Resetting Lady - Chapter 50

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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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It wouldn’t be much different.

Verdick briefly discussed the schedule for the engagement ceremony. Karen recalled Isella’s engagement ceremony from the past. That was in early autumn, but this time it’s early summer.

Is the story flowing this way again? Will she marry Raymond again? Are the exciting events over now? Karen thought that would be rather boring.

A story of holding an engagement ceremony and simply getting married. Is it ultimately marriage with Raymond again this time too? This time it’s also ultimately smooth sailing. Marriage with Raymond as Verdick’s adopted daughter – it’s so smooth it seems slippery. Annoyingly so.

“You can wear my daughter’s clothes and attend as my daughter from now on. Neither you nor my daughter, that is, my real daughter… have officially debuted in society.”

And I’ll end up marrying your daughter’s fiancé. Verdick didn’t seem to like this story much. Karen felt the same way.

The situation was uncomfortable, but material comfort made Karen feel at ease. First was the meal. Karen was pleased that she could enjoy quality food faster than she had expected.

“…It’s delicious.”

She pushed the warm soup into her mouth, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the warmth moving on her tongue. The aroma of sautéed onions was infused between the finely chopped potatoes. The broth seemed to be based on chicken, making it both light and hearty. Thinking of the rough oat porridge she used to eat brought new emotions. Isella used to give her the meals that maids ate. And later, even spoiled food.

“…Even in this situation, the food tastes good.”

“Ugh… sob…”

Interpreting it somehow, Donna simply covered her mouth and shook her shoulders. She said things like ‘We still have to live’ and ‘Cheer up, miss.’ Would Nancy have been more useful? Karen was curious about that. Yes, next time I’ll save Nancy. And I’m also curious about what that notebook I saw was.

If it were a notebook that contained all the stories that could be properly resolved, that would be really good. Karen found it so regrettable. She should have chosen to read the notebook even if she burned to death. What’s so precious about life anyway.

“I don’t regret the money, but I regret losing mother’s keepsake.”

“…Miss!”

She finally burst into tears. Karen patted Donna’s back. It was interfering with her eating, so she wished she would go away. Should I ask Mr. Verdick to change maids? He seems like he would do that much.

“Sob, sob… What should we do about our poor miss…”

Isn’t this ultimately a good thing? Karen tilted her head. Ah, father died. That is sad. Karen shed tears anew. But Donna wasn’t crying for that reason.

“Miss, it was revealed later… actually…”

Donna glanced at Karen. When pressed, she hesitantly answered.

“Miss Isella is alive.”

Thump.

Karen felt her heart beat strongly. Something much more stimulating than an engagement with Raymond. Isella is alive.

“She can’t open her eyes right now, but… Lord Dulan… to Mr. Verdick, sob…”

Thump.

“Tell me properly what you mean, Donna.”

She licked her lower lip. Things are flowing interestingly. Karen had to try hard to keep her expression stern.

“Since you have excellent nursing knowledge… once your body recovers, he wants you to take care of Miss Isella…”

“What…”

“Washing her body daily, giving her medicine – you’d do it better than anyone… Even if the miss rejected you, this is too much! It’s really too much!”

Thump.

It’s like before.

Once again.

Becoming Isella’s maid.

Like Karen’s memories.

As if all of this really is a book.

* * *

“Priest… Very well. To be honest, I have nothing to lose. That’s why I understand it even less. Why are you doing such troublesome things?”

Verdick was genuinely curious about that. Dulan slowly raised his face to meet Verdick’s eyes. Though Verdick was worn and weathered, even he thought Dulan’s face looked extremely bizarre.

“…Because I… hate… her.”

“Ha.”

Verdick opened his mouth at the unexpected answer.

“Make her care for Miss Isella who is in a coma. Her fate befits the role of a maid tending to blood and pus. Make it as miserable as possible.”

A face that couldn’t bear the hatred, a face that couldn’t help the disgust – Verdick knew such faces all too well. It was his own face he could see in the mirror when thinking of Raymond.

“That is.”

Dulan’s cheeks flushed. He was speaking while gritting his teeth.

“My revenge against her who abandoned me.”

So Verdick gladly extended his hand to Dulan.

* * *

Karen wore Isella’s dress. The extremely ornate dress fit Karen’s body perfectly. As if it had found its true owner. Isella’s build was certainly larger than Karen’s, yet the clothes seemed to cry out that Karen, not Isella, was the true owner.

“I offer congratulations… Though I’m not sure if it’s something to congratulate. At least having one tear and one smile come together is comforting. I hope it will be comforting to Lord Hyer.”

Countess Elba came and took Karen’s hands. Her attendance made the engagement ceremony an official affair. Her daughter Delia handed Karen a gift. Karen gave the customary thanks. Unlike Isella, she was so natural and polite.

Countess Elba seemed satisfied with this.

“You suit him much better indeed. Raymond is an excellent young man. Not a man suited for a merchant family. At least it’s fortunate he’s engaged to an excellent woman like Miss Karen.”

Countess Elba didn’t lower her voice. Karen was uncomfortable with Countess Elba who was clearly speaking loudly on purpose. Her face stung from the surrounding gazes. Half were debtors who agreed with her, and half were people from Verdick’s side who found it unpleasant.

“…Thank you for attending.”

Formalized courtesy is convenient at times like this. When she withdrew with an angle and voice that no one could find fault with, her male protagonist approached.

“You’re beautiful, Karen.”

“…Thank you, Lord Raymond.”

He took Karen’s hand just like in the past, truly like a god from mythology, like a protagonist from a novel.

“It feels as if… you are my true destiny.”

Karen closed her mouth and took his arm. Karen hated destiny. Is it repeating again this time? Is committing murder and dismembering corpses meaningless?

“And Karen.”

Raymond spoke as if whispering.

“Miss Isella’s shoe heels are too sharp, aren’t they?”

“…Pardon?”

He gently embraced Karen with his hand.

“Your feet look very painful. You can lean on me more. You look like you’re struggling.”

“…What?”

“Don’t move too much.”

At that moment, Karen had to hold onto Raymond more tightly to avoid falling.

“Right now…”

“Mr. Verdick.”

Verdick greeted Karen and Raymond with a face that was clearly forcing a smile. He spread both arms exaggeratedly while offering Raymond a smile.

“You look good, Lord Raymond. You should smile on happy days.”

“How could I not? I’m merely fulfilling a promise.”

“Thanks to Karen Hyer… now Miss Karen Evans, my daughter.”

“Above all, isn’t Mr. Verdick’s judgment the priority? My brother was worried in his telegram. Really, he still seems to mistake me for a ten-year-old child.”

“Is the Baron still like that?”

Karen couldn’t hear any sounds. What did he just say? This man, this knight she’s leaning on – what does he know? How does he know about her injury from Isella’s shoes? Is he simply testing the waters? But why? Knowing what? For what purpose?

She got goosebumps.

But Karen could no longer open her mouth. Too many eyes were watching. Verdick stood before them, and Raymond only engaged in natural and extremely courteous conversation until the ceremony ended.

The sky was clear, the manor luxurious, and the fiancé and fiancée were beautiful.

It was a picture-perfect engagement ceremony.

Karen became curious.

“Karen, you look pale. Are you alright?”

“…Thank you. I’m fine… Lord Raymond.”

Let’s suppose.

Suppose the answer is love, that Catherine’s release from this terrible curse was truly because of her father’s love. If it’s love, if the answer is love, if it’s just a very common emotion that doesn’t need to be absolute, then what emotion did Raymond have for her? And what emotion does he have now? Is it really love, as Karen thought?

Karen thought. Her father’s love seemed insufficient to her. But perhaps that degree of love could be enough. If love is the answer, perhaps what she received wasn’t love at all.

What if Raymond’s love for her wasn’t lacking, but he never loved her from the beginning? What if that’s why she couldn’t be freed? What if not just Raymond, but all the other men were the same?

What emotion has Raymond held for her until now? And what emotion does Raymond hold for her now?

Karen wanted to open Raymond’s head and look inside.

Two corpses were found in the Hyer Estate that was completely destroyed by the great fire. Tom ultimately couldn’t escape from the burning manor.

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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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