Resetting Lady

However, Crown Prince Gueuze looked surprised, as though he never thought this could happen. He stared at Carynne, then he barked at the servant again.

“Tell him to leave.”

“I will be leaving together with my fiancée.”

If there was a way to match colors with voices, Raymond’s voice would be the color blue. Raymond said this as he walked into the room without stopping. That deep blue voice pierced into the air. He had the kind of voice that could project without any difficulty. It was the voice of a young man.

“I’ve returned from my assignment, Your Highness.”

Raymond bowed to Crown Prince Gueuze with a stiff smile. However, his green eyes were wide open. Carynne could see the barely restrained embers of anger bristling within those eyes.

He did not lose his composure, however, that wasn’t even convincing. After seeing Carynne with her clothes torn like that, he turned towards the crown prince.

“And yet, the moment I return… I see my fiancée right below Your Highness.”

Crown Prince Gueuze faced Raymond and approached him. But when she saw that, Carynne had to turn away and hold back her laughter.

“For the younger brother of Baron Saytes to dare speak like that to me. Don’t you think that the world has changed too much?”

“After seeing his wife in a situation like this, I believe that any husband would feel the same way and take her back. Even if it’s a street dog.”

The crown prince’s appearance, youthfulness and vigor were all inferior to Raymond, even if he would try to suppress the younger man with power.

It was obvious for all to see. Even if he were to try and give him the death penalty, or even if he would use him as a weapon of war. Right before people’s eyes, these two men were on vastly different levels.

“Who let this scoundrel in.”

“Father.”

Behind Raymond, the small prince was very evidently anxious even if he tried to hide it. If one royal were to visit another royal, nobody would be able to stop it. There’s only one person who could refuse, and that was the king.

In this regard, Crown Prince Gueuze and Prince Lewis were on equal grounds. The servants wouldn’t be able to stop Prince Lewis, and Prince Lewis had come here with Raymond.

“…What an unfilial son.”

“Please let Sir Raymond take his fiancée home, Father.”

Crown Prince Gueuze looked at Carynne, then his son and Raymond. From the look in his eyes, he seemed to be calculating. But no matter how anyone looked at it, he couldn’t anymore act more like a bastard.

He soon opened his lips and answered in a low voice.

“…I will allow it.”

And so, Raymond reached out to Carynne. She realized that there were still tears in her eyes. She must look so pitiful right now. Her clothes were torn and her chest was exposed.

With a weak sigh, Raymond wrapped his coat around her.

“Thank you.”

With a relieved expression, Carynne took Raymond’s hand, and he then hoisted her up. After bowing to Prince Lewis, they soon left the room.

Everyone around them was silent as they crossed the hallway. The attendants, the handmaids, the prostitutes. People kept their mouths shut while following them with their gazes.

Carynne and Raymond walked down the dark yet colorful corridor. When they went out and reached the garden, Raymond still did not speak. So, Carynne spoke first.

“I was right.”

“…About what?”

“You came back within three days.”

In the distance, Carynne pointed towards the city’s cathedral. The midnight bell had yet to ring. Once again, this time, this man returned to her. Carynne was pleased that her predictions and the odds that she knew were correct.

“I see.”

Carynne tore away the tattered fabric around her chest, then she wore Raymond’s coat properly.

“This dress was seriously so tacky that I felt like dying. What a preference that geezer has, really.”

She let out a sigh. She wanted to take off the rest of the dress. The moment she’d get back, she’d burn it all to crisp.

Right then, Carynne wondered what Raymond’s expression was, but his face was just blank. Though maybe he looked a bit gloomy.

“Did you have a hard time while you were working?”

Carynne asked this after studying Raymond’s countenance. He looked very tired. It seemed as if he rushed to this place as soon as he was done with his assignment.

She watched him sigh weakly.

“…Yes, a little.”

Looking over Raymond’s shoulder, Carynne saw that the lights were still on in the palace. Raymond spun Carynne gently forward once more.

“I’m sure they’re still watching. Let’s go back now,” he said.

“Thank you for coming.”

“There’s no need for you to… If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been called to this place.”

Thwack.

Carynne hit Raymond on his back. Dumbfounded, he then glanced down at her as she replied.

“It’s just as you guessed, Sir Raymond. His Highness, Crown Prince Gueuze seems to be the kind of person who likes eating up both mother and daughter.”

“Your words…”

“Mister Verdic was the one who instigated it. That’s just the kind of man he is. You don’t have to blame yourself.”

However, Raymond’s expression did not change. He still wouldn’t believe it. Was he thinking that Carynne had been swept into this mess and became a victim because of him? Why should he.

“Do you have a handkerchief?” Carynne asked.

“You don’t carry one?”

“A handkerchief is something that a gentleman carries around instead though?”

Soon enough, Carynne took the handkerchief that Raymond handed to her. The cloth was gray and it had no embroidery. It must be issued by the military. She didn’t particularly like this handkerchief, but she nevertheless rubbed her lips roughly with it.

Could this be considered an indirect kiss with her mother? As though she was trying to erase the thought of it, she rubbed her lips with the same ferocity.

After doing so, she was going to hand it back to Raymond, but she changed her mind and just threw it on the ground.

“Ah.”

“Just throw it away. I’ll buy you a new one later.”

Carynne stomped on the handkerchief as she said this.

“Huu.”

Then, Raymond opened the door to the carriage. Carynne took his hand and climbed into it. From inside, she had a clear view of the palace—of the magnificent garden and the splendid palace.

Her mother gave up on this. She did not find any worth in it.

So, it’s not worth anything to Carynne either.

“Sir Raymond.”

He had come to save her. Carynne’s knight. In the setting of this era, romance was dead and it was embarrassing to speak about honor, however, he was still called a knight. It’s not just because of his honor as a soldier who had made great contributions for his country. It’s because he still had a moral code—because he still stood by what he thinks is right. That was the reason Prince Lewis admired this young knight instead of his own father. And it was the same reason why Carynne had bet on him.

“Let’s go. Did you get injured?”

“No.”

Truthfully, even if he did not love Carynne, there were times when he was comforting. Even if he didn’t love her, he would come to save her. After all, rather than a mere soldier, he was a knight. He wouldn’t just let the crown prince satisfy his desires through Carynne. Instead, he swooped in to get her out of there.

Compared to those who were hypocritical, those who kept up appearances, those who were cynical, and those who ridicule others, he stood far above them all. That’s why Carynne chose him. Even if there was no other benefit, even if he did not love Carynne, he was the kind of man who wouldn’t let a woman get hurt and trampled right in front of him. Even if he suspected that Carynne was a murderer.

“What a relief.”

Raymond handed Carynne a blanket, and as she received this, she stared back at the palace. Was Crown Prince Gueuze watching from there? Watching the daughter of the woman he yearned for?

Carynne wondered. However, her eyesight wasn’t as good as Raymond’s.

Still, there’s one thing she wanted to do.

“……”

Carynne grabbed Raymond’s collar and kissed him. No, well, she was about to.

“Wait, no. Not like this.”

They would have kissed, had Raymond not covered Carynne’s lips with one hand. Good god. He stopped her? Carynne’s eyes widened in astonishment. Did he just reject her?

“Sir Raymond. I’m really, truly hurt right now.”

“No, it’s… Others can still see…”

“I want them to though?”

“……”

Hearing this, Raymond looked somewhat dazed. He turned to look behind him, at something that Carynne wouldn’t be able to see. Then, he laughed.

Tak.

“What—”

“But I don’t want to be watched.”

Raymond closed the carriage door. Then, he pulled in Carynne’s waist.

Even after all these years, never before had she experienced a kiss as rough—as desperate—as this.

〈 End of Volume 2 〉