Irene Brown was poor. Her businessman husband died of illness, and all that remained beside her were huge debts and a daughter.

Nevertheless, Irene did not think her marriage was a failure. Her husband had been a good person, and she couldn’t imagine a world without her daughter, Lizzy.

Irene didn’t want the debt to weigh down on her daughter as well. When her daughter, who enjoyed learning like her mother, got into a boarding school, she couldn’t be entirely happy. With her current income, even daily life was difficult.

The recruitment advertisement that appeared before Irene, who was utterly lost about the next semester’s tuition and debts, was none other than the Baker family’s advertisement.

Where else in the world could such conditions exist? The money, the welfare, everything was good. Irene desperately wanted to get this dream-like job, and a miracle happened. Rumor had it that even famous tutors had applied.

‘The reason I was chosen was probably because I didn’t show curiosity about anything.’

A noble lady from a foreign country who had learned nothing, staying with a bourgeois family. Moreover, the two were not married.

They said they were engaged, but hadn’t held an engagement ceremony. This wasn’t a common relationship among the wealthy in Gratian.

Zen and Dia were people anyone would find interesting. But Irene pretended not to be curious about anything… No, she acted as if she knew nothing.

‘I’m really fortunate to work here.’

Though the thought of paying off debts in the future was daunting, she was still grateful that she could pay her daughter’s next semester tuition right away. It was also very nice that she could meet her daughter occasionally like this.

“Irene! Come in. It’s been a while.”

The owner warmly welcomed Irene, who visited the stationery shop she often stopped by before heading home.

“Hello. Have you been well?”

“Oh, I’m always doing well. How’s Lizzy these days?”

“She seems to be doing well at school.”

“You really raised your one daughter well. Even passing the boarding school exam with flying colors.”

“I didn’t raise her. Lizzy grew up on her own.”

As Irene became embarrassed, the owner waved his hand and said.

“When I asked before, she said she wanted to become an excellent teacher like her mother!”

“Did she?”

Irene blushed and smiled. The stationery shop owner smiled with satisfaction.

“So why did you come today? To buy notebooks for Lizzy to use?”

“Yes. And to buy gifts.”

“Gifts? Who are they for?”

The reason Irene came to this stationery shop today was, as she said, to buy stationery for her daughter and gifts for Dia and Deborah.

Irene actually felt uncomfortable with Deborah at first. Since the interviewer was sticking close to Dia and following her around, she was anxious about being fired for even small mistakes.

But Deborah wasn’t a picky person who looked for faults with fire in her eyes.

‘She’s not like the butler who sets traps with a smiling face either.’

Deborah was a very considerate person. And she was also a smart person who strived to create good results together.

Meeting such a person at work was surprisingly difficult. How many maids are there who engage in power struggles with tutors?

‘She helps a lot with my work too… The fact that I can laugh and live in that quiet mansion is largely thanks to Deborah.’

So despite her tight circumstances, she wanted to give a small gift. She also wanted to give an encouraging gift to Dia, who was working hard.

Unable to explain these circumstances in detail, Irene smiled slightly and answered.

“For the people I’m living with now. They’re women, what would be good to give them as gifts?”

“After all, people often give leather-bound notebooks or fountain pens as gifts.”

Irene, who had been quietly examining the items, decided to give fountain pens as gifts.

“I can’t afford anything too expensive, can you recommend something suitable?”

“How old are the people receiving the gifts?”

“Early and late twenties.”

“In that case…”

Just as the owner was furrowing his brow in thought, Sage appeared right on time for his shift.

“Ah, perfect timing! Sage. Can you pick out some products suitable for women in their early and late twenties? After all, a young person’s sense is better than mine.”

“What do you mean I’m young.”

“You’re younger than me!”

Sage, with a faint smile, asked Irene.

“Do they use pens a lot?”

“Yes. I suppose they do.”

“Then I recommend these products. The weight of the pen body is just right, so it won’t be burdensome even with prolonged use. The design is also one that young women tend to like.”

“The nib is gold-colored, it’s really pretty. Well then…”

Irene, examining the pens Sage recommended, eventually chose a white fountain pen and a green fountain pen. Of course, she also carefully selected notebooks for her daughter to use.

“Here. Give this notepad to Lizzy.”

“What? You don’t have to give me this.”

“Oh, come on, it’s not much! Here, take it!”

As Irene expressed her gratitude and left, Sage asked the owner.

“Why did you give her a freebie?”

Sage had worked at the shop for quite a while, but had never seen the owner give extras to customers before.

“Come to think of it, Sage, you’ve never met Irene before.”

The owner nodded and explained Irene’s situation.

“That’s why I want to help. Although it won’t be much help, of course.”

The owner smiled awkwardly.

Sage quietly imagined the woman who had been there earlier. A woman older than Sage.

Her deep wrinkles must have been traces of her past hardships. But her eyes were incredibly confident. As if she didn’t know how to be mindful of others’ eyes.

‘I envy her.’

The reason Irene could be so confident, unlike Sage who was in a similar situation, was probably because she was what one might call an educated person.

‘She must be earning money more comfortably, with much better treatment in a much better environment than me.’

Irene’s daughter, too, would be able to live receiving good treatment like her mother once she graduates from school.

‘Will I be able to send Daniel to school?’

It was something Sage couldn’t even dream of in her current circumstances. Daniel would probably have to do physically demanding work like Sage. The kind of work where you have to bow your head to someone every day and are often disrespected.

‘Poor Daniel. Of all people, to be born as my son…’

Sage was afraid of poverty. Why does poverty spread and get inherited so easily? If there’s the most terrible disease in the world, it must surely be poverty. And no one could cure Sage’s poverty.

‘Deborah. How are you living?’

If that person Sage had glimpsed that night was really the Deborah she knew, Deborah would be living a life wearing nice clothes, being escorted by handsome gentlemen, and riding in automobiles that only rich people occasionally use.

If Deborah was living such a wealthy life, Sage really…

It was past 3 PM. Dia had been sitting in one place studying continuously since Irene left. It was about time she needed a break.

“How about taking a short rest?”

“Huh, what?”

Dia had been so focused that she didn’t properly hear what Deborah said.

Deborah laughed softly and said.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

“A walk…”

Dia repeated Deborah’s words blankly. Seeing Dia’s hands gripping the book tightly, Deborah placed her own hands over Dia’s and said.

“I’ll introduce you to the garden. This will surely be educational for you too.”

Dia’s clear blue eyes took in Deborah.

“Ah. Of course, it’s fine if you decline. If you don’t feel like it because the weather is cold…”

“It’s fine!”

Dia answered hastily. Startled by the sudden sound, Deborah blinked her eyes quickly, and Dia lowered her head and said.

“I’m sorry. For shouting suddenly…”

“No! I like that you’re so lively.”

As Dia raised her head again and met Deborah’s eyes, Deborah smiled brightly and said.

“Really.”

After finishing her words, Deborah looked out the window and said.

“It looks like it might snow any moment. We should dress warmly before going out.”

Dia, who had been shyly looking at Deborah’s profile, also turned her gaze to the window.

The gloomy sky really looked like it might snow at any moment, but strangely, it didn’t seem cold. Perhaps it was because of the warmth of Deborah who had carefully held Dia’s hand.

The Baker family had a garden befitting the scale of their mansion. It was so large that it was impossible to look around in a short time. So Deborah decided to take Dia only to the western garden, which wasn’t easily visible from Dia’s room.

Upon arriving at the garden, Dia couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“Wow!”

It was because the red flowers with a hint of purple blooming magnificently were so beautiful.

“There are flowers that bloom even in winter!”

“Hehe. Aren’t they lovely?”

“Yes. Very much so. Do you know the name of this tree?”

“It’s a camellia tree. It’s a rare tree in Gratian.”

“Camellia…”

Dia’s cheeks turned a red color resembling the camellia flowers. Deborah was certain that she wasn’t blushing from the cold.

‘I’m glad I brought her out.’

After admiring the garden for quite some time, the two returned to the mansion only when their noses had turned as red as cherries.

“I’m sorry. I stayed out thoughtlessly for too long, didn’t I?”

As Dia spoke while climbing the stairs, Deborah, who was two steps above, hurriedly turned around and said.

“Oh no! I enjoyed the tour too.”

At that moment, both Deborah and Dia sniffled at the same time. The two, who had been staring blankly at each other, soon burst into laughter.

What a coincidence to sniffle at the same time. After laughing heartily like that, the two slowly climbed the stairs again.

“When we get back to the room, I should ask for lemon tea to be prepared. We can’t afford to catch a cold.”

It was just as Deborah said this.

“A cold?”

Zen’s voice was heard from the bottom of the stairs. Dia turned around just like Deborah had. But unlike Deborah, Dia was so startled that she lost her balance.

“Eek!”

A short scream burst from Dia’s lips. Just as Deborah reached out her hand towards Dia, who was gradually tilting towards the bottom of the stairs, Zen, who had run up the stairs, caught Dia.

“Are you alright?”

Zen asked Dia, who was in his arms. Dia heard Zen’s voice clearly, but she couldn’t answer readily. It was because her breath was so short.

“Y-yes…”

Dia answered with difficulty. Zen let out a silent sigh and glared at Deborah, who was standing at the top of the stairs with a pale face.