Resetting Lady

Before Carynne fell, Raymond narrowly managed to pull her up and out the window.

“I’m sorry. But it’s my mother’s memento…”

Truthfully, it was just a notebook that she wasn’t even sure about whether it was or was not her mother’s memento. But you never know. Raymond didn’t explicitly verbalize it, but he must think that she’s being ridiculous.

“All right, let’s save the words for later and leave first.”

Whiiiizz.

The raging fire and passing breeze intertwined together over the Hare manor.

As Raymond carried Carynne in his arms, he rolled his ankles a couple times as he stood on the roof, then he soon jumped off to the low roof below.

Thud, stagger.

“AHH!”

Shit, do it right!

She cursed inwardly, but she kept it in and gritted her teeth.

“I’m asking just in case, but would you be able to balance by yourself and go across that roof there?”

The roof that Raymond jerked his head towards was a roof that was burning and already a bit tilted, though the stone walls remained intact. Still though, the place that she’d have to walk over was just the exact width of her feet.

Not everyone’s a monster like you, okay?

Carynne shook her head.

“Even if both my feet were fine, I can’t do that. Even if I’ve died and woken up again a hundred times over, I can’t.”

It’s not a matter of whether she physically could or couldn’t do it. As though unphased by what she said, Raymond nodded without a change to his expression.

“Then try not to breathe and just hang on.”

And Carynne did so.

With her in his arms, Raymond hunched over.

The familiar scent of gunpowder emanated from the man. Raymond jumped, but his figure mid-air looked as though he was soaring through the sky. Then, thud! A loud sound entered Carynne’s ears. The sensation was horrifying.

Falling was something she had gone through many times already, but now, the warmth of another human being was right next to her. And that was Raymond. So Carynne was not so scared this time.

As long as he’s around, she won't die.

At least, not until that day.

As their bodies soared lightly for a moment, he stepped off the roof. Then, he started running down the wall—so fast that it’s possible to hear the sound of the wind.

“……!”

Carynne wanted to cover her ears, but she couldn’t because she was latched onto Raymond. As he ran, Carynne heard the sound of windows cracking in their wake. Whoever it was left in there, it would be difficult to survive now.

Taak.

It wasn’t until they finally reached the ground that Raymond set Carynne back down.

“Urk.”

Carynne tried to stand up by herself, but she soon faltered once more because of the pain that shot up her foot.

“Milady!”

Donna came running at her. The maid’s face was covered in tear streaks.

“Oh my goodness, what do we do. Just what happened here… Where is His Lordship? I didn’t see him come out… Hiic, uhk, hiic… Milady, are you alright?”

“……”

Carynne couldn’t answer right away. She didn’t even have enough energy to pull out a joke right now. She’s at her limit. Too much happened in just one night. She felt her strength leaving her body as she fell over while leaning into Donna.

“What do we do…”

Donna hugged Carynne and wept. Carynne patted Donna, but even this became too troublesome for her.

“Isella…”

Then, he showed up.

“My daughter, how…”

With a dreadful expression, Verdic walked towards Carynne. At this, she bowed her head.

I’m curious about that too. Where’s Isella, I wonder. What happened. And, this situation.

“Why…”

But nevertheless, it was awkward to look at Verdic’s face. All Carynne knew was that no one had since seen Isella.

“How come.”

Carynne herself didn’t know what she was feeling, whether she was happy, sad, or relieved.

Verdic saw Raymond laugh.

Verdic saw Raymond.

He looked like he’s laughing.

* * *

Please, don’t let me open my eyes.

I used to pray like this every single time I fell asleep. If only it could all end so that I could stop thinking forever.

But this was nothing but a futile wish. When I opened my eyes, the day would start again. I know. I know it already. Everyday, it was the same people, the same smiles, the same tears. I despair as I regain consciousness in the dark, and again, I despair as I wake up once more.

“Milady, are you alright?”

Still, it was comforting to be wrapped in a warm blanket instead of the garden where the start always happened.

The garden was always cold. That coldness which brought upon shivers, it’s not here. It’s not cold this time.

Who killed me this time? No. I’m the one who killed someone else this time. I killed someone. Nobody’s going to kill me. Ink on paper, the faint sound of a piano. No. Not this time. Not yet.

“Milady.”

Whose voice was that? It wasn’t that low but steady voice that had a slightly garbled pronunciation. This was a woman’s voice who was a bit younger.

Ah, right. I killed Nancy. This girl isn’t Nancy. This voice is Donna’s. The slightly younger, lively girl’s voice. Different from how it’s always been. A voice owned by someone who didn’t have enough of a grudge that she’d kill Carynne.

“Are you alright?”

“…Eugh.”

Carynne tried to open her eyes, but she couldn’t.

Was she blind now? Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. When she raised her hand to her eyes, she found something draped there. How long had she been unconscious?

“…Uh.”

She opened her lips, but her dry throat and lips made it impossible for her to speak. Carynne opened and closed her lips a few times, and Donna moistened her lips and eyes with a wet towel.

She came back to life again. Her eyes were dazzled by brightness. Carynne looked at the ceiling over Donna’s hand as she wiped her face gently. The bright, cream-colored wallpaper was enough to tell her that this wasn’t her room.

“…Wa, ter.”

“Here you are.”

“How… long have I been unconscious?”

“Three days. I really thought that Milady was also going to… to die…! Hiic…”

Donna burst into tears.

“Also?”

Carynne asked. Donna hiccupped and said, Ack— Then she clamped her lips shut.

“Did a lot of people… get hurt?”

“Mi… Milady.”

Donna nervously explained.

“Please don’t be surprised… Truthfully, His Lordship… he’s…”

Not that.

Carynne had to bow her head to hide the irritation that had flashed over her face. Her hair cascaded over the bed. Something else—something that she didn’t already know.

Wasn’t it that right before I fell unconscious, I’m the one who said that Father couldn’t make it out of there? You don’t remember? Did you forget because a few days have passed, huh?

Carynne’s face was devoid of any emotion. But even so, Donna wept at her own face and mourned for the dead fief lord. Maybe she’s letting out this excessive emotion at the possibility that she’d be out of a job soon. At least, that’s how it was in Carynne’s eyes.

Was this girl really grieving over some stranger’s death? You hired such a great maid, Father. Though she’s not good at her job.

A brief moment passed as Carynne waited for Donna to calm down. Then, she tried to ask again.

“…Speak slowly. Where are we right now?”

The ceiling was cream colored, the wallpaper was full of flower patterns. The sun’s rays gently lit up the entire room, and one the side, there was a table full of tea and refreshments.

There’s no need to say it, honestly. It’s Carynne’s first time here, but not really.

“You’re in my home, Lady Hare.”

“…Mister Verdic.”

The most uncomfortable and awkward man to be around appeared. Carynne felt Donna freeze up next to her. Carynne furtively touched her own neck. It’s still intact.

What happened to Isella?

In any case, given that her head was still attached to her body, and seeing as that middle-aged man over there wasn’t holding an axe in his hands, perhaps in the end, Isella didn’t manage to escape the mansion?

“Donna, go out.”

Beneath the sheets, Carynne clenched one hand into a fist.

“…Yes.”

As Donna left, Verdic drew nearer to the bed.

For a moment, he remained silent.

“…I’m sure you’re aware of the situation.”

“My father passed away.”

“Yes. It’s truly unfortunate.”

Sure. Carynne recalled the way Verdic laughed back then. He laughed.

He laughed as he said this.

“Miss Hare. His Lordship hung himself. My condolences.”

While his eyes were so full of mirth.

“Since he’s entrusted you to me… Why don’t you help out my daughter? It might be good to have you as her companion who she can confide in.”

Carynne recalled this.

But this time, Verdic wasn’t laughing. He stayed silent. His hands were clasped together, his head was bowed, and his expression remained at a grimace.

Something must have happened to Isella.

Carynne felt a small surge of exhilaration. If it had happened, she would have wanted to throw her decapitated head at him at this moment.

The silence in the air continued to stretch between them. When Carynne could no longer stand it, she was the one who spoke up first.

“Mister Verdic?”

“I’ll say this frankly.”

“Go ahead.”

“Will you be my daughter?”

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