Resetting Lady - Chapter 89

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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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“From what I can see, you seem to love Karen Hyer.”

 

“No, that’s not it.”

 

“Then is it pity?”

 

“…”

 

It would be good if it were pure pity. But Raymond had seen Dulan’s sticky eyes and touch. There was far too much emotion in them. The assumption that Dulan would love Karen was very unpleasant just to think about. Raymond was slightly bewildered by the jealousy he was feeling for the first time in his life.

 

Raymond made a proposal to Dulan. Perhaps to his rival.

 

Because he could help.

 

Because he would give an answer that meant there was no need to kill Karen Hyer, no need to hate her.

 

“Is Karen Hyer insane? Is that why you’re helping her?”

 

“…L-Lord Raymond?”

 

Raymond lifted Dulan up. He gripped his arm firmly. And looked at his face. He had to hear a definitive answer from him, even if by force. He had to give Raymond an answer.

 

“So that’s why you said Karen was innocent?”

 

Say yes.

 

Raymond screamed inwardly. That she was innocent. That meant.

 

Dulan nodded.

 

As a doctor, as a priest.

 

And Raymond felt as if he had been saved by that fact.

 

Hymns were echoing from afar.

 

* * *

 

Raymond walked down the corridor. It was a slightly late morning. Brilliant sunlight was streaming in through the corridor windows. Blessed be. His steps were light. Raymond liked this manor with its extremely few people.

 

Since it wasn’t the Sayertes family house, it was a space for temporary stay, but there was peace that came from that. Soon he would go to his own home. With the woman who chose Raymond, and whom Raymond chose.

 

“Donna?”

 

There was no one else in the place where Karen and he were staying. Raymond felt slight relief seeing that the maid had left her post. Right now, having just her alone was enough. Because he felt a bit embarrassed.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Raymond looked at the hydrangeas in his hand. Pure white and blue summer flowers. The type of flowers would change now. Summer was passing. White and blue flowers that contrasted with her suited Karen’s bedroom with her red hair better. When summer passed, what flowers should he choose now.

 

“Maybe jewelry would have been better than flowers.”

 

Raymond pondered while holding the flowers. Though it was a gift chosen casually as charity for street children, Karen would just say thank you and put flowers in a vase when she received them, and just say thank you and wear jewelry as decoration when she received that.

 

She smiled and thanked him for whatever she received, but there wasn’t much change. He wanted to surprise her somehow, but she was skilled at gambling too, so she wasn’t constrained by money. The only things that caught her interest were strange antiques. Raymond knew he was being too hasty, but he didn’t want to wait unnecessarily.

 

“Ah, but this isn’t quite right either.”

 

After pondering, Raymond just bought a bundle of hydrangeas as usual. He didn’t want to wait until the shops opened either. So Raymond just came with a bundle of hydrangeas. It was consoling that they were at least in good condition.

 

Knock knock.

 

Raymond knocked on Karen’s door. There was no sound at all. Raymond wondered if it was because the time was still early. It would be polite to go back.

 

“Hmm.”

 

But his desire to open the door was stronger. An emotion that makes people ignore politeness a bit and become childish. Raymond gladly accepted that slight corruption.

 

Creak.

 

The door opened.

 

Karen was on the bed. As expected, she hadn’t gotten up yet. She disliked getting up early in the morning. Raymond had made constant efforts to make her into someone who moved at dawn according to the saying “a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body,” but that was a failure.

 

Now that he confirmed Karen was sleeping, it would be polite to go back out.

 

Raymond looked at Karen’s closed eyes, doll-like. It was a surprisingly pretty face.

 

Is she dead?

 

Raymond had that thought for a moment. It felt that unrealistic.

 

When Raymond first saw her, he thought she was an older woman. She didn’t look seventeen years old. Though he couldn’t bring himself to say that. She didn’t look that age.

 

Actually, sometimes she didn’t even look human. Raymond was accustomed to beauty, but Karen’s face and impression sometimes seemed to transcend something. Like stone or water (like a corpse).

 

But Karen was alive. As proof, her chest was slowly rising and falling. She was breathing.

 

Before Raymond’s eyes.

 

Raymond placed the hydrangeas beside her face. With the bouquets he brought every day, the room was completely filled with flowers, and Karen was almost buried in flowers. It was a scene like a grave of flowers.

 

“Karen.”

 

“…”

 

There was plenty of time.

 

Dukes and marquises. A majority of senators and representatives had agreed to Prince Guiz’s abdication. The next king would be Louis. Prince Guiz could no longer send Raymond to his death. And next week Raymond would become a senator.

 

“How long will you just sleep? Please get up.”

 

Karen might have killed someone.

 

But that didn’t matter either. Raymond slowly watched Karen from beside her. If Karen showed even the slightest violent tendency, if she killed someone. Raymond could have pointed a gun at Karen’s head regardless of any damage he might suffer. He could have.

 

Now? There was no need for that.

 

Karen had never once shown violent tendencies beside him all this time. She was always, always a thorough victim. What if she had shown such tendencies.

 

Perhaps Raymond was simply much stronger than her physically, so she was just acting coy in front of him. But she showed no attempts whatsoever to kill Raymond, and she had never shown violence to the maids, children, or even passing children.

 

“I fell into a book.”

 

She would only ramble about the ridiculous delusion that she had fallen into a book.

 

“And you’re my male protagonist.”

 

She only craved love. Chattering away. Saying strange things. There were no obstacles to loving someone who demanded love.

 

“Karen.”

 

Raymond thinks Karen is insane. He thinks Karen is a sinner. He doesn’t believe Karen’s words. But despite all those reasons, they couldn’t become reasons not to love Karen. Raymond realized. There was no reason he couldn’t love her.

 

“…Lord Raymond, entering an unlady’s room without her being dressed… how rude.”

 

Karen opened her drowsy eyes and covered her face. Rather than being embarrassed, her face looked slightly annoyed. Raymond laughed seeing her grumpy face. It was always a composed face, but in a situation where she wasn’t fully awake, she couldn’t help it either.

 

“Didn’t you also just barge into my room?”

 

“Right now… morning… makeup… washing…”

 

Karen couldn’t speak properly, perhaps not having emerged from sleep yet. That face didn’t suit things like murder or madness. Raymond found that amusing. And somewhat sad.

 

If only this appearance was maintained, they would be happy. But that meant he couldn’t love her flaws as they were. Raymond had a strong premonition that he probably wouldn’t understand her for his entire life. But that didn’t matter now either. It was fine if understanding and love didn’t coexist.

 

“Get up.”

 

“In an hour.”

 

“Please marry me.”

 

What would she say. The girl who had demanded that he love her. Would she be surprised, happy, cry.

 

It was none of those. Karen threw a pillow. At Raymond’s face. Of course Raymond caught the pillow. But Karen, more angry at that reaction, shouted.

 

“Do you want to die?”

 

“I’ll die in about 100 years.”

 

I didn’t expect this. But this was good in its own way. He would have liked whatever Karen answered. Because his heart was already decided.

 

“Right now, when someone’s sleeping, suddenly coming in and this… unfunny joke… go die.”

 

“It’s a bit sad that it’s unfunny, but I’m serious.”

 

“…Serious? So… um, that is, wait. Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Karen buried her face deeply. Just when he thought she was going to sleep again, she turned her eyes slightly and spoke. She still looked tired, but it wasn’t such an unpleasant face.

 

“In five hours, after I finish all my makeup, say it again. Bring a ring.”

 

“Can’t I hear the answer first?”

 

“Die. Just…”

 

And Karen buried her head completely in the pillow. After a moment, a small voice flowed out.

 

“Lord Raymond, am I crazy, or are you crazy?”

 

“I’m crazy with love.”

 

“Really damn unfunny.”

 

If he was crazy with love, what was Karen crazy with. Was she bound by something.

 

But what was certain was that Karen was insane. That wasn’t a figurative term for people obsessed with something like worldly values or honor like Raymond, Verdick, fame, revenge, money, or such things. It was something more innate. Like a disease.

 

“…As Lord Raymond said… Karen is insane. I will g-guarantee that.”

 

Karen was just sick. Like his brother, hadn’t the doctor, the priest said so. Raymond felt great relief at that definitive answer.

 

Karen was insane.

 

But that wouldn’t be a big problem for them.

 

Raymond felt his heart become infinitely peaceful when he acknowledged the fact that Karen was mentally ill.

 

Karen was just sick. A patient with mental illness. Sick people sometimes do incomprehensible things. That was an area that family members had to understand and care for.

 

“I want to live life with you.”

 

“Mm… yes. That’s fine. I’ll let the ring thing slide.”

 

Raymond smiled at Karen’s answer.

 

“It’s an honor.”

 

Raymond cannot understand Karen, and he will not approve of her actions. But he loves her. Raymond has decided this. If she acts impulsively, he will simply stop it as her husband. Perhaps the bedroom might need bars on the windows. But even so, that’s fine.

 

It’s okay.

 

Raymond stroked Karen’s hair.

 

You are sick. And you might be mad. But that doesn’t matter at all. That doesn’t matter for love.

 

It’s okay. Sick people can be like that.

 

But Raymond had no intention of leaving Karen’s behavior unchecked. Simply leaving it alone would be indulgence. He will fulfill his family duties. He will take responsibility. Just as he did with his brother. Even if family is sick, even if they make mistakes.

 

Karen is still young. Seventeen years old. And slightly mad. But at that age, she could be like that.

 

Raymond had seen many more insane people on the battlefield. Her level of madness is tolerable as a husband. She too will become virtuous with time, and the day will come when she regards her youthful delusions as shameful past.

 

“I think I truly love you.”

 

The joy of giving to the poor, the stability of living among faithful people, the peace felt within a family—she will come to know these things. By Raymond’s side. That much he could not compromise on.

 

Raymond embraced his new family.

 

So Karen’s expression was not visible.

 

* * *

 

Bless them.

 

Dulan stood in the main hall of the cathedral. Raymond had returned. Dulan stood in the cloister and placed his hand against a pillar. Light was streaming through the cathedral’s stained glass. Dawn mass had ended and people had returned home. Raymond too had returned to Karen. Raymond’s confession was over. No. It couldn’t even be called a confession. Because Raymond had no sins. He is not the sinner.

 

He is not the one who must confess sins.

 

Dulan props against the wall with weakly trembling hands. The light was blinding. Dulan turned his head toward the wall. Dulan turned away from the church, from the sanctuary. There is a sinner here. There is a deceiver here. A heretic is here. A sinner who cannot escape even if he tries to flee is here.

 

Dulan fell to his knees. Rather than being intentional, it was closer to collapsing. His sins were so deep that he was afraid. But even so. Even so!

 

Dulan clasped his hands together. Trembling lips. Trembling hands. Even so, he will never give up. The value he desires is there. That deep, deep desire that God will not permit.

 

O God, have mercy on them.

 

O God, do not have mercy on me.

 

I am a sinner and will burn in hellfire.

 

I know this.

 

Dulan confessed his sins.

 

There was no one listening.

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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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