Sheila knew it too. That after their father died, her brother started acting like a tyrant. That was why she had no one to rely on except her sister Fabiola…

“I wanted to make money at Mr. Chandler’s general store and buy lots of tasty food and nice clothes for you, Sheila…”

At Fabiola’s words, Sheila shook her head. “I don’t need any of that. I just need you, Sister.”

“Me too… as long as I have you, Sheila.”

Fabiola hugged Sheila again.

“I’ll visit often. I promise.”

Tears that Fabiola had tried so hard to hold back finally rolled down her cheeks.

A few days later, a burly, gruff-looking old man came to fetch Fabiola. He was, as they’d heard, a man named Duker from the village of Holger Road. He even smiled at Sheila, his sister-in-law, but even pretending, he didn’t leave a good impression.

That day, Sheila had to let her sister go. The wedding would be held there.

After their mother passed away, Fabiola had become the pillar of the family. When she was gone, the house turned desolate.

Sheila took over the housework as she had learned from Fabiola.

As she cultivated the vegetable garden they used to tend together, Sheila thought: she would never marry like that.

It was called marriage, but it was no different from being sold for money. Sheila had seen it with her own eyes, her brother Fred counting a wad of cash the day Fabiola left.

A few days later, Sheila went straight to Mr. Chandler’s general store, the place where Fabiola was supposed to work. It was the result of much agonizing about how to survive.

“You’re too young. This won’t work.”

“I’m not that young. I’m already fifteen. You can pay me less. Just give me work.”

Despite Sheila’s plea, Chandler refused. So she came every day with a broom to sweep in front of the store.

It was a dirty alley no one had time to clean. Thanks to Sheila’s efforts, only the front of the store was noticeably tidy. Even the run-down old shop looked a bit more presentable.

After a few days, Chandler called Sheila over.

“Come in for a moment.”

“Honey!”

His wife Taya scolded her husband. She didn’t know what he was thinking, but she didn’t want Sheila to get false hope by being invited inside.

“I’m just giving her some bread before sending her off.” Chandler answered bluntly and asked Sheila, “Did you have breakfast?”

“…No,” Sheila replied.

At Chandler’s gesture, she cautiously stepped into the store.

As soon as she entered, she was greeted by a musty smell—a blend of animal hides, spices, grains, and cheese. The smell of daily life.

Her eyes widened at the variety of goods stacked inside. She had been in a store like this once as a child with her father, but not since he passed away.

Lost in thought, a hard, large loaf of rye bread landed in Sheila’s hands. As she reflexively caught it, her eyes lit up.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Sit over there and eat it.”

There was a wooden chair in the corner of the store where Chandler pointed. Sheila quietly sat down and took a small bite of the bread.

As she chewed for a while, the rich, hearty flavor of rye filled her mouth. But she didn’t have time to savor it. Her eyes darted around.

Inside the shop was even more disorganized than it looked from the window. Which meant, there was work to be done.

An old shop in a narrow alley run by a reasonably kind couple.

Sheila liked it here. If she had given up out of fear at the man’s gruff face, it would’ve been a terrible loss.

“Why are you nibbling like that?”

“Um… do I have to finish it all here?”

Sheila looked around and asked cautiously.

“You want to take some home?” Chandler asked, looking down at the skinny girl.

“My brother is at home.”

“Then eat half and take the rest to him.”

“But…”

That wouldn’t do. After several days of sweeping in the early morning, this was her first reward, and she couldn’t go home with just half a loaf. She had to show her freeloading brother the fruit of her efforts.

“I’m actually full already. I don’t eat much.”

Chandler frowned, displeased with her answer. “That won’t do. What kind of kid your age can’t eat half a loaf of bread? Here’s what we’ll do. If you finish half, I’ll give you another loaf.”

“Really?”

At the unexpected offer, Sheila’s eyes sparkled. Overjoyed, she quickly tore the bread in half and began eating greedily. She ate so fast that she choked and pounded her chest. Taya, shaking her head, handed her a glass of water.

Even as she struggled, Sheila didn’t forget to bow in thanks before gulping down the water. In no time, half the bread was gone.

Seeing this, Chandler grinned and tossed her another loaf of bread, just like before. Then, just as Sheila was about to thank him, he deliberately spoke with a stern expression.

“It’s for sweeping the yard for the past few days. But this is the first and last time. If you’ve finished eating, go home now.”

But Sheila was no longer afraid of Chandler’s gruff appearance.

“I swept the yard because I wanted to. Since I got some bread, I’ll at least work to earn it.”

Sheila set down the bread for a moment, stood up, and began organizing the cluttered goods by category.

She had never worked in a store like this before, but she was quite good at housework. There were many types of items, but the work itself didn’t seem too different from housework.

Under Sheila’s efficient hands, the interior of the store, which had remained unchanged for over 20 years, transformed nicely.

Though Chandler and his wife Taya had run the shop for a long time, they weren’t the type to pay attention to tidiness or cleanliness. As a general store, they thought the clutter was inevitable, and as long as customers could find what they needed, that was enough.

But seeing how much cleaner the inside and outside had become under a young girl’s touch, the couple couldn’t help but feel something.

“How old did you say you were?”

“Fifteen.”

“I can’t give you much at first, but I’ll give you two loaves of bread a day. Still want to work?”

“Yes! Of course! Thank you. Thank you so much!”

Sheila expressed her gratitude repeatedly.

And from then on, she truly worked hard.

Seeing how diligently she worked, Chandler officially hired her as a staff member after a month.

When Fred returned home after spending all the money he had, Sheila handed him her salary. She had proven her worth by earning money.

About a year later, Mrs. Taya, Chandler’s wife, offered Sheila a job as a maid.

“They say the House Calley is hiring maids. I have connections there, so if you want, I’ll write you a letter of recommendation.”

Chandler’s son, who had gone to another town, was expected to return soon. Thanks to Sheila, business had improved, and the son who had refused to inherit the store changed his mind. Once he returned, there would be no need to keep staff.

“The House Calley?” Sheila asked again.

“You said your sister got married to Holger Road, right? Then it’s not completely unfamiliar. That’s even better.”

Just as Taya said, Holger Road, where her sister got married, was a village on the outskirts of House Calley’s territory.

To be in the same area as her sister…

Sheila had no reason to refuse. As long as she got her brother’s permission, she could leave right away.

And getting his permission wasn’t hard. After tasting the money Sheila brought in for a year, Fred readily agreed when he heard how much a maid’s salary was.

“Don’t waste the money. Send it all back regularly. I’m saving it as your dowry. Got it?”

A maid’s salary was more than triple what she earned at the general store.

“Okay, Brother.”

Sheila smiled with curved eyes as she answered.

Dirty and petty as it was, she couldn’t leave for House Calley without his permission.

After that, Sheila sent most of her salary to Fred without fail. Fred didn’t seem to have any intention of killing the goose that laid golden eggs. Without Sheila, there was no other source of income.

On the other hand, if Sheila ever failed to prove her usefulness, Fred had every right to take her back at any time.

So Sheila had to hold on tightly to this place. If she got fired from her maid job, Fred would surely sell her off right away. Just like he did with her sister Fabiola.

No matter how horribly Judith treated her, Sheila had to smile and endure.

She didn’t know what gave her brother the right to claim ownership over her, but the law had said so for a long time. Sheila found it deeply unfair, but there was nothing she could do. There were countless injustices in the world, and her brother was just one of them.

***

While Sheila was lost in old memories, there was a knock at the door.

She quickly shoved the open ledger into the drawer beside her. She didn’t even need to see who it was to know that the person knocking at this hour was Molly.

“Come in, Molly.”

Sheila opened the door and greeted her.

“Sheila.”

“What is it? Has the young lady woken up already?”

As Molly stepped in, the loose wooden floor creaked beneath her. It would’ve been nice to have at least a rug, but they were too poor to afford that kind of luxury. Maybe if the estate threw one out later, she could salvage it.

The bed and the small drawer had originally been in the room, but the long workbench and chair had been items Sheila salvaged and set up herself.

“No, that’s not it. Secretary Rufus came looking for you.”

“Why?”

At the mention that Cedric’s secretary was looking for her, Sheila took her eyes off the creaky floor and turned to Molly.

“Young Master Cedric said he wants to see you for a moment.”

“M-Me?”