Chapter 31
Before returning to the boutique, Serena stopped by the bank first.
She had thought that the allowance she received from Jeremy would be enough for a while, but it was far from sufficient.
Trying to organize a life that was little different from that of a commoner involved far more expenses than she had imagined, so she needed to withdraw some money.
Since it was her first time at a bank, Serena was quite nervous, but no staff member could afford to be rude to someone who was obviously a noble.
Thanks to that, she was able to complete her business in no time, with barely a moment to feel awkward.
“Thank you for waiting. Here is the check you requested. The remaining amount will be held at the bank.”
One hundred checks of 100 gold each.
It only took ten minutes to withdraw a staggering total of 10,000 gold.
Holding a bundle of paper worth such an enormous amount, Serena was suddenly overwhelmed with anxiety.
‘If the wind blows even slightly, won’t it all just fly away…?’
Of course, she couldn’t carry it all as gold coins either.
Tucking the checks deep inside her clothes, Serena finally headed to her true destination: the boutique.
Suddenly, a question popped into her mind, and she turned around.
“Sophia.”
“Yes?!”
Sophia, who had been watching Serena curiously since earlier, jumped in surprise and forced an awkward smile.
“I have something I’m curious about.”
“Oh, yes! And… you really don’t have to worry about someone like me! Please speak freely!”
She was right. Speaking casually all of a sudden felt awkward, but it was indeed strange to keep using formal speech with a maid.
Serena practiced the phrasing in her mind a few times and then asked as naturally as she could.
“You said you used to work for the Barony of Posidia, right? Why, when, and how did you leave?”
As a maid in a noble household, her salary must have been quite good, so Serena was curious why she had left to end up working at a tavern.
She couldn’t hide her puzzlement as she remembered Sophia’s desperate search for work, saying she would do anything.
Since they had a past connection, Serena was simply asking out of curiosity, but Sophia, misunderstanding it as an interrogation, hurriedly responded.
“The lady I served left the family due to marriage. I wanted to go with her, but she said she could only take one person… Since I had only served her for a year, quitting was the only option.”
During marriages, leaving home, childbirth, or death, the household staff would be extensively reorganized.
It wasn’t a common occurrence.
And usually, when staff had to be reduced, the older ones were let go first, so Sophia had simply been unlucky.
“It wasn’t because I caused trouble or was fired. I really did my best and worked diligently. I even received a lot of praise!”
Still, Sophia couldn’t go with her lady and had to quit, so the corners of her mouth drooped as she explained herself.
Experience working for a noble family was highly valued anywhere, but quitting after just a year created limitations for finding future work.
‘So that’s why she ended up in a tavern…’
The amount Sophia requested was ridiculous, but money could be made by sacrificing sleep and doing other jobs in parallel.
She could start with small jobs and eventually move to better conditions.
Since she had studied to be able to do any job, the reason she ended up at a tavern was likely because her noble experience had been too brief.
‘It would have been better if that lady had written a recommendation before leaving the family. Maybe she was too busy and forgot.’
While Serena pondered these possibilities, she arrived near the boutique.
As Serena fell silent in thought, Sophia carefully spoke up.
“Um, Miss…?”
Since she couldn’t ask the person directly, Serena had no answer even if she thought about it. Shaking off her idle thoughts, she asked Sophia with a refreshed expression.
“Have you ever gone to a boutique with the lady you served?”
“…Yes? Ah, yes! I have. I came here several times. Embarrassingly, she said I had good taste and took me around, so I learned a lot from that.”
Sophia went on at length, trying to highlight her experience.
It was welcome news. Serena brightened and asked.
“So, you know how to buy clothes at a boutique?”
“Yes? Yes! I know very well.”
Sophia gave a puzzled look as if wondering why Serena was asking, similar to the expression she had worn when leaving the bank.
Serena could no longer hide the situation. Since she had hired Sophia knowing she didn’t know, there was no reason to keep it a secret.
Seizing Sophia’s hand, Serena said:
“Then help me. Honestly, I’ve never bought clothes at a boutique. Today is the first time I’ve worn clothes like this.”
“…Yes?”
Sophia, usually quick-witted, blinked, not understanding the situation at all.
“I’ll explain the details later. The important thing now is that I, who know nothing, desperately need your help and expertise.”
This couldn’t be explained in a few words. Even three days of explanation would be insufficient, so handling the immediate task took priority.
“I don’t know anything, so stick close and step in whenever you think something’s off. That’s your job.”
She wouldn’t have asked just anyone like this, but it was Sophia.
The righteous and admirable person who had saved her from bullies without asking for anything in return.
Although that day wouldn’t come again, Serena clearly remembered Sophia’s pure goodwill.
“Understand?”
“Ah, yes! I understand!”
Although she didn’t fully grasp the situation, Sophia nodded resolutely.
With the trustworthy Sophia, Serena entered the boutique, and the staff immediately showed deference.
“Where are your mother and sister? Please take me to them.”
“Yes, understood.”
The employee’s gaze quickly swept over Sophia’s entire figure. Perhaps because her shabby appearance didn’t suit the high-end boutique, the look was subtly cold.
Serena frowned.
“Why? Do you have something to say?”
“No, I will guide you.”
Turning away from Sophia, the staff finally stepped inside.
Realizing she had been scammed, Serena found all of the staff’s actions irritating.
She followed closely, thinking it best not to say anything, and suddenly remembered something important.
“Oh. I should mention this: my family can be blunt, so you might be surprised.”
Serena glanced at Sophia. There were countless questions reflected in her red eyes.
“But don’t worry. Sophia, you only need to listen to me. I hired you, so just follow my instructions.”
Serena’s pink eyes shone brightly under the lights.
“I’ll take responsibility for what happens next. Got it?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened.
Daisy, clearly furious from waiting, burst out.
“Hey! Where have you been?! Why are you so late?!”
She gestured wildly and stomped her feet like a wild animal.
Sophia, startled by such sudden behavior, gasped and stepped back.
Serena didn’t even need to look closely to scan the garish clothes.
The central rack was lined with clothes of dazzling, varied colors, matching the eccentric taste of yesterday’s outfit Serena had borrowed.
“Are you done picking?”
“What do you mean ‘done picking’?! I’ve been done for a while now!”
Daisy grabbed Serena’s arm roughly, urging her to buy faster.
Rihanna clicked her tongue in disapproval at the youngest daughter being dragged.
“What took you so long?! Do you know how long we’ve been waiting?”
“I needed help, so I hired a maid.”
Serena, pulled in front of the rack, turned her gaze to the door.
Rihanna noticed Sophia and opened her mouth.
“…Surely you don’t mean that messy girl is the maid?”
Sophia’s clothes were slightly stained from being thrown around at the job agency, but it wasn’t particularly noticeable.
Rihanna clearly intended to pick faults as usual.
Serena ignored her and called Sophia.
“Sophia, come here.”
Sophia, brushing off her clothes and looking around, carefully stepped inside.
“Help me check these clothes.”
“Hey! Why is she checking my clothes? Do you know how carefully I picked them?!”
Daisy, furious, blocked the rack.
Adding that she wouldn’t allow her to touch them with dirty hands, she glared at Sophia.
“I specifically said you’d only buy me one outfit. But you’ve picked so many, and now she’s checking too?”
“They’re all good, so what can I do? And she’s the expert, not you!”
“I don’t know much, but Sophia has experience working for a noble family, so she knows better.”
Daisy had nothing to argue after hearing Sophia had really worked for a noble family.
Yet she hated the idea of a mere commoner picking her clothes.
Huffing and pouting, Daisy grabbed a dress from the rack.
“Fine! I don’t need you to check! I’ll just take this!”
It was a truly gaudy dark green dress, so outdated that Serena could only stare in disbelief.
Why was it that only the second eldest sister had such taste? What was the problem?
As Serena gaped at Daisy, Sophia murmured in confusion.
“Uh…? Why is there a price tag?”
She carefully examined the tag on the sleeve.
And seeing the astronomical 700 gold price, she gasped and looked at Serena.
