Resetting Lady - Chapter 5

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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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01. Isella’s Necklace

“Hiiing.”

The Hyer Estate, famous for its breathtakingly red flowers, tormented Isella’s feet with a tremendous uphill climb from the very entrance of the road. It was a bad start from the beginning.

The road to the manor was poorly maintained, causing the carriage to shake violently, and the coachman fell from his seat and made a fuss. Moreover, one of the horses broke its ankle. The remaining horses couldn’t possibly climb the steep slope, so Isella had to climb the mountain feeling her legs give out.

“What’s so good about this countryside?”

Isella was irritated from the moment she came to this small countryside following her father. The territory owned by the Hyer family was so blessed by God that flowers bloomed throughout the estate in spring and fruits were abundant in autumn.

Though it was a basin atop rugged mountains, it was thick with precious trees, and with few residents, management costs were minimal, making it a region with quite good income relative to its size. Simply put, it was an incredibly efficient place.

Of course, that was her father’s view of the land as a profit target, and to Isella now, it was nothing more than an object to pour curses upon.

“This will become our land.”

Verdick smiled as he took his daughter’s hand. Far from major cities and thus removed from noble interest, with only one daughter as heir. This territory was good prey for merchant Verdick Evans. The Hyer family had even been in seclusion for so long that they had few connections to provide backing.

“Don’t worry, Isella. We too will become nobles now. The era of kings granting territories is over. Now territories can be bought with money too.”

To more easily acquire the territory, they had to sell even some of Isella’s jewels to buy the vast but useless lands around the Hyer family. Isella’s lips twisted when she thought of it. Among them were accessories inherited from her maternal grandmother. Beautiful things said to have been received from foreign royalty in place of debt.

Isella Evans was satisfied not with the jewels themselves but with the fact that they were stolen goods. The Evans family both despised and loved nobles, royalty, and clergy. It was the family’s glory to steal wealth and honor through various means from pig-like nobles who were born noble and simply took profits from the land.

We take. We can manage better when we have it. We’re the ones who should truly be on top.

“Right, you met the Hyer heiress at the church last time, didn’t you? How was she?”

“Hmph, nothing special. So provincial.”

“It’s fortunate we received an invitation this time.”

“Makes me sick.”

Ugh.

Isella’s twisted feelings even made her nauseous upon seeing Karen’s face. Indeed, she was beautiful enough to be famous for her looks even while buried in such mountains.

No. That rumor was utterly insufficient.

She was terrifyingly beautiful.

“If father saw the man she brought as her so-called fiancé, he’d know how desperately anxious the Hyer family is.”

“Haha, compared to Sir Raymond, where would you find a decent man?”

“He even stutters.”

Isella recalled their last meeting. The sticky pain that stabbed her insides upon seeing Karen’s face disappeared completely when she saw Karen’s fiancé Dulan beside her.

‘Look at that pathetic sight! To think she’d try to marry such a man just to maintain her territory!’

“If they’re desperate enough to arrange an early engagement with such blood relations, they must be quite frantic about maintaining their territory. The more desperate people are, the easier the deal.”

“How fortunate.”

Isella Evans, relieved by seeing Dulan, inwardly mocked Karen’s modest dress and cheap accessories. And she confirmed Karen’s gaze looking at the necklace Raymond had given her. As expected, Karen seemed envious, unable to take her eyes off Isella’s neck and even smiling softly.

Isella liked such gazes.

Sparkling eyes mixed with expectation.

“I’m delighted you invited me, Lady Hyer.”

“Not at all, Miss Evans. Please enjoy yourself while our fathers discuss difficult matters. There are no young ladies of similar age here, so Miss Evans’s visit is most welcome.”

In contrast to the gently smiling Karen Hyer, Isella hid her breathless voice as she received a gift from the porter. Even the wrapping cloth that would soon be removed had embroidery stitched stitch by stitch.

“Please accept this.”

“Bowen.”

The item Isella brought was naturally received by the servant beside her.

“I brought tea that’s popular in the capital these days to enjoy together.”

The small wooden box containing the tea had intricate patterns carved into it. The patterns and craftsmanship techniques were outstanding, the kind this countryside young lady had probably never seen. The servant’s admiration was brief, as he soon became flustered, unable to open it.

Enjoying the servant’s reaction, Isella showed off by demonstrating how to open it, releasing the locking mechanism. The beautiful sound of clicking and turning gears filled the air. And the true beauty of the tea caddy was revealed.

“The pleasure of tea time is enjoying with the eyes, ears, and nose.”

That was referring to the pleasure that came from the tea itself, not the box, but Karen didn’t object and smiled while looking at the box. Isella opened the box and handed it to Karen.

“I thought you’d probably only enjoy it straight in a place like this, so I prepared various options.”

Inside were all kinds of spices. Bottles full of spices were divided into compartments and neatly arranged by color, and on the back of the lid, spice names and recommended blending recipes were written in small gold lettering. Rather than a tea box, it was more fitting to call it a jewelry box – such a luxury item. Among Karen’s possessions, there would be nothing worth this much.

“Yes, it must be difficult to enjoy various fragrances in such mountains.”

“Oh my, if I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

Of course, it was said to offend. Isella waited to hear that it was fine, but Karen said nothing more and only smiled. With no reaction, Isella soon became indifferent and leaned back against her chair. When a servant brought boiled water to the quiet table, she perked up again.

“The fragrance is quite lovely.”

“Straight tea is good as each region’s fragrance comes alive, but I still prefer enjoying various fragrances. Wouldn’t tea time be too boring if you only enjoyed one thing?”

“I agree, Miss Isella. It would be too boring to enjoy only one fragrance. I think pursuing diversity, even if not perfect, is what people should do.”

Isella’s expression soured at Karen’s response.

“That’s rather grandiose, Lady Hyer.”

“Doesn’t life begin from tea time?”

Karen smiled with spring fragrance flowing as she added a few more flowers to the tea.

“Isella, you don’t know how delighted I am that you came and brought change to my boring daily life.”

Truly.

* * *

“Mmm.”

Isella opened her eyes. Her head hurt. Where is this? Last night’s meeting went on too long. She was shown to a guest room to stay at the Hyer Estate.

“Even the guest rooms here are cheap.”

Her back ached. The bed stuffed with straw caused pain throughout her body, unlike the soft bed Isella was used to. It was still dim dawn. Opening the window, cool air refreshed her head. In the garden, dew had formed on flowers just beginning to bloom.

All of this will belong to our family someday. Thinking this, Isella felt affection for the Hyer territory rising. I’ll be a good mistress. And I’ll become a bride worthy of Sir Raymond.

“Huh?”

Her neck felt empty.

“Huh?”

The necklace Sir Raymond had given her.

No! It’s mine! Sir Raymond might be disappointed. My necklace. He went to the trouble of buying it for me.

Isella frantically searched around the head of the bed. It wasn’t there. Her vision went white.

No. What if that Hyer girl took my necklace. That can’t be. Or what if the maids or servants took it? I’ll catch them and kill them. But what if they deny it? What if they already ran away? That’s something so precious a commoner couldn’t touch it even working their whole life. Ah, my necklace.

Isella got down and crawled on the floor. Did I drop it? What should I do. No. Who took my necklace…

Knock knock.

“Who is it!”

“…I brought water for washing.”

The door opened. A black maid brought hot water. Isella wasn’t in the mood to wash at all, but she grabbed the maid and asked.

“Who brought me here yesterday?”

“…I carried you. You were drowsy and couldn’t move well…”

“Who took care of my necklace?”

“Pardon?”

“My necklace is missing!”

“I put your clothes in the wardrobe.”

She frantically searched inside the wardrobe, but the necklace wasn’t there. Rage boiled up and she slapped the maid’s cheek.

Smack.

Scratch marks from Isella’s nails appeared on the black skin.

“Find it right now! You must!”

Isella shouted in an angry voice. The maid raised her head. And holding her cheek, she looked at Isella. Isella was dumbfounded. The maid was smiling. The maid looked at Isella with blue eyes wide open, pulling up the corners of her mouth in a smile. Smiling. That maid was mocking Isella.

“If it can’t be found, there’s nothing to be done.”

Isella grabbed the maid’s hair. At that moment, the door opened. Karen in nightclothes looked at Isella and the maid with a surprised face. Karen asked Isella.

“…What’s this commotion?”

“My necklace is missing!”

“What? Miss Isella, please tell me again slowly. A necklace?”

“I mean, my necklace is missing. I put it in the wardrobe but it disappeared. I suspect your maid.”

Isella spoke while hiding the maid’s flesh under her fingernails.

“Yes. We’ll have to mobilize all the maids and servants to search. Since it’s still dawn, please get dressed first, Isella.”

“That’s not what’s important right now…”

Isella closed her mouth. Those who came hearing the commotion weren’t just Karen. The Hyer family’s servants and workers were looking at her with contemptuous eyes. Her father’s subordinates were also looking at her with pitying eyes. Suppressing her bursting anger, Isella shed tears.

“And I’d like you to know that even though she’s a maid, Nancy has been by my side for a long time.”

At the clearly irritating words, Isella felt anger but hung her head.

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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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