to the party like that, he’s definitely planning to make her his mistress, not just a plaything.”
“No, that’s not it… Why did Lord Raymond’s name suddenly come up? By Raymond, do you mean your senior and my former fiancé?”
“Ah.”
Sion closed his mouth. He had made a proper slip of the tongue.
He tried to find an excuse, but Isella didn’t let him.
“What relationship does Lord Raymond have with Karen that she would designate him?”
“I misspoke. Of course, not that person but…”
“Then why did Lord Raymond’s name come up?”
“Well…”
He wasn’t ready to tell Isella yet. She had admired Raymond in the past. But she didn’t know about Raymond and Karen’s relationship. If Isella learned about their relationship, the backlash would definitely reach Karen too, which was why Raymond had ordered him to keep quiet.
“What’s important now isn’t that…”
“No, don’t deflect and tell me. I don’t understand why Lord Raymond’s name came up there. Why are you saying Karen would ask to designate Lord Raymond as her husband? What is their relationship?”
“I misspoke. As you know, Lord Raymond is my superior and someone I know well, so…”
“Count Sion, didn’t you promise me that we would have honest conversations so we could understand each other?”
Sion wanted to run away. Indeed, regardless of what Raymond said, it wasn’t his concern. He should have just coaxed Isella and acted cute while appeasing her in a safe manor. Isella’s gaze grew narrower. Sion broke out in a cold sweat.
“Actually, it’s because I got her pregnant.”
The answer came from behind.
“…What?”
Sion looked at his superior with an almost tearful expression. Raymond smiled bitterly as he entered the balcony space where Sion and Isella were.
“It’s been a while, Isella. I can only say I’m sorry once again for getting you involved like this.”
It was the moment when the fact they had kept secret all this time was revealed.
Sion had heard from Isella that Karen was pregnant. After deliberating, just before Raymond moved with the bomb himself, he had no choice but to ask. What kind of relationship did he have with Miss Karen Hyer? She might be pregnant right now.
Raymond calmly confessed to Isella, who was glaring at him.
“I was in a relationship with Karen.”
Isella felt dizzy from this revelation.
“So… an unmarried woman… Lord Raymond…”
“That’s right. I cut off contact with Karen because the fact that I had to take responsibility for her felt burdensome.”
Raymond answered readily.
“As I told you, I’m popular with people. After that, I realized how foolish it was to be tied down to one woman.”
“…Karen never said a word to me about any man because…”
“Naturally, it wasn’t a serious relationship with her either. Why would I have been devoted to just one woman?”
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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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