Chapter 61

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 61

Chapter Title: The Lone Maid (5)

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"What's going on?"

"It was so ridiculous! On my way home, this old geezer comes up to me out of nowhere and straight-up asks me to be his concubine! Says he's had his eye on me for ages, calls me pretty, strokes my shoulder—gave me the creeps. I said no, but the guy was so persistent, tailing me everywhere. Took forever to shake him off!"

Alicia made a face like she'd seen a ghost. If she was pulling that expression, it must've been one creepy dude. No wonder I was wondering why she hadn't come back from the stables yet.

Alicia irritably brushed back her messy hair, then suddenly let out a heavy sigh.

"How did my life come to this...?"

Her shoulders slumped, and she looked utterly dejected. It was pitiful, but knowing the full story, it didn't hit me as hard.

"If I'd known, I should've snagged the lord's son or something."

"Yeah, why didn't you?"

"No way I saw that marriage coming behind my back!"

Alicia often talked about things that happened while I was away. One of them was the lord's son. He'd trailed after her endlessly, confessing his love, insisting she was the only one for him. Then one day, bam—he up and married his pretty fiancée.

She'd played hard to get one too many times, and he was gone.

"All that 'you're the only one, I love you' nonsense, following me around. What a jerk!"

"Probably 'cause you never gave him a straight answer."

"You have to play coy with that stuff! Say yes right away, and you lose all the charm!"

"Maybe he just wasn't your type."

"Well, yeah. And honestly, that chubby build? Not really."

Alicia shook her head, but I didn't think it was that bad. He had some meat on him, sure, but it made him look cute. The way he fawned over her only amplified that charm. Spoiled rotten and clueless about the world? From another angle, you could call it innocent. Plus, considering the inheritance he'd get, he was way out of her league.

"I was even thinking of grabbing him if things got desperate. Who knew he'd ditch me and get married...?"

"You brought that on yourself."

"Hmph!"

Alicia snorted, refusing to admit any fault to the end. Her perky nose stuck up even higher. Even when people gave her advice, she'd act like that. Her brazen attitude made me grimace this time.

"Quit the useless daydreaming and focus on working hard. That's the faster way."

"You go ahead and wallow in misery alone. I'm never living like that."

She never backed down, not even once.

"Hey. You haven't had anything weird happen lately, have you?"

"Weird how?"

"Y'know, like some guy showing up out of the blue offering you a job, like that creep earlier. Anything suspicious."

I kept it vague on purpose, thinking back to those two shady guys in black. If they were scouting based on looks, they'd probably approached Alicia too.

But after pondering for a bit, Alicia shook her head.

"Nah. Sure, guys hit on me sometimes, but nothing like that. Why? Something happen? Did someone offer you a job?"

"No, it's nothing if it hasn't."

"What? Come on, spill! What happened?"

"Nothing. Go to bed. You've got work tomorrow too."

"Tell me! What is it?!"

Alicia hounded me, unable to stand the curiosity. But used to her antics, I just turned away and ignored her. Complaints erupted behind me, but I paid them no mind. If nothing had happened to her, no need for her to know.

"By the way, that guy asked about you."

"Who?"

"You know that place I haul coal to sometimes? One of the guys I work with there."

"Oh, that short, ugly dude?"

Alicia remembered Johnny right away. There was that one time work ran late, and she'd come looking for me. Johnny, working with me that day, fell head over heels at first sight and had been begging for an intro ever since.

I nodded, and Alicia flicked her long hair over her shoulder with an annoyed huff. She crossed her legs, tilted her head back—her posture turning haughty.

Still, someone asking about her clearly tickled her ego.

"What'd he ask?"

"Wanted me to ask if you're interested."

"Hmph. At least he has eyes."

"So? If you're into it, I can pass it along."

"Are you nuts? What do I lack that I'd go for a grubby loser like that?"

Exactly as expected. No surprise there. I muttered agreement and turned to wash up. The grumbling behind me? Total ignore.

Just keep living like this. Peaceful, steady.

But when has life ever gone my way?

The peace didn't last.

It happened a few days later. I was heading home as usual when Alicia came running at me from afar. Her face lit up with excitement as she got close. She grabbed both my arms, grinning ear to ear—a rare sight.

"Sis!"

"W-what? What's with the sudden—"

Alicia hardly ever called me "sis." Caught off guard, I heard her blurt out the thrilling news.

"I'm going to work at the count's estate—as a servant!"

"What?"

What the hell was this? Blinking in confusion, Alicia hugged me tight, rubbing her cheek against mine, even bouncing on her toes, her whole body radiating joy. My mind went blank. I couldn't process a word she said.

I hurriedly pushed her away.

"What are you talking about? A servant?"

"Some people were recruiting servants for a noble house. Seemed sketchy at first, but after hearing them out, it's legit—no shady stuff—and the terms are amazing, so I said yes."

"..."

"Come with me, Sis!"

Alicia seized my hands.

"This is our chance! Our chance to ditch this filthy, broke life and start fresh! Time to snag a noble boy properly and turn our lives around!"

Her face shone so brightly it dazed me again. Then I snapped to, piecing together everything she'd said so far. The more I did, the worse the dread grew.

I swallowed hard and held down the still-bouncing Alicia.

"Wait, hold on. What people? You mean those two guys in black?"

"Huh? You know them too?"

Her question made my face harden instantly.

"No."

"What?"

"No way. Absolutely not."

I shook my head, repeating it firmly. Alicia's smile vanished, her eyes turning fierce. But I didn't budge.

"Why the hell not?!"

"It's dangerous. What makes you trust them enough to follow? Are you crazy?"

"Relax. I checked their credentials—they're legit. Nothing risky. They're really hiring servants. Remember that girl from the stables who shoveled shit with us? The one who quit out of nowhere? She went there. I've confirmed it's safe."

"Still no. Don't even dream of it."

I shook my head again. Even if it was safe like she said, I couldn't shake the suspicion. Nobles don't just recruit servants off the street like this. What problem were they solving? That alone didn't add up. And even with verified identities, danger could lurk. Who knows what she'd face there?

"No way. I'm going."

But Alicia dug in her heels too.

"Absolutely not."

"Who are you to boss me around?"

"I told you why I came back here."

"You said you caught the wrong noble master's eye while serving him, barely escaped with your life, and ended up on the run. Too scared of his family hunting you down to settle anywhere."

"Yeah. That was a count's house too."

Alicia clamped her mouth shut. She got the point. I sighed and spoke calmly, coldly.

"Turn it down. Or better yet, just ignore them and don't go..."

"I don't wanna live like this anymore!"

Her sudden yell startled me. Face flushed red, Alicia screamed.

"My nails are all chipped, my hair's a mess! I'm covered in scratches! My feet are so swollen I can barely walk! I can't take it anymore! Better to risk it at that place than grovel like this!"

"Alicia!"

"Why should I live to suit you? Just 'cause it happened to you doesn't mean it will for me. No reason I can't go!"

"..."

She was right. Too right for words. Her glaring eyes, bloodshot, brimmed with venom.

"I don't wanna live like you. I'd rather die than end up like that. Miserable, pathetic, disgusting."

Her twisted lips spat words like sharp needles. Always blunt, no filter. Who cares what she thinks of me. I wasn't hurt because I'm used to her like this.

"I don't care about your situation. You stay here and keep wallowing. I'm going. Gonna live a real life."

She shut her mouth after saying her piece, stubbornly set. Once she got like this, no one could stop her—I knew that best.

I met her sharp glare, then let out a deep sigh.

Alicia and I weren't your typical siblings. She was the most annoying of my younger sisters, the least affectionate. And she was ashamed of me. Wouldn't even acknowledge me outside because I was ugly. Me? After constant comparisons, I figured ignoring it was best.

With no one else in the world for each other, we'd grown into the prickliest relationship. Honestly, we could part ways now and live our separate lives just fine.

If anything, this might be my chance to shake off the shackles around my ankle and reclaim my own life.

"I..."

Right now, I could let it all go.

"I mean..."

But part of me couldn't bear to send Alicia off alone. She was my sister, my only blood kin, the sole proof I ever existed. Without her, I'd cease to be too. No one left to even spit on my grave.

It wasn't family bond. Just my own selfish worry. An indescribable misery.