Odalisque - Chapter 109

Perhaps the front page of that newspaper featured a grand report on the scandal between Marquis Dietrion and Lady Malte. Considering Lady Malte’s high status, the story of finding new love after her broken engagement would certainly excite everyone.

The Marquis might have grasped Lady Malte’s hand in an attempt to restore his honor, long forgetting the insolent mistress. Why wouldn’t he?

Despite these thoughts, Liv couldn’t bring herself to buy a single newspaper during her journey here. She wondered if perhaps she might find confirmation that the Marquis had lost all interest in her. And if she did, she’d also confirm that she had meant nothing to him.

She ran away without looking back, yet she couldn’t rid herself of this ridiculous lingering attachment.

“Miss, buy a newspaper!”

Seeing Liv standing there staring at the stack of newspapers, a newsboy waved the paper enthusiastically. Liv quickly came to her senses, smiled awkwardly, and shook her head. Fearing she might accidentally glimpse the newspaper, she turned away in haste.

The steps that had felt lighter since arriving in Adelinde suddenly became heavy again.

With a habitual motion, Liv bought some hair dye, deciding it was better to fill her mind with other thoughts. She chose to look around the residential areas of Adelinde, searching for a place where she and Corida could live.

The first neighborhood that caught her eye looked quite nice, but without a job, she couldn’t afford to waste money on expensive rent. Eventually, she found herself heading to a more rundown, more neglected part of town.

Buildings were crowded together like a chicken coop, and the familiar smell of waste and garbage, something she had experienced far too often, began to waft in. Liv’s face unconsciously stiffened. No matter how desperate she was for money, she couldn’t imagine living in such a dirty, grim neighborhood…

At that thought, Liv paused. She realized that this scene wasn’t exactly unfamiliar.

Pomel, who constantly hounded her for more rent, Rita, the neighbor who looked after Corida, and Betryl, the apprentice priest from the church near their home…

It wasn’t that long ago, but life back then felt like a distant past.

‘How ridiculous…’

How long had she lived eating good food, wearing nice clothes, staying in a comfortable place? She had already forgotten the past she once took for granted, now finding herself complaining.

A sense of hollow laughter appeared on Liv’s face. Back then, she only considered the price and ignored every other condition. She had to do the same now.

‘But still, this place…’

Liv’s eyes slowly scanned the neighborhood. Beyond just being dirty, smelly, and cramped, she worried about Corida’s future life here, especially since she would be attending school. She needed to find a safer place.

Biting her lip and pondering for a while, Liv finally turned around. It was better to put more thought into finding a place. For now, securing a job was the priority.

Once she had a stable income, everything else would be easier to decide.

***

Corida was quick to pick up on things.

She knew just how much her sister cared for her. She knew that Liv wanted her to always remain an innocent and cheerful little sister. Although she was naive in the ways of the world from being confined indoors, she prided herself on recognizing her sister’s changes more quickly than anyone else.

So it wasn’t long before Corida realized that they were struggling to settle in Adelinde.

It wasn’t even something that required deep thought. The sisters were still staying in an inn, and Liv was coming and going to an employment agency without finding a decent job. Corida guessed that they were facing difficulties across various areas because Liv hadn’t managed to obtain a fake ID.

Liv had always lived her life earnestly. She knew nothing about backstreet dealings like making fake identification cards. In a region where she had no connections, secretly obtaining a fake ID was not going to be easy.

Corida watched her sister prepare to leave early in the morning and quietly approached her.

“Sister, is there anything I can help with?”

“No. But how much medicine do you have left?”

“The medicine…”

Liv, seeing that there were only enough doses left for three or four more days, pressed her lips tightly together. She tried to keep a composed face, but her eyes revealed her deep worries.

“I’ll have to visit the apothecary first today.”

Liv forced herself to smile.

“They said that once I place a reservation, I can receive it within three days, so don’t worry too much.”

Lately, Liv repeated the phrase “don’t worry” as if it were a habit. It seemed she herself hadn’t realized that she was the one who couldn’t shake off her worries.

Liv had always been a dependable sister, but lately, she looked precarious every day. Corida had tried to bring up this issue several times, but each attempt had been cut short by Liv’s stern denial, ending the conversation before it could properly begin.

To Corida, all of this had started in Buerno. Specifically, it had started when things began to fall apart with the Marquis.

Liv claimed there were no personal feelings involved in her relationship with the Marquis, but that was pure denial. If there had been nothing, they wouldn’t have fled Buerno like this.

“Since we arrived in Adelinde, you’ve been running around non-stop. Sister, maybe you should rest a little.”

“But…”

“Sister.”

“Alright. I’ll do that. After I place the reservation for the medicine.”

Corida wasn’t in immediate danger of fainting if she didn’t take her medicine. However, without the certainty of having been cured, it was risky to stop taking it arbitrarily.

So, today as well, Corida stood at the door to see her sister off. Liv’s figure, her hair dyed a dull brown, looked smaller and more fragile than ever. Corida watched her sister’s back, lost in thought for a long time.

That day, Liv only placed the order for the medicine before coming back. She would be able to collect it in three days.

***

Finally, there was contact from the employment agency. They had a position in a small shop for her. The good news brought a rare brightness to Liv’s face after days of constant anxiety.

“It’s a small bookstore. They mainly handle used books, and they’re urgently looking for help. They’re searching for someone who can handle basic administrative tasks, and it seems like you’d be a perfect fit for the position.”

“Thank you. Truly.”

“I’ll give you the address, so please go there for an interview.”

With a light heart, Liv left the employment agency. The bookstore was a small shop near the girls’ school. Since she had already walked the streets around the school a few times, finding the shop wasn’t difficult.

A job near the school—what a perfect location.

It felt as though the tangled threads that had been tying her up were finally starting to unravel. She felt as though she had found her place, returning from being so far off track.

Of course, the salary offered by the bookstore was nowhere near what she had earned as a tutor. The pay wouldn’t be enough to cover both tuition fees and the cost of the medicine.

She hadn’t had high expectations, but the figure was lower than she thought, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

But Liv quickly brushed aside her feelings of disappointment.

‘It can’t be helped for now.’

Who knew, maybe she’d end up liking the work. And if not, she could always find another job later.

Maybe it was actually better this way. If she was too busy with work, she wouldn’t have time to get lost in useless thoughts. Living like that, maybe she would eventually forget the luxurious comforts she had grown used to. She had to.

Then perhaps one day, she could think of the Marquis with a calm heart.

The excitement she felt earlier had settled down by the time she finished the interview and left the shop. The reality of her situation had set back in, and her sudden thoughts of the Marquis didn’t help either.

Her memories of the Marquis seemed to pop up so often, without warning. When she was talking to Corida, picking out goods at a store, even just walking down the street.

Even though she had left him, his presence seemed to loom larger than ever.

…To be honest, she couldn’t imagine herself forgetting him. Having had such a connection with him, even if briefly, would remain one of the most remarkable events of her life. Would she ever meet a man greater than him?

She thought she would be content if she could simply feel at peace when thinking of him.

Liv let out a deep sigh. She intended to return to Corida immediately, but if she went back with these feelings, she’d only cause more worry. She needed some time to sort out her emotions as she walked the streets.

So she wandered aimlessly through Adelinde’s streets, though she still kept an eye out for noticeboards. There were still no wanted posters of her.

After all, she had reserved the medicine using her real name.

‘At this point, maybe it’s really okay.’

Even the moment she wrote the name “Liv Rodaise” on the reservation list and handed over her ID, she couldn’t let her guard down. But now, two days after making the reservation, no one had come for her. Perhaps it truly was okay now.

If so, finding another job through the employment agency would be easier. Her greatest asset was, after all, her educational qualifications.

Yes, everything was finally falling into place. After picking up the medicine tomorrow, she should stop by the employment agency and ask for a second job in advance.

If she said that she graduated from Clemence, then perhaps…

Walking along a familiar path, Liv suddenly stopped. Across the street, she saw the apothecary.

And in front of the apothecary stood a black carriage.