Resetting Lady

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Father, help me. Please, God, I didnt do anything wrong. This cant be.

After gripping her messy hair, she fled the room as though she were crazed, running down the hallway. Her eyes couldnt focus on anythingshe just ran. A corpse, a dead person, head cut off, someone died on her bed!

Aack!

Isella slipped and fell on the floor. Pain came over and she felt the cold air digging into her body. As she shivered, Isella crouched down while leaning against a wall, groaning.

The night was bleak, the sky without a moon. It was too dark inside the mansion where not even a single light lit the hallway. The initial shock wore off. Fear flooded in.

Uuh, ah, hah, ung huu

The cold stone wall forced Isella to return to rationality. Was it a dream? A tragedy like that wouldnt even be seen on the stage of a play. What did she just see? Was it real?

Lets calm down. Calm down. Lets think about what happened until now. After arriving here yesterday, she spent time with Lady Hare, then in the middle of it she fell asleep. The next morning, she lost her necklace and got angry at this households maid. And now, the maid was on her bed, her neck severed.

Why?

Those last two sentences had no connection to the rest.

Ugh

She didnt know. Her mind was already blocked. She couldnt organize her thoughts. The dead maid was the maid Isella got angry with earlier this morning. That dead maid was on Isellas bed.

Isella couldnt figure out what happened before that. At the very least the necklaceno, it was an important necklace. She was a victim here. And its only been a day since she came to this mansion.

She didnt know why there was a maid whose head was severed in her room. It was a maid she met for the first time today. She didnt even know the maids name.

This situation wasnt a theatre play. There was nothing leading up to it, but it was too suspicious to call it a simple accident. But there was nothing she could latch onto.

It was like she was watching a comedic play for some time now, but at the end, a killer suddenly appeared. It couldnt even be called a tragedy. Street performances could do better than a progression like this.

Why? Why? Why?

Why was the head left in her room? Just why the hell was it done? Whats the connection to her? She had never met any of the people here. She arrived yesterday, lost her necklace and searched the mansion in angerthats the end of her connection with them.

The only thing she did to the lowly maid was say harsh words, but then the maid suddenly turned cold and became a chunk of flesh. Who in the world killed her and why the hell were they doing this to Isella?

Why me

A moaning cry burst through her lips.

Its not my fault

Isella was angry about the fact that she had to suffer from this psychological pain. She was a victim. It was unfair that she had to suffer. She was innocent yet being falsely accused, so she should receive compensation for the damages incurred upon her. The investigator and Lord Hare must find out the truth. She had nothing to do with this.

However, Isella wasnt nave enough to believe that everything would go her way without doing anything. Isella Evans was the youngest daughter of a family that deceives, steals, and gets away with it. Even if there was no intervention, she had already seen a lot of absurd facets to society.

She needed to hurry up and tell someonetell her father. First of all, she would need to confess all the facts she had to her father, then they would discuss what to do next. Her father was someone who believed in her more than she believed in herself.

Isella closed the door. The mansion was dark, damp. There were no lights in the hallway even if its the middle of the night. Stumbling along the way, Isella headed to her fathers room.

Oh, my. Isella?

Why.

Of all people.

You.

Now.

* * *

Your face is as pale as a corpse. Are you feeling ill?

L-Lady Hare

Whats going on this late at night? Perhaps

Dont. Not yet. She didnt know what to say, she hadnt prepared anything yet. Her mind went blank. At that moment, Isella herself wanted to die. She felt like she was going to die from excessive stress. Carynne lifted the lamp in her hand.

In Isellas mind, she watched the scene of Carynne finding the head then screaming at her. Carynne was pointing her finger at Isella, saying that she was the killer. Isella gasped.

That couldnt happen. Even if she was caught. Everyone would know that it wasnt possible. A weak woman like her didnt have the strength to do something like that.

Oh no, you have blood on your face.

Chills ran down Isellas spine with the way Carynne said that, as though she truly felt sorry for the other woman. No. It cant be. Carynne looked at Isellas skirt. It cant be. Its impossible, it shouldnt be possible.

What do you mean, Im just

Should I really say it with my lips? I know my manners.

What was she talking about?

Carynnes pale hand took Isellas trembling hand, leading Isella smoothly.

Come to my room.

Come on. Ill keep your secret.

Carynne smiled gently as she led Isella into her room.

The bell next to the bed is directly connected to the maids quarters, but you must have been very flustered.

Carynne embraced Isella, who couldnt speak properly and only moved stiffly, and held her gently as though she was a mother bird hugging an egg. Isellas clothes were changed, then she was given tea with brandy mixed in it.

Really, you dont have to be sensitive because of our fathers. Were still at an age where we can have casual exchanges. Right, Isella?

L-Lady Hare Its, its not like that.

Isella thought for a moment. Would it be better to be honest? She thought that the best route to take was to tell her father, but on her way there, she had already been caught by Carynne. And it was clear that no matter what conclusion there could be, this meeting with Carynne would affect the aftermath.

How much should she say? With what light would Carynne view Isella?

Since the maid that had been with her for a long time was murdered, wouldnt she unleash her resentment at Isella? And there was also the deal with Lord Hare and her fatherit hadnt been completed yet, and she had no idea how this incident would affect the sensitive relationship between them.

Did you see something frightening?

Y-Yes!

She saw a corpse. The head was severed. Her room was a sea of blood, the maids eyes were open, and her necklace was hanging by her neck.

Its such an old mansion that ghosts sometimes come out.

Carynne laughed. It was quite fun to see Isella quivering as she held her teacup with her eyes wide open.

There are also many people whove suffered from hallucinations. And so they saw many scary things.

Hallucination.

Isella seemed to have glowed as she heard the word. Right, she must have seen it wrong because she was so tired. It was such an absurd sight. Its not even a devils trick. Sure enough, the maid might have felt vindictive against Isella, so she played something like that on her. And also with how the maid talked to Isella, a guest of the Lord, the maids personality wasnt ordinary.

Lady Hare. I saw something scary in my room

Goodness.

Carynne comforted Isella as though she truly felt sorry for her.

S-Sorry to ask you of this, but can you come with me?

Her eyebrows slightly downturned into a frown, Carynne raised Isella to her feet.

Of course, but

!

There was so much blood on her skirt.

It would be better to change your skirt before that.

Seeing Isellas mouth open, Carynne added,

Your menstruation must have started.

* * *

I knew it. Its good that youre the first.

Carynne laughed as she watched the unconscious Nancy. Her mouth was gagged with cloth and her body was tied up.

I have a lot of secrets, but I want you to listen. You looked after me like a mother, right? Nancy, you brushed my hair every morning and told me old stories every night for many years. I knew it. Its good that youre the first. Actually I didnt plan this, but at this moment, Im glad that youre the monumental first. I want to confess my secrets to you, but people tend to be like that, right? Even if I want to confess, its difficult to say it out loud. Theres no guarantee that the secrets would be kept Thats why I like you.

Fufu. While sitting on a chair, she poured tea for herself and enjoyed its fragrance. Isellas gift was quite high quality.