Chapter 2
“Well… I thought I should introduce myself. Last night, I was going around looking for a job when it suddenly started pouring rain. I stepped into the shop for a moment to avoid it, and that’s when I happened to find you, sir.”
“……”
“Oh, please don’t misunderstand! I’m not saying you owe me a job because I saved your life. I just wanted to explain that I’m an innocent unemployed passerby who happened to be there.”
The more I spoke, the more suspicious I felt.
No, wait. I’m the one who saved him—so why am I the one pathetically making excuses?!
Despite my desperate explanation, the man simply stared at me in silence.
His gaze was cool and straight, as if he could see right through me.
This is so awkward I can’t stand it…
Unable to endure that look, I slowly stood up.
“What I did was only some clumsy first aid, so please don’t forget to see a doctor properly. I’ll be going now…”
I hadn’t expected any reward in the first place, so now that he had regained consciousness, there was no reason for me to stay.
But suddenly, he grabbed me.
“No. I can’t just send away the person who saved my life like this.”
“Huh?”
His voice was completely different from before—very polite and gentle.
He was even using formal speech now.
What? Did he clear up his misunderstanding?
He extended his hand toward me as I awkwardly turned back, then smiled brightly.
“Simon Raymond. That’s my name. Thank you for saving me.”
His pale green eyes curved halfway as he smiled softly.
Oh my. When he smiles, he really shines.
Entranced by that smile, I forgot all the tension I’d been holding and took his hand as if possessed.
“I’m sorry for speaking carelessly last night. I thought you’d come to finish me off.”
“Ah, yes……”
Are you allowed to say something like that while smiling?
The sparkling illusion around him seemed to fall to the floor one by one.
“B-but more importantly, how did you get hurt so badly? Was it really a robber?”
Unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, I asked. He answered vaguely.
“A robber… yes. I was attacked by a villain who broke into the shop.”
“I knew it! The state of the shop was terrible. There’s no way it would look like that unless a robber broke in.”
Thinking back to what I had seen the night before, I nodded repeatedly.
Simon smiled at me and said,
“The shop looked like that even before the robber came.”
“…Oh, really? Now that I think about it, maybe it did look clean.”
“It’s fine. Even I think it looks like a junkyard. I’m not particularly talented at managing a shop.”
This person kept flustering others while smiling.
Watching me carefully as I rolled my eyes, he asked,
“By the way, you said your specialty is cleaning? And that you’re looking for a job?”
At that, my previously dull mind snapped into focus.
“Yes! Does that mean…?”
“That’s perfect timing. I was looking for someone to manage the shop. Someone kind and responsible like Miss April would be ideal. What do you think? Would you like to work here?”
* * *
Matthias, your sister got a job!
I silently cheered and grinned widely.
Is this why they say that good things eventually happen to people who live kindly?
I saved someone—and gained a job!
And when I mentioned that I didn’t really have a place to stay, Simon even generously offered me a spare room on the second floor.
In an instant, I had secured both housing and employment.
Honestly, I hadn’t intended to accept Simon’s offer so quickly.
Partly because a robber had broken in just last night—but more importantly…
Something felt off.
Simon was older than me, but he seemed too young to be a shop owner. He looked only four or five years older than I was.
Yet despite having been attacked by a robber just last night, he seemed strangely unaffected.
And it was odd that he had neglected his shop—his main source of income and his home—so badly.
As if he were used to situations like that. As if he didn’t really care about the shop at all.
There were many unsettling things, and Simon was definitely suspicious.
But the reason I accepted his offer was very simple.
“You’re really going to pay me this much?”
“Yes. Is it not enough?”
It was too much money to turn down because of suspicion.
I needed money. For my younger brother’s tuition, and for my own survival.
Right. No matter what kind of person the boss is, I just need to earn money. And since I saved his life, he probably won’t harm me right away.
I had survived three years under a temperamental young lady who slapped me whenever she felt like it. This much didn’t scare me.
So my goal was simple and clear:
Don’t stand out. Just do what I’m told properly.
I rolled up my sleeves resolutely as I looked at the shop—which truly resembled a “junkyard,” just as he had said.
Before being selected as the young lady’s personal maid, my main duty had been cleaning.
Compared to that huge estate, this was child’s play!
“My back aches……”
Eight hours later, deep into the night, I finally emerged victorious from a fierce battle against dust.
Though honestly, I felt more broken than victorious.
Locking the shop’s front door, I dragged my exhausted body up to my room on the second floor.
It was only about six pyeong in size, but it had a bed, a small wardrobe, and a desk—cozy enough.
After quickly unpacking, I threw myself onto the bed.
The boss said he wouldn’t return today because of treatment. So I’m alone in this big shop.
Strangely, that thought brought a wave of freedom and satisfaction.
Goodbye to the dreadful count’s house. Now I had a steady salary at a cute trinket shop.
It even felt like everything might finally go well.
Tomorrow I’ll wake up early and memorize the prices first.
Just as I was about to drift off into the pleasant silence—
Jingle—
At the faint sound of a bell, I shot upright.
It was the bell on the shop’s front door reacting to movement.
Who is it? The boss said he wouldn’t come. And I definitely locked the door. Did I mishear?
Maybe I had heard wrong.
Or maybe he returned earlier than expected.
It wouldn’t be strange to ignore it and go back to sleep.
But…
“A robber… yes. I was attacked by a villain who broke into the shop.”
Simon’s vague answer made me uneasy.
Was it really just a simple robbery?
If it’s truly dangerous and I hide up here, I could get trapped on the second floor.
I looked around and grabbed the most threatening object nearby—a broom.
Then I hid in the blind spot beside the stairs leading to the first floor.
If the intruder came upstairs, I would run down and escape outside while they headed toward the rooms.
Soon, I heard footsteps climbing the stairs.
I held my breath, trying to calm myself, praying the unknown intruder wouldn’t notice me.
Then—
I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder.
Despite promising myself not to panic, I immediately swung the broom I was holding.
“Aaaah! Die! Die!”
The attacker, who obediently took my blows, called out to me.
“Miss April! Please calm down.”
“Aaaah!”
“It’s me. The owner.”
“…What?”
“I think my wound might reopen, so could you please stop hitting me?”
Opening my tightly shut eyes, I saw Simon standing there.
“Boss? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come back today?”
“I prefer my own bed to a hospital bed.”
“I see—wait, that’s not the point! I’m sorry! Are you okay? I thought a robber had broken in…”
Relieved he wasn’t an assassin, I was immediately horrified by the fact that I had just beaten Simon myself.
Simon gently took the broom from my hands and said,
“I was joking. A flimsy broom like this couldn’t hurt anyone. Surely you weren’t planning to subdue a robber with this?”
Ouch.
The damage from his smiling remark was significant.
I had felt it this morning too—this man could probably hurl the harshest insults with the warmest smile.
And in the gentlest tone.
“But your courage is admirable. I’m sorry for unintentionally startling you. Go get some rest.”
“Yes… Good night, boss.”
I greeted him weakly and turned around.
After cleaning all day and then being startled like that, my body felt like cotton soaked in water.
As I opened my door with my heavy body, I faintly heard a small voice behind me.
“…Not even a blade, but a broom. As expected…”
But when I turned around, he had already gone into his room.
Did I mishear?
I thought I had heard something, but I was too exhausted to care.
I lay down and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
