Resetting Lady - Chapter 30

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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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“Are you jealous?”

Please do.

But Dulan betrayed Karen’s expectations. He just frowned and criticized Karen.

“…I, I wish you wouldn’t treat it so simply. If you have a brain, that is. Karen Hyer. Miss Evans also has to prepare for the engagement ceremony…”

“She asked me to create an opportunity for her.”

Of course it was a lie. After Isella had asked her to recommend a good place to watch the festival, she had specifically requested that they absolutely not stay together. The plan was to go out together but return separately. That way, only she would be able to move freely within the manor. So it was convenient for Karen if Dulan thought they were going out together.

“To you? A request?”

Dulan turned his face with a puzzled expression, as if he couldn’t understand the part about Isella making a request.

“Lord Raymond doesn’t seem to like her very much.”

“…Is that so?”

“Not enough to show it to others, but. What can the parties involved do about such things. Anyway, I’m planning to go out with Lord Raymond during the festival period. Isn’t it my duty to take care of a guest who looks depressed? Bringing those two together would also benefit our estate.”

“…Rather, it seems like it would become an opportunity to throw sparks of sin.”

That would be even better.

When she shrugged her shoulders and grinned wickedly, Dulan didn’t raise any more objections.

He was too tired for that as well.

* * *

“No, why are you two following me again?”

“Huh? Miss, Lord Dulan said that since Lord Raymond and Miss Evans would be spending time together, you’d be alone, so he told us to stay with you…”

This is annoying to death. When Karen frowned, Donna looked tearful. Bowen gazed into the distance. At this rate, it would be impossible to return to the manor alone first and search through the study.

“This little brat…”

“He gave us plenty of money.”

Karen tapped Bowen’s leg with her parasol.

“I’ll say this again and again. Dulan isn’t the lord yet, you know?”

Donna glanced around nervously and quietly stepped back.

“And I’m the lady of the house. Don’t speak as if Dulan gave you that money.”

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

The male servants were different from the maids, perhaps because they didn’t belong to Karen, the lady of the house. She spent less time with them and it was difficult to track their movements. Still, this wasn’t right. After scolding Bowen, she spoke to Donna with a smiling face.

“Then shall we go visit Mrs. Deere?”

The new coachman showed firm determination not to repeat his predecessor’s example. Karen, who had no particular intention of causing trouble, just sat quietly in the carriage heading to Mrs. Deere’s house, but this seemed to make the employees even more anxious.

“I’m not running away.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Oh my.”

Even when she shook her head, Donna clenched her mouth shut and shook her head.

“Tell me about Mrs. Deere.”

“You know her better than I do, Miss.”

That’s right. She twirled the ends of her hair.

“What should I say?”

The carriage arrived at her house all too quickly. So this is Mrs. Deere’s house that I couldn’t reach despite all that struggle. It was old-fashioned but looked rather shabby for a house where the lord’s tutor lived.

“Why is it so run-down?”

“…Miss. Still, this is quite a nice house… It’s close to the city too.”

“If it’s close to the city, it’s noisy.”

“You can move around immediately without needing to take a carriage. The security is better too.”

“Is that so… How is security better when there are so many people?”

“Because they watch each other.”

“Isn’t it better to have many employees?”

“Well… that… money…”

Unable to bear listening to the two girls whispering, Bowen interrupted.

“We’re going in.”

“Wa, wait.”

Then Bowen knocked on the door without even listening to Karen’s response. A shabby maid came out and asked who they were, then her eyes widened and she hurried back into the house. After a moment, a middle-aged lady came out.

Donna greeted her first.

“Hello.”

Is this woman Mrs. Deere? Karen folded her parasol and lifted her skirt to curtsy. While greeting, she looked her over from toe to head. She was a woman she had no memory of seeing during the past period.

I suppose it can’t be helped since she’s not that important a figure. But it was slightly disappointing that even her appearance was ordinary. Breaking expectations is good, but unexpected doesn’t always mean satisfying.

Mrs. Deere was a plump middle-aged lady with rosy cheeks and brown hair with some white showing through. Her ordinary appearance was rather surprising. She looked very far removed from words like secrets or conspiracies.

“Karen?”

“Yes…”

“My goodness…”

She was a middle-aged lady with a gentle appearance. The kind of appearance suitable for being a tutor.

Mrs. Deere almost ran toward Karen. Then, without giving her a chance to speak, she embraced Karen.

“Karen? It really is you.”

She stopped her hands that were about to push her away in confusion. The woman who had embraced her so tightly she could barely breathe finally released Karen after a while and looked at her with a face full of emotion, grasping her hands.

“It’s been so long.”

For Karen, who was seeing her for the first time, she could only smile.

“Do you remember me?”

It was a difficult question to answer. Again, she could only smile. Karen smiled.

“Well, we haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

Donna had definitely said it hadn’t been that long since she left.

“Karen.”

“Yes. Mrs. Deere.”

“You don’t remember me.”

Mrs. Deere spoke with a serious expression. Her gentle appearance hardened instantly. That face definitely contained some meaning, and Karen couldn’t continue speaking.

“Haven’t your memories returned yet?”

The words spoken in a small voice that Donna or Bowen nearby couldn’t hear ruthlessly scrambled Karen’s brain.

“You lost your memory.”

Lost my memory. She knows that fact. What is she talking about? You lost your memory. This overturns all my memories so far.

Who is this woman? Why is she saying such incomprehensible things when she’s never appeared before? Does this woman know what kind of words she’s throwing out?

“Come in quickly. It’s been so long. Really.”

She followed Mrs. Deere’s footsteps into the dark house. The exterior was old but the inside was neat. However, it was only neat to the extent that it could be maintained.

Looking closely, the wallpaper had faded and the wooden floor was old, creaking with every step. That sound made Karen even more uncomfortable. An unfamiliar place, a person she’d never seen, everything was uncomfortable. Her mouth was parched. She wanted to drink tea.

“Quickly bring tea, with the finest teacups!”

At the lady’s instruction, the maid hurried off to the kitchen in a fluster.

Karen gestured to Bowen and Donna standing by the door.

“Donna, Bowen. How about going out to enjoy the festival?”

“How can we trust you, Miss?”

Donna answered with a resentful voice.

But Karen hardened her face. I don’t want to worry about you two right now. I don’t have that luxury.

“There’s much to discuss between teacher and student. It’s been so long after all. You can just stay in the guest room.”

“…Sorry, but Karen, our house doesn’t have a guest room. Together in the room the maid uses…?”

Donna looked with disgust at the dirty clothes the lady’s maid was wearing and was horrified.

“I absolutely refuse. Then I’ll just serve alongside you.”

Though Donna refused with even rude remarks, fortunately before things got loud, Bowen grabbed Donna’s shoulder and dragged her away. When I return to the manor, I’ll have to tell Helen about Donna’s attitude. Karen frowned and pointed at the door with her finger so Bowen could see. Get out.

“We’ll come back around afternoon tea time. Donna, come out.”

“Hiing…”

“Hurry.”

After chasing the two away, the maid came out with refreshments with a much more relaxed expression. The reason was immediately apparent. There weren’t enough teacups.

Mrs. Deere sat down while holding her hands. Only then did Karen focus on what she had to do.

“You don’t remember me?”

How much should I tell this woman? Karen closed her mouth and blinked. She was anxious.

“I thought so. This is what happens after Mrs. Hyer passed away. The Lord is really….”

What is this woman talking about right now? My eyes turn toward Mrs. Deere. I need to ask.

“Why are you bringing up my mother?”

My voice came out sharper than I expected.

“How much do you know?”

I didn’t like how she answered my question with another question, but I’m the one who needs something here. Karen changed her approach to gain control.

“Madam, I’m currently very… confused.”

Karen lowered her eyes. Looking at her status and house, this middle-aged woman must not be receiving proper pension from the Lord. Generally, unmarried tutors are introduced to other houses when their work ends. Even more so for someone with the Lord’s standing. If a suitable place couldn’t be found, it would be natural to provide pension and let her stay. Living together is also common.

But looking at the state of this house, I could deduce that she didn’t leave under ordinary circumstances. For a tutor who taught the Lord’s only daughter to live like this, there must be circumstances. She fell out of the Lord’s favor.

“Don’t try to probe me, I’d appreciate it if you told me what you know.”

“I need to know how much you know before I can speak.”

“Madam.”

Even confused, Karen had lived for 100 years managing dozens of maids. Karen looked straight at Mrs. Deere with clear eyes.

“My memory is broken. Tell me what you know. I’m in great pain right now. And if you help me, I will definitely repay you.”

“…That part of you remains the same.”

Mrs. Deere put down her teacup and fidgeted with her hands. She was nervous too.

“You’ve been like that since you were young.”

And she began telling Karen about a past she didn’t know.

“You were excessively precocious. You were smart, but… it wasn’t scholarly intelligence. You were also different from other noble children your age. Perhaps it was because Catherine raised you.”

“Were you acquainted with my mother?”

“Do you remember Catherine?”

“Not well… No, I can’t remember at all.”

Mrs. Deere looked at Karen in front of her with distant, dreamy eyes as if drawing something far away. That gaze that seemed to picture her mother through her was unpleasant. The Lord used to look at her that way sometimes.

“Lady Nora Catherine Hyer. Her maiden name was Enid. Actually, Catherine… Yes, I’m sorry. Her becoming Mrs. Hyer was truly a strange thing. Honestly, I never thought she would live in such countryside.”

Karen brought the cup to her lips to hide her trembling. It wasn’t a familiar taste.

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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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