It Doesn't Matter Love - Chapter 75


074. I'm going to shake it off and leave

“Washing the dishes? Of course I can do it.”

A rare color came to Emilia's face.

The restaurant owner looked Emilia up and down, still looking unimpressed, but she was grateful that she had not been turned away.

“I’ll say it again, it’s not just about washing dishes. You also have to know how to pluck and gut ducks and chickens. If there’s a shortage of workers, you might even have to clean the latrines.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve done it before. Of course, it’s at home, not in a restaurant, but I can do it anyway.”

The owner opened her eyes as if she were surprised. Then suddenly, she asked with a look of disappointment, “Are you really not good at serving?”

“Yes. I’m too shy to do that kind of work. I just want to work quietly in a scullery (a place where you wash dishes in a restaurant).”

Could it be because the owner of the restaurant was a woman like me?

Fortunately, she didn't push any further than that.

Emilia was relieved to learn that not everyone in the world was like the owner of the Dram General Store.

“Yes, then come out next week. As you can see, I’m busy preparing for the opening right now.”

“Yes, you won’t be disappointed. Thank you very much.”

Emilia bowed and left the restaurant. Only then did she notice the sign.

'Latang'

It was a restaurant that combined a bar and a restaurant, which has recently become very popular on the continent. It sells food during the day and alcohol at night, and Emilia ended up working at the Scully here three times a week.

Actually, she thought she would have a waste of time today. Starting with the lumber store, she went to a pottery store, a bakery, a carpet rental store, a shoe store... Emilia walked until her feet were sore, but no one paid any attention. There were even people who tried to make her do strange things like Dram.

Emilia came to Rheinsbuch, a little far from Erndorf, with the feeling that this was her last time.

As expected of a new city where wealthy commoners live, the streets of Rheinsbuch were clean and filled with newly opened stores. The carriages and people passing by were also flashy, but unlike in the noble city of Nowak, it did not make Emilia feel like a maid.

Such moderation both comforted her mind and gave her courage. And she had found a job so easily that her previous hardships seemed ridiculous. Emilia felt warmth flowing through her body, which had been frozen in place for several days.

As she turned the corner, Beppy approached her as if he had been waiting for her.

“It worked, sir! We’ll be back next week.”

Beppy laughed. Emilia climbed into the carriage with light steps. Leaning back on the soft chair, she thought it was quite funny.

A dishwasher who rides in such a fancy carriage.

She would like to sell the horse and carriage right away, but in the end, they are all Meyer's.

The moment she lays her hands on anything that belongs to him, it's like walking into the grave with her own feet.

***

The carriage ran for a while and entered Diehl Street, a wealthy area in Erndorf.

As they passed the familiar Cavendish mansion and reached the end of the tree-lined street, something caught Emilia's eye. It was a small brick house located a little way from the busy street.

“Sir, just a moment.”

Emilia made Beppy stop talking.

She got out of the carriage and stood in front of the bronze-decorated front door as if possessed by something. Beppy tilted his head as he watched Emilia standing there blankly without even pressing the doorbell.

“This is the house of a friend I used to play with when I was little. Her name is Raina Schlemann.”

“Friends are good. Beppy is good with friends.”

Emilia chuckled at the unexpected answer.

Actually, she wasn't very close to Raina Schlemann.

Although they always did church activities together, Raina was not the type of child who liked to run around and play like Hailey or her. She clearly remembers her always having a knitting thing by her side and smiling brightly.

But why did I come here?

A bitter smile appeared on Emilia's lips.

Because Raina is the mistress of a nobleman.

Emilia now knew exactly what the government meant. A government is someone who doesn't just dance with a married person's arm, but also mixes bodies with them.

So what? What on earth do you want to ask Raina?

Emilia turned her body around again. She had stopped the carriage, driven by some irresistible force, but she really had no intention of meeting Raina.

As she was about to go down the stairs, the door suddenly opened before she could do anything.

A pretty woman with her bright red hair braided in thick braids and swept to one side was startled to see the woman standing at the door. The maid who was following her exclaimed, “Oh, what a surprise!” and dropped the hat she was holding.

“Oh, hello, Raina. I don’t know if you remember me....”

Raina's eyes slowly widened in front of Emilia, who had greeted her without realizing it because she was flustered.

“Oh my god! Emilia?”

The hand that had been awkwardly separated was suddenly grabbed by something. It was Raina's hand.

“Emilia Bern... right?”

“Uh... yeah, it’s me.”

“Oh my god, what is this? What’s with that hair? Oh my god, is that really Emilia?!”

Emilia tried to remain calm in front of the excited Raina.

“But why did you come here? Did you come to see me?”

The location was too ambiguous to answer that she was just passing by. Emilia nodded honestly.

What was surprising was Raina's reaction. She thought she would be shocked, but Raina put more strength into the hand she was holding, and her face looked happy.

“What’s going on? You came to see me!”

Raina looked straight back at the maid.

“Noah, please take care of the tea.”

Emilia twisted her arm away without realizing it.

“No, Raina. I was just thinking of saying hello. It looks like you’re going out too...”

“No, it’s okay. It’s not like missing tea time is going to be a big deal. Besides, the fiancée of the Meyer family came to see me in person. I can’t just let you go.”

Raina, who had been shouting in an excited voice, suddenly stiffened her face in surprise. It was as if she were performing a play in which she played two roles.

“I’m sorry, Emilia... But.. I wasn’t being sarcastic just now. Of course, it must have sounded sarcastic to you... But it really wasn’t. I’ve always wanted to meet you. Really.”

It might be because Raina's eyes were so serious. Emilia had no choice but to answer that she understood and that it was okay.

“Is that your groom and carriage? I heard the rumor. My goodness, they are incredible. They are nothing compared to mine. Well, there is a world of difference between a government official and a fiancée. And they are not from another family, they are from the Meyer family.”

Raina was chattering and ordering her maid to prepare tea for Beppy.

All of this suddenly felt too tiring. Emilia slowly opened her mouth to refuse, but the words that followed made her pause.

“Come on in. Let’s talk about my unfortunate situation with a nobleman.”

"...Uh?"

“Of course, you are on a completely different level from me, but isn’t it the same that your life was ruined because of a nobleman?”

Raina, who was thin and fragile and seemed like she could fly away if the wind blew, had fierce eyes like a poisonous snake.

“And I heard a rumor. The Meyer family might take you in as their mistress. People like Aunt Rosie say it’s all good, so how can that be? How dare they...”

Raina bit her lip as if she were more upset.

“I know it’s unlikely, but you absolutely must not. Emilia. You must never become like me. It may sound ridiculous to say this when you’re listening to the government, but I’m going to end this life. I’ve taken everything I could from that man, so I’m going to get rid of everything and leave.”

“Leaving... where to?”

"New World."

"New World?"

Raina smiles faintly as she looks at Emilia, who is just blinking.

“This isn’t the place to talk about this. Come on, let’s get in.”

In the end, Emilia had no choice but to be led inside by Raina's hand.

***

Tales of the New World were also blooming in Grossen, exactly 40 miles from Raina's home in Deal Street.

The mansion of Count Elowy Malvin was teeming with guests from a strange world. The banquet hall was opened for the first time in a while, and the hospitality was so extravagant that it seemed as if royalty had come to visit.

Thanks to this, his son Nathan was also able to be released from his long two-week detention.

“A federal autonomous state where the people elect their rulers? How progressive.”

Count Malvin smoked a cigarette and stroked his white beard.

“But the New World is still a lawless place, teeming with refugees and criminals. I heard that guns are a necessity. And yet, you say it’s so beautiful and livable that I don’t want to return to the mainland. I can’t believe you for a moment.”

“I understand.”

The young man across from him smiled softly.

His name is Benjamin Luxel. He is a first-class administrator of the New World's Trans Federation, and he promotes investment and immigration projects targeting the mainland's aristocracy.

“In a world where scammers run rampant, it’s only natural that you’d find it hard to believe what I say. That’s why I’d like to invite your son first.”

His gaze turned to Nathan across from him.

Nathan shrugged, resting one arm on the back of the chair and bringing his glass of water to his lips.

It's a look that goes beyond boredom; it's a look of complete lack of motivation.

At the sight of his son, his father, Elowy Malvin, narrowed his eyes as if he was displeased.

His mother, Pian Malvin, felt as if her insides were burning.

She has no idea why her son is acting like that.

Bernie Cavendish was on trial for the Quiren Wool Fraud, and his daughter was not even allowed to make her debut in society. Even in the midst of all this, the landlady and her daughter came to visit in person and bowed and apologized. Everything went according to the son's wishes.

But why do you look so lethargic? Why on earth?

Pian Malvin swallowed a sigh and opened her mouth cautiously.

“Luxel, my son is not feeling well these days. It would be better to talk about the new world later. Then, he will listen to you with sparkling eyes.”

“I see,” Benjamin Luxel said, without taking his eyes off Nathan.

“I heard that Young master is very interested in new social systems and policies, such as genetic engineering in the New World or cotton plantations. Our federal government actively supports not only immigration policies but also investment.”

Elowy Malvin, who had been indifferent throughout, nodded at that part.

“Yes, I don’t want to immigrate either, but I am interested in investing. That’s why I invited you.”

The Count's eyes swept around the New World guests sitting at the table, then settled on his son.

“I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Nathan to come and take a tour for a year or two. You could go around the southern region with Mr. Benjamin and see the oil fields and cotton farms yourself...”

“Oh my god, you...! How could you think such a thing?”

Pian shouted, forgetting that she should not interfere in business conversations.

“Why are you sending your eldest son, who is not even married yet, to such a distant and dangerous place?”

"Honey."

Elowy Malvin stroked his wife's hand as if to comfort her. His daughter, Cynthia, who had been silent the whole time, also spoke.

“I agree with my mother. I know this may be rude to the gentlemen, but that place is full of refugees and bandits. There aren’t enough schools or churches, and I’ve heard that people die every night. I’m against sending my only brother to a place like that.”

Elowy Malvin also took his daughter's hand in his own. Then he raised both arms and showed them to him.

“Look, the men in our family are so obsessed with women.”

Benjamin followed the Count's lead and laughed heartily, but never wavered.

“I swear on my name, these are all exaggerated rumors. Contrary to what the natives think, the New World is a very rich and livable land. It is also a place overflowing with opportunity.”

“Well, rumors tend to be exaggerated, but what you just said also sounded like an exaggeration...”

The two women holding hands nodded as if they agreed.

“Let me tell you something. If our Tran is such a barren and lawless place, why is there a steady influx of women? More than half of the immigrants are women. Many women are active in society. There is even a university in the capital just for women.”

Mrs. Malvin, who had been indifferent, looked a little surprised for the first time.

“I have a daughter, but I have no intention of bringing her back to the mainland to raise her. I will continue to raise her in Tran. Not just because it is a good place to live, but also for her future. It is a place that offers many opportunities to women, despite the risks. I think the gentlemen who came with me will agree on that.”

That's right, that's right, everyone nodded, and someone blurted out a joke.

“There is even a saying that Tran women do their business standing up while men do their business sitting down.”

The men, as well as Pian and Cynthia, forgot about their heated argument and burst into laughter.

Except Nathan.

His pupils, which had been blurry, were somehow in focus. His crooked body straightened up, and his arms, which had been roughly placed on the back of the chair, were crossed in front of his chest.

Two years in a new world, and a college for women...

Nathan's heart began to pound for the first time in a while.


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