The Resetting Lady - Chapter 2.1
The Marksman of Matan
“No, you shouldn’t.”
The horseman freaked out.
“From when did you become my master?”
“If the Elder Master or Dulan-nim know about this, I will be the one to die.” That’s not my business. Karen slightly lowered her head.
In fact, Karen also didn’t want to make a scene – rather it was a labor for her. Something that was already in the book – something that was bound to happen.
Karen must go out of the county as there were many reasons for her to go out. The Circus called by the Evans, the famous band, or the merchants who sold unique and strange articles/objects.
Coaxing her family’s horseman, Karen wanted to go out the village alone to watch the show. Because recently due to the Evans, carriages have been on the run constantly, so if one carriage is gone for a bit longer, it won’t be that obvious.
Her father and fiance are busy, and Isela said that she was not feeling well so she won’t hang out with her. In this situation where even the servants were busy, Karen had no thought to stay down. In fact she does wish to stay put, but needs to do what a female protagonist does because only then things can go easier. Meanwhile Karen was acting out the role of an Agassi who sneaked out of her house because of the stuffiness in the house.
Her hair was neatly braided and put up, A flower patterned one-piece, though neat it was old. A cloak made coarse cloth was worn over it. Though it was not too shabby, it was not something a blue blood would normally wear.
It doesn’t mean that old things are not always good. Suppressing her uncomfortable feeling wearing a dress that doesn’t fit her taste, she went down the village without anyone accompanying her. The horseman was as dirty as a house mouse and crooked face. Though it was ridiculous to call out to a subordinate saying that she is sneaking out alone, there was a single rood and a steep one at that, so going all alone was impossible.
Recalling about the adventurer who went to the forest but got his intestine pierced, she condemned the horseman. Anyways, she heard that recently the carriages had been busy going back and forth, so she contemplated on taking the public carriage from downtown when returning, but it was useless. Karen struck at his shoes with her shoes and intimidated him.
“Who gives you the salary?”
“It’s the Lord. Not Agassi.”
He even stirred his hands and pulled her lips closer, as she extended her hand. “How about this?”
She put forth money. The horseman opened his eyes wide for a moment and closed them. Though he was greedy, the danger factor was too high.
“I could get fired….”
What his vague words meant was, if she gives him more money he can accede. Karen really wanted to spend the money outside, so she ignored that option.
“Eey, how much probability for you to be fired?”
“But if Agassi goes alone and something happens, I will surely get fired.”
It hasn’t been long since she became an adult. Towards the horseman who had his head lowered, her lips narrowed, eyebrows frowned and directly struck at his foot. That movement was screaming out her intention that I am gonna play out! Horseman shook his head as if he was tired of it.
“I will quietly get back without causing an incident, isn’t that all that is important? I will get to be refreshed and you will get some extra coin. Also in fact here is just a…countryside. When will you get such an opportunity like this?”
“Even if it’s a countryside, there are many things that’s not suitable for a well bred miss like Agassi.”
“What, like those pubs/public houses with females?”
“No what… though it’s not that particularly…”
“Also even though it’s a countryside, recently many interesting things have arrived and everyone is vying to watch them.”
“Then Agassi can go with Dulan-nim.”
“Don’t want to!”
The horseman clicked his tongue seeing the detest on Karen.
“It is dangerous for a woman alone, so absolutely no. Then.. mm, if Agassi insists, then just go with a subordinate.” [T/N: let me make clear Karen wants to go out alone, but due to the road, she needs someone to escort her to the downtown, Only till there and she can go out alone. So right now, she is negotiating with a horseman to take her till there. But he disagrees.]
“But every one is busy.”
In response to his eyes which said, ‘So you wanna go out even after knowing that!’ Karen looked back at him with an expression of ‘That’s why I am sneaking out!’.
“That, since it’s been very busy recently … it will be better to take some rest for a while.. Also Agassi’s personal maid handles the cleaning and is also a kitchen staff, if she takes some time out…”
What. [T/N: OOPS, the word is a bit tricky, it’s like how come, eeh, see? Aah.. it Is a slang, like omo]
The same dialogues being repeated so many times, it feels incompatible. Something that was annoying. Yeah right. The usual conversation that happens here, goes on like this.
And she is patient no more. Karen pressed a hand onto her throbbing heart. How will this continue? The next card? A gamble. In what way/form it will show up?
“You… You like Dona right?”
“What?”
The horseman panicked noticeably as the skin started to burn.
“N, No I don’t! No above that, why, all of a sudden…”
“Then you hate her?”
“No, it’s not like that…”
“OH My my, look your face is all red.”
“…I have lived 10 years more than Agassi.”
“Then you are 10 years older than Dona!”
——-
She laughed at the face that seemed like it was boiling. The expression on the horseman relaxed. There is no one who can strongly go against their boss and a beauty at that. In just a moment the atmosphere softened.
“Sorry sorry, it was not to tease you. Just that it’s been busy recently.”
“…”
“That’s why I was thinking of giving something to them, also I heard that many new things have been circulating and I can also look around.”
“… Going alone, absolutely can’t.”
“Okay Okay, I will give a break to Dona. We can just play out together.”
“Still, 2 women alone, can’t.”
“Got it, got ittt.” She raised her hands in a surrender gesture. “I will just take a male servant with me. Hm, it’s quite difficult for a woman to live.”
Leaving behind the horseman whose face was turning redder and redder, and avoiding the eyes of the senior maids, she went to the maids quarters, where Dona was sleeping at a corner. Calling out to her, Karen turned around.
A moderate conversation, slight humor, the common complaints and an easy ending.
The Housekeeper Helen sent away Dona and Karen with a face clearly written with ‘There is a lot of work to do and you guys want to go out and play!’. Bowen checked the time for a moment and stressed that they must get back before dinner and put on his hat.
“Come quickly!”
Karen went towards the carriage calling out to the maid and the servant with an excited voice.
The path to go outside to play, how many times did it repeated. The refreshing breeze tickled her hair. The air was fresh and clear. Getting on to the carriage with help, Karen watched Dona who followed after her and Bowen walking slowly with an excited face.
When a young and excited voice was heard near the carriage, Karen tried to smile. Change is to be enjoyed so she should smile. After many tries, she was able to bloom a smile before Dona boarded the carriage. Making a fuss saying how excited she was, Dona looked out of the window. Karen also looked out, muttering she was also looking forward to it.
The story changed. A happy event. These outings were always with Nancy. How much of the story can change with the change in accompanying maid. Will it lead to a new conversation or lead to a new place? Don’t know – not what I wished for.
A crucial outing, because [The incident] and [The Encounter] occurs in this outing. After that the horseman getting scolded and fired are all trivial. What was his name? Karen didn’t stress upon to remember his forgotten name, someone who only exists for a couple of words. But there is one thing. Karen closed her eyes and took a deep breath for once.
That Horseman used to blush seeing Nancy. [T/N: Now it changed to Dona]
Always for these 100s of years.
* * *
The business was flourishing.
Dona who was born and brought up in this county was wide-eyed saying it was not like this before. There was no such road before, it was a dumpster over there, roaming around, she burst into exclamations. The development was progressing like crazy. As expected of a long prepared hunting of Evans.
“Look over there, My God… Such a big circus coming to our village!”
“Yeah.”
Evans was not trying to pluck the honeydew from Haiers rather to gobble the whole county. The county was developing like crazy by the huge financial bombardment and the acumen of Evans. The county men were confused but still couldn’t take off their eyes from the wealth and entertainment provided by them, inwardly sending their regards to the Evans.
Even Dona, who was hostile with the Evans, couldn’t contain her excitement seeing such sights and pestered Bowen.
“Over there… Bowen…”
“.….”
“…Yes.”
The two girls looked at Bowen with shining eyes. Bowen could only check the time helplessly and remind them once again that they can’t be very late and bought the tickets.
“There is still time, so let’s look around more.”
“Alright.”
The crowd increased. The old father who wasn’t keen with business and her dopy Fiance will be eaten clean by the sly merchants of the city. Karen knew this fact, but never thought of interfering in this life.
Haier was going down smoothly and so, such things were trivial for the current Karen. Family bankrupt, everything seized, meals will become shabby, Dulan returns to the monastery, and the desperate Lord will take his last breath in agony. A fine tragedy to adorn the female protagonist with a pitiable charm.
“The street is so crowded!”
The girls galloping in the crowd made Bowen catch up with them with haste steps. Karen and Dona will pick up this and then while Bowen pays and carries them. And when he looks around, they will be snooping around in the distance. The servant was fed up.
“Tsk,Tsk, Men who do comfortable jobs are indeed weak.”
Dona laughingly went into a hat shop followed by Karen and Bowen stood outside. It would be awkward to enter a shop which sold female goods. The shop filled with fluttering cloths, decorative flowers and various hats was a place that can excite the minds. Other than hats they also had heaps of accessories, sewing tools and a lot more.
Karen was the heiress of the county lord, so she never brought things sold in these stores. The best things will be dedicated to the Lord and good seamstresses won’t open shops like these rather will belong to the Mansion.
However, roaming around like this, it has a unique charm regardless of its quality, a different kind of enjoyment. Karen chose the maids as well as looked around. Looking out of the shop through the clothes, Dona whispered, “I can’t swallow that those male servants are assigned menial work.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“But they have to do most of the physical labour, don’t they?”
“Like pouring tea or carrying baggage for guests or opening the door?”
“Why look so crestfallen?”
“Work is piled up in a mountain. I could only come out thanks to Agassi.”
She spun around wearing the hat.
“Not this one.”