Resetting Lady - Chapter 237
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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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Raymond was sitting at his study desk, holding his face in his hands.
He couldn’t think of any way to comfort Karen.
The stubborn determination to keep enduring was binding Raymond, but his patience was thinner than he had thought.
“…Huk.”
Raymond looked at the hand mirror on his desk and stood up in shock. His appearance in the mirror was shocking.
Since he knew well that Karen liked his face, grooming was also one of his essential daily routines. However, in just one day, his face had changed like a withered hydrangea.
“My face looks terrible.”
His eyes had turned red, and his chin was rough from not shaving. Since he had worn the same clothes all night while worrying, his clothes also looked disheveled.
If Karen saw him now, instead of feeling sorry for his gauntness, she would probably suggest with cold eyes that they continue sleeping in separate rooms because he looked messy.
“James!”
“Yes, master.”
“Bring me wash water and clothes to change into. I look terrible.”
“Understood.”
The servant quickly brought cold wash water.
Because Raymond had stayed up all night, all the manor’s servants were on standby in a tense state, so they quickly carried out his orders.
“Here it is, master.”
“…Phew.”
Looking at the red flowers carved on the white porcelain wash basin reminded him of Karen, making him sigh once again. And as a second sigh was about to escape at his haggard appearance reflected in the water, Raymond plunged his face into the wash water. He wanted to cry.
‘This is hard.’
In his head, he had already concluded that he wouldn’t send Karen away, but regardless, the fact that Karen was rejecting him was more shocking than he had imagined. What if Karen didn’t eat and starved to death from hunger? He recalled all the various ways Karen had died before. She really died so easily.
“Master!”
“Heok!”
Raymond quickly lifted his face.
Lost in thought, he had forgotten to breathe and had kept his face submerged in the water for too long.
“I’m fine. I just forgot to breathe for a moment.”
“How can you forget that! You don’t seem fine at all, I should call a doctor immediately…!”
“I said I’m fine.”
Raymond comforted the old butler while wiping his face with a towel. He didn’t want to worry the old butler who had worked since his grandfather’s time.
“Still, after washing my face, I look somewhat human.”
Raymond muttered while holding the hand mirror and checking the condition of his face.
And suddenly he felt a surge of emotion. Just yesterday, Karen had been smiling affectionately while putting flowers in his hair.
“…It’s fine.”
“Baron?”
Flowers were nothing.
What was the problem with eating alone and dressing alone? He could just put flowers in his hair by himself. Raymond looked in the mirror and irritably plucked a flower from the flower pot. Then he put it in his hair.
“No problem at all.”
“…”
“Does it suit me?”
“Yes, young master, I mean Baron. You look very handsome.”
The butler secretly prayed that he could close his eyes before seeing Raymond become more serious. Raymond nodded at the butler’s words and looked in the mirror again. Just a flower in his hair.
“Um, master.”
“Hm?”
Raymond turned his head and asked while looking in the mirror.
“A guest has arrived, what would you like to do?”
One of the servants hurriedly approached and asked.
He must have been quite distracted. He hadn’t noticed anyone approaching at all.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Baron Raymond.”
It was a familiar voice.
Raymond quickly wrapped the hand mirror in a towel and handed it to the butler. He didn’t like the idea of Sion seeing him staring intently at the mirror, as he would surely smile meaningfully. Raymond took a deep breath and then looked up to see Sion standing beyond the door.
“Count Sion, what are you doing coming like that when a person isn’t ready yet? Without even contacting me.”
“What’s with all the formality between people who shared a dormitory room?”
Raymond clicked his tongue at Sion’s inconsiderate attitude.
To Raymond now, Sion felt like an endlessly young and immature child rather than a knight two years younger. But the older person should be patient. Raymond extended his hand to Sion and offered a greeting.
“That was then, so we should maintain courtesy with each other now. Congratulations once again on your achievements, Count Sion. Your portrait came out quite well in the newspaper.”
“Congratulations once again on your marriage and title succession, Lord Raymond. I was depressed that it didn’t match the real thing, but that’s somewhat comforting.”
“What are you saying, the painter beautified it too much.”
“Hahahaha! That’s quite an amusing joke!”
After intentionally shaking hands with force, Sion took off his hat.
“What you requested last time has been specially ordered from the trading company. You don’t need to thank me.”
“Right, you don’t need to thank me for receiving that medal either, Count Sion.”
“Thank you, Baron Raymond.”
He doesn’t lose a single word.
But it wasn’t particularly unpleasant, so Raymond guided Sion.
“I’m grateful, Count Sion. Sit down and have a cup of tea.”
“I prefer beverages made from barley.”
“I know. Our estate’s beer is decent.”
Raymond felt his mood improve considerably while talking with Sion. His body, which had been drooping from constantly thinking about Karen, gained energy.
‘I feel like I can live. I don’t only have Karen.’
“But Lord Raymond, may I ask one thing before we leave the room?”
“What is it?”
Sion had an indescribable expression.
“What is that flower?”
Raymond finally realized he was still wearing a flower in his hair.
Sion smiled broadly and placed his hand on Raymond’s shoulder.
“Ah, no, this is.”
“Men can do that too. Putting flowers in your hair is also a nice decoration. Don’t you think current society places too many restrictions on men’s grooming, Lord Raymond? Look at peacocks. Males are incredibly colorful to catch the females’ eyes, aren’t they? Men should also decorate themselves more.”
“…Stop it, Count Sion.”
“Following Lord Raymond’s example, I’m thinking of decorating my hat with flowers too, but it’s hard to find suitable flowers. Carnations seem like something children should give to their parents, so what would be masculine yet colorful and fitting? Lord Raymond’s recommendation would be helpful.”
“…”
Raymond considered it a great fortune that Sion hadn’t entered when he was looking in the hand mirror with a flower in his hair.
“Since you came, did Miss Isela Evans visit together?”
“Huh? No, why do you think that?”
“You’ve been courting each other for quite a while, so I thought you came to announce your engagement.”
Raymond looked down at the carriage below the window.
There was the Evans family carriage.
Isella and Sion had compatible aspects, so with just a little opportunity, they easily developed feelings for each other.
“If you marry Miss Isella, it would naturally be something to celebrate. You’re moving faster than expected too.”
“Are you happy being married?”
“I’m happy. You should get married quickly too. Only after getting married did I feel like I truly started living life properly. When I open my eyes, I’m grateful to God and the world.”
“Yes… Well, congratulations.”
“Why is your answer like that? I thought you came to tell me that news. Isn’t that it?”
There was no other reason for Sion to come suddenly. Since he had handled most matters in advance, there shouldn’t be any other urgent business.
Raymond couldn’t understand Sion’s attitude of seemingly avoiding his gaze.
“Did you just come to visit?”
“Yes.”
“Then you should contact me before coming. Karen’s health isn’t very good right now, so it’ll be difficult to host you directly for a while.”
“…Ah… Yes… I see… There’s no major problem, right?”
Raymond paused his breathing for a moment.
Then he answered again.
“We have no problems.”
“…Yes.”
Raymond’s appearance seemed unusual, so Sion didn’t ask further and changed the subject.
“Anyway, I didn’t come today to talk about the wedding. We’re still in the stage of getting to know each other. And Miss Isela Evans’s business is quite busy too.”
“Really? How unexpected.”
Raymond was genuinely puzzled as he thought about Isela Evans’s past.
Isela wasn’t particularly smart in his memory. She was always someone who would lose everything she had while trying to get Raymond.
But after meeting Sion, who unconditionally wagged his tail under Isela, she began acting more boldly than before. Having someone who would take her side no matter what seemed to give her the strength to even oppose her parents.
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
“Right?”
Yes. Raymond truly thought so.
Isela and Raymond were better off keeping their distance rather than being close. She could walk her life, and Raymond could walk his life in a better direction.
He sighed. Some relationships take several lifetimes to resolve.
Raymond muttered while looking down at his teacup.
“I wish she could have visited.”
“…Why are you looking for Miss Isela? Don’t tell me…”
“Don’t say something that doesn’t even sound like a joke.”
Raymond let out a deep sigh.
“Karen was desperately wanting to go to the sea, and it turns out she saw Miss Isela’s story.”
“What story?”
“There was an article about the Evans Family starting a large cruise business.”
Raymond gritted his teeth as he recalled the newspaper advertisement that was the cause of all these problems. Sion immediately understood what he was talking about.
“Ah, that. So you saw it after all.”
“Yes. I didn’t know Verdick Evans would start that kind of business. It was unexpected.”
Raymond recalled the past.
The reason he could somewhat lessen his resentment toward Verdick was because he knew that man would inevitably be ruined. He would be successful for now, but would definitely be destroyed in about ten years. Verdick ended his life miserably in old age, and Raymond had watched it over 100 times.
“No. It’s not a business that Verdick Evans is doing.”
“What do you mean, Count Sion? The newspaper advertisement was clearly from the Evans Family.”
“That’s correct, but it’s not Mr. Evans, it’s a new business that Miss Isela is starting.”
Sion explained with a grin.
Verdick had been most heavily involved in loan sharking and weapons business. After saving Louis and beginning to connect with the royal family, Verdick expected the royal family to provide him with conveniences, but ironically, his business was reduced.
This was because Count Fankair began to interfere with Verdick’s business. Verdick was furious, but Louis couldn’t abandon Count Fankair and support Verdick instead. Fankair was his adoptive father, uncle, and a duke.
‘As expected, even if you lend money, you’re just treated like a treasury!’
Verdick reluctantly stepped back from the front lines and began putting his daughter forward. It was close to a temporary measure for saving face, but Isela didn’t miss that opportunity. Everyone expected her to follow exactly what her father had been doing, but Isela immediately took a different path from Verdick.
Isela redirected the metals and timber that had been used for weapons toward the shipbuilding industry. The Evans Family, backed by enormous cash and the royal family’s favor, rapidly expanded their business. However, even though it was better than loan sharking, the expansion of new business inevitably created people who suffered losses. Those who had already established themselves in the same industry and suddenly saw their profits decrease were grinding their teeth, wanting to kill the Evans Family.
Since it was a newly started business, it didn’t proceed as smoothly as Verdick’s previous dominant business, but considering it was a challenge in a new field, the speed was dazzling.
And Verdick and Isela, who would inherit that business, were so busy that even breathing time seemed precious.
“Miss Isela Evans is directly operating three large ships?”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s why we’re postponing the marriage. If we married now, she would become Isela Electra.”
Sion Electra had recently made great achievements and had become quite a famous person thanks to his smooth face.
The Evans Family had also connected with Prince Louis, but their notoriety as loan sharks was still high. To avoid the gossip they would hear if they married Sion, they decided to postpone the marriage. This was because Verdick’s name would be forgotten faster, and also because Isela wanted to wield more power as the daughter of the Evans Family.
“Then what are you doing now, Count Sion? I naturally thought you would be involved in Verdick’s business too.”
“No. I know well that I don’t know anything about that field. I’m trying to do what I’m good at.”
“What are you doing?”
“Guarding Miss Isela.”
“…You’re quite modest.”
“It’s the basics of being a son-in-law. Rather than doing business myself, acting cute next to a capable woman is my calling.”
“Yes, that’s positive and looks good.”
Raymond sighed.
Isela Evans was pioneering her life too well. Karen no longer held much significance for her. Even Raymond. From the beginning, they should never have been entangled like this – it was a bad relationship. The kind of bad relationship you can only be certain of after all these years. Even to herself.
“So Lord Raymond, no, Baron, what’s the problem that makes you so depressed?”
Sion asked while sitting on the table and holding a pipe.
But Raymond placed a ginger cookie instead of a match on the hand requesting fire and said.
“Smoking is prohibited in this manor. My wife is pregnant.”
“Oh, congratulations. So is that why your wife is depressed?”
“Yes, do you happen to know what the problem might be?”
You know women well. But Sion became serious.
“How would I know? No matter how many women I’ve been with, I’ve never gotten anyone pregnant.”
Raymond considered hitting that face that was acting serious about keeping what should be kept, then threw another cookie at Sion’s face.
Sion caught the cookie with his other hand and put it in his mouth.
“I’d be hurt if you looked at me that way. By the way, are you going to keep that flower in your hair? It really looks strange…”
“Mind your own business.”
“Did you like that kind of thing?”
“Karen told me to wear it.”
“Aha. So that’s the problem?”
“Well… I’m not sure what the problem is.”
Raymond muttered while fiddling with the flower in his hair.
“She’s pregnant, but she keeps trying to go outside. Anyway, I thought it would be good entertainment if Miss Isela visited.”
“Wouldn’t it be better for you two to travel together? Many people travel unless childbirth is imminent. If Lord Raymond comes, I’ll beg Miss Isela nicely to get you a good room. It could also give the impression that your relationship with Lord Raymond has been well resolved.”
“That won’t do. It’s dangerous.”
“If you trust me, try trusting Miss Isela too.”
“That’s not the problem, Count Sion. Everything is dangerous during pregnancy.”
Raymond firmly shook his head.
That was out of the question. He had reluctantly accepted even bringing other people over, but the sea where anything could happen or unknown countries made him dizzy just thinking about it.
“Baron Raymond, if you think about it that way, isn’t the house dangerous too?”
“Count Sion, at least I can manage the house. I can reach anywhere in this house within 5 minutes, doctors are always on standby, and I’ve carefully selected the cooks and maids. Of course, it could be dangerous here too. But I want to eliminate risks as much as possible.”
“…Wow.”
Sion looked at Raymond as if slightly fed up.
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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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