Chapter 4
The city’s buzz over the public execution didn’t last long.
In the meantime, several other events, big and small, had occurred. For instance, the disappearance of the Young Duke Schultz.
I stared blankly at the headline in the daily paper delivered to my house.
“Sudden Disappearance of Young Duke Schultz – Whereabouts Unknown”
Johannes Schultz…
I furrowed my brow without thinking. Even that man, who seemed unaffected, was not free from the shadow of his father’s death.
Of course, there might have been other reasons as well.
“Sigh…”
I tossed the crumpled newspaper onto the table and perched on a chair.
Defeat, war reparations, public executions, and now the disappearance of a young duke.
The peaceful city of Müssen was suddenly hit with hardships it could barely bear.
The first few days were chaotic. But reality isn’t kind enough to care for those stuck in the past.
People quickly returned to their daily routines, and Müssen, though not as vibrant as before, regained some of its liveliness.
So I had to pull myself together quickly as well.
How much will remain after paying the back taxes?
I counted the life insurance money my father had left, only to realize it wouldn’t even be enough to cover a month’s expenses.
‘I won’t be able to study for now.’
I had been studying pharmacy, which wasn’t cheap, so my life had already been tight.
Until now, I could continue my studies thanks to my father’s diligent support…
‘I guess I’ll need to find a job.’
It was time to stop crying. My father hadn’t raised me to be weak.
My mother had died giving birth to me, but I grew up without even a moment to feel that absence, living a life that lacked nothing compared to others.
I wasn’t wealthy, but I could proudly say I had received as much love as any noble.
Yet, I hadn’t expected that love to become a constraint.
‘There’s not much I can do.’
I only had some shallow knowledge of pharmacy and was skilled in household chores. I had no close relatives to ask for help.
In the end, I went to the nearby neighbor, Mrs. Pensler, whom I had always been close to, and asked for assistance.
“Could you help me find a job?”
“Why suddenly need a job?”
“Ah… I think I need to earn some money.”
Rubbing her neck, I spoke, and Mrs. Pensler’s eyes widened. She looked very worried.
“Edith, you’ve been out of sight lately, and now you look so down—this isn’t like you. Money? Is it that your father isn’t sending funds anymore? But he’ll be back home soon. What’s there to worry about?”
“Well….”
“Don’t even mention it. My friend’s husband was recently found by the military—he had fallen in battle. Oh, what a cruel twist of fate!”
I responded with a bitter smile instead. Soon, Mrs. Pensler sensed something was wrong.
Her cheerful expression froze instantly, and she forced a smile, as if to convince herself that she was mistaken. Small tremors ran along her lips.
“Edith… it’s not…?”
Her voice trembled. When I neither confirmed nor denied, she looked certain that her suspicion was correct.
“Oh my, what am I to do…”
“It’s okay.”
“I… I’m sorry. I had no idea… I should have noticed when you seemed so down…”
Her gaze drifted through the air before finally dropping to the floor.
“No, it’s fine now. At first, it was painful, but I’ve pulled myself together somewhat.”
“Oh, Edith…”
“It was something I had to face eventually. Father isn’t going to live forever. I just experienced it a bit earlier, that’s all.”
I smiled at her reassuringly.
“Just live as you normally would. Like when Father was at the battlefield.”
“…”
“Eat as usual, shop as usual, chat with you as usual. The only difference is earning money…”
Before I could finish, Mrs. Pensler suddenly hugged me tightly.
I was really okay.
Forcing a smile, I buried my face in her shoulder and lightly stroked her back. It felt like something I needed to do.
Foolish, ridiculous as it was.
And only when I felt her shoulder damp did I realize…
“Ah…”
I was crying.
“What can one do? Heaven is so indifferent.”
“…”
“Edith, stay strong.”
Her sigh dispersed into the air, and the harsh reality pressed down on me.
I was still not okay.
In Dochilia, the general perception of “Müssen” was as follows:
Compared to other cities, it was wealthy and peaceful. It was lively, offered relatively many jobs, and its people were leisurely and kind.
‘That’s all outdated. Since the defeat, the whole country is unstable, so Müssen struggles too. Moreover, being the city of Duke Schultz, its reputation isn’t good.’
Mrs. Pensler frowned.
Most factories were filled with men. The places women could work were limited.
‘Women mostly worked in taverns or as maids for nobles. Some were employed by wealthy households. Most places are full now, so it’s probably just taverns. Edith, don’t even step foot in such places!’
So, I had only one option left.
‘About a month ago…? There was a job posting, I think. The Russell family of Böhlen is looking for a maid for an elderly lady, but few people apply. Maybe because live-in isn’t required.’
The Russell household of Böhlen.
A family where the elderly lady, with exceptional business acumen, was the real head. They had made a fortune in the railway business.
Additionally, the lady was a major player in finance, meticulous in calculating profits and losses, to the point that even the royal family wouldn’t dare interfere.
Being such a demanding person, it must be extremely difficult to please her.
‘I heard her temperament is severe. Many people have failed. Still, I can manage.’
Mrs. Pensler asked repeatedly, but I had no time to argue.
It was a three-hour train ride, but the pay was good, and the household would cover the train fare. There was no reason not to go.
Just needed a little less sleep.
Besides, if she was difficult, I could endure it and adapt. If I got hired, I’d have enough to live comfortably and continue my studies.
After making up my mind, I found myself at the post office.
The bustling streets hadn’t changed since the news of the defeat.
“Hard-to-find winter tulips! Half price today only!”
“Latest society gossip!”
Hearing the people, my gloomy mood lifted in an instant.
Pushing through the crowd, I entered the post office. The waiting line was long.
After an hour, it was my turn. I quickly explained my request to a weary-looking clerk.
“A phone connection, please. To the Russell family of Böhlen.”
“The minimum is 30 rubles for long-distance. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“From 10 minutes in, 1 ruble per second applies. Please be aware.”
After the fare was handled, the clerk connected the call.
The Russell household’s steward was strict. He persistently asked for personal details, even inquiring about any illnesses or medications.
He warned that lying could result in cancellation of the hiring.
After answering honestly, I finally secured an interview date.
Even before ending the call, the steward repeatedly stressed that the lady was very particular about punctuality and cancellations, so I must arrive on time.
After the call, exhaustion washed over me as if I had done manual labor. And it wasn’t just an illusion.
I somewhat understood why the Russell household’s ad was still open.
Yet I wasn’t afraid. In fact, I felt motivated.
The thought that I now had to handle everything alone was terrifying, but it also felt right. Being active would help me shake off negative thoughts.
‘Alright, how long will I stay down like this?’
I steeled my resolve once more.
As I headed for the exit, my eyes caught today’s newspaper headline pinned to the wall.
“Windsor Royal Family Strips Duke Schultz Family of Financial Authority.”
“Disappeared Young Duke Schultz – Will He Return Massive Embezzled Funds to the State?”
Johannes Schultz was still the talk of the town.
People only believed the royal announcement and attacked him verbally.
Did they need someone to blame, or did they take the report as absolute truth?
Even if the late Duke Schultz had embezzled huge sums, the Young Duke had been at the battlefield and had nothing to do with it.
There was no guarantee the embezzled funds were in his hands.
I furrowed my brows, lost in thought, and looked up.
“Uh…?”
I saw a large figure blocking my view, and my mouth fell slightly open.
I alternated glances between the newspaper headline and the person in front of me.
Golden hair shining in the sunlight, ocean-blue eyes, perfectly sculpted features that could never be forgotten once seen.
“I heard you went missing…?”
It was Johannes Schultz.
