Resetting Lady - Chapter 56

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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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“Ah, aah. I, I see. That… the rumored one.”

Ain was conscious of the gazes of people around him. Sweat trickled down. Ah, damn it. What is this. That can’t be right. How much time has passed. He was now at that age. An age where making advances would earn him not light ridicule but serious contempt from those around him.

“She truly resembles her, doesn’t she? I was quite startled when I saw her myself.”

“Indeed, Lady Elba.”

“You didn’t doze off during the recital, did you?”

“How could you say such a thing. The Duke’s original poem was excellent. Better than last time, of course. What about you, madam, who speaks so – what brings you here alone?”

Baron Ain and the black-haired Countess. The two were old acquaintances. They had been enemies for a long time, and sometimes allies. If not for the common hobby that bound them together, they would have had no reason to meet. Both were gambling addicts.

The difference was that Elba had gone bankrupt spectacularly once before, while Ain was a player who had never failed so dramatically. But they weren’t the same. Ain pointed out that Mrs. Elba had come without her daughter and husband. For a married woman to go about alone was hardly a virtue. Married men and married women were different.

“My husband… the child is sick, so I came alone.”

“And yet you came out?”

Even though the child is sick. Elba’s face hardened slightly.

“…”

“Oh my, is it serious?”

Karen quickly expressed concern to the Countess whose face was gradually turning red. Not missing the opportunity, Countess Elba quickly changed the subject.

“Karen, would you visit our house later? The child has been wanting to see you.”

“Of course. I hope they get well soon. When would be a good time to visit?”

“I’ll send a telegram later. You’re kind like your mother.”

“Do you know my mother well?”

“I think Baron Ain would know better than I do?”

“Really? Do you know her well?”

The girl smiled with innocent eyes. Ain took her hand. Karen, who was the spitting image of her mother, seemed far removed from gambling.

“I don’t know her that well.”

“Oh my, pretending not to know. I remember how you used to chase after Catherine back then? You weren’t as persistent as Prince Guiz, but you were quite tenacious yourself.”

Countess Elba interjected with a laugh. That woman has no intention of staying cooped up at home in her old age and sticks her nose into everything. Damn it. Ain answered awkwardly.

“That was when I was young. If you put it that way, there probably wasn’t a man who didn’t chase after Catherine back then.”

No man would refuse a beauty, but even so, Ain was among those who accepted reality quickly. Rather than a glamorous woman like Catherine, it was the happiness of a man like him to take in a more modest wife with less to offer and fill his self-esteem. And his choice hadn’t been so bad.

“True, she was excessively beautiful. What a shame, Karen. Raymond is fine, but a woman should naturally have several men to choose from.”

“Oh my, indeed.”

Karen giggled. Meanwhile, Raymond had a stern expression, but it was just light teasing at most. He smiled and linked arms with Karen, showing off.

“You’re being too harsh in front of me.”

“Oh my, Lord Raymond. You should know how happy you are. If Karen had debuted like Catherine, you would have had to face at least ten duel challenges.”

Karen asked Countess Elba with a face full of curiosity.

“Did Father win his duels?”

“Your father was even wiser, Karen. He gave laughter instead of guns and money. Baron Ain would know all too well.”

Ain felt displeasure wash over him.

“I can’t agree with that, Elba.”

Elba had an expression as if she’d caught his tail, unfolding her fan with a sound and covering her mouth.

“The loser should remain silent. Karen, ask Baron Ain more about your mother later. He’ll tell you plenty.”

That woman.

As the air froze coldly, the young couple glanced around nervously. If Baron Ain and Countess Elba had been standing in a back alley, they would have drawn guns and shot each other’s heads off. In the end, Raymond began to clean up the situation.

“I’m lucky. I won Karen’s love peacefully. If there were many people like Baron Ain, I wouldn’t be confident just thinking about it.”

“Oh my, Lord Raymond really.”

“…Haha, Lord Raymond. You know something. But I’m no longer interested in Catherine’s type of woman either. You’ll understand too. A woman’s beauty lasts only a season.”

“Karen isn’t just beautiful in face… She’s perfect.”

“P-please stop, Lord Raymond.”

Karen clung to Raymond’s arm, stopping his boasting. She was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do with the praise that was embarrassing even to those around them.

“That’s because you don’t know…”

Baron Ain stopped speaking. In the end, defending himself would mean disparaging Catherine, which would in turn insult Karen and Raymond. Damn it, I can’t say anything more.

“Pfft.”

Countess Elba snorted, but since it was true, he didn’t react further. His head ached.

“Who is that child?”

Baron Ain glanced at Donna and asked.

“She’s a maid from my family home. Now she serves as my lady’s maid.”

“I see.”

Now that type is more appealing. Ain turned his eyes to the intimidated maid next to the glamorous Karen. She had a girlish charm, and her intimidated appearance in the fancy manor was refreshing. As one ages, such girls catch the eye more than glamorous beauties.

“…Ugh.”

Perhaps noticing Ain’s gaze, she blushed and averted her eyes.

“Hehe.”

Women are best when they’re appropriately shy. Not like Countess Elba, a gambling addict who mistakes herself for some great female warrior.

“Baron Ain?”

“Uh, yes?”

Karen asked Ain, who had been lost in various fantasies.

“Was Mother truly famous?”

“Yes…”

“Did you like her too, Baron Ain?”

“Baron Ain. Congratulations on your son. It was in the newspaper the day before yesterday.”

“Did you see it? Haha, it’s a bit embarrassing. My wife is quite old, you see.”

It was an impertinent question for the married Ain. When Raymond intervened to remind them of this fact, Karen’s face turned bright red.

“Oh… I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine.”

It was too awkward a time to get angry about it. Enough time had passed for her daughter to debut in society again like her. But for her, it was fortunate that she had made the mistake with Ain. Another suitor hadn’t received the leisure that time offers. But Ain wanted to indulge in the mischief that time brings.

“Rather than me, Prince Guiz was famous. He might quite like you if he saw you.”

Karen turned her gaze toward the hall and asked.

“Is Prince Guiz… did he come today?”

“Recitals aren’t his taste.”

“Do you know about Prince Guiz?”

“Do you know him, Lord Raymond?”

“He briefly participated in a battle with the unit I was in.”

Raymond’s face hardened slightly. Understandable. But it would be no fun if he interfered. Fortunately, at that moment Countess Elba interjected.

“He’s a model nobleman. Unlike certain others.”

How amusing.

Whatever Prince Guiz’s sexual preferences, whatever his hobbies, such things weren’t well known to the ladies. Ain had to struggle to suppress his laughter at Countess Elba’s assessment. It was male solidarity.

The question was whether Raymond would stop his fiancée? Baron Ain couldn’t shake off the eerie feeling that Catherine was standing right there as he looked at Karen, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity. Prince Guiz would feel the same.

“When might I be able to meet him?”

“…Karen.”

“Yes?”

Raymond gently tugged at Karen’s arm. Oh dear, how unfortunate. Ain chuckled inwardly. He needed to push things along here. Ain wanted to give his old rival a gift. There was a senate seat vacant. That would make a decent gift.

“Well, how about this?”

“Yes?”

“Play a game with me. I’m quite bored today. If you beat me, I’ll take you to the Prince.”

“Baron Ain.”

Raymond called quietly, but Ain only looked at Karen.

“What if I lose?”

You’ll win, won’t you?

Ain smiled. I’d be happy to take you and throw you to him, but why should I? Whether she won or lost, Karen would go to Prince Guiz.

“You… well.”

Ain looked at Karen’s fancy jewelry. Her attire seemed to boast of being adopted into the Evans Family. With that much, she’d surely be willing to wager a few coins.

“Let’s wager a bit of money… Let’s see, shall we start with this one coin?”

Ain pulled out a silver coin. This much would seem like nothing.

“Yes! That sounds good.”

What would be good? Ain glanced over Karen’s face and the maid behind her.

“Karen, gambling is not good.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

Countess Elba cleared her throat. The very advocate of that ‘improper behavior’ glared at him. Under Countess Elba’s sharp gaze, Raymond proposed an alternative.

“If you truly wish it, I shall take your place.”

“Good heavens, Raymond, what are you saying? Since when is there a substitute in gambling?”

“She is still young.”

Pushing Raymond aside, Karen stepped forward with an excited face.

“It’s alright, Lord Raymond. I’m good at card games.”

“Oh ho, splendid. Indeed, the new era needs women like Miss Karen.”

Ain spread both arms wide to welcome the new face.

* * *

Why?

Baron Ain looked at the cards before his eyes.

The red Queen of Spades lay there.

“The game is over.”

The Duke’s servant announced the end in a flat voice.

With a 200-point difference, the game had ended.

“After all that boasting.”

Someone giggled mockingly.

“Oh my…”

Countess Elba let out an indecipherable exclamation.

“Oh, what do we do, Miss?”

The maid whimpered.

“Oh dear…”

“Do… Donna. What do we do?”

Karen stammered in a flustered voice.

Whimpering sounds, sighs, and grimaces followed. The two girls looked on the verge of tears. Their anxious faces evoked pity from onlookers. But Ain just stared blankly at the cards. Ain still seemed to be dreaming. The result was clear.

Karen had lost.

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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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