Resetting Lady

A few days later, Isella snuck out of her house at dawn. Her face was flushed with excitement as she climbed into the carriage Carynne had prepared.

“It’s my first time leaving home. It’s really thrilling. What about you, Carynne?”

“I feel the same, Isella.”

So thrilling I could die. I hope Verdic doesn’t use this as an excuse to behead me.

Carynne swallowed hard, looking at Isella’s excited face. It seems they really must become friends now—there was no other choice. Otherwise, Verdic might kill her.

“Firstly, let’s head to the Grand Cathedral in the capital first. I plan to request protection there.”

“Protection?”

“Yes. All churches have the duty to protect the sanctity of marriage. I’m planning to say I’ve run away from an unwanted marriage.”

Isella’s destination was completely unexpected to Carynne. While it’s true that all churches had the duty to protect people, most women seeking refuge from their own fathers or brothers went to secluded monasteries deep in the mountains—not the grand cathedral that’s smack in the middle of the capital.

That place was more a seat of power than religion. Arriving there would immediately alert Verdic.

“Must the destination be the Grand Cathedral? Wouldn’t it be harder for Mister Verdic to find us if we went to a secluded monastery? What about going somewhere far away?”

A completely new place would be a fresh adventure for Carynne.

A new place, perhaps an endless sea or surrounded by dense forest. Carynne wanted to run away as far as possible.

However, Isella shook her head.

“Carynne, I’m not simply running away to hide from my father. The Grand Cathedral should ensure my father can’t forcibly take me back. Plus, what’s there to do in a secluded place? I want to have fun in the capital.”

Ah, to have fun.

“I see. You’re… thoroughly prepared.”

“At the very least, it should take a year before I get sent back.”

And I just hope my head remains attached until that day—that I won’t die before then.

But no matter what Carynne felt, all Isella felt was pure excitement.

Claiming she was nothing but a puppet of her father, Isella expressed her ambition to see the world without him.

Listening to her, Carynne felt an itch in her throat.

Raymond’s rejection seemed to have had a significant impact on the girl.

* * *

After riding for a while, night fell.

Zion, recommended by Raymond, handled the carriage roughly. The carriage, obtained secretly, was small and uncomfortable.

Carynne and Isella felt like dough, exhausted and battered.

“I feel like I’m going to die…”

Fortunately, the carriage stopped. Sir Zion announced from outside.

“It would be best to stay here for the night.”

“This place…”

Carynne looked outside and grimaced.

This place was no good.

This tower again. The one where she died.

What day was it today? This tower was dangerous.

Carynne recalled the day she had met Raymond in the past—they had encountered Duke Luthella’s men here.

She felt that staying the night in this tower was a bad omen.

“We should stay the night here before heading up.”

“No, let’s go.”

Carynne tried to remember if today was the same date as that time but couldn’t recall.

Her past lives were too jumbled, and she had only encountered Duke Luthella once. Was today that day? It seemed too early yet. Carynne clenched her fists with tension.

Raymond wasn’t with them now.

They needed to go far, far away from this tower.

“Wouldn’t it be better to arrive in the capital as soon as possible? Isella, that would be better.”

“I want to rest. My back hurts.”

Isella spoke with a sullen face. Riding in the small, uncomfortable carriage that was driven roughly had evidently worn her out.

However, Carynne felt uneasy about staying in this tower.

“What if we get caught by Mister Verdic before we even reach the capital because we stayed here? Sir, wouldn’t it be better to just keep going?”

“No, it’s impossible. The night forest is more dangerous, and the horses are too exhausted to move any further after running all day. We might all die if we encounter a bear in the forest.”

“Yeah, Carynne, he’s right. Continuing on would be too risky.”

Carynne bit her lip in anxiety. But Zion made sense. Her opposition to this place was due to her memories from a past life.

Generally, if the timing and place match up, life flows similarly to the previous ones. How could she explain this to them?

“I actually have prophetic dreams.”

“Let’s depart early tomorrow morning, shall we?”

“……”

No one’s listening.

Carynne glared at Sir Zion, appointed by Raymond, but he pretended not to notice.

He was an incredibly slippery man. And regardless of what Carynne said, Isella seemed thrilled at the idea of stopping to rest, so there was nothing to be done.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to this tower! I occasionally come around this area for summer hunting, but we rarely use the tower.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to rest below rather than going up?”

“It’s more dangerous in the carriage, so let’s just go up.”

“…Alright.”

Since no one listened to her anyway, Carynne reluctantly agreed.

Carynne found herself missing Raymond all the more. Without anyone to listen to her, she felt somewhat deflated. Where could Raymond be at this moment? Although they had agreed to deal with their respective matters and meet again in the capital, Carynne already felt the absence of his presence. But she couldn’t follow him.

Carynne, adjusting her throat, followed Isella up the tower.

“Why are you following us?”

Isella stopped midway up the stairs and looked back at Sir Zion, who was following them.

Pointing at himself, Zion asked,

“Me?”

“Yes, there’s only one room up there. You stay downstairs.”

“You want me to sleep alone in the carriage?”

The coachman, pointing at himself incredulously, looked up at Isella as if the idea was absurd. Isella nodded and pointed at him,

“Isn’t that obvious? Carynne, you agree, right? How can a coachman and ladies sleep in the same space?”

“Of course.”

Carynne smiled faintly as she looked down at Zion, the coachman. She had decided to always take Isella’s side. Satisfied with Carynne’s answer, Isella didn’t bother to listen to the coachman’s response and went up.

“You’re telling me to fend for myself?”

Carynne approached the coachman and whispered quietly,

“Isn’t that why you were recommended by Sir Raymond?”

“……”

The man scratched the back of his head, grimaced, and went down.

Carynne didn’t like the man’s disrespectful attitude, but considering Raymond’s recommendation, she resolved to try to get along with him.

* * *

Isella quickly fell asleep, snoring softly, but Carynne couldn’t sleep at all. She was worried about what had happened in this tower before.

Getting up, she looked out the window to check on the carriage, then sat back down to gaze at Isella.

Seeing Isella sleep so soundly reminded her of a day from the past.

‘…Ha.’

What would happen now? Carynne felt a sense of déjà vu from Isella’s sleeping form.

She had been Isella’s maid and nurse. Although she had decided to become friends this time, it wasn’t because Carynne felt any particular fondness for Isella.

Carynne already felt weary. Approaches with intent are exhausting. The thought that Isella’s whimsical actions might lead her to death again drained her even more.

“…Isella.”

“……”

So deeply asleep as she was, Isella didn’t wake up even when called.

The sense of déjà vu led Carynne to a strong temptation she had felt last time—when she had looked at Isella’s neck while the girl was in a coma.

From that time—that life—when she tried to kill the girl, only for Isella to strike back.

That time was so incredibly fun that it was difficult to put into words.

And ultimately, hadn’t Carynne failed to kill Isella then? What would happen if she killed her this time?

***

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