Chapter 2
This crazy father!
“If you can’t pay it back within that time, the interest will double. If that happens, it would be more beneficial for me to sell you and run away from the loan sharks.”
I lowered my head and let out a short breath.
Either I would be sold, or I would have to repay 300 gold coins within three days.
Either way, there was only one choice.
To end this miserable relationship and part ways with my father.
“I’ll get the money and bring it to you within three days.”
Despite my confident declaration, I immediately became worried.
How on earth was I supposed to come up with 300 gold coins overnight?
“Haa…”
Standing in front of a job posting board, I repeatedly let out short sighs.
No matter how generously a job paid, I wouldn’t receive the salary until I completed a full month of work.
I considered going to a bank and borrowing money, but there was no way they would lend money to me while I was still tied to the Walker family.
Even after searching through the job postings for a long time, I couldn’t find any suitable way to solve my situation.
The rain was still falling lightly outside.
After twisting my body and shaking my head several times, I seriously considered it.
‘Should I just run away?’
I hadn’t told my father, but I had about three gold coins with me.
It wasn’t enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life, but it was enough to run away, settle somewhere, and start over.
Of course, if I ran away like this, I would have to live as a fugitive for the rest of my life.
I would always have to live in fear and anxiety.
The miserable reality came back to me.
“Haa…”
No matter how deeply I sighed, nothing changed.
I banged my head against the wall several times.
Then, someone’s hand slipped between the wall and my forehead.
“If you keep doing that, you’ll end up bruising that pretty forehead of yours.”
The beautiful, gentle voice made me instinctively raise my head and look at the person.
The moment our eyes met, I unconsciously opened my mouth.
It was because of his appearance.
Although a robe covered half of his face, his looks were impossible to hide.
Unusually dark, pitch-black hair.
And red eyes that sparkled like rubies.
His face was so striking that I completely forgot what I had been thinking about just moments ago.
I blinked silently, and the man smiled gently before taking the bundle of papers from my hands.
“You’re looking for a job, aren’t you?”
“Uh… yes.”
Only then did I remember what I had been worrying about.
At the same time, I realized that my hands were suddenly empty.
“Yes, that’s right.”
With an awkward smile, I took the job postings back from him.
The man glanced at me before asking,
“I suppose you need money urgently.”
It was an embarrassing family situation to talk about with someone I had just met.
So I simply smiled and gave a small nod.
Then I tried to walk away.
After taking only a couple of steps, I heard that beautiful voice again from behind me.
“Miss Liliana Walker, right?”
I couldn’t help being surprised by the words that came out of his mouth.
‘How does he know my name?’
Could he be a loan shark?
Had my father run away again? Was this person looking for me because of him?
All sorts of frightening possibilities raced through my head.
I cleared my throat and turned around.
“You knew who I was?”
Seeing how wary I was, the man shrugged once and held out his hand.
“Why don’t we introduce ourselves first? You can simply call me Roan.”
I ignored the hand he had extended and asked,
“Why were you looking for me?”
Roan glanced at his awkwardly outstretched hand before shaking his head.
Then, as though nothing had happened, he answered,
“I was looking for someone who was capable in many different areas.”
I stopped for a moment.
That wasn’t the answer I had expected.
At the same time, I became slightly interested.
Perhaps noticing that my guard had lowered a little, Roan continued.
“More precisely, I’m looking for someone capable in many different areas who can stay by my side every day.”
Most people wanted to go home after work.
If someone had to stay by their employer’s side, it meant there would basically be no leaving work, and probably no vacation either.
Everyone would rather earn a little less money and spend time with their family, friends, or lovers.
No one wanted to spend their entire life at work.
“And, of course, you need to know how to read and write and handle documents. You should also be capable of managing schedules and taking care of everything inside the mansion.”
The list of requirements kept going, as if he had no sense of shame.
The more Roan explained, the more my expression darkened.
According to his description, finding a unicorn might actually be easier.
Where in the world could you find someone like that?
“There is no way I’d be able to find someone like that anywhere in the Empire. But you’re apparently quite famous for those things.”
Roan smiled as though he had somehow read my thoughts.
“Everyone told me that despite having a noble surname, you do work that ordinary commoners would do, that you’re very discreet, and that you’re someone who would never run away.”
There was no obvious intention to mock me, but I still felt uncomfortable.
Who would want to hear rumors about themselves from someone they’d just met?
“On top of that, I heard that you’re very good at whatever work you’re given. That made me interested.”
Seeing my displeased reaction, Roan clarified.
“I mean that I want to work with you, Miss Walker.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You, Miss Walker.”
“So that’s why you came looking for me?”
“You could say that.”
I narrowed my eyes and looked Roan up and down.
Putting aside the fact that he had come looking for me because I was apparently famous, there were several things that seemed suspicious.
This was the North, yet the man introducing himself to me spoke with a Southern accent.
And judging from his appearance alone, he was wearing expensive clothes.
There were too many reasons for me to distrust the man standing in front of me.
“There should be plenty of people like me in the South.”
I said that to test Roan.
His eyes widened.
“You have a good eye.”
“You have a Southern accent. My previous workplace was closer to the South, so I’m familiar with the way people there speak.”
“I see. I suppose what I heard about you being capable was true. You noticed something like that in such a short time.”
I reacted calmly to Roan’s compliment.
I didn’t see any reason to respond to every single thing he said.
“Thank you for the compliment. But I’m in a hurry, so I think I should be going.”
I decided there was nothing good that could come from getting involved with a suspicious person.
The fact that he had come knowing all about me was strange enough.
And the fact that he had appeared at exactly this moment made it even more suspicious.
Just then, Roan raised three fingers and showed them to me.
“Three-year contract. 300 gold coins as an advance payment.”
I had been consistently indifferent until then.
But that offer was enough to make me hesitate.
“Your monthly salary will be 40 gold coins. Bonuses will be separate. And your severance pay is guaranteed.”
The monthly salary alone was five times what I had earned at my previous job.
Of course, most noble ladies wouldn’t even react to such a small amount.
But I was different.
I desperately needed that money.
Perhaps noticing my hesitation, Roan continued calmly.
“Those are just the basic terms. We can negotiate anything else you want. What do you think?”
‘What do I think? What else could I think?’
It was suspicious.
Strange.
Unpleasant.
But with the money he was offering, I could finally escape the Walker name.
‘Damn it. I don’t like taking risks like this.’
I clenched my fists tightly.
If I refused to take the hand of this suspicious man standing before me, I would probably spend the rest of my life supporting my father.
Or I would be sold.
I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths.
When I opened them again, I had made my decision.
“All right. Shall we look over the employment contract first?”
Roan’s eyes widened in surprise at my answer.
“Hmm. I didn’t expect you to accept so quickly. You certainly are decisive, Miss Walker.”
Only then did I notice that Roan wasn’t holding anything in his hands.
“Ah.”
“If you’re all right with it, why don’t we go to the workplace now and take a look at the contract?”
I nodded at his suggestion.
Then I suddenly realized that I hadn’t even asked Roan where the workplace was.
“Oh, where did you say the workplace was?”
Judging by his way of speaking and his accent, it seemed like somewhere in the South…
“The Duchy of Winsphere.”
“Yes, Winsphere. …Huh?”
There was a very good reason why I was this shocked.
