Calon felt a tingling sensation in one side of his chest at her gaze and couldn’t keep his hands still. As if he were embarrassed.

He casually brushed the cheek where Aelfrie’s gaze had fallen with the back of his hand.

The contract was quickly drafted. Eino, who had been moving back and forth, said, “So everything is decided, right?” and ran off to prepare the contract.

With the contract requiring only a signature before her, Aelfrie wondered if she was dreaming.

When she had first arrived here, each step felt so heavy, and her mind was dizzy.

She had worried the entire way here.

What if they already found a language instructor, what if they laugh at her for begging now, and most importantly, is she okay?

There was no hope, and her thoughts increasingly turned to despair.

Tomorrow would be even more difficult than today, and she didn’t even want to imagine the more distant future.

Thus, for a moment, she was on the brink of having a very bad thought.

But now, just a few hours later, she was sitting in Ash Trading Company’s finest room, having received an offer that made her doubt her own ears multiple times.

Her wounds were taken care of by a doctor, and her hungry stomach was filled with quality food. She was among people who treated her warmly and offered her good terms.

Aelfrie looked at Kyle, who seemed to be eagerly awaiting her signature.

The day she first met him, the day she couldn’t go outside because of the beating from her parents, and now.

Every day she met him felt like a gift to Aelfrie.

‘So then…’

If she started working here and saw him every day.

Would every day be as happy as today?

Aelfrie picked up the pen with trembling hands and signed the contract forcefully.

For the first time in her life, it was a signature without any other family, only her own name.

The next day, Aelfrie woke up before the morning sun had risen.

“….”

After sitting in a daze for some time, Aelfrie slowly turned her head.

Next to the bed on a small table was a purse. And on it, the emblem of Ash Trading Company was prominently displayed.
Aelfrie reached out her hand and picked up the pouch. A jingling sound of coins came from inside.

“It wasn’t a dream….”

Aelfrie knew how much was in this pouch. Exactly 23 guilders should be left.

It was the money left after paying the wages for the servant couple and Jena, and purchasing this week’s food supplies.

‘Impressive.’

While not ignorant of the importance of money, it was surprising that most of the problems that bothered her were sorted out like a lie.

First, she bought enough food supplies for everyone to eat generously. Thanks to that, the kitchen’s storage was filled with fresh vegetables and fruits for the first time in a while.

Milk, butter, and even bread of all kinds.

Jena looked at the filled storage and finally burst into tears. It had indeed been a close call for food.

Then Aelfrie called the servant couple and Jena to check when her father had last paid them.

“That was, two months ago….”

Unable to scold the three for their hesitant speech and watching her reactions, Aelfrie settled their wages.

Everyone was so happy to receive the money. She felt ashamed for not noticing it sooner.

‘I still can’t believe I’ve sorted all this out with weekly payments.’

Kyle had told me that he would give me 250 guilders a week.

When she said it was too much, the experts in ancient languages at the Imperial Headquarters told her that they were getting the same amount even with lower skills.

He also said that the weekly payment would increase after a month.

‘250 guilders are enormous, and it will increase.’

Thinking that this much new money will come in again in a week, Aelfrie felt as if she was walking on air.

Humming a light tune, Aelfrie went downstairs. Then she saw Elise’s room where the fire had been.

It was still a mess. But it didn’t feel suffocating to look at.

‘They said people would come this morning.’

When leaving Ash Trading Company yesterday, Kyle stopped me.