Resetting Lady

Knock, knock.

After Carynne led Verdic to the hall just a moment ago, still soaked to the bone, she knocked on Raymond’s door. Her head felt like it was about to explode as she thought about Verdic waiting below.

Knock—

“Yes.”

When she opened the door, she saw Raymond cleaning his bag and gun. It was two days later that he was scheduled to leave the house for work. No matter how many times she died and lived again, his work always remained the same.

He put down the items he was holding when he saw her. Then his expression changed. He realized that her entire body was drenched.

“Carynne, why are you wet?”

But she cut off his words there. That wasn’t important right now. She didn’t want the conversation to veer in the wrong direction. Verdic was directly below them. Time was of the essence.

“Sir Raymond, we have guests.”

“Mister Verdic Evans. He’s yet to say why he’s come to visit, but he must have come to see you.”

His eyes immediately became calm. Carynne herself wasn’t worried about her being wet—that could be addressed later.

Raymond took a moment to look at the bag and belongings he was holding and then answered.

“I see. I’ll go out to meet him. First, Carynne, you should change out of those clothes.”

“Yes. And he remembers me.”

“…Right. You’ve already met before?”

“We did. You and I reunited in that tower, not at my house, right? That’s because I was on my way back from canceling the contract between him and my father. I was Father’s representative.”

He nodded in response. His expression wasn’t particularly positive but also not gloomy. He just seemed to think, ‘Oh, so that man arrived.’

Raymond had certainly mentioned going to work, but he had never mentioned anything about Verdic. However, his face wasn’t showing the kind of surprise you’d expect from an unexpected incident, which made Carynne a bit anxious.

“Mister Verdic arrived, Raymond.”

She repeated it once more to make sure he was fully aware of the situation. Nevertheless, he remained surprisingly composed, to the point where she felt a bit flustered herself.

Why?

“Yes, Carynne. I will go downstairs. I didn’t think that you’ve already met before, but… it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“…But why would he come here.”

But she couldn’t be as composed as him. She couldn’t fathom his calm demeanor. She couldn’t understand why he was so unflustered. Why are you so unphased? She was bewildered by his nonchalance, watching him check his clothes first in the mirror before leaving the room.

Verdic had killed Carynne dozens of times before. Verdic showing up in front of her was definitely not a good sign.

She felt like her mouth had gone dry. This time—in this life–she thought that she finally wouldn’t have any connection to Verdic.

Now that Raymond remembered her, she believed that she had completely severed ties with Verdic.

But that wasn’t the case.

She recalled the fingernail. She recalled the people panicking when Isella disappeared. She recalled the face of the haggard Verdic.

If Raymond had truly, towards Isella… If that was the case, wasn’t it just a matter of time before Carynne’s death would once again be triggered?

But still, he seemed calm.

“There’s nothing much to it. I guess he has his reasons for coming, but it’s not something you should worry about. Mmh, well, what can we do? Even if he recognizes you, I have no intention of sending you outside right now.”

“At least, I repeatedly insinuated that I didn’t recognize him. But he doesn’t seem to believe it at all.”

“…What if you use a fake name and say that you’re suffering from memory loss?”

“Would he even believe that?”

Carynne didn’t think Verdic would believe the fake name she’d use, let alone the convenient excuse of having amnesia.

“Even if he doesn’t believe it, it shouldn’t be a big issue. That’s not the most important thing. But please, be careful from now on. What startled me the most was when you came in.”

When Raymond saw Carynne, who was dripping wet, his face lost color instantly. However, as she spoke about Verdic, he seemed to regain his composure and his bewilderment vanished. He scrutinized his reflection in the mirror and straightened his attire.

“Carynne, why are you soaked?”

“I fell into the stream.”

Flinch.

Raymond stopped fixing his clothes and walked towards her. It seemed like that was the only thing that mattered.

“…I thought you had gone swimming.”

Then, he placed both hands on her shoulders.

“But clearly, you were… in danger… even if you shouldn’t have been.”

He started to speak, but he clenched his teeth midway. Right now, the most crucial thing to him wasn’t Verdic.

And ironically enough, the fact that Verdic was waiting outside was what’s still anchoring down Raymond’s rationality.

If Verdic hadn’t been there, Carynne was a bit scared of what Raymond might have said. His expression was that serious.

“I’m glad you’re not hurt, but from now on, please refrain from going outside alone. Especially when I’m not here. You must stay inside the house at all times. Verdic, he… No, in fact, it would be best if you just stay here and don’t go out from now on. Just act like you’re a maid.”

“Sir Raymond.”

“As for Verdic, I’ll handle it. Don’t worry too much. Change out of your clothes.”

He asked her to change her clothes and exhaled a sigh. Then, he finished packing his bag and placed it under the bed.

* * *

“It’s been a while, Mister Verdic Evans.”

Verdic looked at Raymond and felt an unfamiliar, odd sensation. The Raymond in front of him was undoubtedly the same young man he had been acquainted with all these years, but… His attitude, the look in his eyes, and his voice…

Everything felt oddly disquieting.

‘Why?’

Verdic was skilled at reading people.

He had watched Raymond since he was very young, even when Raymond was still just at the height beneath his chest.

Raymond was a man akin to a doll that his daughter wanted to have for herself. Being excessively competent was also a problem, but the young man’s youthful, rebellious spirit always glimmered in his eyes. That part of him was charming, but it was also his weakness.

However, the Raymond before him now was… strangely unsettling. Verdic did not know how to express the unfamiliarity that he was feeling.

“You’re soaked. Aren’t you cold?”

“You don’t need to worry.”

Verdic replied and regretted it slightly. He should have said that he performed an act of goodwill by saving the maid just a moment ago. Was he here to gain Raymond’s approval? No.

However, the man’s gaze, truly, felt eerily uncomfortable. It was the same sensation that Verdic felt the moment he took a step into this mansion. No, rather, it started when he had first seen that redhead.

“Carrie, please prepare enough tea according to the number of people.”

Raymond looked at Carynne as he gave this order, calling the name as though summoning her over.

Verdic watched them with a pitiful expression as they engaged in a ridiculous act. Carynne to Carrie. Wasn’t this quite the pointless charade?

Looking at the red-haired woman who still wouldn’t meet his gaze, Verdic pointed at her with his finger and said to Raymond,

“Is her name not Carynne instead of Carrie?”

Raymond replied with an unabashed smile.

“I’ve been calling her Carrie.”

“Even though I’ve met that noble lady before, and she introduced herself as Carynne Hare?”

If you’re going to lie, it’s better to change the name to something more plausible. Verdic thought he might need to learn more about Carynne Hare.

Isella Evans, his daughter, had disappeared. Yet here, why was Carynne Hare now with his daughter’s former fiancé?

Verdic’s mind began to spin rapidly.

Raymond. Carynne Hare. Baron Saytes.

“Is that so? Well, Mister Verdic, is that the reason you’re here now? If you want to conduct a thorough investigation regarding the young lady’s name, you’re more than welcome.”

When Raymond led with this, Verdic said nothing in return.

He didn’t expect Raymond to counter like this.

Raymond had no intention of making proper excuses right now. His attitude seemed more like, ‘So what if you think so?’

Verdic thought of Isella, the reason he had come to this place. The hair of Isella Evans was sent through the post that passed by this place, and he was here to find more clues.

He didn’t have the time to dig deeper into Carynne. It might lead him off track, and he was at risk of getting lost down a fork in the road rather than sticking to the main path.

Continuing to talk about Carynne would veer him off his main purpose.

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