Love Doesn’t Matter - Chapter 74
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Chapter 74 – I’m Going To Shake Him Off And Leave
“Washing dishes? Of course, I can do that.”
Emilia’s face lit up after a long time. The owner of the restaurant still looked up and down at Emilia as if she was unreliable, but Emilia was thankful that she didn’t reject her yet.
“I repeat, it’s not just washing dishes. You should also know how to pluck the feathers of ducks and chickens. If we are somehow short handed, then you might also need to clean the toilet.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve done it all. Though this is a restaurant rather than a house, I can somehow do that.”
The owner looked up at her in surprise. She then suddenly asked her in a regretful tone, ‘Are you really unable to [tnote keyword=“serve”] Not serving food like a waitress, but serve as a prostitute.[tnote]?’
“Yes, I am too shy around strangers. I just want to work in a [tnote keyword=“scullery”] dishwashing area of a restaurant[/tnote] like this.”
Was it because the owner of the restaurant was a woman like her? Fortunately, she didn’t force Emilia anymore. Emilia was relieved that not everyone in the world was like the owner of the Dram General Store.
“Alright then, you can start next week. As you can see, we’re still busy with preparing for the opening.”
“Yes, I won’t let you down. Thank you!”
Emilia bowed and left the restaurant. That was when the sign caught her eye.
‘Lha Trang.’
It was a restaurant with the combination of a bar and a restaurant, which had recently become popular on the continent. At a place where they sell food in the day and alcohol at night, Emilia will work here three times a week in the scullery. In fact, she thought she would go home in vain today as well. She started with a clothing shop, a porcelain shop, a bakery, a carpet rental shop, a shoe shop…. This was because no one looked at her until her feet were swollen from walking. There were people who tried to have her do strange things like that in the Dram General Store.
Emilia came to Reinsburgh, a place little far from Erndorf, feeling that this would be the last for her. As it was a fairly new town where commoners live, the streets of Reinsburgh were clean and there were newly opened stores. The clothes of the passing carriages and people were also colorful, but it didn’t make Emilia feel like a maid, unlike in Nowak, the city of nobles. Such modesty made her feel at ease and encouraged at the same time. Moreover, she easily got a job to the point she thought that all the hardships she experienced so far were all ridiculous. Emilia felt her cold and hardened body warm for the first time in days.
As she came out of the alley, Beppy approached her as if he was waiting for her.
“It was a success, Mister! I can start next week.”
Beppy laughed.
Emilia stepped lightly into the carriage. She thought it was funny as she leaned on the soft chair. She couldn’t believe that a dishwasher was riding in such a fancy carriage. In her mind, she wanted to sell the horses and the carriage right away, but in the end, these all belonged to Meyer. The moment she put her hand on his, it was like she was walking to her grave with her own feet.
The carriage drove for a long time and arrived at Dill Street, the wealthy village of Erndorf. There was one thing that caught Emilia’s eye as she passed the familiar Cavendish mansion and reached the end of the street. It was a small brick house just off the main street.
“Mister, wait a minute.”
Emilia told Beppy to stop. As she exited the carriage, she stood in front of the door with bronze decorations as if she was possessed. Beppy tilted his head as he watched Emilia standing far away without pulling the doorbell.
“This was the house of a friend I used to play with when I was little. Her name is Reina Schlemann.”
“Friends are good. Beppy is a good friend.”
Emilia chuckled at his irrelevant answer. She wasn’t actually close with Reina Schlemann. Although they always went to church together, Reina wasn’t the type of playful kid like Haley or her. She clearly remembered that kid with her knitting material next to her while smiling coyly. But what am I doing here?
There was a bitter smile on Emilia’s lips. It was because Reina was the mistress of some nobleman. Emilia knew exactly what a mistress meant. A mistress doesn’t just dance arm in arm with someone, but a person who mixes bodies with someone who is married. So what? What on earth do I want to ask Reina?
Emilia turned her body in the opposite direction again. An irresistible force drove her to ask for the carriage to be stopped, but she had no intention of meeting Reina.
She was just about to go down the stairs when the door suddenly opened with no time for her to do anything. A pretty woman with braided bright red hair was surprised to find a woman standing in front of the door. The maid who was following behind her said, ‘Oh, that surprised me!’ and dropped the hat she was holding.
“Oh, hello, Reina. I thought you may not remember me….”
Reina’s eyes widened in front of Emilia who greeted her in embarrassment.
“My goodness! Emilia?”
Her awkwardly dropped hand was grabbed by something. It was Reina’s hand.
“Emilia Bern… right?”
“Hmm… that’s right, that’s me.”
“Goodness, how are you? What’s with your hair? Goodness, you’re really Emilia?!”
Emilia tried to calm herself in front of the fussing Reina.
“But why are you here? Did you come to see me?”
The place was too ambiguous to say that she was just passing by. Emilia frankly nodded her head. The surprising thing was Reina’s reaction. She thought Reina would think it surprising, but isn’t she holding her hand a little tighter with a happy face?
“What’s the occasion? For you to come see me!”
Reina immediately turned to the maid.
“Noah, bring us tea.”
Emilia unknowingly wriggled her arm out.
“No, Reina. I just wanted to ask how you’ve been doing. I think you’re going out now….”
“No, it’s alright. It wouldn’t be a big deal if I missed one teatime. Besides, isn’t Meyer’s fiancée coming to see me in person? I can’t just let it go.”
Shouting in an excited voice, Reina was surprised by herself all of a sudden. It was like she was playing two different roles at the same time.
“I’m sorry, Emilia… but… I didn’t mean to sound sarcastic now. Of course, it may sound cynical to you… but really, it wasn’t like that. I’ve always wanted to meet you – really.”
It was probably because Reina’s eyes were too serious, Emilia had no choice but to tell her it’s alright, it’s alright.
“Is that your coachman and carriage? I heard the rumor. Oh my gosh, that’s great. It can’t be compared to mine. Well, a mistress and a fiancée are different. Besides, he wasn’t from just any family but the Meyer.”
Reina chatted with her and asked the maid to prepare tea for Beppy. All of this sudden happening felt so tiring. Emilia slowly opened her mouth to say no, but the next words that followed made her pause.
“Now, now. Let’s lament our unfortunate relationship with a nobleman.”
“Of course, you’re at a completely different level from me, but isn’t your life the same because of a nobleman, right?”
The slender and fragile Reina, who seemed like she would be blown away if the wind blew, had a venomous look in her eyes.
“And I heard rumors. It was said that the Meyer family might take you in as a mistress. People like Auntie Rosie said that it was a good thing, but how can you do that? How dare they…?”
Reina bit her lips, angrier than she was.
“I don’t think that would happen, but never do that. Emilia, you can’t be like me. I know this is funny to hear from a mistress like me, but I’m going to quit this life now. I’ve got everything I need from him, so I’m going to shake him off and leave.”
“Leave…? Where?”
“To the New World.”
“New World?”
Reina smiled at the speechless Emilia who only blinked at her.
“This isn’t what we should talk about here. Come on, let’s go inside.”
In the end, Emilia was led by Reina’s hand and had no choice but to go inside.
The story of the New World was also blooming in Grossen, exactly 40 miles from Dill Street, where Reina’s house was.
Count Elowie Malvin’s mansion was crowded with guests from the unfamiliar world. The dining room was opened for the first time in a while, and they were so hospitable that one would think it was the Imperial Family who was visiting. Thanks to this, his son Nathan was also freed from his lengthy probation for more than two weeks.
“A confederation self-government state where people elect their rulers? That’s very promising.”
Count Malvin smoked and gently smoothed his white beard.
“But the New World is still a lawless place infested with refugees and criminals. I heard guns were a necessity. And yet, it was said to be a very beautiful and good place to live where you might not want to return to the mainland.”
“I understand.”
The man sitting diagonally from him smiled softly. His name was Benjamin Luxell. As a first-class executive official of the New World Tran Federation, he was the person who promoted investment and migration projects for the nobles on the mainland.
“It would be hard to put your trust in me as I came from the world of swindlers. That is why I want to invite your son first.”
His eyes turned to Nathan who was sitting opposite to him. Nathan shrugged as he put his arm loosely on the backrest and brought the glass of water to his mouth. Beyond his boredom, his eyes were completely unmotivated.
Seeing his son acting like this, his father Elowie Malvin narrowed his eyes. His mother, Pianne Malvin, seemed to have her insides burning. They had no idea what was going on with their son.
Vernon Cavendish was on trial for the Quirren wool fraud case, and her daughter had yet to make her social debut. In the meantime, the hostess and her daughter had come here personally and bowed their heads to apologize. Everything went as their son wanted. But why does he look lethargic? Just why?
Pianne Malvin sighed and spoke cautiously.
“Luxell, my son isn’t feeling very well these days. It would be better to talk about the New World later. At that time, I think my son would listen to you with wide open eyes.”
Benjamin Luxell answered, ‘I see,’ but he didn’t turn his gaze from Nathan.
“I heard that your esteemed son is interested in the new social system and policies. Even the oil fields and cotton farms in the New World. Our federal government is actively supporting investment as well as the immigration policy.”
Elowie Malvin, who was agitated all along, nodded at his words.
“Yes, I am not willing to immigrate, but I am very interested in investing. That was why I invited you.”
The Count’s eyes were glued to his son as he glanced around the New World guests sitting around the table.
“I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Nathan to go on a trip for a year or two. Taking a tour around the South with Mr. Benjamin overlooking the oil fields and cotton farms….”
“Heavens, you…! How could you think like that?”
Pianne cried out, forgetting that she shouldn’t intervene in business conversations.
“Are you saying that you will send our eldest son, who is yet to marry, to that far and dangerous place?”
“Honey.”
Elowie Malvin touched her hand to soothe his wife. Cynthia, their daughter who had been silent all the time, also spoke.
“I feel the same way as my mother. Excuse me gentlemen, but we are talking about a place where there were refugees and robbers. I heard that there was a lack of schools and cathedrals, and that people die every night. I am against sending my brother to that place.”
Elowie Malvin also held his daughter’s hand. He then raised his arm.
“Look, men in my family are tightly held by the women.”
Benjamin followed the Count with a broad smile. But he never gave in.
“I swear by my name, that it was exaggerated rumors. Contrary to what mainlanders think, the New World is a very rich and good place to live. That place is also a place full of opportunities.”
“Well, rumors are often exaggerated, but what you just said was something that seems to be exaggerated….”
The two women holding him nodded in agreement.
“Can I tell you one thing? If our Tran is such a barren and lawless land, then why is there a steady influx of women? More than half of the immigrants were women. There were also many women who participated in social activities. There was even a university exclusively for women.”
Mrs. Malvin, who was sour earlier, looked a little surprised for the first time.
“I also have a daughter, but I have no intention of bringing her back to the mainland and raising her. I’m going to keep raising her in Tran. It wasn’t just because it was a good place to live, but it was for the child’s future. That was a place that gives women a lot of opportunities instead of taking risks. The gentlemen here who had come along with me would also agree with that.”
That’s right, that’s right, someone suddenly jokingly added while everyone nodded.
“It was even said that it was women who were standing, and the men were sitting down to do work.”
Not only the men, but also Pianne and Cynthia, forgot about the heated argument and burst into laughter.
Except for Nathan. His unmotivated pupils seemed focused on one thing. His crooked body straightened up, and his loose hands on the backrest crossed in front of his chest. Two years in the New World and college for women…. Nathan’s heart started beating fast.
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