Resetting Lady - Chapter 49

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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 light is dazzling. Karen looks at the ceiling beyond Donna’s hands gently wiping her face. Bright cream-colored wallpaper. This is not her room.

“…Water.”

“Here it is.”

“How long… was I unconscious?”

“Three days. I really thought you were going to die too, miss…! *sob*…”

Donna burst into tears.

“Me too?”

Karen asked. Donna was hiccupping when she suddenly said “Oh!” and covered her mouth.

“Were many people… hurt?”

“Oh… Miss.”

Donna opened her mouth with a tense expression.

“Please don’t be shocked… Actually, the Lord has… passed away…”

Not that.

Karen had to lower her head to hide her annoyed expression. Her hair spilled onto the bed. I already know that. And you already told me right before I fell asleep that Father couldn’t come out. Don’t you remember? It’s been several days for you, so you’ve already forgotten?

Karen was expressionless, but Donna shed tears while mourning the Lord’s death. It was excessive grief for merely lamenting a lost job. At least that’s how it seemed to Karen. Is she genuinely mourning someone else’s death? You hired an excellent maid, Father. Though she’s not very good at her work.

After some time for Donna to calm down, Karen asked again.

“…Tell me slowly. Where is this place?”

The ceiling was cream-colored and the wallpaper was full of flower patterns. Sunlight gently illuminated the room brightly, and tea and snacks were placed on the table. I can tell without being told. This was Karen’s first time here, but it wasn’t her first time.

“This is my house, Lady Hyer.”

“…Mr. Verdick.”

The most uncomfortable and unpleasant man had appeared. Karen felt Donna stiffen. Karen quietly felt around her neck. It was still attached. What happened to Isella? Anyway, seeing that her neck was attached and that middle-aged man wasn’t holding an axe, did Isella ultimately fail to escape from that manor?

“Donna, go outside.”

Karen clenched her fist under the bed.

“…Yes.”

When Donna left, Verdick came closer to the bed.

Verdick was silent for a moment.

“…You must know the situation.”

“Father has passed away.”

“That’s right. Very regrettably so.”

How touching. Karen remembers that smile Verdick used to make.

He smiled. While speaking.

“Miss Hyer, the Lord hanged himself. I offer my condolences.”

Looking down with eyes that seemed so delighted.

“At his request… how about helping my daughter? I thought it would be good for a female peer to keep her company.”

Karen remembers.

But this time Verdick didn’t smile. He was silent. He clasped his hands, briefly lowered his head, and grimaced.

Something must have happened to Isella. Karen felt a slight sense of satisfaction. She would have liked to throw her severed head at him.

The silence continued. Unable to bear it, Karen spoke first.

“Mr. Verdick?”

“I’ll speak directly.”

“Yes.”

“Will you become my daughter?”

* * *

He put down his pipe with trembling hands. His eyes stung.

The world was collapsing. Even if he screamed and tore at his hair, reality remained unchanged.

“…Mr. Verdick. The Countess wishes to see you regarding the engagement ceremony and council matters.”

“Get out! Leave me alone!”

Crash.

Verdick shouted while throwing an inkwell. But the servant continued standing at the door. Black ink soaked into the floor carpet. Her servant conveyed the message from beyond the door in a monotone voice.

“She says to see her immediately.”

He wiped away his tears. That damn woman. She’s got me by the throat. Right before the engagement ceremony. My daughter. To think our last conversation was shouting. Verdick contorted his face and took a deep breath.

“…Tell her I’ll see her shortly.”

Verdick’s heart was being torn apart. It was terrible. But what was more terrible was that there wasn’t even time to mourn only for his daughter. All those plans he had secured with Isella and Raymond’s marriage as collateral had turned to nothing. He covered his face with his fingers.

Verdick had to work. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the ink. But the ink had already soaked in. Even the handkerchief became dirty. Verdick’s tears fell onto those stains.

Even grieving was a luxury.

“Isella! Isella! Where are you!”

“Miss…!”

He grabbed the crying maid and pressed her.

“Both of them are missing?”

“Where is the room!”

“The flames are too fierce, we can’t get in!”

“Let go!”

In the flames, the Lord’s manor, the manor Verdick had wanted to obtain, was burning. Collapsing. That wasn’t important. His daughter, Isela Evans, was still inside there.

“It’s dangerous, Mr. Verdick.”

“Lord Raymond… Lord Raymond… Please save my daughter.”

Verdick grabbed Raymond’s arm. He was prepared to pay any amount of gold. He would give his entire fortune if asked. But Raymond’s face that he saw was.

“…Mr. Verdick. I’m not a firefighter.”

He saw a faint smile on Raymond’s face.

That might have been a mistake. He might have seen wrong. Raymond didn’t immediately refuse his request. He continued by saying this.

“I don’t know this place well. I need to hear more about the situation from the servants.”

That was right. Raymond was a knight. A soldier. He wasn’t even the owner of this house. It made sense. It fit the situation.

But… but.

How could a person’s heart work that way?

When Raymond came out carrying a woman, Verdick’s eyes widened and he collapsed.

The man his daughter had so admired and wanted to obtain had brought out Karen Hyer, not Isella. That was unbearable for Verdick.

“Useless flashy bastard.”

What he had given Isella was defective. Verdick thought of Raymond. He thought of the knight who hadn’t saved his daughter. It was Dulan who had brought out his daughter.

This dark man, despite being humiliated by Isella, didn’t hesitate to save Isella. Although Isella was unconscious from inhaling too much smoke, had severe burns on her neck, and bruises here and there, she was at least alive.

“But… she could die at any moment.”

When Verdick tried to embrace his surviving daughter, Dulan stopped him, saying it might be too much strain. Instead, he could confirm with his finger that she was breathing.

Dulan later told Verdick that he would stay at his manor to care for Isella. Verdick was grateful that Dulan, with whom he hadn’t been on good terms, was willing to stay at the manor for Isella’s sake. Despite his unremarkable appearance, he was truly a saint who practiced medicine and good deeds.

“You cannot.”

“You’d better step aside. This concerns Miss Isella.”

Sounds of arguing could be heard from outside.

“Open the door!”

With Verdick’s shout, a priest in black clothes slowly entered.

“…Father Dulan.”

Please tell me she’s safe. Please tell me my child can smile again. But the news Dulan brought was desperate.

“The situation is very grave, Mr. Verdick.”

“I… I see.”

“She’s still alive. We can only pray that God will bestow His grace, Verdick Evans.”

“If she’s alive, she’ll wake up someday. Isn’t that right, Father?”

Verdick looked at him earnestly, but Dulan’s expression wasn’t good. He spoke slowly.

“I cannot… give you a definitive answer. I will care for her by her side. I… hope for that as well.”

But as expected, Dulan’s face grimaced slightly, showing how serious Isella’s condition was.

“I’m truly… grateful. Thank you, Father. I’ll make a modest donation to the parish. During your stay at the manor, whatever you need…”

“…I see.”

Dulan looked down at the floor and said to Verdick.

“…Then, would you grant me a favor?”

Verdick was prepared to gladly give him a fortune even if he demanded it. But what he said was an unexpected story.

* * *

According to inheritance law, the Lord’s position passed to Dulan.

Instead of the Lord’s position, the fortune he left behind was originally Karen Hyer’s share, but due to the fire, all the wealth she could have inherited turned to ash. It wasn’t surprising news for Karen. Though it would be like a bolt from the blue for “Karen.”

“This won’t be bad news for you either. Becoming my adopted daughter, that is.”

“…Is that so.”

Father had passed away again and Dulan ascended to the Lord’s position. The difference was that before, “Karen” had come to this Evans Estate as Isella’s maid because she didn’t want to marry Dulan, but now she came as an adopted daughter of the Evans Family.

Karen looked down at the documents placed before her. There was no reason to refuse. As Verdick said, there was nothing for Karen to lose. If she had to nitpick,

“Now I’ll become Karen Evans.”

She didn’t like how it sounded. Verdick seemed to notice this as his eyebrows twitched. Even if she had become penniless, Hyer was still Hyer, and Evans was Evans. They were of different classes. Karen could anticipate what Countess Elba would say to Verdick. Something like a merchant trying to buy history with money.

“A woman’s surname isn’t that important anyway. It changes to follow her husband’s when she marries.”

But your daughter didn’t like that very much.

“…I see.”

Karen picked up the pen and signed. Now she had become Karen Evans, not Karen Hyer. There was no point in agonizing over something that couldn’t be helped. There weren’t any other options worth considering either.

“What’s the schedule?”

“Tomorrow. We’ll only invite the minimum number of people, so there’s nothing special you need to prepare.”

“Is that so.”

Karen felt like she had become a parrot.

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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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