Episode 6
Marin blinked rapidly and stared at Olive.
“U-Um… h-here… I think there’s a mistake.”
She pointed at the part that said 1 gold coin.
Please tell me it’s not a mistake.
“No, there’s no mistake.”
“W-Wait… did I say that out loud?”
Startled, she quickly covered her mouth.
“Huh?”
Olive looked confused.
Marin forced an awkward smile.
“It’s nothing. So… my salary really is 1 gold coin per week?”
“Yes, that’s right. Your position is considered a special one.”
“A special position?”
“Yes. People with special roles in the duke’s household are paid more than regular employees. I matched your salary to what others in similar positions earned when they first started.”
As Olive explained kindly, Marin felt like he was practically glowing.
“Special position…”
A few characters from the novel flashed through her mind.
The spy is infiltrating the eastern region.
K, the duke’s shadow.
Surenne, the duke family’s blacksmith.
Zero, the alchemist.
“Then take your time reading—”
“Can I sign here?”
Marin cut him off and pointed directly at the signature line.
“Did you read everything? You should look it over carefully.”
Olive looked genuinely worried.
“Yes, yes. I read it all. I would very much like to sign it. Very, very quickly.”
She didn’t need his concern.
The power of 1 gold coin per week was simply too great.
“All right. It’s temporary for now, but you’ll probably become a permanent employee soon. Do your best.”
Olive smiled encouragingly.
“Yes! I’ll work hard!”
Marin answered enthusiastically.
The funny thing was that the word temporary didn’t bother her at all.
She had never even dreamed about becoming a permanent employee.
Her goal was simple:
I worked here only until right before the female lead appeared.
Once the heroine met the duke, his eyesight would return.
At that point, there would be no need for someone to read reports to him anymore.
And besides, there was a reason they were called the main characters.
Anyone who got too close to them usually got dragged into dangerous situations.
Marin wanted none of that.
Her dream was a peaceful life with her mother.
Not some exciting, life-threatening adventure next to the protagonists.
Her eyes locked onto the words 1 gold coin again.
One gold per week.
Four gold per month.
This was a dream job.
If she saved carefully, she could live without money worries for years.
When her mother got better, they’d move to a smaller town.
They could grow vegetables in a little garden.
She could get a simple job at a general store.
Just imagining that future made her happy.
Smiling to herself, Marin quickly signed the contract.
Marin returned home carrying not only the book but also the picnic basket Olive had packed for her.
“Mom! I’m coming in!”
She shouted before entering instead of knocking.
Her hands were full.
Inside the room, Roanna sat propped up against the headboard, staring out the window.
“Marin.”
Roanna slowly turned her head and smiled weakly.
“I’m back, Mom. Sorry, I couldn’t read to you today.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
Marin glanced at the bedside table.
The watery soup with no ingredients had gone untouched.
Pretending not to notice, she dramatically placed the picnic basket on the table.
“Mom, look at this!”
She proudly opened the basket.
Inside were:
Warm roast chicken
Sandwiches with strawberry jam
Sandwiches stuffed with eggs and thick slices of ham
Banana muffins with a sweet aroma
Chocolate chip cookies
One by one, she laid everything out on the bed.
At the sight of real food, Roanna didn’t look happy.
Instead, her face turned pale with fear.
“W-Where did all this come from?”
Marin placed a chocolate chip cookie into her mother’s small, thin hand.
Chocolate was a luxury snack for nobles.
After their family fell into poverty, neither of them had seen any for years.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You used to love these.”
Roanna stared at the cookie for a long moment before smiling faintly.
“No, you loved them more.”
“Did I? Hehe.”
Marin scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
“Marin.”
Roanna’s eyes filled with worry.
“Where did all this come from? It’s not like last time, is it…?”
“No! Absolutely not. Don’t worry. I’ll never deal with those trashy nobles again.”
Marin had once worked briefly for a noble family that had been friends with her father.
Something unpleasant had happened there.
When Roanna found out, her condition had worsened.
She blamed herself for being a burden to her daughter.
Roanna silently waited for an explanation.
“Mom, don’t be surprised, okay?”
“That sentence makes me nervous.”
Marin decided not to drag it out.
“I got a job at the duke’s estate. They gave me this food as a celebration gift.”
“The duke’s estate? You mean the Vines Ducal House?”
“Yep.”
Marin nodded proudly.
Everyone in the western region knew the saying:
“Vines Protected.”
The Vines family was respected by everyone.
“Oh my goodness! That’s wonderful!”
Color returned to Roanna’s pale face for the first time in ages.
“If it’s the duke’s family, then there’s nothing to worry about. Of course. It’s Grand Duke Vines.”
“Exactly.”
Marin grinned.
“So don’t worry about me anymore. Just focus on getting better. I already signed the contract. I’ll earn lots of money, and we’ll live happily.”
She deliberately spoke in an upbeat voice.
“Thank you, God. Thank you.”
Roanna clasped her hands together and offered a prayer.
It had been a long time since she’d done that.
Ever since Marin’s father and brother died, she’d stopped praying.
“But Mom, I need to confess something.”
“What is it?”
“I told the duke I’m a commoner.”
Roanna’s expression darkened.
“…You must have had a reason.”
“I probably wouldn’t have gotten the job if I’d said I was a noble lady. Too many noblewomen have approached the duke with hidden motives.”
“That’s true.”
Roanna nodded.
“If I’d revealed my real identity, he would’ve assumed I was one of them.”
The duke’s lack of marriage wasn’t entirely his fault.
Some noble ladies have gone completely overboard.
One even stalked him and broke into his bedroom.
No wonder he kept women at a distance.
Of course, Marin knew the real reason.
The duke was still single because he was destined to meet the heroine later.
“Even so, deceiving the duke’s family worries me.”
Roanna sighed deeply.
“Don’t worry too much. Once I’ve earned enough for the two of us to live comfortably, I’ll quit.”
“All right. I trust you, my daughter.”
Marin suddenly felt her nose sting.
Quickly turning her face away, she stood up.
“I already ate plenty. Mom, make sure you eat all of this. I’ll bring you some warm water.”
“Thank you.”
Now much more relaxed, Roanna picked up a banana muffin with excitement.
Marin went into the kitchen to find a kettle.
Just seeing her mother so happy over a single muffin reminded her why she needed this job so badly.
“When I get my first paycheck, I’m buying a bottle of wine.”
Before their family lost everything, Roanna always drank a glass of warm wine before bed.
Marin hung the kettle over the fireplace and leaned against the wall.
“Even if it’s temporary, I just need to last six months!”
“I have to stay at the duke’s estate no matter what!”
“I can do this!”
With determined eyes, Marin made her vow.
