Resetting Lady - Chapter 204
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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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So in the end, it was a story of meeting briefly and then leaving. If Isella had a gun, she felt like she would have shot Raymond. Isella continued questioning Raymond in a subdued voice.
“…When did you find out that Karen was pregnant?”
“Count Sion informed me of that fact when he reported Miss Karen Hyer’s disappearance to me.”
Raymond’s efforts to prevent Isella’s arrows from turning toward Karen were admirable even in Sion’s eyes.
This was finally the moment when all those long hours Sion had spent lying about how frivolous Raymond’s lower half was would shine. Raymond had become the ultimate bastard who not only slept with his former fiancée’s friend but got her pregnant and ran away.
‘Son of a bitch.’
Isella’s eyes turned blue as she glared at Raymond with contempt. Inwardly, she was cursing him out. She could understand why Karen had tried so hard to stay by her side.
She could see why Karen had continued to act as a maid by her side, constantly trying to please her, why she hadn’t returned to her own home but continued doing volunteer work at the Great Cathedral, trying to make a good impression on people.
Given this situation, Karen might have gone even more insane. Self-hypnotizing herself into believing she wasn’t pregnant. Believing she was infertile, yet instinctively moving to find a place to live.
Isella finally began to understand and sympathize with Karen. Truly. The harsh stares that an ‘abandoned woman’ received in this place were cruel. It would be fortunate if she wasn’t stoned. That’s why she had been so generous and tried to please her.
And all that suffering she endured was because of that man.
Lord Raymond Seyertes.
A bastard with only a shiny face.
Both Isella and Karen, when you really thought about it, were suffering like this because of that man. Isella had to resist the urge to push Raymond off the terrace.
“…But why are you here now? I can’t understand why someone you described as such a… scoundrel is in this place. Why did someone who acted freely without responsibility suddenly come here?”
When Isella looked at him with cold eyes, Raymond pointed his finger at Sion.
“Because Count Sion Electra beside you convinced me. I didn’t want to sacrifice myself for a woman I met briefly. I think living like that is foolish. But Count Sion convinced me and told me your story.”
Raymond then knelt on one knee before Isella, who was looking at him with displeasure.
“You came all this way for Karen. Seeing you and Count Sion show such courage for Karen Hyer made me reconsider my sins. I learned that I can no longer run away. I realized I cannot escape. I now kneel before you and ask for help.”
Those words were sincere.
“Please help me, Isella Evans.”
* * *
Isella returned to the party hall.
“Fine. But after this is over, I don’t want to see you.”
“Yes.”
“Never again.”
She didn’t know how things would unfold. If Karen tactfully pointed to Lord Raymond as her husband as Sion had suggested, would things work out well?
“Isella, but… is there something we need to do now?”
“Just stand there, Count Sion. I don’t think Karen will point to Lord Raymond.”
“Why not? Like her mother, if Karen just points to Lord Raymond, it would be over.”
“How could that be possible.”
Isella immediately denied Sion’s speculation.
It couldn’t be possible. No matter how much people around denied Raymond and called him dissolute, his external value was never small. He was a famous soldier favored by Prince Louis, and a war hero. On top of that, he was young and handsome.
“Even if Karen requested it, Prince Guize would never allow it. It would only make her sincerity toward the prince more suspicious.”
“…My thinking was shallow. Then what do you think, Miss Isella?”
“Lord Raymond asking me for help… I think Miss Karen might point to you.”
“What?”
Sion pointed to himself with a bewildered face. Why would Karen point to him? The relationship between Karen and him was closer to being somewhat bad rather than good. So why would she designate him as her husband?
“Exactly. It’s the position of a mistress’s husband, so they would never let her point to a man she’s close with or one with external value. It would be better to have a man with vague personal relations, low status, and who is clearly interested in another woman. She needs to catch someone Prince Guize would approve of, and wouldn’t you be perfect?”
Sion rubbed the back of his neck.
He understood. If Karen used her head, she would never choose Raymond. From Isella’s words, Karen would surely think the same way. It seemed he had speculated too narrowly because of Raymond and Karen’s relationship.
“Hmm, I might need to prepare to receive a proposal… By the way, why did Lord Raymond ask you instead of me, Isella? I would have understood if he had told me. I don’t know why he’s dragging you into danger.”
When Sion grumbled, Isella looked at him while covering her mouth with her fan.
“In this plan, naturally my permission must be obtained.”
“Ah, um. Yes…”
“Do you dislike it?”
That couldn’t be. Sion decided to gladly submit to his mistress. There was no need for choice.
But Karen didn’t choose Sion. Of course, she didn’t choose Raymond either.
Karen smiled gently at Prince Guize and requested her husband.
“I’d like Dulan Lloyd, Your Highness.”
* * *
Dulan Lloyd had come up to the capital to give medicine to Karen Hyer.
When Karen was at the manor, he could use his servants or maids to feed Karen Hyer contraceptives in advance, but according to what he heard from Nancy and the lord, she probably hadn’t taken contraceptives after leaving the manor. Getting pregnant in that situation was not the direction he wanted.
There’s a man I’d like to introduce.
The letter he sent to the lord only said there was someone he wanted to introduce, without explaining the name or description.
Dulan wanted to confirm with his own eyes. If this wasn’t her first life, she would surely have chosen considering various variables.
What kind of man did she choose?
He was quite curious, but at the same time thought it probably didn’t matter who it was. Whoever it was, it had nothing to do with him.
Since Karen had lived long, she would have had opportunities to catch any man she wanted if she desired. Also, with that level of beauty, it wouldn’t be too difficult, and whoever she chose, the end would be the same. A rich man, a handsome man, a famous man.
Anyone would be fine.
What mattered was his own business. He would not let Karen Hyer become pregnant. There was no such thing as a beautiful ending. Endings become terrible as endings. Stories don’t end.
She didn’t need children. No ending was needed.
Dulan had stayed at the monastery for a long time, and since he was a priest, it wasn’t difficult to lodge at the Great Cathedral. When Dulan arrived at the Great Cathedral, the subdeacon welcomed him with delight. The bishop also called Dulan for a meeting.
“Having Priest Dulan come at such a time is a tremendous help.”
“Though my hands are… inexperienced, I’m glad to be of help.”
“You’re truly a great help. The capital is always short of people. Whew, really… We’d be happy if any priest came to help, but a priest from Alburn Monastery, we’re truly grateful.”
Doctors were greatly welcomed everywhere. Private hospitals charged expensive consultation and medicine fees, and there were extremely few hospitals run by the state.
The royal family demanded that temples conduct relief activities, but as in any era and any country, the budget supported by the state was always insufficient. Medical volunteer work targeting the poor was especially so. Medicine was lacking and manpower was lacking.
In such circumstances, Dulan’s visit was very welcome news to the people of the Great Cathedral.
“Is the abbot of Alburn doing well?”
“Yes, yes… He’s healthy.”
“He was very disappointed that Priest Dulan was discontinuing his studies. Still, are you attending the academic conference to continue studying medicine for a while?”
“Y-yes. Lord Hyer is still in good health.”
The subdeacon had heard from the abbot about Dulan’s scholarly enthusiasm, so he secretly hoped more for him to go in that direction.
To the subdeacon, the lord of a small estate wasn’t a subject of much interest, but a priest who continued on the path of medicine was a different matter. Moreover, Dulan was a talent who had held first place for nine straight years.
“You could receive the estate later when you’re older.”
“I’m still… considering it.”
His stuttering habit and his tendency to avoid eye contact seemed more suited to the path of a scholar than the path of a ruler governing an estate. That’s why when Dulan declared he would discontinue his studies, the abbot, vice-abbot, and other priests all shook their heads in regret.
“I see. Hmm, come to think of it, Lord Hyer’s daughter is staying here. You were the one who had engagement talks with Priest Dulan, correct?”
“…Correct.”
The subdeacon nodded with an understanding expression.
“Ah, perhaps…”
“It’s not that kind of broken engagement you’re thinking of. But if we become known to each other… it would be uncomfortable, so please keep it secret. I want to stay inconspicuously.”
Dulan didn’t like the subdeacon looking at him as a man who had been rejected. He hadn’t even seen Karen since childhood. The last time they met was four years ago? Karen at that time was nothing more than a crazy child throwing a tantrum.
Just because she had aged, there was no reason to suddenly see her as a woman. Above all, Dulan himself didn’t want to.
“Right now I’m… just doing what I must do as a servant of God.”
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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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