Chapter 25

“…It’s just a simple assistant job. Office work.”

A lie slipped out. Liv found it difficult to face Rita, so she pretended to brush her hair back, avoiding her gaze.

“Well, given your education, that kind of work is certainly possible for you.”

Thankfully, Rita accepted Liv’s lie without much suspicion.

So my education comes in handy even for lying.

Liv smiled bitterly, then spoke more firmly to Rita, “Anyway, Rita. I know you meant well, but please don’t give Corida any sewing work. I’d rather take on more jobs myself.”

“Alright, alright, I get it.”

Liv had planned to give a long explanation about how dangerous a needle could be for Corida, but Rita seemed to catch on and quickly raised a white flag. Then she narrowed her eyes and asked in a suggestive tone.

“By the way, Liv, are you sure you didn’t actually go to Hyrob?”

“No.”

“Ah, I was hoping that someone from our neighborhood finally got to see the inside of Hyrob.”

Rita sighed as if disappointed, then shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, we wouldn’t see anything good even if we went there. Dressed like this, we wouldn’t even be allowed in.”

Only then did Liv look down at her own clothes, somewhat self-conscious. A worn coat, frayed hat ribbon, and shoes caked in dried mud.

Ah, so it was my appearance.

She had guessed from the gatekeeper’s gaze, but seeing just how shabby she looked made Liv laugh bitterly. She had shown up at that grand store, claiming to be a customer, dressed like this—no wonder the gatekeeper, who was used to dealing with noble servants, treated her with such disdain.

The cleanest and most proper outfit she owned was reserved for Million’s lessons. If she had dressed as she did when working at Baroness Pendence’s, perhaps she wouldn’t have faced such humiliation today. But what difference would it have made?

Even if she’d dressed well enough to enter the store, she had a feeling the outcome would have been no different.

“Well, I need to return this basket, so I’ll be off.”

“Alright.”

Rita glanced up at the sky before saying her goodbyes, as if she were in a hurry, and then turned away. Liv watched Rita scurry off before she resumed walking. She had planned to head straight to see Pomel, but looking at the bag of pastries in her hand, she reconsidered.

They say rumors are going around that my situation’s improved.

Pomel wouldn’t be fooled about the origin of the pastry bag. Liv decided to head home first to drop it off.

But whether it was luck or misfortune, just before she reached home, she ran into Pomel, who was carrying a bag under his arm.

“Well, look who it is!”

Pomel greeted her with an exaggeratedly cheerful face. Liv pursed her lips, her expression stiff.

When she couldn’t pay the rent, he would glare at her so sharply, but now that she’d paid, his attitude had changed in an instant. Though she had stayed because she had no better place to go, Pomel was a landlord she could never warm up to.

“Liv!”

“Hello, Mr. Pomel.”

Acknowledging him reluctantly, Liv forced herself to respond. Pomel beamed as he approached her.

“Why does it feel like it’s been so long since I’ve seen you?”

“Because I paid the rent.”

“Hey, that’s harsh. Rent isn’t the only reason we see each other, is it? We should get along well as neighbors.”

Pomel’s overly friendly demeanor made Liv wary. His changing attitude after getting paid wasn’t new, but this transformation seemed particularly suspect.

Pomel must have sensed Liv’s caution, but he didn’t seem to care, playfully tapping her arm.

“If you’re having a hard time, just let me know anytime.”

“I’d have a lot less trouble if you didn’t bother me, Mr. Pomel.”

Pomel laughed at Liv’s sarcastic reply, then stepped closer and subtly lifted his hand.

“Come on, Liv. I’ve at least handled some money in this neighborhood, haven’t I?”

Rubbing his thumb and index finger together, he whispered suggestively, making Liv frown.

“When people suddenly come into a lot of money, they tend to spend recklessly without knowing how to manage it. I know a lot about where to invest.”

“…What are you even talking about?”

“Liv, I heard your situation’s gotten better recently.”

“Sorry, Mr. Pomel, but I don’t know where you heard that. It’s not true at all. If things had improved, I would have moved out by now.”

Liv shook her head firmly. Pomel squinted, testing her with his sly remarks, but Liv showed no sign of wavering as she walked past him. She could feel Pomel’s lingering gaze on her back.

What sort of rumors were circulating for Pomel to act like this? A growing unease crept over Liv.

The way home, so familiar from her daily walks, suddenly felt particularly strange.

***

After her visit to the central boulevard, Liv had worked two more additional shifts. And both times, she felt someone’s gaze as she stepped out of the black carriage.

Perhaps it was just her heightened senses picking up on things that weren’t even there. If it was just her imagination, that would have been a relief.

But once a sense of unease took hold, it began to swell.

If anyone discovered she received extra pay at the end of each shift, she could become a target for crime. And if she were the only target, that would be one thing. But Corida, sick and alone at home late into the evening, weighed heavily on her mind.

Liv inspected the security of their home immediately. She added more locks to the front door, secured the windows, and repeatedly warned Corida to be wary of strangers.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

She had been so happy just to be earning more money, but now an unexpected concern had arisen.

Within a few days, Liv’s face had grown noticeably darker. Baroness Pendence even advised Liv to take a break if she wasn’t feeling well, expressing concern. Though Liv tried to reassure her with a smile, it seemed unconvincing to the baroness.

Should I just move?

The thought had crossed her mind. But when she considered where she could go, she couldn’t come up with a suitable place.

The reason she was currently able to afford a little more comfort was because they were living in the cheapest part of Buerno. Moving to a safer neighborhood would mean higher living expenses. Relying on unpredictable extra work to cover higher fixed costs was too risky.

What if the extra work ended right after they moved?

The more she thought about it, the less she could find a solution, and the more stifled she felt. Liv sighed without realizing it.

Would someone be watching her again on her way home today? If they realized she was carrying a thick envelope of money…

“Teacher.”

“Yes?”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Ah…”

Liv, who had been sitting there absentmindedly, snapped out of her thoughts. Blinking in confusion, she quickly remembered where she was—the marquis’s room, in the middle of her extra shift.

Today, the marquis wasn’t drinking wine. Instead, a lit cigar was slowly burning between his fingers.

“You’ve been sighing nonstop since you entered this room. Have you grown tired of the job?”

It sounded like he was saying he could let her go if she wished. Liv’s heart sank at the question.

“No.”

Recently, the marquis had been treating her more gently. To be precise, it had started on the day they shared wine. But that had only been for a short time, and he was still a sensitive man who could change his attitude at any moment.

For that reason, rather than leaning on the slight closeness they had gained to share her concerns, Liv chose to remain tense and cautious.

“I’m sorry for troubling you.”

It seemed her choice was the right one. The marquis nodded indifferently, showing no curiosity about her troubles.

He was simply dissatisfied that she wasn’t fully focused on the extra work. She couldn’t quite understand what more focus was needed for merely sitting still.

“If you’ve come to your senses, could you open that box in front of you?”

The marquis flicked his fingers toward a small box on the side table next to the bed. It was lavishly decorated with bright colors and a large ribbon—it was obviously an expensive item.

Liv hadn’t even noticed it until now, which made her realize how distracted she’d been. Ignoring the fatigue that threatened to overwhelm her, she stood up.

To open the box, she needed to untie the ribbon. Seeing that it was tied as if intended for a gift, Liv hesitated.

She awkwardly fumbled with the soft teal satin before finally pulling the ribbon’s end. The ribbon slipped off smoothly, without any resistance.

“This is…”

Liv stared down at the opened box, standing there in a daze. From behind her, the marquis spoke in his usual indifferent tone.

“Why don’t you try it on?”

Inside the box was a necklace.

A single teardrop-shaped ruby hung from a thin chain, delicate enough to be nearly invisible unless it caught the light. The ruby was cut with exquisite precision, its color so vivid and clear that Liv felt almost afraid to touch it.

She turned to look at the marquis without thinking. He frowned slightly as he watched her hesitate.

That reaction was as good as pushing her forward. Liv cautiously picked up the necklace.