Resetting Lady

“Have some cold water first.”

“Alright.”

Raymond shook his head and drank the water. As the cool liquid passed down his throat, his mind cleared. He pushed the memories of the past to one corner of his mind, allowing the more recent ones to resurface. He had begun again.

Every life is special, but this one felt a little different.

Raymond’s gaze fell on the fine chain necklace around Zion Electra’s neck. He knew that a ring hung from it—something Zion and Isella shared between them.

Although Zion hadn’t explained the full story to Raymond due to the dire situation, Raymond had noticed enough to know whose ring Zion was carrying. Isella was determined to save Carynne this time, much like how Verdic had shown a different side once in a previous life.

Raymond felt a deep unease at the thought of this life disappearing again like the dreams of the past. He didn’t want to experience that again. In this lifetime, Isella and Carynne might truly become friends, and Zion might live longer.

Raymond looked at his reflection in the mirror. It was still the face of a young man, but to his eyes, traces of an old man lingered. He glanced at Zion through the mirror, noting how young and inexperienced he appeared. The young needed a future.

“Then, what’s the situation?”

“Reverend Dullan has sent word that he’s willing to cooperate. Quite unexpected.”

That was good news. Raymond nodded. The current Dullan didn’t know much about Raymond or Carynne. Suspicious as he might be, Dullan would have no choice but to walk right into their plans.

And this time, Raymond was determined to end it.

* * *

Carynne gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Even in her long life, she had never seen herself so adorned. Raymond had spared no expense for her, and she was used to luxury after playing the mistress for various older nobles, but this was different. The grandeur of being a royal mistress was on another level.

The silver dress, intricately embroidered with gold and silver, exposed much skin, yet it wasn’t provocative. Instead, its overwhelming splendor left one feeling almost exhausted by the sheer opulence.

A large blue diamond, surrounded by smaller diamonds, adorned her neck, shoulder, and chest. Jewels covered the entire dress, making the ratio of fabric to gemstones nearly equal.

Gold roses decorated her chest and wrists, and pearl dust had been lightly applied just to enhance the shimmer of the outfit. With every movement, pearl and gold dust fluttered off. It was the kind of dress where even collecting the falling specks could make a fortune.

Her earrings were heavy with gemstones, making her earlobes ache. Her head was adorned with a crown of blue diamonds, pearls, and more diamonds that matched the adornments on her neck and chest.

‘My neck’s going to snap under this weight.’

Carynne thought to herself as she looked at the heavy jewelry, which was at least twice as large as the necklace Isella cherished. Isella’s taste was bold and extravagant, often earning her scorn for being gaudy, but compared to Crown Prince Gueuze’s taste, Isella seemed modest.

The dress he had gifted her last time was expensive, too, but it paled in comparison to this. That dress had been more subtle, but this one was akin to a public declaration.

It was meant to tell the world, ‘This woman is the king’s mistress’. The splendor wasn’t just eye-catching—it was meant to intimidate.

In previous lives, the dresses he had given her seemed outdated and tasteless, but now, draped in this mountain of jewels, there was no room to discuss fashion or design. It wasn’t just a dress—it was a treasure trove.

The dress alone was worth more than a year’s budget for a regional estate.

Whistle—

Carynne whistled as she admired herself in the mirror. It wasn’t just a fortune that could set her up for life—it was so overwhelmingly valuable that if she tried to flee, no one could possibly help her sell it without attracting attention.

“A woman should experience wearing something like this at least once in her life.”

“That’s a good way to think about it.”

“…You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”

“Yes, though I’d like to say it suits you, it looks rather heavy. Would you like me to lighten the load?”

“No, I’m happy.”

“Very well.”

Crown Prince Gueuze smiled at Carynne as he slowly circled behind her, admiring her figure.

“Even Catherine never wore anything like this… And not even the late queen. There’s no woman in this country as expensive as you. How does it feel?”

Carynne smiled.

“It feels like I’m getting what I deserve.”

Then she gently stroked her belly and whispered to the crown prince.

“Because I’m carrying Your Highness’s child.”

I will give you a child. Not Prince Lewis, but truly yours.

* * *

Lewis’s earliest memory was from a summer day when he was five years old.

The memories before that were too faint to recall. He’d once felt a little cheated that he couldn’t remember the days when he crawled or babbled for the first time, but that was beyond Lewis’s control.

“Come in, Lewis.”

“Your Majesty! Did you see what I sent?”

“Yes, I read it all.”

It was the day five-year-old Lewis had written his first letter and received praise for it. In this earliest memory, his grandfather was already an old man. The king, with his white eyebrows and beard, welcomed his young descendant warmly.

“Lewis, did you write this entire letter yourself?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lewis responded confidently. It was a simple letter of greeting, but it was the first one he had written by himself. And it was ten whole lines long.

“Hoh… Your nursemaid didn’t help you? And the knights didn’t write it for you?”

“I wrote it all by myself.”

“It must’ve been hard work.”

“I like learning.”

At this determined answer, the king chuckled, stroking his beard.

“Well done. The strength in your writing shows how much effort you put into it. Keep working hard.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The king smiled fondly at the beaming Lewis, then turned to speak to the archbishop.

“It’s so pleasing to see the prince taking such an interest in his studies at such a young age.”

“It is something to celebrate, Your Majesty.”

“It’s a pity you never married and had children yourself, Archbishop.”

“Haha, Your Majesty, I am wedded to the Church.”

While the religion did not forbid priests from marrying, those with families found it harder to rise to high positions. From the rank of cardinal and above, all were either unmarried or had declared their children as illegitimate. The archbishop himself was rumored to have illegitimate children, so he smiled awkwardly, avoiding the king’s gaze.

“So, Lewis. As a reward for your hard work, what would you like? I’ll get you whatever you desire.”

Lewis bowed his head in thought, but he couldn’t think of anything he particularly wanted. He already had access to whatever he wished to eat, see, or do.

“All that I have belongs to you, Grandfather, so I need nothing.”

“Are you sure? My boy, opportunities like this don’t come every day.”

The king raised an eyebrow, amused by Lewis’s mature, even political-sounding response.

“Don’t they come every day?”

When the five-year-old prince looked puzzled, the king realized he had been too political with Lewis and waved his hand dismissively.

“They do, they do… But still, don’t you have something you want? People like to give as much as they like to receive.”

“Do you wish to give me a gift, Your Majesty?”

“Yes.”

Lewis thought for a moment longer before answering.

“Then, on the next feast day, could you read me a book?”

And that answer delighted the king.

“Very well, I shall do so. And here’s something to encourage you to keep studying hard.”

It was a gold fountain pen. To five-year-old Lewis, it was just a fancy writing tool, but the archbishop, noticing that it was the same pen the king always used for signing documents, grew a bit concerned and interjected.

“Isn’t that a bit extravagant?”

“Do you have a problem with it?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

The king had given the pen he used for signing official documents, not to his son, but to his grandson.

The archbishop lowered his gaze and bowed slightly to the young crown prince. Regardless of their difference in rank, he had been the king’s friend for over sixty years. He could guess what the king was feeling. Even the archbishop had heard whispers of Crown Prince Gueuze’s behavior.

Even a king cannot control his children as he wishes.

“I suppose I should give a gift as well.”

The archbishop murmured to himself. And he sincerely prayed for the prince to grow up quickly.

***

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