Resetting Lady - Chapter 39

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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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07. Engagement Ceremony

In fact, there still wasn’t an answer.

Too little was known. The first emotion Karen felt at her father’s hollow and vague response was absurdity.

But now Karen was intoxicated by a rather different emotion than worry.

It was hope.

Hope for the peace she could finally obtain.

There was a predecessor who had experienced it before her. If Catherine had truly had the same experience as herself, then Karen too could succeed. There had been another like her in this world. How sweet that alone was.

Karen sat at the harpsichord with a refreshed heart and struck the keys. It was too early for anyone to come out, but it wasn’t a time when playing would disturb sleep. The cool morning air enveloped the room. While playing a cheerful tune suitable for morning, Karen spoke to Tom standing beside her.

“Finally, hope that I can die. How joyful this is!”

Karen spoke to Tom with a smile of delight. Whether the boy believed it or not, he kept his mouth shut and simply nodded. Karen sometimes felt sorry that Tom had become mute. She wanted more interesting reactions, but there were limits to what a mute boy could express. Tom could only nod or shake his head with his mouth closed.

“If I die, wouldn’t that be good for you?”

“…”

“Oh my, I didn’t mean to be cruel.”

Suppressing her bursting laughter, Karen pressed the beat faster.

“I affirm revenge. Life is like that originally. It’s unfair.”

Who could guess this boy’s age by looking at his face? Tom looked much cleaner than when he was rolling around in the marketplace, but one could imagine what his unopening mouth might be like inside.

And above all, his facial expression was different. Unlike the children of the alleys, it wasn’t the gaze of one intoxicated by immediate wretchedness, but the eyes of one who had suffered more sophisticated pain. In fact, if one lives their whole life like that, there’s usually no longing or dissatisfaction for a different life.

“Hmm…”

Should I kill him off now?

Karen calculated the dates. Originally, Tom would fall ill and die before long. But while Tom didn’t look well, he hadn’t collapsed or anything. The reason he was holding up quite well, unlike before when he died early even with direct nursing.

Karen stared intently at the vitality that had risen in the boy’s cheeks. His expression wasn’t good, but his body was more vigorous than ever. Outwardly, he didn’t look like he would die immediately. Interesting.

“Usually in this kind of development, if you spare a child like you, they appear later for revenge.”

Karen pressed the keys hard.

“Were you startled?”

Even if he couldn’t speak, gasping sounds came out. Karen giggled and apologized.

“Sorry. But you look healthier than I thought. It’s fascinating.”

Tom answered with his expression. He was anxious.

Karen continued playing again. The piece was lively and so was Karen’s mood.

Should I kill him? I want to kill him. It seems like it would be okay to just kill him. He’s going to die anyway, right? But if he doesn’t die, that would be more interesting. Since things unfolded this way starting with killing Nancy, what would happen if I save Tom who’s supposed to die. It’s confusing. It’s difficult. Should I spare him this time and kill him next time. Which would be better?

“Miss!”

Her contemplation was interrupted.

“How can you come out like this without even getting dressed up?”

“My appearance is always perfect.”

“Wow… such confidence…”

Donna came with a towel soaked in warm water, looking clearly sleepy. Karen wiped her face and closed the keyboard lid.

“You seem to have found it fun lately.”

“Playing?”

“Mm, well.”

Karen realized she was naturally enjoying thoughts of murder again. It was an act intended for fun from the beginning, but it felt fresh again. Even after hearing that the answer was love, she didn’t want to change her principles of action.

“I should restrain myself.”

“You said you were sick, so it was pretending? Still, you can’t play at night. The Countess is coming.”

“I know… I know.”

Damn events and developments. Condolences to the workers in the book.

“You need to hurry and prepare to get dressed.”

“Why do you look more excited?”

“Hehe. The tailor brought clothes yesterday and they’re really pretty.”

“Finishing it the day before, their hands are too slow.”

It would be clothes made after Isella’s, so it couldn’t be helped. She voiced minor complaints inwardly. Donna, unaware of the circumstances, chattered excitedly.

“But they’re really pretty.”

“Alright.”

“Miss. The remaining fabric also arrived, may I make hair ribbons?”

“They say he deals with the Evans family, so he’s thorough even in such things. Fine. Do as you please.”

Donna left the room first, making lively tapping sounds. Could she be that happy? Karen closed her eyes, intoxicated by the warmth of the towel Donna had given her.

From the other end of the corridor, she could hear Donna saying she had drawn bath water. Karen sighed and followed after her.

It’s not that she disliked dressing up, but bothersome things were still bothersome.

There were plenty of things to worry about besides the Countess. Still, she hoped that just as she had gained much so far, there would be much information to gain in the future.

Karen stopped walking for a moment, turned her head and asked.

“Oh right. Tom. Did you deliver the letter to Father properly?”

The boy nodded.

“Good.”

Karen walked toward her room again.

“I heard you were sick.”

Isella was waiting in front of the door.

“Isella.”

The bath water will get cold. Karen sighed openly. Isella frowned.

“You don’t look that sick.”

Isella’s eyebrows were furrowed. What was displeasing her? This was the first time an engagement ceremony was being held so grandly. It should be an excellent opportunity for Isella, yet Isella didn’t hide her uncomfortable feelings toward Karen. Karen tilted her head and offered a greeting.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Miss Isella.”

“…”

It would be good to give her a smile once.

Isella paused the conversation for a moment, then when Karen was about to leave, she urgently called out loudly.

“Karen!”

“Yes.”

Even after calling, silence continued again. She hesitated then opened her mouth again.

“Attend my engagement ceremony.”

“I don’t think I’ll feel well. I still don’t have much energy.”

“You played piano just fine from morning, yet you say such things?”

“Moving fingers doesn’t require much strength. And it’s a harpsichord.”

“That’s not what’s important right now, is it?”

Miss Isella, your way of speaking is becoming awkward. Karen had to put strength in her lips. Was that an unnecessary attack? Karen wondered how to deal with Isella picking a fight from morning. Her refreshing mood was dampened. It’s a happy morning where hope is visible even for Karen herself, and it should be a happy time for you too, Isella, so why are you acting like this?

“The Countess is coming today, are you going to skip it? If you’re that sick.”

“…I’ll have to go out.”

Of course, it’s Countess Elba. That young lady who has Verdick desperately trying to curry favor, who has the Minister of Finance as her husband, also has a formidable personality. It’s ridiculous how Isella identifies herself with the Countess. Come to think of it, will she make mistakes this time too and reveal her true nature?

“You attend tonight, but skip the day after tomorrow, isn’t that too much?”

“Isella?”

Like this.

Karen looked at Isella with slight amazement.

It would be good for you too if I don’t go, so why are you acting like this?

Isella had reacted neurotically to Karen catching Raymond’s attention. Even if they smiled in front of each other, played instruments and drew pictures together, even if they spent time drinking tea together, they weren’t friends. Regarding men, they were competitors, and regarding business, they were victim and perpetrator. At least Isella should know that much.

But why was she forcing Karen to attend? When she herself didn’t want it.

“Did Mr. Verdick request it?”

The reason Isella was demanding something she didn’t want must be because of her father. He was the only one who granted what she wanted.

“No! It’s what I want. Please definitely attend my engagement ceremony.”

Isella shook her head and strongly denied it, but Karen didn’t believe her.

“Hah. Alright.”

Isella gently fanned herself and narrowed her eyes. She smiled inwardly.

“It would be good to have an engagement ceremony with Lord Dulan while we’re at it.”

Ah, so that was her thinking? Karen finally understood her thoughts. This made sense. This wasn’t Verdick’s idea. Karen smiled inwardly. This was a scheme to definitively separate her from Raymond.

But what to do.

Karen shrugged her shoulders exaggeratedly and answered.

“Um, I’m thinking of breaking off my engagement with Dulan.”

“What?”

“That’s how it turned out.”

Isella’s expression changed to look like she’d been punched hard in the nose. Ridiculous.

“S-surely… you haven’t found… someone else you love?”

If she answered ‘Yes, Sir Raymond’ here, would Isella tear her hair out? But Karen hadn’t lost her mind to that extent yet.

“Who knows.”

At her ambiguous answer, Isella’s face hardened with tension.

“You’re truly a terrible person, aren’t you?”

“How on earth did you reach that conclusion from…?”

“Breaking a promise!”

“Dulan agreed to it too, you know?”

“What?”

“It was decided by our parents’ opinions when we knew nothing about each other. We still don’t know each other well enough.”

Karen smiled as she spouted complete lies.

“It’s not like Father is about to pass away or anything…”

What would happen to the situation then. If he had already passed away.

“But I want to go out to the city like Isella does. Last time, Miss Isella, you promised to take me there, didn’t you? To the Opera House in the Capital.”

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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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