Resetting Lady

The situation itself was awkward, but the comfort of privilege was something that Carynne appreciated. First, her meals. Having better meals than she expected made her happy faster than she thought.

“…Delicious.”

She took a spoonful of soup into her mouth, closed her eyes and savored the rich flavors upon her tongue. The scent of sautéed onions permeated through the dish of finely mashed potatoes. And with the soup, the broth used might have been chicken as it was filling.

Reminded of the coarse oat porridge that she used to eat in the past, this felt so new. That porridge was what Isella fed her maids before. Then later, rotten food.

“…Food can be delicious even in this kind of situation, I guess.”

“Uhk… hiic…”

Interpreting Carynne’s words all by herself, Donna brought a hand to her mouth as her shoulders shook. She continued to murmur things like, ‘Even so, we have to live,’ ‘Stay strong, Milady,’ and so on.

Would Nancy be more useful now? Carynne was curious about this.

Yeah, Nancy should be spared next time. And then there’s also that curious notebook.

It would be great if that notebook turned out to carry all the explanations that could solve everything properly. Carynne felt that it was a shame. She should have chosen to look at its contents even if it meant that she would burn to her death. What’s so important about living?

“I don’t care about riches, I wanted to save Mother’s belongings more.”

“…Milady!”

The maid eventually burst into tears. Carynne patted Donna on the back. Really, she wanted to send the girl away because she was getting in the way of Carynne’s meal.

Should I ask Mister Verdic for a new maid? I think he’ll do that much for me.

“Hiic, hiic… Our poor Lady, how can…”

Did things turn out well in the end? Carynne tilted her head to the side.

Ah, Father died. That’s what’s sad, I guess.

Tears trickled down Carynne’s eyes once more. However, that didn’t seem to be what Donna was referring to.

“Milady, it was belatedly revealed… The truth is…”

Donna tried to read how Carynne would react. She hesitated before she finally answered.

“Lady Isella is alive.”

Ba-thump.

Carynne felt her heart racing faster. This was much more exciting than her engagement to Raymond.

Isella is alive.

“She couldn’t open her eyes now, but… Lord Dullan is… Towards Mister Verdic, hiic…”

Ba-thump.

“Tell it to me straight, Donna.”

Carynne licked her lower lip. Things were progressing in a fun direction.

She tried to harden her expression.

“Since you have a great knowledge in nursing someone, Milady… As soon as you get well, I heard that you will start taking care of Lady Isella…”

“What…”

“Something like washing someone else’s body and giving them medicine everyday is something that anyone can do well, but… How can that kind of job be dumped onto Milady! That’s just too much, really!”

Ba-thump.

It was just like the past.

Again.

Becoming Isella’s lady-in-waiting.

Just like in Carynne’s memories.

Really. This all was just like the plot inside a book.

* * *

“Reverend… Alright. Frankly, I have absolutely nothing to lose. That’s why I don’t understand. Why must you go about this so cumbersomely?”

Verdic was genuinely curious about this. Dullan slowly raised his head and faced the other man. Even as Verdic was worn-out, in his eyes, Dullan looked terribly uncanny.

“…Because I, hate… that girl.”

“Ha.”

Verdic’s mouth gaped open at the unexpected answer.

“M-Make her take care of the c-comatose Miss Isella. That girl’s fate is no more than being a maid who cleans up blood and pus. Make her suffer as much as possible.”

The priest’s expression told Verdic just how much he couldn’t stand her because of his loathing for her.

Verdic knew what kind of face that was all too well. It was the same face he’d see in a mirror if he’d think about Raymond.

“That’s.”

Dullan’s cheeks reddened. He continued speaking with his teeth gnashed together.

“My revenge towards her for throwing me away.”

So, Verdic gladly extended his hand towards Dullan.

* * *

Carynne wore Isella’s dress. It was an extremely colorful dress that fitted Carynne well. As if it found its rightful owner. Isella was surely a size larger than Carynne, but these clothes seemed to be shouting out that Carynne was its real owner, not Isella.

“I extend my congratulations… But truthfully, I don’t know if it’s right to celebrate. At the very least, it’s a time when it’s possible to shed tears once and then laugh once as well. I’m sure this will comfort Lord Hare as well.”

Countess Elva came and took Carynne’s hand. Her presence in this ceremony made the engagement official. Delia, the countess’ other daughter, offered a present to Carynne, who then formally expressed her gratitude. Unlike Isella, Carynne was truly a natural at this and was well-mannered.

Countess Elva watched her, pleased.

“As expected, you’re more suited. Raymond is quite the splendid young man. A groom like him wouldn’t be the right man for a merchant family. I’m glad that he’ll be engaged to a splendid young woman such as you, Miss Carynne.”

Countess Elva said this without lowering her voice. As she spoke loudly, obviously with the intention for other people to hear, Carynne felt awkward around her.

The surrounding gazes quite stung on her face. Half of those people were fellow debtors who agreed with the countess, and the other half were the ones on Verdic’s side, displeased.

“…Thank you for coming.”

Typical courtesy was convenient at times like this. She retreated in a way that others wouldn’t find fault with, and there, her male lead approached.

“You’re beautiful, Carynne.”

“Thank you, Sir Raymond.”

Just as he did in the past, just like a mythical male god, just like the main character in a novel—Raymond held Carynne’s hand.

“It’s as if… You are my true destiny.”

Carynne shut herself up and instead held his arm. Carynne despised destiny. Was it going to repeat again this time? She killed people like that and chopped up a corpse to pieces, but did all that mean nothing?

“And Carynne.”

Raymond whispered to her.

“Aren’t Miss Isella’s heels much too high?”

“…Pardon?”

He gently wrapped an arm around Carynne and propped her up.

“It looks like your feet are in pain. You can rely on me more. You look like you’re having a hard time.”

“…What?”

“Don’t move too much.”

Carynne had to hold onto Raymond tighter so that she wouldn’t collapse to the ground right then.

“Now…”

“Mister Verdic.”

Obviously forced to smile, Verdic greeted Carynne and Raymond. Both of his arms were exaggeratedly outstretched as he laughingly spoke.

“What a sight you are for the eyes, Sir Raymond. Yes, it’s only right to smile on such a joyful day.”

“Of course. I am only fulfilling my promise.”

“It’s all thanks to Carynne Hare… no, my daughter now, Carynne Evans.”

“More importantly, it’s thanks to your judgment, Mister Verdic. My older brother sent a telegram, so he must have been worried. Seriously, he still treats me like I’m a ten-year-old child.”

“Is the Baron still like that?”

Carynne heard none of this exchange.

What did he just say? What did this man—this knight—know exactly, that he said I should rely on him more? How did he know that Isella’s shoes were hurting me? Was it just a guess? But why? What does he know? For what?

Goosebumps rose on her skin.

However, Carynne couldn’t open her lips here. There were much too many eyes that would see. Verdic was standing in front of them two, and Raymond just conversed with exceeding politeness until the ceremony was over.

The sky was clear, the mansion was extravagant, and the betrothed man and woman were beautiful.

It was such a picturesque engagement ceremony.

Carynne grew curious.

“Carynne, you’re pale. Are you alright?”

“…Thank you. I’m fine… Sir Raymond.”

Let’s hypothesize.

I was told that the answer was love, and Catherine was released from this terrible curse because of Father’s love for her.

Just in case it’s love, if the answer was love, if it truly was that emotion, which was absolutely not needed and was based purely on fleeting sentiments, then what kind of feelings does Raymond have for me? And what kind of feelings do I harbor now?

Was it truly as Carynne thought, that it was love?

Carynne contemplated.

Father’s love towards me wasn’t enough. But shouldn’t that love alone be enough? Since love was the answer. But perhaps what I received from him was not love.

What if Raymond didn’t love me enough—what if he didn’t love me at all? Then what if I couldn’t be released from this curse? Not just Raymond, but what if no other man out there will love me?

What kind of feelings did Raymond have for me thus far? And what kind of feelings does he have for me now?

Carynne wants to open Raymond’s head and look inside.

.

.

.

In the Hare manor, which had been burned to the ground, two corpses were found. Tom could not escape the burning mansion in the end.