“If you manage to get some money…”

“Yes.”

“…No, never mind.”

“Why, what is it?”

“It’s nothing. Really.”

Hael forced a bitter smile and waved his hand.

It would be too much interference to tell Yuriel to quit or not.

If he tries his best, Yuriel will handle such problems on her own.

Already, a red aura was billowing over the elm tree that occupied the center of the mansion.

Today was the day to put Brit up for auction at the Littenburpitt auction house, so they had to hurry.

Yuriel hurriedly returned to her room, passing through the corridor.

Though Hael’s attitude was somewhat strange, such thoughts gradually faded from her memory on the way back.

As she passed near the young master’s room, all other thoughts completely evaporated.

Whenever she passed this place, Yuriel’s heart trembled as if she had committed some crime.

During work hours, she had no choice but to enter, but even when it wasn’t necessary, she had no desire to be caught by him and dragged back in.

Though unfair, strictly speaking, work hours didn’t really mean much for the young master’s attendant, so he wasn’t making strange demands.

So it was always up to Yuriel, to her, to know when to escape appropriately.

Stealthily.

Her steps, like those of a thief cat, became even more cautious in front of the door where Cassian’s room was located.

Though the antique door was made of thick wood to prevent any sound from leaking in, Yuriel was afraid every time she passed this way.

It was because of the ridiculous delusion that he might be watching her.

Finally reaching the path to her room after passing through the corridor.

Only then did Yuriel let out a long breath.

How fortunate that she wasn’t caught today and safely arrived at her room.

Previously, she had been caught and had to go back into that room, spending an embarrassing time in front of Cassian.

Just thinking about it made her heart race uncontrollably.

As she entered, her mother, Jane, was asleep on the couch.

With a scarf she had been knitting in one hand.

Countless similar items were piled up on the table.

Why do this when you’re sick? I told you to just rest.

Though she had somewhat recovered since receiving that medicine from the young master, there was still a long way to go.

An illness that had lingered for so long couldn’t be cured overnight.

That’s why the doctors said she needed to be careful…

Though upset emotions welled up, Yuriel wasn’t unaware of the meaning behind these knitted items.

She must have done it for her sake again.

Because selling these balls of yarn would at least bring in a little money.

Her mother was doing whatever she could from her position.

Every time she received medicine, her mother’s face would become that of a sinner.

To assuage that guilt, her mother constantly sought out work like this.

‘She should be fine now that she’s recovered a bit.’

Perhaps leaving her be would actually put her mother’s mind at ease.

After letting several days pass without saying anything.

Her mother’s work gradually increased. As much as her mother’s love.

Love was originally a full desire, impossible to suppress even if one tried.

As Yuriel sighed and carefully pulled out a ball of yarn, Jane reacted quickly and sat up.

A smile spread across her face as she discovered her daughter.

“You’re pretty, my daughter.”

“Of course. Whose daughter am I?”

Jane ruffled Yuriel’s hair and smiled contentedly.

Instead of telling her to stop, Yuriel smiled back.

“Is this manageable?”

“Yes. It’s not boring, I like it.”

“Still, don’t overdo it. The doctor said last time…”

Having seen Yuriel copy and study books before, Jane knew better than anyone the intelligence her daughter possessed.

Yuriel was a child with more talent than anyone for learning and studying.

If she didn’t have someone like her as a mother… she might have been able to fly much further.

She didn’t want to be a burden to Yuriel. She had already become a huge burden from the moment she fell ill.

Perhaps even God took pity on her, for the young master of this household appeared like a stroke of luck for her daughter.

Recalling her daughter’s appearance as she took on difficult tasks elsewhere, it was truly fortunate.

This mansion was spacious and comfortable, and the work seemed much better than before.

But at the same time, Jane was anxious.

Such an enormous reward never comes without conditions.

“El, you don’t need to sacrifice yourself for mom.”

“What sacrifice have I made? You would have done the same if you were sick.”

“A mother and daughter are different.”

“How are we different? We’re family.”

The tearful face of her daughter formed sadly in Jane’s eyes.

Jane silently grasped Yuriel’s hand tightly.

“How is that young master? Is the work not too difficult?”

Jane had also heard rumors about the Blanchet young master from outside.

That unlike common nobles, he was a good person who took care of even the less fortunate.

However, what she had accidentally overheard from the servants after coming here was different.

They said that young master had a nasty temper and his moods changed like boiling soup.

Is he a person whose outside and inside are different? Is my daughter working under him?

And that counterpart is none other than the Blanchet, someone in a place too high to even look at.

It was natural for Jane to worry about her daughter.

Yuriel was not unaware of that worry. She had hoped her mother wouldn’t know about Cassian, that impudent young master…

It seems that from the moment she accepted his favor and entered this mansion, such things were already beyond hope.

Is he a decent person?

Unlike the fairly good public reputation surrounding him, the contemptuous words and sneering face he had shown her mixed in her mind.

Nevertheless, Yuriel’s mouth recited a prepared answer.

“He’s just an ordinary noble young master, that’s all.”

“That’s a relief.”

In truth, Jane didn’t feel entirely at ease.

Her daughter might not know, but the young master’s gaze, which she occasionally encountered, was always directed towards her child.

It was so persistent and clear that it was impossible to miss.

Though she was trying to ignore the ominous feeling…

“Still, if it ever becomes difficult, tell me. I think I might prefer those times when we had nothing to this place.”

Jane, still holding Yuriel’s hand tightly, gazed steadily at her. Though her eyes were hazy, the spirit within them was clear.

“So if you ever feel that way too, let’s leave for a new place, shall we?”

Yuriel’s insides churned at Jane’s words, spoken with a bright smile.

She thinks their previous life was better? How could that be possible?

That alley corner where she had to worry every day that her mother might disappear, her powerless self who could do nothing while watching her mother grow paler by the day…

Her mother had to be dying there every day, unable to do anything.

So that hell couldn’t be better than this comfortable place.

At the very least, her mother, who knew nothing, had to think so.

Even for herself, who faced the suffocating young master every day, now was far better than that hell.

Because her mother was getting better day by day, and for the first time, was looking at her with a healthy face.

In short, her mother saying she preferred that place where they might have died was clearly out of worry for her again.

“I like it much better here. I’ll never go back to that hell.”

At first, she resented that young master, but ultimately, it was he who had thrown her a lifeline.

Here, not only did her mother receive medicine, but by the young master’s orders, she could also see a doctor.

“So don’t say such weak things, Mother.”

Of course, Yuriel knew well what her mother was worried about.

Her mother feared people from that high world, like the young master.

Everyone naturally did, but her mother’s phobia was twice as severe as others.

She would even avoid such people when nobles occasionally visited the village like tourists.

It wasn’t difficult to guess where this originated from.

Perhaps her father had abandoned her low-status mother to maintain his noble position.

No, maybe it wasn’t just that.

He might have considered her a plaything from the start, like that young master. Just like a source of amusement.

It was a moment when her resentment towards the father she had never seen deepened even more.

“Mother, just think about your health. Don’t worry about unnecessary things.”

Jane smiled faintly at her clever daughter who had once again read her mind.

“I just want you to be happy. Whatever that may be.”

As Yuriel gazed blankly at their joined hands, the bell rang again.

It was the young master calling.

“Mother, I’ll be back.”

Jane watched for a long time the slender back of her daughter as she quickly stood up and went outside.

After pulling the bell rope to summon Yuriel, it takes about 10 minutes for her to arrive.

A time that might make one mistake her for living in a neighboring village rather than the same mansion.

He was quite lenient with her insolent and wicked habit of delaying as much as possible.

Today too, that tedious time was filled with listening to the butler’s report.

“After hearing the young master’s deep intention to bring the two together, the lord has decided to hold a banquet this time.”

The guest list for that banquet included Lady Catherine, Hael’s mother, her husband Olga, and members of the Vilrod viscounty.

The butler shook his head briefly, recalling the mistress who had been quite displeased at being forced to do such unnecessary things.

In any case, the mistress of the house, suddenly tasked with preparing the banquet, was busy decorating the banquet hall amidst a hectic schedule.

Everything was going according to Cassian’s will.

In short, everything up to this point was exactly as expected.

But then, unexpectedly, an unpredictable event intruded into the report.

“Today, Hael went to Bronze Village and met with the auction house organizer.”