Resetting Lady - Chapter 4

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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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The new plan gave Karen energy.

Karen was so excited that she couldn’t understand why she had never killed first before. She had died and died and died again for 100 years, so why hadn’t she acted first? She had always been the victim.

Thinking about it carefully, it didn’t seem that easy.

‘That’s exactly why I’m happy. They say hardship makes people shine.’

Her slender arms looked like they’d have trouble wringing a chicken’s neck. She had never lifted anything heavier than a book. Even when going to church, she moved by carriage, and when there were high stairs, servants carried her. And the deadline was one year. If she tried to build muscle strength, she’d accomplish nothing before it ended.

A baby might be easy, but there were no infants in the manor. Pregnant maids didn’t work, so there couldn’t be such young children in the manor. The youngest was the little boy the gardener employed, but that child was certainly already stronger than Karen.

The library in the manor was quite large, but among the books, there were none that would help with murder. The last murder that occurred in the small town was before Karen was even born. Eventually, Karen felt briefly depressed thinking that killing with her own hands would be rather difficult, but soon she began to find even that enjoyable.

The methods were endless. The deaths she had experienced numbered in the hundreds. She was the textbook and living witness, so only she had the answers.

Karen feared nothing except boredom. Even if she got caught, as someone who lived eternally, she could just start over again. She knew all the habits and past preferences of various people, and she had a terrifying amount of time. There were plenty of opportunities. Who would be best to start with? Karen thought of people with a racing heart.

First, Isella came to mind. As Raymond’s fiancée, she was in a rival position to Karen. Karen recalled how Isella had tried to humiliate her. She who had tormented Karen while anxiously fearing she might lose Raymond had many weaknesses accordingly. Most importantly, she would be a relatively easy target since they would spend much time together later as lady and maid.

“…I’d be caught immediately.”

A maid killing her rival? Anyone would see her as the prime suspect. It would be nice if she could last long at least.

She wasn’t afraid of execution or anything like that. If she died anyway, she’d start over. What if she really died? That would be the very rest she wanted. But if she failed from the beginning, it would kill the excitement. To proceed thrillingly, she wanted to kill as many people as possible for as long as possible.

It would also be satisfying to repeat exactly what had been done to her. Karen thought about who would be easiest to kill. Raymond would probably be the most difficult. Raymond was the man who put “Sir” before his name.

Karen had seen him easily handle six grown men. But if Raymond was infatuated with Karen, he would gladly drink from any cup Karen offered, regardless of what was in it. Thinking that way deflated her excitement a bit.

She hoped he would entertain her for a long, long time. She even knew which path he would take on horseback in midsummer – no, just weaving grass across that path would make him fall from his horse. With luck, his neck would break. Karen knew Raymond well. No, she knew all the characters well.

Then her weak body would rather be a fun element. Karen thought this way and tried clenching her fist, then laughed and relaxed it again, putting ornaments in her hair. Raymond would come later. Before meeting Raymond, Karen had to meet his current fiancée, Isela Evans.

Under the name Karen Hyer. And Karen would be in danger, and once again Raymond would look after her. Just as it had always been, this was the natural progression. Such a predictable love story. But this time would be a bit different. Karen looked in the mirror with a racing heart. Flushed cheeks, eyes sparkling with anticipation. Inside was a girl who looked as if she had fallen in love.

An adventure after decades. Karen thought of the day she first saw Raymond over a hundred years ago.

A girl’s dream.

A knight with deep golden hair. Rich and handsome, and perfectly cruel to other women. Karen giggled as she brushed her hair. What girls wanted wasn’t a man who was kind to all women, but a man who was kind only to them. That’s why he was perfect.

A knight who seemed to exist only for Karen.

Karen had always hoped for the future, but one future she particularly wanted to see was Raymond after her death.

What would you do if I died, my knight? Would you take revenge on those who killed me? Would you shed tears and fall into despair? Or would you forget me and meet someone else?

Among his various possible reactions, Karen was certain the most vivid and plausible action would be the first. Even before dying, he never tolerated it when Karen was harmed. Then what if Karen died? She wanted to see it but regretted not being able to.

Karen had been killed by Verdick in Raymond’s room several times. Isella’s father would succeed in killing Karen on her wedding day with Raymond if certain conditions were met.

Thinking of Verdick made Karen’s throat sting slightly. Among the several moments when her breath was cut off, there must have been moments when Verdick was caught by Raymond. What did Raymond do to Verdick? Or what would he do? Karen wanted to see Raymond’s face.

This was from the early days when Karen thought the answer lay in a “happy ending” with Raymond and spent time with Raymond in various ways. Now she was indifferent, thinking he deserved to die, but back then it was quite frightening.

He struck Karen’s neck with a hand axe. The axe blade was dull. She could only make gasping sounds until her muscles were crushed and her neck bones shattered before she could die. Until Karen perfectly grasped Verdick’s movement patterns, she had to keep Verdick’s axe blade well-sharpened and her hair up for a while, hoping to be cut in one blow.

“Really killed me in all sorts of ways.”

But this time, I won’t be the only one dying.

Karen smiled.

A bright smile that seemed to spread fragrance.

* * *

“…Therefore, do not sin. Those who sin shall fall into the eternal pit of hell and never escape. You shall be pure as doves…”

Karen tried not to close her eyes while suppressing a yawn that was about to burst out. There was no better sleeping pill than a boring sermon. Sermon content she had heard dozens of times repeatedly. Karen’s prayers didn’t reach. Karen waited. For mysteries like transcendent voices, visions, the appearance of prophets.

Silence. There was no answer. The voice she had so desperately wanted to hear couldn’t be heard. She wanted understanding and wanted to comprehend. But as life repeated, she only gave up repeatedly. When can I go back? When will this dream end? When will I escape from this hell? Show me proof. Tell me the reason I must suffer such pain. Why me.

“God, don’t… insult the sacred time, Karen Hyer.”

Wouldn’t you standing at that pulpit be more insulting? Think of the people who have to endure listening to a stutterer’s sermon. Karen was about to rebuke Dulan when she saw a woman coming from behind and stopped, bowing her head slightly. Isella also bowed her head.

How have you been? You’ve been well, I hope. Hoho. Perfunctory conversation and laughter were exchanged. Karen smiled looking at the flashy silver dress that didn’t suit the church.

You really haven’t developed at all. Having decided to spend a faithful year committing murders this time, Karen’s mind conjured an image of Isella hanging by the neck while wearing that silver dress. It would definitely look like a bell handle. If she hung from below grabbing the legs, would she scream like a bell? She was curious.

“Lady Hyer, do you like my necklace?”

“Yes. Your father must have bought it for you. It’s truly beautiful…”

Perfect for a hanging rope.

“Hehe, it wasn’t my father. This was a gift from my fiancé. I heard Lady Hyer is getting married soon too – have you received anything?”

“…”

Hey, don’t get discouraged. Karen sighed somehow while looking at Dulan whose face had turned bright red. How could a man coming as a son-in-law to a rural lord prepare expensive gifts that nobles and wealthy people could afford? But deliberately mentioning facts everyone knew made the atmosphere cold.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I acted thoughtlessly. Please forgive me.”

“Not at all. It’s a beautiful necklace. Please show it to me again later.”

He’ll give me the ring though.

“Gladly.”

Isella, Isella. That’s why you won’t succeed.

Even if you try to torment me, it won’t work. You’re rich, but your class is still lower than mine. And look around. Everyone’s pitying poor me right now.

Karen rode that atmosphere and showed slight tears.

“Being concerned with… material desires is… not right.”

“…”

Why are you pouring cold water on something that was going well?

Dulan struggled to continue speaking, trying to criticize Isella. But the more he did, the more awkward the atmosphere became. Karen frowned. Why was he being so troublesome? Karen didn’t want to hinder her goal of entering Isella’s villa and Raymond’s estate.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Looking at Isella who was sulking and pouting, Dulan hesitantly told Karen that he could buy that much too. And Karen wondered if it might be easier to seduce Raymond if she became a widow.

Anyone who saw Karen for the first time would momentarily stop breathing.

Even when Lord Hyer had been in despair for a while after Lady Hyer passed away, everyone pitied Karen’s tears more than their sadness for the kind-hearted Lady Hyer, as Karen grew more beautiful each day. Despite being engaged at a young age, curious people often came to visit.

But Lord Hyer protected Karen from their gazes each time. Despite everyone saying in unison that they were an ill-matched pair, the marriage arrangement wasn’t broken, and subtle resentment spread throughout the territory.

And today, those who saw Karen laughing with the bright spring flowers even harbored murderous intent toward Dulan.

Her burning red hair brought to mind a bouquet of blooming roses. From the face of the running girl burst forth not a polite smile but genuine laughter from the heart. Her steps were like a spring goddess dancing. Spring had come. Those feet seemed too light to crush even a single petal.

Her eyes shone as clear as the approaching summer sky, and at her cheerful steps, everyone stopped their work and held their breath. How many years had it been since the young lady smiled like that? It was a day worth commemorating. Spring really was coming. Flower fragrance wafted.

The sky was clear and blue, and the most beautiful girl laughed, intoxicated with joy.

Karen had succeeded in her first murder.

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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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