Resetting Lady

Raymond sorted through the intel he had brought. It was impossible to manage Crown Prince Gueuze through the marquis right now. He was too stubborn. Unless pushed to the brink, he wouldn’t move. Raymond sighed.

‘What should I do?’

Even though he was trying his best to prevent people from dying, corpses were still appearing. Whenever Raymond blocked one path, Crown Prince Gueuze would find another way to bring in victims. The power of the ruler had that much capability.

The number of missing people had certainly decreased compared to before, but that was only in the past that Raymond remembered. People were still disappearing bit by bit.

‘What should I do…’

“If that’s all, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Marquis.”

Raymond considered just killing everyone. Indeed, living virtuously was difficult. Trying to follow the right path only made things more tangled. He knew a simpler way.

If he sided with Crown Prince Gueuze instead of the marquis, the prince would leave Carynne alone. Perhaps it was better to choose that way this time as well.

But he left nonetheless.

Raymond swallowed a groan. What should he say to Carynne? Was it right to ignore the murders?

Couldn’t a better world be made?

If only the world could be kinder to Carynne. Just that much.

* * *

“I hope Sir Raymond doesn’t regret it.”

Carynne sighed as she dragged Isella to a plush sofa and laid her down. Isella fainted, foaming at the mouth and unable to regain consciousness. As Carynne looked down at her, she continued talking to herself. Memories of her past life resurfaced.

“What was the problem this time? It’s still too early to die.”

“……”

The only consolation was that she could view things more leisurely than before. She lit the fireplace with the lantern and looked around the now brighter room, then sank into the sofa next to Isella.

Carynne slowly examined the room filled with Crown Prince Gueuze’s hobbies. It was larger than she remembered. She counted the number of people, confirming there were significantly fewer than before. So, had Crown Prince Gueuze killed that many people in just a few months?

“Come to think of it, there haven’t been many murder cases recently, right? It seems his involvement has had this effect.”

Such was the way of the world. Carynne clicked her tongue.

She pondered the differences from the past. The number of murders had indeed decreased. Raymond must have intervened. She wanted to praise him for keeping his promise behind her back.

But to do that, she had to get out of here. The likelihood of that was very slim, so it seemed it would only be possible in the next life. This realization made her scowl.

He would definitely nag her. By now, he might not even listen to her.

Raymond had constantly disapproved of Carynne’s actions this time. Whether it was trying to befriend Isella or live a more virtuous life.

He truly didn’t like her attempts. He tried to match her as much as possible, but his true feelings were revealed in his occasional actions.

Raymond wanted to be locked up alone with Carynne in the mansion again. Although he didn’t force it because he loved her, he still longed for it.

It was difficult to persuade him that turning his back on the whole world was not better. If Carynne died at the hands of Crown Prince Gueuze this time, his words in the next life would be obvious. He would say that new attempts were useless and they should lock themselves up in the mansion again. Carynne couldn’t help but pout.

“Haa… What should I do?”

Carynne looked around the room at the sleeping Isella, but she couldn’t find an answer, and it gave her a headache. She was frustrated by the fact that there was nothing she could do right now. Thinking she should have brought a necklace so she could have at least hung herself, Carynne felt like crying.

Should she just kill herself?

She had neither a necklace nor drugs, but there were still some ways. Carynne stared at the burning fireplace. It wasn’t an easy way, but burning to death would be quick. Although it would be painful, the moment would be brief. But Carynne couldn’t bring herself to stick her head into the fireplace.

“…Haa.”

She didn’t want to die.

But no other good ideas came to mind.

Carynne recalled her past lives but had only come to Crown Prince Gueuze’s room once.

Could this situation be resolved like when Isella clashed with Duke Luthella? Carynne thought deeply, but Isella didn’t seem like a good solution against Crown Prince Gueuze.

There was no one higher than Crown Prince Gueuze in this land. The old king was on the brink of death, and even Verdic had to bow before Crown Prince Gueuze. Duke Luthella and the crown prince were in entirely different positions. If Isella learned the true nature of the crown prince, neither of them would survive—they would both surely die.

In the past, Carynne had been able to buy time because there were two more people. Crown Prince Gueuze’s hatred for his son, Prince Lewis, allowed her to divert his attention and gave her a chance to arm herself.

And there was Donna. While Donna bit his leg, Carynne had an opportunity.

But Isella was more of a burden than any help at all.

Crackle, crackle—

Carynne stared at the burning logs. There was still a chance. A chance to die quickly.

“Isella.”

The only reason she wasn’t committing suicide right now was because of that woman. She had just started to feel a bit of friendship, and it was a shame to have to start over.

Most of all, she was too curious about what Isella was going to say to her.

* * *

Crown Prince Gueuze walked slowly. He was in a very bad mood. Recently, his hobbies had not been going well.

He enjoyed playing with people. This extended to more direct areas. Even though he was soon to be king, he knew it was hard to get his hobbies recognized.

So Crown Prince Gueuze had to indulge quietly. It was enough. He had enjoyed his hobbies quietly for a long time. Quietly, slowly, discreetly. There had been no problems. He also had the ability to hide them.

But recently, things weren’t going right. With repeated failures, Crown Prince Gueuze was on the verge of madness with frustration. He glared at the subordinate reporting his latest failure and spoke.

“Tell me, what’s the point of keeping you alive?”

“I-I-I apologize, Your Highness…”

Useless trash watched his every move, but even that annoyed him. Crown Prince Gueuze considered whether it was time to replace his subordinates. Should he tolerate those who couldn’t even procure the proper materials? There was no need.

“Rud, looking at you displeases me.”

“Y-Your Highness! Your Highness!”

“Shut your mouth. I hate noise.”

“Please, please spare me!”

Crown Prince Gueuze said no more. As he continued walking, a death cry sounded from behind him. Cain, the next in command, must have beheaded Rud.

He thought about dismembering that man to relieve his frustration, but work and hobbies should be kept separate. Crown Prince Gueuze moved on, suppressing his disappointment.

What should he do? So far, he had avoided touching the people within the palace, but he was reaching his limit. He might be able to quietly manage if it was just the maids. Anyone would do for now.

“Your Highness.”

A voice interrupted his thoughts, breaking his reverie.

***

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