Resetting Lady - Chapter 28

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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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This conversation was similar to ones from the past. Tom had been taken in several times and worked as an errand boy doing dishes. And each time, Raymond had told Karen not to do unnecessary things, but contrary to those words, he had admired Karen for acting kindly.

“On the battlefield, you can’t trust anyone.”

“That’s why I look forward to it even more.”

She remembered him with a somewhat melancholy expression.

“Things like human kindness, forgiveness. I look forward to them even more. Not just among fellow soldiers, but whether we could forgive enemies. Whether we could love them.”

It was a desperate longing. And Karen had played the role he wanted sufficiently. Always forgiving, loving, warmly embracing – a beautiful girl. Yet a woman of appropriate position and decent rank who needed his help.

“I will remember you in my next life too.”

“You can’t. You’ve already… times.”

“Is there something on my face?”

“I was just looking because you’re handsome.”

“…I see.”

It was a pointless act.

Even though she had accommodated him as he wanted, he didn’t give her the answer she desired. Neither life nor death. In the past, she had thought this man would save her. Like looking up at the high sun from the deep sea, she must have gazed at Raymond that way too.

But it wasn’t him who would save Karen. The sun is just the sun. Times have changed. The sun doesn’t rise and set by a chariot pulled by gods, nor is it the eye of a god. It merely gives off light and heat, and that light is too distant for creatures of the deep sea.

Nevertheless, this time too Karen would act the role he wanted in front of him. To give him the gift of death.

“We’re almost there.”

“Indeed.”

Karen tried to get down without stepping on Tom again and nearly fell. Feeling Raymond’s gaze on her, she hoped her actions would somewhat mask her suspicions. And with years of experience, she was certain he was already attracted to her.

After that, things like Isella riding alone and glaring at her with swollen eyes were trivial matters. Raymond was already barely giving her any attention.

* * *

Verdick tapped documents while calculating.

‘The budget is exceeding expectations more than I thought.’

Who would have thought he had such a passionate side. Without realizing it, he had gotten excited and spent even more of the budget. At this rate, only Lord Hyer would benefit. Tsk. Verdick clicked his tongue and examined the funds he could immediately draw upon.

“This is a bit excessive.”

The lord groaned, creating deep wrinkles.

“Our people don’t need to go this far. We won’t even recover the principal of the money invested.”

If even that dull lord could notice, he had really gone too far. Verdick mocked himself. But he had his own alternative.

Though he hadn’t told Isella yet. He would use this opportunity to bring in the Countess he had been eyeing for a while. She should be at a resort a day’s carriage ride away. She wouldn’t be able to refuse. And if a noble of her caliber attended, it would be tantamount to official certification of the engagement.

“How about this?”

“This… isn’t it still a bit early?”

“With your lordship’s permission, what could be early? She would be overjoyed. How about your lordship joining in as well?”

Though the roles had already been reversed, when he asked out of minimal courtesy, fortunately the lord shook his head.

“No, it’s still too early. But I’ll bless your daughter.”

“Thank you.”

The lord stroked his chin while looking at the proposal. It wasn’t a big deal. No, there were symbolic aspects and matters of feeling. But the lord would already know he wasn’t in a position to oppose. Verdick knew that.

Verdick placed his hand on the lord’s shoulder. Considering their ranks, it was quite rude, but the lord didn’t point it out. No, he couldn’t point it out. Verdick already had greater authority than the lord. Both the lord and Verdick knew this. That’s why Verdick found this situation amusing.

“It will be fine.”

The last day when the festival ends. In this region, receiving the lord’s blessing while showing the people who the real ruler is. Verdick recalled his daughter’s tearful face. Then he recalled her smiling face again.

Raymond would have to get engaged to Isella.

* * *

Isella went behind a tree where people couldn’t see her and sniffled. Perhaps from riding too hard, her nose stung. She took deep breaths to calm herself.

“Huff…”

But she felt like crying. She had to endure it. But the fact that Raymond had taken a carriage with Karen instead of riding with Isella was so infuriating.

“That wicked woman.”

Isella bit her lip. A wicked woman flirting with another’s man. Raymond was her fiancé. Even if they hadn’t held a proper engagement ceremony yet, their engagement was planned, and their families had all agreed.

How much debt had Verdick, Isella’s father, forgiven for Raymond’s sake. Even if it was a relationship formed by adult circumstances in childhood, Raymond had accommodated her without showing it until now. He had respected Isella and sent gifts on birthdays and special occasions.

Though he was popular with people of all ages and genders, there hadn’t been a single scandal. That fact had been a great comfort to Isella until now.

I’m the only one who will marry him.

Even though Raymond never held her hand when people weren’t around, even though he didn’t seek her out separately when there was no business, she thought it was fine. She told herself that she was his only woman and if she was the one marrying him, there wouldn’t be a big problem.

But why was Raymond acting so obviously friendly in front of that woman?

“…Surely not.”

Isella was tormented. Karen Hyer was noticeably beautiful even to her as a woman. Ever since Raymond said he had rescued Karen from danger, Isella had to watch them with anxious eyes. Raymond laughed out loud noticeably often in front of Karen. He strangely spent more time with Karen than with herself.

Isella had worn riding clothes and ridden a horse instead of taking a carriage to ride alongside Raymond. After coming to this manor, she had been bothered by Raymond spending time with Karen instead of her. But Raymond had taken a carriage with Karen instead of riding beside Isella.

Karen had seduced him. What had they talked about in the carriage? What had they done? Isella was concerned. Various unwanted fantasies she didn’t want to think about swirled in her head.

“It will all be finished today.”

“Don’t be so confident. It’s usually a week’s worth of hunting. You’ll be embarrassed if you boast too much, won’t you?”

Karen and Raymond’s voices could be heard from afar.

Isella was about to immediately join them but hid behind the tree again, thinking her eyes might be swollen. Then she took deep breaths.

‘Go hug your stuttering fiancé!’

Isella wanted to scream. Wasn’t that kind of man suitable for Karen? Why hadn’t that man come with Karen? Isella was furious about every single thing.

* * *

“Are there enough traps?”

“Don’t come too close. It’s dangerous.”

Karen was now talking with Xenon instead of Raymond while examining the traps. Isella was still finding it difficult to come out immediately, so she was eavesdropping from behind the tree.

“The traps look too small… Will this be enough?”

“This is sufficient. Once we catch their ankles, we can all shoot together after that. If they’re too big, the animals notice easily and don’t get caught.”

“Don’t forget it’s for the ritual. We need to catch them with as few injuries as possible.”

“Oh… I forgot about that. I’ll do my best.”

Karen seemed very interested in the traps. Since Isella wasn’t particularly interested in hunting, Karen going around inspecting each trap and firearm seemed strange to her. Hunting wasn’t women’s work. Even the relatively spirited Isella enjoyed riding and would follow along for fox hunts, but she didn’t participate in hunting.

They would enthusiastically praise the men when they brought back game, and hope they might give them fur as gifts. Or they would help the maids prepare meals. But Karen seemed very interested in hunting itself.

‘Do you have to pay attention to such things when you’re a local notable?’

Isella glanced at Karen’s inquiring behavior. Right now Karen was acting as the lord’s daughter, as the landowner, but soon such roles would become Isella’s responsibility. Though Verdick seemed to plan to let them live as a kind of figurehead while taking all the lord’s rights, Isella’s thoughts were different.

She had to drive them all out thoroughly.

And the more she saw Karen, the more that thought solidified. Karen Hyer couldn’t be left here. If she kept such a woman nearby, there was a high chance Raymond would be stolen away. Even if Raymond was a faithful man, who wouldn’t fall if a woman like Karen seduced them? Isella was getting scared of Karen, who kept appearing in her dreams. Was it because her jealousy was too severe? She found herself thinking more deeply about Karen.

It was unpleasant.

“Isella, what are you doing there?”

“…Oh, it’s nothing.”

Isella was startled by Karen calling her, but she quickly came to her senses and hurriedly emerged from behind the tree. She had been thinking so deeply that she hadn’t noticed people passing by.

“Where did Sir Raymond go?”

“He went into the forest to hunt with the others. He left a while ago. Were you there the whole time? I looked for you earlier.”

“…I see.”

A lie. No matter what, if Isella had been in that area, she couldn’t have missed hearing someone calling her. Karen had definitely excluded Isella to increase her time flirting with Raymond. Isella glared at Karen while coming to stand beside her.

Do you think I don’t know your scheme? Karen, who didn’t notice Isella glaring at her, was checking the maids setting up meals on the table while simultaneously examining the nearby traps. Isella approached Karen.

“Are you very interested in hunting, Miss Karen?”

“Yes, though not extremely… This region has dense mountains so many animals come out. Even when we prepare large-scale hunts every festival, someone always gets hurt each year.”

“What kind of animals are there?”

“All kinds. Bears, wolves, foxes… Bears at this time of year have very bad tempers, so we have to catch them carefully. They often attack people.”

“Then, isn’t this location dangerous too?”

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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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