Resetting Lady - Chapter 59

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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, Miss?”

“…”

“Are, are you alright?”

Do I look alright?

Even lying down and enduring was exhausting. Karen, who had returned to her room with Donna’s support, buried her face in the bed and swallowed her tears and curses. She wouldn’t even be able to sleep lying straight for a while. She’d have to stay face down like this.

Donna trembled as she removed the clothes stuck to Karen’s back. The sensation of blood-soaked fabric clinging to skin before peeling away was horrifying. But leaving it would cause scabs to stick to the fabric, making it impossible to remove. Karen bit the pillowcase to suppress her groans. Donna sniffled even though she wasn’t the one who had been beaten. But Karen found even that sympathetic crying annoying.

“Good heavens… what is this…”

“…How is it?”

“Sob…”

Can’t you hear me? I’m asking how it looks. Karen wanted to throw a tantrum, but the reality that she had to endure even that made her angry. She had to be good. A good female protagonist. A good mistress. Be good… good?

‘Why should I?’

She had already killed someone, so why was she still trapped in the constraints of this story? Karen wanted to throw a tantrum. But at the same time, she remembered she had to restrain herself. There was nothing to gain from throwing a tantrum now.

Whining about consequences you brought upon yourself was unseemly. That’s exactly what she was doing now. When a person gets irritated, rather than that irritation being resolved, they tend to become even more irritated. Anger and irritation were different. Explosive anger sometimes gave people relief, but unresolved neurotic emotions ate away at a person.

“…Good heavens, the blood…”

“Ugh…”

At dawn when day was just breaking, blue light enveloped the room. It was an utterly depressing dawn. If people were dying and riots breaking out. In a world engulfed in chaos, her mind might find peace.

“…Ah!”

It hurts, it hurts, die, stop, damn it! When the disinfectant was applied to her back, no thoughts came to mind. Karen gritted her teeth. The languid melancholy was blown away by pain. When Donna applied the disinfectant, her body trembled almost convulsively.

“Are, are you alright?”

“…”

‘Did I do the right thing?’

Even if you won at gambling, you still got whipped. Karen had played cards in Isella’s place. But back then it was only two lashes. Verdick had never beaten her this severely before. Perhaps he was quite upset that his daughter had collapsed. The wounds from this beating were worse than ever. That wasn’t all.

“What is it?”

Donna asked in a tense voice, looking at the Head Maid of the Verdick household. She delivered the information with an expressionless face.

“After changing clothes, you are to go to Miss Isella’s room.”

At her words, Donna’s face contorted.

“You’re telling her to work after seeing her in that state?”

Calling the master “that state.” But the word “pitiful sight” would be even more fitting. Karen buried her face in the pillow. Groans escaped involuntarily. She really hated this period.

She had hoped that taking Isella’s place would allow her to live more comfortably, but it only increased her work. She let out groans and sighs repeatedly. Karen listened to the maid’s words while lying face down. What she said was the same as always. Nothing changed.

“It is the master’s order.”

“I’ll go in her place.”

The difference was that Donna was here. Should she be moved? Donna was notably kinder than any maid she’d had before. Gentle and good, seemingly ordinary yet rare when you looked closely. Perhaps she judged her that way because Donna was someone she’d never been this close to in her life.

If you dug deeper, she too might have darkness and reveal a base nature. But she hadn’t shown such aspects yet. She pitied Karen according to her apparent character.

“…”

She still didn’t feel moved. But it was curious. Sera before Donna had also pitied Karen, but hadn’t rebelled this much. But ultimately, she was just a powerless maid. Donna’s sympathy didn’t help Karen. The Head Maid answered mechanically.

“This is Miss Karen’s work.”

“No, look at her condition…”

Donna pointed at Karen with her finger. Karen’s back was literally in tatters. Verdick had struck her ten times with the whip.

“Miss Karen must go to Miss Isella’s room within 10 minutes.”

“How can she work when her back is in shreds? Don’t you know that Miss needs nursing care right now, not to give it?”

Red lines were drawn across her pale back. She thought these scars wouldn’t disappear until she died and was reborn. She had wanted to try wearing a backless dress before being whipped, but now it was an impossible wish until her next life.

“I have clearly conveyed the message. It is the master’s order.”

“Don’t be like that… just turn a blind eye. I’ll repay you later.”

How wonderful it would be if that were possible. But Karen knew what she had to answer here.

“…Donna, this is something I have to do.”

Even if her voice cracked. Even if she didn’t want to.

“I’m fine.”

* * *

“How could you really be fine?”

Karen stood in sleeping Isella’s room. Having arrived a bit earlier than usual, the room was still dark. Had Raymond discovered the corpse by now? Karen was still curious about that. Would he bring her a gift? If so, it would be comforting in this situation.

“Honestly, your situation looks much better than mine. You just need to close your eyes and sleep. No pain, no suffering.”

“…”

“And when time passes, you’ll start again knowing nothing.”

Karen felt blood still flowing from her back. It stung so much that tears came. Though Donna had disinfected it with clumsy skill and wrapped it tightly like a mummy, the pain didn’t subside.

“Isella, I hate your father.”

Even more than you.

There was no way she could be fine. No one could get used to torture. No one could become accustomed to immediate whipping. It was a lie that someone could be lost in thought while their flesh was being torn. It was a fantasy.

It was impossible to remain dignified before the whip. It was impossible not to beg. Karen started screaming at the fifth strike. Please spare me. I was wrong. But the whipping didn’t stop. What she could endure was only as much as she had experienced before.

“Why should I have to suffer?”

Pure rage surged up. Why did she have to repeat this? Why? There was no way she could be indifferent. No way she could be fine. The reason her anger toward Verdick could be diluted was because there were too many other people trying to kill her. Because it wasn’t just him, she could endure seeing his face.

“If you die, Mr. Verdick will cry.”

Karen picked up the scissors she had prepared. Why did Verdick make her attend to Isella? Knowing what she might do. Or was even this part of his plan? He had always criticized harshly if there was even the slightest flaw with Isella. But did he believe she would endure even after such a whipping?

Snip.

The IV line in Isella’s hand was cut. Karen stared at the liquid soaking the bed. Then she looked at Isella’s neck.

Still unconscious, even in this situation with scissors pointed at her, it rose and fell slowly, peacefully. If she stabbed her neck like this, would Isella continue sleeping? Or would she wake up screaming?

Karen picked up the scissors. If she stabbed her neck like this, Isella would exit the stage. What would happen if she exited? Karen asked.

“…Do you love Miss Isella?”

“…”

“Lord Raymond.”

She asked the man who had grabbed her wrist. Karen’s attempt failed again this time. Yes, she knew this would happen. Raymond had grabbed Karen’s arm. His face looked like he had rushed here. He was breathing slightly hard. Raymond whispered with a flushed face.

“Stop this.”

“…Yes.”

Karen slowly nodded. She hadn’t really expected much. Whether Isella died or not was fine either way. If she had really wanted to kill her, she would have rushed to the bed and tried to cut her throat the moment she entered the room. This was somewhat for show.

But Raymond didn’t seem to think so. Her wrist hurt. Karen explained again.

“You’re already holding my hand to stop me.”

“…”

“So let go. I understand. I can’t do it.”

I already know I can’t do it.

“I’ve calmed down, so let go.”

Karen knew her face was stained with tears. Raymond was looking at Karen’s face. Then with one hand he took away the scissors clutched in Karen’s hand. Raymond made Karen sit in a chair and tied her hands.

“You don’t need to do this.”

“Do you think I’d believe that right now?”

Even she wouldn’t believe it. Karen cried and then laughed. After tying Karen up, Raymond began changing Isella’s bed sheets. His skill was surprisingly adept for a noble. Watching him change the sheets and also replace Isella’s IV line, Karen asked.

“Did you confirm it?”

He would know what she was referring to. Raymond answered.

“…Yes. There was a corpse where you said it would be.”

Hearing those words, Karen couldn’t help but laugh even with her tear-stained face.

“Good. That’s fortunate.”

Now she could be certain.

She was repeating the past.

Even if Nancy had manipulated her memories, no one could deny this.

“I see.”

Karen was so happy about that. Finally she could be certain. Constantly repeating doubts in her head was too exhausting. A laugh of relief escaped.

“Lord Raymond, I have something to confess.”

“…”

“I believe this world is made of books.”

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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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