Resetting Lady - Chapter 86
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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’s okay.
My brother is sick.
That’s why Raymond didn’t resent Baron Seyertes.
What good would it do to resent a sick person? And now they were the only family each other had.
Sick people can be like that.
Sick people can be like that.
* * *
Military school suited Raymond better than he had expected. In truth, he had no other opportunities to compare it to, but he still excelled, so it could be said to suit him well. The pessimistic thought that it hadn’t been his choice quickly disappeared. There were too many students in similar situations at the military school. Raymond’s position wasn’t particularly unusual either.
He was naturally gifted at physical activities, excelled in academics, and even had the looks to back it up, so there were many places that wanted Raymond. Whatever the catalyst, Raymond was objectively decent talent. And Raymond himself couldn’t help but know this.
“I heard Verdick Evans is your sponsor?”
“Who said that?”
“Everyone’s saying so.”
Sion spoke in a slouching posture.
“Is there any need to inform me of that fact?”
“Isn’t it better to know?”
“What’s the point of knowing? It doesn’t seem like it would be good news anyway.”
Sion giggled and laughed.
“It’s better to know. When you take first place three years in a row, there are that many more people who envy you.”
“I just need to do well.”
Raymond brushed off Sion with a light tap, dismissing him. He was too busy to worry about the students’ jealousy. No one takes first place without studying. No one gets their body trained without moving. Effort is something anyone can do. So Raymond made an effort.
“I’m so moved I could cry.”
“Sion, shut up.”
“Yes.”
But Sion held back for a moment before running his mouth again.
“But you know, senior.”
“Sion, it’s a duel. See you tomorrow at lunch.”
Raymond spun his pen around while glaring at Sion. Under Raymond’s gaze, Sion panicked and continued speaking.
“Wait a minute. Ah, really just wait. There’s a reason for all this. Are you really not going to attend Count Fankair’s gathering again this time? People are talking a lot about that.”
Count Fankair was one of the school’s board members. And he was someone who sponsored many scholarship students. It didn’t look good for Raymond, who was first in class, to be absent. But Raymond shook his head.
“Verdick called for me this time.”
“…You’re whipped, completely whipped. Senior, your life is over.”
Sion clicked his tongue. When Raymond frowned, Sion waved his finger.
“You know I grew up without much, right? So I’m pretty quick to catch on. I have to find corners to squeeze into and scrape by. Senior, you have this unnecessarily rigid side in useless places. Just ignore it.”
“It’s not something you need to worry about.”
Sion snorted as if frustrated.
“Would being a day or two late increase your debt? At most it would end with some hints. Frankly speaking, what if senior ends up with some 80-year-old female noble?”
“Is that your future aspiration?”
Even under Raymond’s gaze, Sion proudly puffed out his chest and spoke.
“Don’t trample on a serious person’s dream. I’d rather catch a grandmother with sexy wrinkles than live like senior.”
Having revealed his ambition as a male gold-digger, Sion lightly ignored Raymond’s gaze and returned to the original topic.
“Why is it that the days Verdick calls you are always the days when sponsors host gatherings? And every single time. He’s trying to prevent senior from finding new connections. He doesn’t want to lose what he’s caught. Pure debt collectors don’t act like that. They try to catch more sources of money.”
“Sion.”
“We need to find our own way to survive too.”
Sion looked at Raymond seriously.
Raymond lightly tapped Sion’s head.
“What did you agree to receive in exchange for taking me?”
“Next semester’s dormitory fees. But my opinion isn’t a lie. Honestly, you need to keep survival routes open in multiple places. Everyone else is doing it, so why are you being so loyal to that loan shark?”
Raymond realized he absolutely couldn’t study anymore.
He knew he attracted attention, but he hadn’t expected to be interfered with to this extent. Raymond stuffed his books into his bag.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yeah. You’re too noisy, so I’m going out to study.”
Being influenced by Sion’s words wasn’t particularly pleasant. And Sion wasn’t actually that insightful either. What he was saying were all facts that Raymond had already guessed.
Nevertheless.
‘Was I just being lazy?’
Because it was hard to rebel against Verdick, because of his position as a second son, because he was a student, because he was young and inexperienced.
Vaguely guessing and taking something into account is different from becoming aware that others know about it. The latter touches a person’s pride a bit more. That night, Raymond tore up his train ticket to Verdick Evans’ estate. It was whim and recklessness.
“Congratulations. Your dormitory fees.”
“Thank you, senior. As expected, the uniform looks killer on you.”
Raymond entered the hall where students in uniform were standing. He felt familiar gazes. Gazes more like those of women in high society than soldiers. In fact, there probably wasn’t much difference.
“What did you tell Verdick Evans?”
“I handled it well.”
He had started to write to Verdick that he was feeling a bit unwell, but then just didn’t say anything at all. Whatever excuse he gave would be a lie, and Verdick seemed like he would figure that out.
“Sion, you succeeded.”
“Yes, the seniors’ darling succeeded.”
Albert patted Sion’s shoulder and laughed.
And he extended his hand to Raymond.
“Was it you?”
“It was my effort of loving you too much. Well, it’s better to come out than to be alone like that.”
“I consistently attend student gatherings.”
“That stuff doesn’t mean anything… Count, this is my schoolmate Raymond Seyertes. First place three years running, the professors’ darling.”
Though it was a sudden introduction, Raymond reflexively turned around and extended his hand to the man standing there.
“I’m Raymond Seyertes.”
“Finally seeing your face. I didn’t expect you to come. This year I finally get to see you, top junior.”
Albert slipped in from the side and spoke.
“Since he’s my friend, I persuaded him well.”
Raymond decided to deal with Albert, who wanted to show off his abilities, later and faced the count.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Count. You’re also a graduate, I see.”
“Yes. I spent my young, immature, and utterly childish days here. I hope you’re spending yours well too. Albert, I’ll think carefully about your social skills.”
“Thank you.”
Albert quickly bowed and stepped back.
“Verdick probably didn’t like you coming here.”
Count Fankair looked younger than befitted his title as a board member. Count Fankair also mentioned the reason Raymond hadn’t attended these gatherings. Verdick had started his sponsorship the year after Count Fankair took the board position.
“I came in secret.”
“He’ll find out anyway.”
“If I can’t even make this one choice for myself, why would I live?”
Count Fankair laughed upon hearing that.
“Yes, you have courage.”
When Verdick learned that Count Fankair had taken the board position, he was very displeased. He didn’t even hide that opinion from Raymond. Verdick had sponsored quite a lot of money upon Raymond’s enrollment. And he began expanding his weapons business more and more.
But Count Fankair’s land was located on the frontier. He was the lord of land that needed the most military presence, and his estate was a place where disputes frequently occurred. However, because his estate was that far away, he was a noble with little connection to the military school close to the capital.
Then what was his reason for taking the board position?
To advance into the center. To expand his influence and make money.
Many students thought so, and so did Verdick.
So he burst out in resentment.
“No matter how much we work like dogs, when one great noble steps forward, merchants like us are likely to be swept away.”
Count Fankair began getting involved in the weapons industry where Verdick had started earning considerable profits. This seemed unbearably irritating to Verdick.
Naturally, Raymond, who received his sponsorship, ended up missing gatherings of nobles connected to the military like Count Fankair.
“I’m sorry, but I’m still young and worry that I might not be able to have conversations that would please you, Count.”
“You’re young, so what are you so worried about?”
The count smiled broadly. And he raised his hand to have a servant bring him a glass. Raymond received the crystal glass. The count poured wine into the glass.
“Do I look troubled enough to need help from someone as young as you?”
“That’s unlikely.”
There was no way a marquis would need help from the second son of a baron’s family. Raymond smiled bitterly. That’s what made it even harder to guess why he had summoned him. The only reason that immediately came to mind was Verdick Evans.
“It’s about Verdick Evans, isn’t it.”
“That’s right.”
“You’re quite composed about this.”
“Right now I’m young and know nothing, so I’m simply listening to your advice.”
“Yes. I dislike him.”
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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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