Resetting Lady - Chapter 52

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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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“…What do you think?”

Even for a woman who only sleeps with her eyes closed, daily care shows. Karen had her made up to match the time Verdick would arrive. Verdick thought Isella was gradually getting better, but.

“I wonder what he thinks indeed.”

There was a large burn scar remaining on Isella’s neck.

But thanks to that large scar, the wound Karen had inflicted was hidden.

“…”

Karen quietly tried covering Isella’s face with a pillow. If she pressed down for a few minutes like this, it would all be over. The room was quiet. The sunlight illuminating the room was beautiful. The bright and cheerful ward had a truly heaven-like tranquility.

“If I strangle you here…”

She lifted the pillow. Her lips curved into an arc.

“My neck would be cut, wouldn’t it?”

She got up and opened the window. Summer breeze flowed into the room. It was refreshingly pleasant beyond measure. Karen closed her eyes and opened them again. What a beautiful world.

“The weather is nice.”

* * *

Karen knocked on Raymond’s door in the middle of the night.

“…I don’t think this is proper etiquette for a lady. Karen… Evans.”

Raymond stumbled slightly over his words.

“That name doesn’t suit you yet. If it’s not something important, I think it would be proper to meet at tomorrow night’s dinner.”

So what was she supposed to say among more than ten people? Karen was exasperated with Raymond, who was acting as if he had forgotten what he had said.

“May I close the door now? I wish you a good night.”

“Lord Raymond, actually I love you.”

The door opened. Raymond stuck his frowning face through the gap.

“Do you really have to have this conversation at this hour, even saying such things?”

“Because you keep avoiding me.”

Karen glared at Raymond as she pushed the door and entered the room.

“I was going to be moved to tears with emotion. Your expression is hurtful.”

“I’ll understand if you shed some tears.”

“How about tea with tears?”

“Please give me a cup. Since it’s late at night, add some milk.”

She closed the door.

Raymond turned around and boiled water. There wasn’t much luggage in the room. There would be about three sets of clothes in the wardrobe, and everything else was belongings that could fit in one bag.

On the table were a clock, gloves, some documents, and a hot water bottle wrapped in a warmer. It was a crude military-style one, not suitable for use at Isella’s Villa.

Even if Xenon carried the heavy luggage, it was excessively little. He was always ready to leave. Because Isella’s Villa wasn’t his home. Because it was a place he would leave someday.

Even these things were clearly the same as her memories. Or weren’t they? She was in a familiar space, but the person there wasn’t familiar. Karen wasn’t sure whether she was fitting her thoughts after seeing, or if it was really déjà vu about something she remembered. Perhaps interpreting her blank stare differently, Raymond handed her a teacup and spoke.

“It’s nothing special. It’s not that I don’t trust Mr. Verdick in such trivial matters. It’s just convenient to carry.”

Making excuses without being asked, he brewed tea in hot water. It was an unremarkable tea, neither particularly good nor bad. It was a bit disappointing since there was nothing he usually enjoyed, but as popular things always are, it wasn’t bad.

Raymond initiated the conversation.

“These days Mr. Verdick seems to be showing interest in the coffee business too.”

“That will be difficult.”

Karen recalled her memories. That business wasn’t very successful for Verdick. Isella had brought it to the salon before, but it was only at the level of a new luxury item for some nobles and middle class, not suitable for business targeting the masses.

Raymond asked with a puzzled expression after hearing Karen’s answer.

“Why?”

Oh no. Karen reproached herself for answering carelessly again. She had unnecessarily acted like she knew. This conversation wasn’t even important anyway. Why was she recalling past memories and trying to be smart? In the end, was it true that people find it difficult to talk about themselves but like to criticize others’ affairs? She felt slightly disgusted with herself.

“Because it’s dark colored, it’s easy to mix and sell with other inferior things. Compared to tea that brews clear, it’s easy to deceive. The masses won’t trust it easily.”

“Is that a metaphor about yourself?”

“No, I’m just showing off.”

Did you think I’d be surprised if you suddenly caught me off guard? Karen answered calmly. Raymond chuckled and brought the tea to his lips.

“You don’t fall for it.”

“Don’t act surprised now. I even confessed to get you to open the door.”

“…Impressive. I’d like to applaud.”

But contrary to his words, he didn’t clap and drank the hot tea. Raymond wasn’t particularly picky about food. Isella was quite picky though. Maybe that was also something that put him off. Like, I don’t like delicately raised women like you! Something like that. No, then was it good that I grew up rough? Karen had such thoughts absentmindedly for a moment.

“Your expression is interesting.”

“How do you feel about women with picky tastes?”

“…I don’t pay attention to such things.”

What she wanted to say drifted around the surface amid courtesy and humor. Karen felt the cool gaze felt between the playful conversation. It wasn’t good that Raymond was acting like that. There’s usually a knife hidden in laughter, and a frivolous person and someone who acts frivolously are completely different. The latter is dangerous.

‘He’s suspicious.’

Of what? How far?

Karen was curious about that. Even though Karen and Raymond were laughing and conversing in the same space, they felt tension as if they were pointing guns at each other’s heads.

Clack.

Setting down his teacup, Raymond stood up.

“Would you like another cup?”

“…”

Karen looked down at her teacup that she hadn’t even touched yet. Raymond also made a slightly awkward expression and poured a second cup of water into his own cup.

“Hmm, it doesn’t matter. Let’s do it, have a conversation.”

“What happened to what you said back then?”

“What do you mean?”

As expected, Raymond was also brazen. Karen glared at Raymond, who was repeating the behavior she had done. Karen was tired of continuing to play along with such games.

“Don’t play dumb. I’m talking about Miss Isella.”

Karen felt strength entering her hand gripping the teacup.

How much does he know?

And if he knows, what does he want?

Why is Raymond different from the Raymond Karen had known until now?

There were so many things she was curious about. If she could, Karen wanted to grab Raymond by the collar and shake him. Being a woman made her so angry at times like this. She wanted to use force, but she couldn’t because men had the physical advantage.

“Oh my, you said this was a secret meeting whispering about love. So that’s what you were curious about.”

“…”

“I’m hurt.”

Still spouting such nonsense? Karen had no choice but to frown deeply.

“Should I take off my clothes if you want?”

“I’d welcome you with open arms… No, no, that’s fine. You don’t really need to undress.”

If it were Dulan, he would have welcomed it without a word. In the end, this man had soft spots at crucial moments, even if he was shameless with words. At least with Karen.

“You fought with Miss Isella, didn’t you.”

“…Fought? I was unilaterally beaten. You saw it. This is all because you couldn’t manage your fiancée…”

“And your foot?”

“Miss Isella stepped on it that night.”

“In the end, weren’t you the last one to see Miss Isella? When did you last see her?”

Such clumsy leading. Karen felt the tension dissipating.

“I wasn’t the last one to see her. It was Dulan. Why are you saying that to me while acting meaningful? It’s unpleasant.”

“…Acting, you say. That’s interesting. Priest Dulan didn’t say that.”

“…What?”

Raymond laughed exaggeratedly.

His voice was grating.

“Haha, that expression is interesting. It’s as if you two plotted something together.”

No. Wait, too fast. The conversation is unpredictable. Was mentioning Dulan’s name a mistake? After that, he didn’t appear directly. Bowen spoke for him.

It was a brief message saying to care for Isella as atonement. Did he intercept that? Did he eavesdrop? Or did those two have a conversation without her knowing? That seems likely. Did Dulan betray me? If he talked, how much? Karen lowered her head.

Dizzy.

“…!”

Her shoulder was pressed down hard.

“Don’t rack your brain.”

Raymond bent down to meet Karen’s eyes. The green gleam resembled the glint of a blade. His lips still curved in an arc, but it could never be called a smile.

“Don’t rack your brain about how much I know, how to deflect the conversation. You’re not the one conducting the interrogation.”

Saying ‘don’t interrogate without evidence’ here wouldn’t benefit Karen. Karen desperately racked her brain. Raymond was already certain. Did he want an evidence battle? But he had been given the right of summary judgment. Moreover, it was just a matter of testifying in court and it would be over.

This was disadvantageous to Karen since she didn’t know how much Raymond knew. More than anything, what did he want? Karen was curious about that. What was this man trying to gain right now?

“If Lord Raymond has already made his decision… I’m curious why you’re doing this to me.”

“Shh.”

He smiled with his eyes crinkling. His finger touched Karen’s lips.

“…Lord Raymond.”

“I like to maintain courtesy toward ladies.”

But such things aren’t necessary for criminals.

Though it wasn’t spoken aloud, Karen felt as if she had heard his unspoken words.

Raymond straightened up again and looked down at Karen. He laughed as if he truly found this amusing. Karen tried to smile back at him, but no smile came.

Think.

Think about Raymond.

Think about him who had returned from war, hated Isella, and said he loved Karen. Think about the sniper who suffered from insomnia and always carried poison in his mouth to commit suicide.

She knew Raymond. She had to make the best proposal to catch Raymond right now. Not love—what would be the most plausible thing to hold onto that man who seemed unlikely to love her?

Karen came to an answer.

“You hate Mr. Verdick.”

This was the best topic that would work on him right now.

Raymond shrugged his shoulders and sipped his tea.

“Not particularly. Well… he’s someone who has my life completely mortgaged. It’s not pleasant, but it’s the same as with you. There’s also much to be gained.”

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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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