ISHM 04

Chapter 04

The city’s stir over the public execution lasted only briefly.
In the meantime, many small and large events had occurred—for example, the disappearance of the Young Duke Schultz.
I stared blankly at the headline of the daily paper that had been delivered to my house.

“Young Duke Schultz Suddenly Disappears—Whereabouts Unknown?”

Johannes Schultz…
I frowned without realizing it. Even that man, who had always seemed indifferent, was not free from the shadow of his father’s death.
Of course, there could be other reasons too.

“Ha…”
I tossed the crumpled newspaper onto the table and perched on a chair.
Defeat, war reparations, public executions, and now the disappearance of the young duke—Murcen, once so peaceful, was suddenly facing unbearable trials all at once.
The first few days had been chaotic. But reality is not so generous as to wait for people who dwell in the past.
People quickly returned to their daily routines, and though Murcen was not quite as lively as before, it regained some of its previous vitality.
So I had to pull myself together as well.

After paying the overdue taxes, how much would be left?
I counted the death insurance money from the government that had been given because of my father’s passing and realized that it wouldn’t even be enough to cover a month’s living expenses.
‘Looks like I won’t be able to study for a while.’
I was studying pharmacy, and tuition had always been a heavy burden, so even normally, life had been tight.
Until now, my father’s diligent support had allowed me to continue, but…
‘I’ll have to find a job.’
The time for crying was over. My father had never raised me to be weak.
My mother had passed away right after giving birth to me, but I had grown up without feeling the absence, living a life envied by no one.
I wasn’t wealthy, but I could proudly say that the love I received was just as abundant as that of any noble child.
But I hadn’t realized that this love could end up holding me back.

‘There aren’t many things I can do.’
I only had a few shallow pharmaceutical skills and was confident with household chores. I had no suitable relatives to turn to for help.
In the end, I went to Mrs. Pensler, my neighbor and a longtime friend, to ask for help.

“Could you help me find a job?”
“Why, all of a sudden?”
“Oh… I think I need to earn some money.”
As I rubbed the back of my neck, Mrs. Pensler’s eyes widened, a deeply worried expression crossing her face.

“Edith, you’ve been nowhere to be seen lately, and now you’re making that face? Money! Is your father not sending you anything these days? He’ll be back soon anyway, so what’s there to worry about?”

“Well…”
“Don’t even start. My friend’s husband recently came back from the army, and I heard he died on the battlefield. My goodness, what a bolt from the blue!”

I gave a bitter smile instead of answering. After a while, Mrs. Pensler seemed to sense that something was wrong.
Her face, previously smiling and joking, stiffened in an instant. She forced a smile as if to convince herself that she was mistaken. Her lips twitched slightly.

“Edith… it’s not…?”
Her voice trembled. Since I neither denied nor confirmed, she looked at me with the certainty that her suspicion was correct.

“Oh my, what shall I do…”
“It’s okay.”

“I-I’m sorry. I… I didn’t know… I should have noticed when you seemed so down…”
Her gaze wandered through the air before finally dropping to the floor.

“No, I think I’m okay now. At first, it was painful, but I’ve pulled myself together somewhat.”

“Oh, Edith…”

“It’s something I would have had to face someday anyway. Father won’t live forever, so I just experienced it a little earlier than I might have.”
I smiled at her, reassuringly.

“Just live as usual. Like when Father was at the front.”
“…”
“Eat as usual, go shopping as usual, chat with you as usual. The only difference is that I’ll be earning money…”

Before I could finish, Mrs. Pensler suddenly hugged me tightly.
I really was okay.
Forcing a smile, I buried my face into her shoulder, lightly stroking her back. I felt like I had to.
Foolishly, ridiculously, I did.

And only when I felt her shoulder growing damp did I realize.

“Ah…”
I was crying.

“Oh… heavens are really indifferent, aren’t they?”
“…”
“Edith, stay strong.”
Her sigh drifted into the air as harsh reality pressed down on me.
I was still not okay.

In Dochilia, the general perception of Murcen was this:
It was wealthier and more peaceful than other cities. Hence it was always lively, with relatively more jobs, and the people were leisurely and kind.

‘That’s all in the past. Since the defeat, the whole country has been in turmoil, so Murcen is struggling too. And since it’s the city of Duke Schultz, its reputation isn’t good either.’

Mrs. Pensler frowned as she spoke. She said most factories were full of men. The places women could work were limited.

‘Most of them work in taverns or as servants for nobles. Some go to wealthy households as maids. But those spots are almost full now, leaving only taverns. Edith, don’t ever set foot in such places!’

So I had only one choice left.

‘About a month ago…? That’s when the job listing appeared. The Russell family of Bohlne is looking for a maid to serve the elderly lady, but not many people apply. Probably because it’s not a live-in position.’

The Russell family of Bohlne.
A household where the practical matriarch had a knack for business, making a fortune from the railroad industry.
Moreover, the matriarch was a major player in finance, known for weighing every decision meticulously, so even the royal family could not meddle.
A person so difficult to please would surely be challenging to serve.

‘But… I’ve heard the matriarch is extremely strict. Many have failed. Still, should I try?’

Mrs. Pensler asked repeatedly, but I had no time to deliberate.
It would take a full three hours by train, but the salary was good, and the Russell family would cover the train fare, so there was no reason not to go.
I would just have to sleep a little less.
Besides, if her temperament was difficult, I could adapt and endure. If I got the job, I would have enough for living expenses and to continue studying.

By the time I made up my mind, I was already in front of the post office.
The bustling streets were no different than before the defeat news had arrived.

“Rare winter tulips! Half price today only!”
“Latest society gossip!”

Hearing the chatter made my melancholy vanish instantly.
Weaving through the busy crowd, I entered the post office. The waiting line was enormous.
After an hour, it was finally my turn. I approached the counter, exhausted, and quickly explained my request.

“Please connect me by phone to the Russell household in Bohlne.”
“Long-distance starts at 30 rubles. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Charges accrue at 1 ruble per second after 10 minutes, please be aware.”

After confirming the fees, the clerk connected me.
The Russell family’s steward was extremely strict, probing my personal information and even asking about chronic illnesses or medications.
He warned that lying could cancel the employment opportunity.
After answering sincerely, I finally scheduled an interview.
Before hanging up, the steward repeatedly emphasized that the matriarch was furious if the maid was late or canceled, so I must arrive on time.

After the call, fatigue washed over me as if I’d done manual labor. It was no mere illusion.
Now I understood, at least a little, why the job listing was still open.
But I was not afraid. On the contrary, I felt energized.
The thought that I would have to handle everything alone was daunting, but it also felt right. Being busy would distract me from bad thoughts.

‘Come on, how long are you going to stay so down?’
I steeled myself again.

As I turned to leave the post office, my eyes caught the day’s newspaper headline on the wall.

“Windsor Royal Family Strips the Schultz Household of Financial Authority.”
“Disappeared Young Duke Schultz: Will the Embezzled Fortune Be Returned to the State?”

Johannes Schultz was still the talk of the town.
Everyone blindly believed the royal announcement and gossiped about him.
Were they just looking for someone to blame, or did they truly believe it was fact?
Even if the previous Duke Schultz had embezzled a massive sum, the young duke had been at the front and had nothing to do with it.
There was no guarantee the embezzled money was in his hands.

Frowning with complicated thoughts, I looked up.

“Uh…?”
A large figure blocked my view, and I slightly opened my mouth.
I alternated my gaze between the newspaper headline and the person in front of me.
Golden hair that seemed to shine in the sunlight, deep blue eyes like the sea, and perfect features I could never forget.

“I heard you were missing…?”

It was Johannes Schultz.