Resetting Lady

01. Queen of spades

“It’s not even going to be seen anyway.”

“Even parts that couldn’t be seen should be prettied up, Milady.”

“…But even on my toes is a bit,”

She hadn’t eaten since dawn. And what’s this now.

Carynne’s foot itched, so she kept wriggling her toes. The manicurist wrapped her feet in a warm towel. She should be more attentive during Duke Dalton’s recital. It wasn’t because this was important for 「 Carynne 」, but because it’s important for an 「 Evans 」. The manicurist that Verdic sent to Carynne looked at her toes as if it was an impossible job.

“Shall I coat your toenails with some gold dust? Or would just a transparent coating be alright?”

Coating her toenails with gold was of course nice. It’s very luxurious. Even if she treaded through filth all day long, her feet would eventually be covered in gold at night.

She went through such magical transformations every day, and it was making her head hurt. Next to her, Donna fanned Carynne as she stared at her with envy.

Carynne used to be the one standing in the maid’s place. Then, would Donna become the main character later?

She laughed as she imagined it.

“Lady Evans?”

“Use the gold coating.”

“What decorations shall I place on the gold layer?”

“What’s available?”

“Small diamonds can be placed on it. If not, we have rubies, too.”

Wouldn’t her feet just hurt? Carynne was somewhat apprehensive. Her foot still hadn’t healed. It’s difficult enough just putting on shoes.

The top of her foot was dented with a fracture, but how strange was it that gems would be placed on her toes.

“Wouldn’t it go under my shoes anyway, so what’s the use?”

“Once again, Milady, things that couldn’t be seen should be taken care of. This way, you can become a true Lady.”

“So you know better than I do?”

“……”

You won’t even answer anymore.

Did Isella do this all the time? When Carynne was her lady-in-waiting, she saw Isella being dressed and dolled up, but it seemed like she was so used to it, as if ordering people around was both a hobby and an everyday routine.

Carynne also enjoyed all sorts of luxury whenever she was Raymond or some other nobleman’s lover, but she was never as tired as she was now as a member of the Evans household. During some other time, she could do whatever she wanted. Living as a freeloader was hard.

“Am I being looked down on because I’m adopted?”

”What do you mean, Milady?”

Seems like I’ve become tired. It’s probably because of my age, but I can’t soften my words, they just come out barbed. I should have slept a lot in advance.

Carynne sighed. She rubbed her eyes, which were drooping with exhaustion.

“While embellishing your toes, it might be good to place a face mask on you.”

“…Wouldn’t it be better if you all just take care of it since you know so much?”

So that she could at least sleep a little more during that time. However, the custodians employed by House Evans were unmoved.

“We don’t know better. Only the master decides upon everything.”

“…Is that so?”

Carynne found the custodian’s words to be interesting as she lectured her about their master’s attitude. These were the women who Carynne had managed to get along well with when she herself had been a lady-in-waiting.

All the women here were people who comforted each other and drank together because they were so worn out by having to deal with Isella’s irritability and bad temper. But now it was so different, just because her position had changed.

“I see.”

Still, that didn’t mean that she intended to do anything about this.

Carynne felt weak and deflated. She just wanted to sleep more right now. But that simple wish was soon shattered when another person, a skincare specialist, had placed a mask of herbs on her face.

“…It’s cold.”

“It’s a bit dark under your eyes. I believe we need to do a bit more work here.”

“…’Kay.”

Carynne remembered who this skincare specialist was. Her name’s Jane, maybe? She liked drinking liquor, and she had this theory that alcohol was good for the skin. She’s been in the industry for a while now and she’s made a name for herself, so she also received a shop from Verdic that she would manage.

“Your skin is rough and your hair is red… Would you consider wearing a wig?”

People were so amusing. Looking at the woman who was so obviously trying to put Carynne in check, she weakly laughed at the woman.

Should I feed her poison later? Oh, but in this house, Verdic and Raymond would surely find out right away. How should I play now? There are so many people here.

“Can you be more careful with that mouth of yours?”

Donna pursed her lips and snapped at Jane.

You’re very eager, too, aren’t you.

Among the maids in Verdic’s villa, it’s clear that the maids under Carynne—such as Donna and Sera—were being trampled over. The maids originally don’t even have to come from the Evans household either.

Carynne felt a bit responsible for this, and a little guilty. The male attendants went to Dullan as chaplains, but most of the maids were fired while only a few that were close to Carynne were re-hired by the Evans family. However, since they were a surplus of staff that weren’t needed in the first place, they needed to work hard while walking on eggshells in order to prove their worth.

“Is this a maid you’ve brought from your previous home?”

The custodian asked without even looking at Donna’s face. There’s no way she didn’t know, but she pretended anyway. It’s been a while since Carynne came to this house, but this woman was being childish.

“Yeah.”

“Among all the ladies-in-waiting that I’ve seen thus far, she’s the most inane of all. A child like that originally wouldn’t have been a lady-in-waiting at all.”

Donna’s face flushed bright red.

“…W-What did you say? Now look here!”

“Stop, stop.”

Carynne sighed and waved one hand.

I’m so terribly tired. If I can just seriously focus on one thing at a time, one story at a time, then please. Raymond alone is enough of a headache, so don’t involve me in some maids’ quarrel. And there’s nothing that she can do for me either.

“Milady!”

Donna’s face flushed even redder.

“I’m seriously so sleepy to the point of death. Nobody wake me up until Sir Raymond comes. I really should not be tired today.”

But the custodian made a face.

“But Lady Evans, after this don’t you have to take care of Lady Evans… I mean, the real Lady Evans?”

Donna cried out in a fit.

“Let Lady Carynne rest a little. I’m going to tell the housekeeper about this!”

What an exemplary maid. But Carynne knew that her outburst was of little use. Carynne wanted to give Donna a little more money, but she didn’t have any money in the first place. It’s all Verdic’s money. After everything’s set and done, should she slip the maid some money? Now that she thought about it though, how had Donna been faring until now?

“…Lady Evans. That woman doesn’t seem to have enough knowledge about nursing someone back to health. And the master said that you, Lady Carynne Evans, must definitely do it yourself.”

Sighing, Carynne took off her gown. And, she soon wore clothes made from coarse fabric, which was what maids usually wore. She’d be wearing a fancy dress again at night, but not right now.

“…Sure.”

You’re all going to die.

* * *

“I’m curious, what on earth are you going to show me?”

“Before that, you have to compliment my dress.”

“I admire your good taste every single day.”

Actually, they had all been picked by experts and professionals. Carynne wasn’t even in the right mind to choose anything for herself.

“Just the dress?”

Raymond waggled his eyebrows. Looking at his face like that made it difficult for her to hold back either mirth or ire. They had to act like a couple.

Beside them, Donna looked at them with a face that seemed to say goosebumps were rising over her skin. It seemed like they’re being told to play it up for the audience.

Raymond raised one hand of Carynne’s and kissed it.

“Beautiful. As always… is what I’d like to say, but you seem to be very tired.”

“…Really? Donna.”

Donna, who had a similarly exhausted countenance beside her, swiftly handed over an item. While what he said was romantic, it’s worth making a fuss now because, since she was being worked to the bone, she was worried about how tired she looked.

Was that truly how she looked? Carynne knew that she had to be beautiful. It’s alright for a maid to be a little ugly, but wasn’t her face her most effective weapon?

But look, he said it’s not ‘a little’ but ‘very’. Was he saying that her dark eyebags could still be seen from all this makeup?

“Here you go, Milady.”

Carynne hurriedly took the hand mirror and looked at her reflection. But her makeup was perfect. The country’s best experts made sure that it was, every single day. So there’s no big problem here.

She knew how to objectively evaluate her own appearance. She was as beautiful as she ever was.

What are you talking about then?