057. The trap of reality
The next day, Emilia left home early. The first place she headed to was, of course, 'Ramsco'.
Ramsco is a bank that people who need money urgently visit. No, it is a bank in name only, but it is a place where loan sharks play the game of loan sharks. More than half of the people who borrow money there end up in brothels or slums because they cannot afford the huge interest.
'Do you know what happens if you can't pay the money back? You knew that when you borrowed it, right?'
She pretended not to know anything in front of her stepmother, but Aunt Rosie's voice was choking her throat the whole time.
When Emilia went inside the building that was being packaged as a 'bank' and came back out a little later, she couldn't hide the look of despair in her eyes.
Her stepmother really owed them a lot of money...
The heavy steps led to Cavendish's mansion. Even after hearing the whole story from Nathan, she couldn't shake off her hopes.
But when she arrived at the main gate, her shoulders slumped again.
Beyond the fence surrounded by gold bars, there was a crowd of not only inspectors but also police officers.
The servants who came and went through the garden were almost ghostly, and Mr. Haspel and Bernie Cavendish had long since been taken away by the investigators.
Seeing that sight, Emilia gave up all hope she had left in her heart.
She returned home, stumbling around, without being able to buy Laura a wedding present, let alone a farewell gift for Beppy.
From the moment she opened the front door, Emilia tried her best to act calm. Her mother would never want her family to find out that she had borrowed money from Ramsco.
Emilia, who had prepared a meal as usual, greeted her mother, who had returned from the factory with a smile.
Thanks to Mitch, who seemed strangely cheerful that day, the dinner continued as usual in a cheerful mood.
After finishing the dishes and putting Charlotte to bed, she helped feed the grass like she did yesterday.
“Oh, by the way, did you buy presents for Laura and Beppi?”
“Not yet.”
"Why?"
“I don’t know what to choose, especially Laura’s. I’ve been eyeing the scallop dish, but I’m not sure if it’ll suit her taste. I’m going to meet Laura and Beppy in person tomorrow and go to the market together.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
The work was over late at night. Only when the moon rose brightly over the pitch-black ridge in the distance was she able to get up.
"Good night."
“Yes, thank you.”
“...Don’t say that...”
Emilia returned to her room, lit a candle, and sat down by the window.
It's tough. Her shoulders feel so heavy that her eyes feel like they're going to pop out.
If she thinks about it, it was like that every day. Life in the forest was always too hard and overwhelming for a mother and daughter to handle.
She held on bravely, but reality was not easy.
'Please be realistic. You're going to put Emilia through school, take care of Charlotte, and send Mitch to college? How? By getting up at the crack of dawn every day, going to the factory, and helping out with laundry?'
Aunt Rosie's words once again cut sharply into her heart.
'Emilia is now a perfect noblewoman. Not only in her speech and appearance, but from head to toe, and even in her slightest movements, she has become a perfect lady.'
What Aunt Rosie said was right. So right that she felt ashamed of herself.
They say ignorance is not a sin, but in Emilia's view, 'not knowing enough' is also clearly a mistake.
Is there anything more cowardly than making excuses that you didn't know?
She has been too blind to the reality of poverty.
How could she have been so unaware that her stepmother had to resort to loan sharks because she wasn't receiving her salary?
In the end, it's her fault.
Because she didn't think deeply about it.
Sometimes she knew it, but she turned away.
Piano, Latin, balls... wasn't she indulging in aristocratic games under the guise of a bridal class?
'The Meyer's Fiancée' was obsessed with the royal decree that she could do no work other than housework, and placed too much of a burden on her stepmother.'
'I don't think it's a bad thing. Becoming the government.'
When she heard that from her mother, Hardius Meyer immediately came to mind.
The factory where her stepmother works is one of the healthiest among the many spinning mills clustered in the area. Even though the streets were overflowing with unemployed people, they hired more workers because they were short on workers.
But then, all of a sudden, the factory stopped paying wages for three months.
The stepmother borrowed money from 'Ramsco' and, coincidentally, Aunt Rosie found out.
Around the same time, an Inspector General's investigation into Cavendish began, and he was placed under house arrest.
There are more than a few things that don't seem like coincidences.
'There are many ways to break you.'
Didn't he clearly say that?
Emilia knew all too well how meticulous he was, how good at lying, and how mean he could be.
It must be that guy's doing.
He's trying to pressure her with debt after cutting off her hands and feet first.
To make her come here on her own feet, chased by money...
What do I do now?
When she first learned about her stepmother's debt through Aunt Rosie, Emilia's heart was burning.
But when she learned the truth, instead of fear and anxiety, she was filled with anger and resentment.
Do you think I'd be swayed by a few pennies?
Emilia, who had been sitting there blankly, suddenly sat up. Her hand holding the candle was directed to the closet. She opened the door and took out a large bag. Then she started to pack things frantically.
Dresses, brooches, parasols, fans... all the things that symbolized aristocratic play were crumpled into the remaining bags. All the money in the wallet was also taken out.
What else is there?
As she was rummaging through the closet, head down in the dim light, one more thing suddenly occurred to her.
That thing that's been bothering her and making a fuss for a while.
The symbol of a noblewoman and the pinnacle of vanity, silky hair that reaches down to the waist.
She heard that the wig makers were selling this golden hair for a very high price.
It didn't take long to make up her mind. It wasn't as sad as she thought.
No, rather, her heart was already pounding, and she was starting to feel refreshed.
How disappointed would he be? If she suddenly showed up with her hair cut short? He would be so disappointed that he would even lose his desire.
Don't give in to discerning passion.
Don't kneel before exaggerated trials.
Behold, there is nothing so strong as a cool will.
There was no sign of frustration on Emilia's face as she recalled the passage from the book. She clenched her fists and gathered her cool will.
"Uh..."
Pip was speechless for a moment, but he quickly curled the corners of his mouth to hide his embarrassment.
That woman is the master's fiancée. She is the only one who can enter this cottage at any time without permission.
“I came to see you, my lord. Are you inside?”
“Huh? Ah.. yes...”
As he answered, all his attention was focused on the area below her ears. There was nothing that should be below. Her beautiful hair that swayed like golden threads...
“I got permission from Mr. Grojean outside. Please let me in.”
Suddenly, he came to his senses. Pip's eyes came into focus, and he saw the woman's face clearly.
At first glance, she seemed calm. Her polite tone and pleasant voice made her seem very polite.
But it was easy to tell from her shaking pupils, her occasional ragged breathing, and the small envelope she was clutching tightly in her hand that she was very agitated.
Then, for some reason, Pip felt unwilling to let the woman in.
The master was only just able to let go of the papers a moment ago. He had to walk very quietly, lest he disturb anyone...
Even though he was annoyed, Pip couldn't take his eyes off the woman.
Is it true that a face surpasses everything? Even with such a strange hairstyle, she's still pretty like a doll.
Pip, who had been thinking incoherently, realized that he had dared to leave his master's guest standing there in a daze.
“Hey, come in.”
Pip opened the door wider, stepped aside, and bent down. Little Shoes strode into the room.
He thought that was the end of it, but then came a pair of huge boots, twice the size of a woman's.
"For a moment..."
“No, it’s okay. Sir, you will come with me to meet the young master.”
At the slightly nervous voice, Pip couldn't help but drop his head to the floor and say, "Ah... ah, yes."
The finest carpet from Mount Helione was trampled by two pairs of shoes. It was unpleasant, but somehow it made his heart shiver.
Since they have guests, they should leave quickly.
But the reason Pip hesitated again was because his master was enjoying a rare good night's sleep.
He wanted to ask her to wait just a little longer so he could sleep for a few more minutes, but he couldn't get a single word out.
After only a month of working as a starter, he's come to like his master like he's his own older brother, but that doesn't mean he can act like a jerk.
Pip bowed to the woman again and left the room.
Emilia looked around frantically, looking for Hardius.
A fireplace, chairs, dresser decorations, flower pots, colorful wallpaper, a large bed...
Where the hell is that fucking man?
As she was irritably brushing her hair back, she saw the curtains on the other side fluttering gently. The glass door, which was open as wide as the palm of her hand, led straight to the terrace.
Emilia quickly looked back at Beppy.
“Sir, please sit here for a moment.”
It is disrespectful for a servant to sit on his master's chair.
But as soon as Beppy finished speaking, he slammed his big butt down on the chair without hesitation.
Emilia found him so trustworthy. She was smiling happily, but then suddenly she felt uneasy again.
“Sir, even if the young master really said ‘Hardius’, you wouldn’t have been angry, right?”
Beppy nodded.
“..Yes. Anyway, you must stay here. Just like before, even if someone tells you to leave, you must never leave. Even if it’s you, Master. Do you understand?”
The honest face took on a determined look once again.
Only then did Emilia find the courage to go out onto the terrace and meet him.
Squeak, she opened the glass door and stepped over the threshold.
Next to the pillar were two large rattan sunbeds placed side by side.
Each sunbed had a small table attached to it, and one of them had various items placed on it.
A water bottle, scattered papers, a pen, a watch, and...
What is that? Is it medicine?
Suddenly, something swayed and shook. A thin blanket that had fallen from the sunbed was brushing the marble floor.
Her heart started pounding as hard as it had when her hair was cut off.
Emilia walked slowly towards the blanket. And then she saw.
Hardy Meyer, asleep under the sunset.
The next day, Emilia left home early. The first place she headed to was, of course, 'Ramsco'.
Ramsco is a bank that people who need money urgently visit. No, it is a bank in name only, but it is a place where loan sharks play the game of loan sharks. More than half of the people who borrow money there end up in brothels or slums because they cannot afford the huge interest.
'Do you know what happens if you can't pay the money back? You knew that when you borrowed it, right?'
She pretended not to know anything in front of her stepmother, but Aunt Rosie's voice was choking her throat the whole time.
When Emilia went inside the building that was being packaged as a 'bank' and came back out a little later, she couldn't hide the look of despair in her eyes.
Her stepmother really owed them a lot of money...
The heavy steps led to Cavendish's mansion. Even after hearing the whole story from Nathan, she couldn't shake off her hopes.
But when she arrived at the main gate, her shoulders slumped again.
Beyond the fence surrounded by gold bars, there was a crowd of not only inspectors but also police officers.
The servants who came and went through the garden were almost ghostly, and Mr. Haspel and Bernie Cavendish had long since been taken away by the investigators.
Seeing that sight, Emilia gave up all hope she had left in her heart.
She returned home, stumbling around, without being able to buy Laura a wedding present, let alone a farewell gift for Beppy.
From the moment she opened the front door, Emilia tried her best to act calm. Her mother would never want her family to find out that she had borrowed money from Ramsco.
Emilia, who had prepared a meal as usual, greeted her mother, who had returned from the factory with a smile.
Thanks to Mitch, who seemed strangely cheerful that day, the dinner continued as usual in a cheerful mood.
After finishing the dishes and putting Charlotte to bed, she helped feed the grass like she did yesterday.
“Oh, by the way, did you buy presents for Laura and Beppi?”
“Not yet.”
"Why?"
“I don’t know what to choose, especially Laura’s. I’ve been eyeing the scallop dish, but I’m not sure if it’ll suit her taste. I’m going to meet Laura and Beppy in person tomorrow and go to the market together.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
The work was over late at night. Only when the moon rose brightly over the pitch-black ridge in the distance was she able to get up.
"Good night."
“Yes, thank you.”
“...Don’t say that...”
Emilia returned to her room, lit a candle, and sat down by the window.
It's tough. Her shoulders feel so heavy that her eyes feel like they're going to pop out.
If she thinks about it, it was like that every day. Life in the forest was always too hard and overwhelming for a mother and daughter to handle.
She held on bravely, but reality was not easy.
'Please be realistic. You're going to put Emilia through school, take care of Charlotte, and send Mitch to college? How? By getting up at the crack of dawn every day, going to the factory, and helping out with laundry?'
Aunt Rosie's words once again cut sharply into her heart.
'Emilia is now a perfect noblewoman. Not only in her speech and appearance, but from head to toe, and even in her slightest movements, she has become a perfect lady.'
What Aunt Rosie said was right. So right that she felt ashamed of herself.
They say ignorance is not a sin, but in Emilia's view, 'not knowing enough' is also clearly a mistake.
Is there anything more cowardly than making excuses that you didn't know?
She has been too blind to the reality of poverty.
How could she have been so unaware that her stepmother had to resort to loan sharks because she wasn't receiving her salary?
In the end, it's her fault.
Because she didn't think deeply about it.
Sometimes she knew it, but she turned away.
Piano, Latin, balls... wasn't she indulging in aristocratic games under the guise of a bridal class?
'The Meyer's Fiancée' was obsessed with the royal decree that she could do no work other than housework, and placed too much of a burden on her stepmother.'
'I don't think it's a bad thing. Becoming the government.'
When she heard that from her mother, Hardius Meyer immediately came to mind.
The factory where her stepmother works is one of the healthiest among the many spinning mills clustered in the area. Even though the streets were overflowing with unemployed people, they hired more workers because they were short on workers.
But then, all of a sudden, the factory stopped paying wages for three months.
The stepmother borrowed money from 'Ramsco' and, coincidentally, Aunt Rosie found out.
Around the same time, an Inspector General's investigation into Cavendish began, and he was placed under house arrest.
There are more than a few things that don't seem like coincidences.
'There are many ways to break you.'
Didn't he clearly say that?
Emilia knew all too well how meticulous he was, how good at lying, and how mean he could be.
It must be that guy's doing.
He's trying to pressure her with debt after cutting off her hands and feet first.
To make her come here on her own feet, chased by money...
What do I do now?
When she first learned about her stepmother's debt through Aunt Rosie, Emilia's heart was burning.
But when she learned the truth, instead of fear and anxiety, she was filled with anger and resentment.
Do you think I'd be swayed by a few pennies?
Emilia, who had been sitting there blankly, suddenly sat up. Her hand holding the candle was directed to the closet. She opened the door and took out a large bag. Then she started to pack things frantically.
Dresses, brooches, parasols, fans... all the things that symbolized aristocratic play were crumpled into the remaining bags. All the money in the wallet was also taken out.
What else is there?
As she was rummaging through the closet, head down in the dim light, one more thing suddenly occurred to her.
That thing that's been bothering her and making a fuss for a while.
The symbol of a noblewoman and the pinnacle of vanity, silky hair that reaches down to the waist.
She heard that the wig makers were selling this golden hair for a very high price.
It didn't take long to make up her mind. It wasn't as sad as she thought.
No, rather, her heart was already pounding, and she was starting to feel refreshed.
How disappointed would he be? If she suddenly showed up with her hair cut short? He would be so disappointed that he would even lose his desire.
Don't give in to discerning passion.
Don't kneel before exaggerated trials.
Behold, there is nothing so strong as a cool will.
There was no sign of frustration on Emilia's face as she recalled the passage from the book. She clenched her fists and gathered her cool will.
***
"Uh..."
Pip was speechless for a moment, but he quickly curled the corners of his mouth to hide his embarrassment.
That woman is the master's fiancée. She is the only one who can enter this cottage at any time without permission.
“I came to see you, my lord. Are you inside?”
“Huh? Ah.. yes...”
As he answered, all his attention was focused on the area below her ears. There was nothing that should be below. Her beautiful hair that swayed like golden threads...
“I got permission from Mr. Grojean outside. Please let me in.”
Suddenly, he came to his senses. Pip's eyes came into focus, and he saw the woman's face clearly.
At first glance, she seemed calm. Her polite tone and pleasant voice made her seem very polite.
But it was easy to tell from her shaking pupils, her occasional ragged breathing, and the small envelope she was clutching tightly in her hand that she was very agitated.
Then, for some reason, Pip felt unwilling to let the woman in.
The master was only just able to let go of the papers a moment ago. He had to walk very quietly, lest he disturb anyone...
Even though he was annoyed, Pip couldn't take his eyes off the woman.
Is it true that a face surpasses everything? Even with such a strange hairstyle, she's still pretty like a doll.
Pip, who had been thinking incoherently, realized that he had dared to leave his master's guest standing there in a daze.
“Hey, come in.”
Pip opened the door wider, stepped aside, and bent down. Little Shoes strode into the room.
He thought that was the end of it, but then came a pair of huge boots, twice the size of a woman's.
"For a moment..."
“No, it’s okay. Sir, you will come with me to meet the young master.”
At the slightly nervous voice, Pip couldn't help but drop his head to the floor and say, "Ah... ah, yes."
The finest carpet from Mount Helione was trampled by two pairs of shoes. It was unpleasant, but somehow it made his heart shiver.
Since they have guests, they should leave quickly.
But the reason Pip hesitated again was because his master was enjoying a rare good night's sleep.
He wanted to ask her to wait just a little longer so he could sleep for a few more minutes, but he couldn't get a single word out.
After only a month of working as a starter, he's come to like his master like he's his own older brother, but that doesn't mean he can act like a jerk.
Pip bowed to the woman again and left the room.
***
Emilia looked around frantically, looking for Hardius.
A fireplace, chairs, dresser decorations, flower pots, colorful wallpaper, a large bed...
Where the hell is that fucking man?
As she was irritably brushing her hair back, she saw the curtains on the other side fluttering gently. The glass door, which was open as wide as the palm of her hand, led straight to the terrace.
Emilia quickly looked back at Beppy.
“Sir, please sit here for a moment.”
It is disrespectful for a servant to sit on his master's chair.
But as soon as Beppy finished speaking, he slammed his big butt down on the chair without hesitation.
Emilia found him so trustworthy. She was smiling happily, but then suddenly she felt uneasy again.
“Sir, even if the young master really said ‘Hardius’, you wouldn’t have been angry, right?”
Beppy nodded.
“..Yes. Anyway, you must stay here. Just like before, even if someone tells you to leave, you must never leave. Even if it’s you, Master. Do you understand?”
The honest face took on a determined look once again.
Only then did Emilia find the courage to go out onto the terrace and meet him.
Squeak, she opened the glass door and stepped over the threshold.
Next to the pillar were two large rattan sunbeds placed side by side.
Each sunbed had a small table attached to it, and one of them had various items placed on it.
A water bottle, scattered papers, a pen, a watch, and...
What is that? Is it medicine?
Suddenly, something swayed and shook. A thin blanket that had fallen from the sunbed was brushing the marble floor.
Her heart started pounding as hard as it had when her hair was cut off.
Emilia walked slowly towards the blanket. And then she saw.
Hardy Meyer, asleep under the sunset.
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