Vendia was trying to shake her arm in an attempt to run away, thinking that she got caught.
“Please take me too!”
“Eh?”
When she turned her head, there was Sasha. And that too, with her luggage packed just like hers.
“I-I’m good at doing laundry and cooking! I’m good at all the miscellaneous things! It will be more comfortable if you go with me than if you go alone! I’m useful!”
Sasha’s expression was determined, as if she had made up her mind. Vendia let out a small sigh. She doesn’t know how she found out about his escape plan, but she was too scared to die alone and she couldn’t bear one more lump.
“I can’t pay you. And you’re following me even if I don’t know where I’m going?”
“Anywhere is fine! Let me go with you. Yes?”
“Hey, Sasha. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. If you don’t know much about me, why can you trust me? Just go back. It’s better to work at the count’s house. The work environment and salary are better.”
She flatly refused, as her escape plans didn’t involve anyone else.
“Didn’t you know? The count is famous for non-payment of wages to its employees.”
“…”
Sh didn’t know. But why does she understand, she wonders. Judging by the count’s usual behavior, it’s a black company, or rather a black family.
“Rather than suffering here, I would rather have someone I can emulate as my host. I was really moved when Miss Vendia shared bread for the hungry at Soho Street the other day!”
“That…”
It was a smokescreen operation to find a mad dog, though… She wanted to say so, yet she couldn’t open her mouth as the innocent face looked at her with straight, trusting eyes.
Her conscience hurts.
“I can’t believe you spend half of your wealth so readily… I have nothing, so I can’t spend half of it like Miss Vendia.”
Is this a compliment?
Or is she just double checking her because she’s a beggar?
There was a rumor going around that she was a beggar in the neighborhood because of that damn sausage.
“But that’s not possible. Don’t you need a salary to make a living? I’m saying I can’t pay you a salary, you know?”
“Even like this?”
Sasha unfolded the luggage bag she was carrying. Inside were brightly shining necklaces and rings.
“You…”
Vendia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I secretly picked up all the items that Miss Vendia dropped while stealing from Madam.”
“…That’s why somehow it seemed a little empty.”
As she planned, she stole her mother’s valuable jewelry in advance. When she checked later, it felt like a few of them were empty, but Sasha had gruesomely picked up the ones that had fallen.
However, she took it without telling her mother, and she followed her. She’s a little touched…
“If you don’t take me, I will return it to the Madam. And I will be interrogated and have no choice but to tell her that Miss Vendia has disappeared from here.”
“This bastard…”
Tears that weren’t even in her eyes perished.
She wondered if there was at least one person on her side, yet she found out that that someone was keeping jewelry for negotiations. This isn’t an ordinary bet, is it?
“But if you take me, there won’t be that danger, and Miss Vendia will have this jewel again, you know? I really want to go with you…”
Threats aside, Sasha slumped her shoulders with a sullen expression. She even showed her sincerity in that look. The sincerity that she wants to go with her.
Then, the sound of horse’s hooves and clattering wheels broke the still silence and she stood next to her.
“There’s no time to dawdle, so let’s get on.”
The rugged-looking coachman said. It was the owner of a cart that had driven south down Soho Street two weeks ago.
“Please…”
“What are you doing? Come and get on.”
Vendia quickly looked at the coachman and Sasha in turn.
Then she finally shook her head with an irritated scream, as if she didn’t understand herself, and eventually held out her hand to the coachman.
“One more person.”
Vendia paid her and loaded into the luggage compartment with Sasha.
“Thank you! Thank you so much.”
Sasha lowered her head several times with a thrilled face.
“If I catch you communicating with the Count, I’ll split the cheeks of your butt to the north, south, east, and west.”
“Yesyes! Of course! That will never happen!”
Sasha smiled, to the extent she wondered what was so good about her harsh warning.
“Phew. I don’t know either.”
Vendia leaned her back against the straw pile and slowly closed her eyes.
Still, she will feel less lonely with Smart Helper 1 than alone.
“But where are we going?”
Hearing Sasha’s voice, Vendia raised her hand and smoothed out the old pocket around her neck. The only thing her ex-husband gave her.
“Southern Rims Territory.”
She didn’t know then. She finds out what awaits her there.
***
“This is the place.”
She finally stopped walking ahead of the man who introduced himself as the broker.
Vendia, who was out of breath catching up so quickly, huffed and lifted her head.
“Here?”
“Yes. This building is your mansion.”
She can’t believe it. She opened her mouth slightly and her eyes twitched.
“Oops…”
Sasha expressed a short sentiment as if representing her thoughts.
“Mansion? …Something like this?”
For it to be called a mansion, and it was a three-story wooden building so old that it would not be surprising if it collapsed. Should she say that it’s exactly like a haunted mountain lodge, which exudes a down-to-earth atmosphere?
The wood on the exterior walls of the mansion was peeling and tattered here and there, as if it hadn’t been properly maintained after construction.
The fence surrounding the mansion was sparsely empty, as if its teeth had fallen out.
“Tree?”
There, in the middle of the yard, stood a tall, magical-looking tree.
The only thing that was better was the shape of the building.
As the name ‘mansion’ suggests, the building, unlike the mansions commonly seen here, looks like the townhouse she lived in before coming here.
“Hahaha. Then that’s right. This bastard, I’ll just…”
Vendia gritted her teeth and imagined beating up everything except Denros’ pretty face.
She had somewhat expected that to be the case.
Not a single penny was received as her alimony, but the night before she left the duchy residence, Denros visited and presented her with an old pocket-locked necklace.
[What’s this?]
[It won’t be stolen because it’s worn out.]
[I’m asking what is this?]
[This is a settlement for the period of time the marriage was maintained. This will be more useful to you than the actual thing, so use it when you need it.]
Although she didn’t know it at the time, he knew she was going back to the count’s house. He told her that it wouldn’t be taken away.
Denros was well aware of this. That her own family would covet everything of her.
And his prediction was correct.
Even though her family had completely stolen her property list, accounts, and luggage, they didn’t even care about the necklace she wore around her neck.
Thanks to this, Vendia was able to escape to the Southern Rims territory.
What was in her pocket was a status card with the name ‘Dia’ and a map of Rims territory.
Vendia, who had to flee the count’s immediate home, made her first destination the Rims estate.
She changed the carriage she had bought several times over the next few days to find out if she would be caught. She arrived at Rims territory.
It was only when she passed the checkpoint that she realized why he said the pocket would be useful.
Thanks to the ID card, Vendia became ‘Dia’ rather than ‘Vendia Rose’. Even though her family tried to track her down, they couldn’t find her.
She also became a completely different person, and as long as she wasn’t discovered, her property wouldn’t be taken away.
She then showed her ID card and entered the territory where the broker appeared and told her some unexpected good news. It was said that the building was in front of her name.
She couldn’t contain her excitement and her anticipation was rising.
‘That’s right!’
There’s really no way he wouldn’t pay her a single penny in alimony!
But what about the results?
It’s a mansion that looks like an abandoned building that’s falling down and won’t sell even if it were sold.
“Miss Dia. Please sign here.”
Without knowing the speed of others, the broker handed over the receipt confirmation.
“If I don’t sign, does it mean it’s not mine?”
“Miss Dia is already the owner. This is just a formality.”
Although he seemed to understand why, the broker was clueless.
She doesn’t want to receive it. She doesn’t want to receive it fiercely.
If she has it, it will become a burden and a money eater. The maintenance costs must be enormous.
This isn’t it. This…!
Bendia, who was in despair, suddenly brightened up and desperately grabbed the broker’s hand.
“Then I’ll give up that building right now! I’ll sell it to you!”
“That’s impossible.”
“No, why!”
Where can you find something like that? If you can buy it, you should be able to sell it too!
“According to Imperial law, once a building is sold, it can’t be resold for three years. It is also stated in the confirmation here.”
Vendia quickly took the confirmation from him and read it. It was really written. In very small letters above the signature line.
“It’s so small! How can I read this!”
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