Resetting Lady - Chapter 76

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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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“Aren’t you eating?”

“No thanks. I don’t really have much of an appetite.”

Raymond looked at the steak Sion was cutting on the train. It was only seared on the surface, so blood was dripping from it. Somehow it turned his stomach. He had just collected the duke’s head and cut through blood and flesh, but it didn’t seem to affect Sion the same way.

Sion looked at Raymond while cutting his steak into small pieces. Seeing Raymond’s unpleasant expression, Sion openly made a face that said ‘how dramatic.’

“Wow, you’re as delicate as a 17-year-old girl.”

He didn’t just make the expression but said it out loud too. Raymond nodded and gave his prepared answer.

“I’ve fallen in love lately. They say you become like the one you love, don’t they?”

“That’s a really funny joke.”

It was a somewhat more favorable reaction than Xenon’s. Xenon had looked at him with deeply suspicious eyes, wondering what on earth his master was thinking. Raymond replied while thinking of his loyal servant.

“Xenon said the same thing.”

“Ah, speaking of which, why did you leave him behind? Servants with stamina like Xenon’s are rare.”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

At Raymond’s quick answer, Sion clutched his chest with his hand and pretended to cry.

“So it’s fine if I’m in danger?”

“Why are you asking something so obvious?”

“Wow.”

“Didn’t you prepare to die when you swore before His Majesty? Unlike us, this isn’t Xenon’s profession. He’s just my servant. There’s no need for him to suffer unnecessarily…”

Raymond stopped speaking. He had survived. And with overwhelming results at that. But he was still only alive for now. Raymond’s survival was definitely not because the new weapon was excellent.

“I should finish writing my report too. Where’s the ink?”

“…I haven’t even started eating yet.”

Even though he’s facing retirement, isn’t this too much? Raymond briefly pondered while looking at the back of Sion’s head, but he was too lazy to say more. Sion had that attitude with everyone. He did his job well and didn’t hesitate to do all sorts of dirty work, but his social skills as a soldier weren’t very good.

When Raymond was first assigned, hadn’t Sion tried to blow cigarette smoke right in his face? But even after getting beaten until his ribs broke, that was about as far as Sion’s attitude went. Even that had improved considerably. He’ll probably die like that. Raymond just sighed and got up to find ink.

“Why don’t you at least eat some vegetables? We still have a long way to go before we arrive.”

“I’ll eat something later, so just leave me alone… Found it.”

Raymond opened the ink bottle, dipped his pen nib generously, and began writing the contents of his report. It was about how the new gun probably wouldn’t have very high utility. Raymond had survived not because of the weapon’s performance, but purely because he was more flexible, faster, and stronger.

While infiltrating, Raymond had killed more with his bare hands or daggers than with the gun. The gun’s advantage was that it made little noise, but it was excessively large and heavy. There were also some bothersome aspects to the loading method.

Raymond felt somewhat sentimental as he carefully wrote down the pros and cons. He had thought he would be buried in the military. Not many days like this are left. And that feeling didn’t last long.

Clatter.

“…Damn it.”

The train shook. As the car swayed, ink spilled onto the floor. The ink spread uncontrollably. The bottle rolled around, making the floor pitch black and messy. Raymond groaned in dismay.

“L-Lord Raymond.”

“I know there’s no maid. I’ll clean it up.”

“N-no.”

Sion called out to Raymond. Raymond turned his head while drying what he had written. I’m going to get scolded. But that wasn’t what was important. Had ink spilled on Sion? Raymond thought that for a moment. The sight of Sion’s face covered in black liquid was too surreal.

“Sion?”

“…Cough.”

Sion vomited black blood from his nose and mouth. Black blood gushed out between his fingers with a retching sound.

* * *

The children looked like they were about to vomit from tension. The cheerful atmosphere they could enjoy in their youth was over. Now the master of this gathering was not the round-faced Prince Louis, but the middle-aged Prince Guiz. Everyone had to sit side by side at an endlessly long dining table instead of sitting in small groups around the round table they used to use.

“Count Charles, your seat is over there.”

And those the prince didn’t favor were placed far away. A gathering to establish hierarchy, not a social meeting. People had to find their seats following the servants’ whispers, and when they confirmed their unwanted positions, they were disappointed.

‘Was this place always this big?’

Karen felt like the space had suddenly become enormous. It had always been high ceilings, marble pillars, and smooth floors, but what had previously seemed to shine cream-colored now felt like the cold decorations of a tomb. Was it because the children were tense? Their movements had decreased. The children’s laughter disappeared, leaving only the adults’ obligatory smiles.

‘This will give me indigestion.’

Karen sent sympathetic condolences to everyone. Only in her mind, of course. She was supposed to go to the very end seat, but Karen hesitated for a moment. Since she couldn’t understand Prince Guiz’s intentions, it was difficult to determine her position. Still, going to the very bottom would be more appropriate. As Karen headed to the end, a servant quietly approached her from behind.

“Miss Karen Evans, that is not your seat.”

“…Which way then?”

“Over there.”

“…”

The servant pointed to the seat next to the prince, across from Prince Louis.

Everyone held their breath. And some sent looks of relief, while most sent cold stares. That seat was not one Karen should occupy. Unless it was the instruction of someone who would completely ignore etiquette and propriety. When Karen looked at that seat and didn’t move, the servant urged her from behind.

“…”

“Please go.”

It was a seat only a duke should occupy. Karen bit her lip slightly. From that seat, Prince Guiz was blatantly looking her over. His eyes flowed from Karen’s face to her chest, then to her stomach and below. It was a gaze more suited to street thugs.

‘…Why?’

Why indeed. Karen sneered inwardly. You know why. That kind of look. It’s so common. The eyes of a man who wants to burrow between your legs. It was a gaze all too familiar to her.

Karen took one step, then another toward the prince. Fortunately, she wasn’t trembling, but it wasn’t pleasant either. Everyone’s gaze turned to Karen.

‘…Why.’

Why was now different from before? Karen was curious about that. Until now, he had never sent such blatant looks. Where and how had he changed, and what had stimulated him? All he had ever said to Karen until now was one phrase.

“You resemble Catherine.”

“…You resemble Catherine.”

“I apologize.”

This time too, he said those words. Would it end with this? Karen lowered her eyes to the empty plate. Or what would happen otherwise? There was nothing she could do. He was the crown prince. The future king. The one even the nobles Verdick so desperately wanted to become had to bow and greet. The one who stood above everyone except that one aging king.

Come, offer yourself willingly. You’re not in a position to refuse.

“…”

Karen sat across from Prince Louis. Louis looked at Karen and his father with tension and slight bewilderment in his eyes, but it was only for a very brief moment. It wasn’t his place to say anything. It was Prince Guiz’s decision.

Clatter.

Servants began entering one by one to serve a simple meal.

“…”

Karen felt very regretful looking at the meal placed before her.

It was the same menu as the children’s. The portions were small, and it was sweet soup suited to young palates. She had hoped new food would come out, but it was food she had eaten before. Still, she liked the transparent decorations made of sugar.

“I hope the meal is to your liking.”

“We are grateful, Your Highness.”

The nobles answered in chorus. But Karen was the only one in the hall focusing on the food. Unlike Karen, Prince Louis was sitting right next to Prince Guiz, smiling almost convulsively. The atmosphere wasn’t very good. Louis spoke first.

“It’s been a long time, Father. I’m very happy that you’ve come.”

“For someone who says that, your face doesn’t look very pleased?”

With a gesture that was clearly meant to deliberately ignore him, Prince Guiz pointed at his son. Prince Louis lowered his eyes and answered respectfully.

“…I was just surprised by your sudden visit.”

“Yes. I’ve interfered a bit with your political situation.”

“Not at all, Father. I’m truly overjoyed.”

The answer was too quick. Prince Louis’s voice got slightly louder from panic. If I touch the food now, I’ll really look like a crazy woman. Karen lowered her eyelashes. The atmosphere wasn’t very good. Everything was bothersome and burdensome.

Enjoying other people’s stories was only possible when you could enjoy the situation yourself; this nerve-grating direction wasn’t pleasant. It would be more enjoyable if Prince Guiz appeared with an axe shouting ‘Die, son!’ Karen looked at Prince Louis’s slightly trembling fingertips.

“Are you eager to become king?”

By overthrowing me? Karen felt like she heard the unspoken words.

“Not at all, Father. I simply misspoke while among friends.”

“Aren’t they a bit too big to be called friends?”

He blatantly pointed at Karen’s chest. Prince Louis was flustered. It was a famous story. Prince Guiz didn’t like his son.

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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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