Chapter 1.2

They said he had been watching her for a long time, that marrying into a family with a shop would be good, and added that she knew the family’s situation was difficult, and after all, daughters are the foundation of household wealth.

For reference, she was fourteen at the time. Although it wasn’t uncommon for poor commoners to marry off their young daughters as if selling them, she never imagined it could happen to her.

The baker’s son, who looked like a lump of dough, was stupid, had a bad personality, and lacked any ability or sense. In short, he was the type of person she hated most in the world. She would rather hold her breath and die than marry such a person.

“…Why me? I don’t want to!”

Stunned by the thunderous news, she stood up and shouted loudly enough to shake the roof.

It was the first time her always obedient daughter rebelled, and her parents were visibly flustered. Looking back, it seemed that all the pent-up resentment exploded at once.

No, I don’t want to get married. I’ve done everything you asked until now. Why do I have to live like this while the brothers you spent money on only eat and play?

Having shouted without a moment to gather her thoughts, she couldn’t remember what she said or what her parents said.

Something about her brothers, something about a dowry.

She only clearly remembered that as she looked up at her father with rebellious eyes, the atmosphere, which had been soft as if trying to coax her, suddenly turned cold.

In the end, it was only after being slapped several times by her father, who had stood up in anger, that she realized.

Ah, I have no reason to stay here from the beginning.

There’s no need to cling to the name of family after a hundred times of neglect just because they showed kindness once.

So she left her shameless family and stormed out of the house, taking only the small savings she had painstakingly saved and some simple clothes.

She did not seek out her uncle simply because he was the closest living relative.

Although she had only seen him a few times, her uncle, who was her mother’s brother, was the only person in the family who treated her kindly.

She remembered his affectionate touch when he occasionally visited their home, gifting books and patting her head.

By the time she turned ten, their contact had almost ceased, but upon leaving home, she thought her uncle was the only person she could rely on.

At least, she felt her uncle wouldn’t ignore her as she was now.

That’s why she found an old letter from her uncle and came to the address written on it without any plan.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Victor said your fever has gone down….”

When her uncle, holding a thermometer, touched her forehead and asked worriedly, she nodded with her gaze lowered.

She was told that she regained consciousness a full day after collapsing at the Marquis Residence’s gate.

When she opened her eyes, she was dressed in clean and soft clothes, and a doctor named Victor told her to rest well before leaving the room.

“Yes…”

Her uncle looked at her kindly as she finished her soup and sipped warm tea, then spoke.

“I don’t know why you came all the way here, but… let’s stay here until you feel better, then go home. I’ll take you.”

“No, I don’t want to.”

As soon as she shook her head, trembling at the mere mention of being taken home, her uncle sensed something was wrong and swallowed hard.

“I want to stay here. Please, please. I don’t want to go home…”

Whether she returned home in a few days or a year, her situation wouldn’t change.

And she absolutely had no intention of staying at home while receiving such treatment.

Seeing her wavering gaze, her uncle sat down and asked cautiously.

“…Did something happen?”

Though her throat was choked with sorrow, she opened her mouth with all her might.

She explained in a trembling voice the various discriminations she faced growing up, being prevented from attending school because she was a daughter, and her parents’ orders for an unwanted marriage.

After explaining the situation at home, her uncle said,

“…I see. But remember this. It’s never your fault. You did well to leave home, you’re amazing.”

As if choosing his words carefully, her uncle swept his hair back and comforted her by patting her back.

“My sister eventually… sigh, but I didn’t think she would treat her child like this.”

“……”

“I thought it wouldn’t be good for her to keep borrowing money from me. Then, when I didn’t hear from her for several years, I assumed things had gotten better…”

Her uncle’s green eyes were filled with guilt.

He gently stroked her head and spoke in a soft tone.

“I’m sorry for not realizing sooner.”

“……”

It’s not her uncle’s fault.

How could he know about the affairs of a family he was already estranged from?

Her uncle cherished her when she was young, but due to her parents constantly asking for money, he eventually cut ties with their family.

They borrowed a significant amount of money several times and made excuses for not repaying it, so her uncle had no choice but to sever ties.

At least now, she felt relieved that he wouldn’t tell her to go home.

Suddenly, her uncle asked,

“If you’re okay with it, would you like to live here?”

“Can I…?”

Honestly, she thought it would be fortunate to stay even for a few days.

No matter how close they were by blood, taking in a young niece was a separate issue.

So if her uncle didn’t take her in, she was prepared to do manual labor on the streets.

Anything would be better than returning home.

“Alright, I’ll talk to the Marquis.”

It seemed he wasn’t just saying it to be nice, as her uncle added with a slight smile.

This made her feel at ease, as if her heart finally found its pace and she felt a sense of relief.

She quickly lifted her head and met her uncle’s gaze, speaking earnestly.

“I, I can do many things. I can sew, clean, and cook…”

Thinking about it, these were all things she had done endlessly at home.

She did them because she was told to, not because she liked them.

Trailing off, she hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“I study well too.”

Upon saying it, she suddenly felt embarrassed, thinking it was a foolish statement.

Indeed, it was a ridiculous notion.

Who would educate her?

Even though there were more cases of women rising to administrative positions, it was extremely rare for someone like her, a poor commoner, to hold a well-paid administrative position like her uncle, who was a noble’s aide.

She couldn’t possibly afford the cost of books and ink for studying, not when she should be sweeping the mansion’s corridors.

Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of gloom, she hung her head low, and seeing this, her uncle patted her shoulder and said,

“Alright, alright. We don’t have to decide that now, so let’s sleep. Take your medicine too.”

Accepting the medicine her uncle handed her, she grimaced at the bitter taste and lay down on the soft bed.

As the warm blanket covered her, she felt at ease.

At home, she often shivered herself to sleep using the same blanket in summer and winter, but the blanket now enveloping her seemed stuffed with cotton, thick and warm, making her sleepy.

She didn’t know whose clothes they were, but they fit perfectly and felt comfortable.

Feeling drowsy, her eyes slowly closed as she murmured weakly.

“I can read. I always ranked first at the school I attended, and the teacher said I was a genius.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

Her uncle responded brightly to her mumbling while looking at her bruised face with a distressed expression.

As he gently soothed the wounds, sleepiness overcame her, and she murmured,

“My mom didn’t buy me books, so I got them from somewhere…. They were so difficult that it took about a month to understand them.”

“I see.”

“And last year…”

She babbled throughout the night, intoxicated by sleep, and her uncle listened to her until she fell asleep, without any sign of weariness.

***

“Hmm….”

It seemed the sun had set, as when she opened her eyes, the dark room was empty. Her uncle was nowhere to be seen.

The room, with only one candle lit, suddenly felt scary, and she tried to go back to sleep, but her throat was too dry. Even swallowing was difficult, and though she fumbled around the bedside table, the herbal tea her uncle had given her was already finished, and there wasn’t even a cup of water in the room.

Unable to bear the thirst, she pushed aside the blanket and quietly got up from the bed. She planned to go into the corridor and ask a passing servant for water. Though her uncle had told her not to leave the room, her thirst was overwhelming. Surely it would be okay for just a moment.

Quietly turning the doorknob and stepping outside, she recalled the maid the gatekeeper had spoken to that morning, trying to remember what she was wearing as she turned her head this way and that.

The long, narrow corridor was dark and eerie, with not even a small sound.

She swallowed hard and raised the candlestick she was holding.

Even though she was barefoot, the carpet on the floor was so soft that it didn’t hurt at all. After climbing a few steps and walking for a few minutes following the sounds of footsteps, she saw a room with lights on. Light was faintly streaming through the cracks in the door.

Perhaps the maid was cleaning the room. It was already time for the nobles to retire to bed.

Then she would just peek in and ask for water.