Chapter 1
“Silvia, a customer is looking for you.”
At the manager’s words, Silvia, who had been brewing tea, brightened and lifted her head.
“Is it Ed?”
“Yes.”
The manager gave a faint smile as he saw Silvia’s face fill with a rare, bright smile.
After finishing the tea, Silvia set the teapot and teacups and handed them to another waitress.
Then, forgetting to take off her apron, she left the kitchen and looked toward the best seat in the café.
There, a man around her age was quietly drinking tea.
Even at a glance, his luxurious clothes and elegant manners while drinking tea—
It clearly showed that he was a young master from a high-ranking family.
In fact, the café where Silvia worked was quite expensive.
It wasn’t just because it was a high-class café.
It was also because water was scarce in their country.
Just from the fact that he came every day to enjoy tea, his wealth could be easily guessed.
Without hesitation, Silvia walked straight to his table and sat across from him.
“How is the tea today?”
At her cheerful voice, the man, Ed, smiled and looked at her.
“It is excellent, as always. Somehow, the tea you brew calms the mind. Have you ever thought about changing jobs?”
“You mean working for your family? I already get paid quite well here…”
At her playful tone, Ed shrugged.
“Of course, I can pay you more than here. If only you come to me.”
Silvia let out a small laugh.
“Thank you very much for the offer, but I think I’ll keep working at this café for a while. I still need to repay the manager’s kindness.”
“Kindness?”
“Yes. When I first entered society, the manager was the one who reached out to help me. That’s why I’m still working here. Still, it seems the tea I make is quite good. There are people like you who try to scout me sometimes.”
“That’s unfortunate. It’s a shame to miss someone as skilled as you.”
“Well, if you offer a lot of money, I might come to you when I feel like changing jobs later.”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
“Good. If you change your mind, tell me anytime. I’ll make sure to take good care of you.”
“Now, now. Is it okay to try to scout my employee so openly?”
The manager, who had brought freshly baked madeleines, asked playfully after hearing their conversation.
“Oh, my mistake. I’ll try to scout her more carefully next time.”
“What did you say?”
At Ed’s teasing tone, laughter bloomed around the table.
Silvia ate the madeleines the manager had brought and shared a short conversation with Ed.
Talking with Ed was Silvia’s favorite time in her tiring day.
It was almost the only moment when she could relax and smile while talking with someone her age.
After Ed left, Silvia returned to the kitchen.
Since she started working at the café, the number of customers had increased.
It was good that she could repay the manager’s kindness through higher sales, but the constant flow of customers meant she had to keep preparing tea without rest, leaving her exhausted.
“Good work, Silvia. Here’s your salary for this month. I added a little extra. Think of it as a reward for not accepting the job offer.”
“Really? Wow, maybe I should ask Ed to scout me more often.”
“What?”
For a moment, both of them burst into laughter.
The manager chuckled warmly and lightly patted her shoulder.
“Go on home. Get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, manager. I’ll be going now!”
“Alright.”
After bowing politely, Silvia left the café.
The place she headed to was a bakery in the city.
There were quite a few unsold breads left in the shop.
Smelling the warm, savory scent, Silvia hesitated for a moment about what to choose.
After thinking for a long time, she picked some plain, unattractive wheat bread.
“Can I have all of these?”
“All of that will be 12 cooper.”
The owner packed twelve pieces of bread and spoke indifferently.
After paying, Silvia took the bread and stepped outside.
Next, she headed to the slums.
She walked familiarly past the vagrants lying on the streets.
They seemed to know her as well, and didn’t bother or speak to her.
Finally, she arrived at the orphanage.
“Oh? It’s Silvia!”
As soon as she passed through the gate, one of the children shouted while playing tag. The other children turned to look at her at once.
“Big sister!”
“Sis!”
The children ran toward her all at once.
Silvia smiled brightly as she welcomed them.
“Did everyone have a good day?”
“Yes! You know, sis! Today I was with Rebecca—”
Listening to Mary’s excited chatter, she walked inside.
“Sis, is that bread?”
“Yes. We’ll go inside and share it together later.”
“Wow! You’re the best!”
The children followed her inside in a group.
Silvia sat down and handed out bread to each child.
“Thank you for the food!”
Even though it was just plain dough with no special taste, the children ate it happily as if it were a feast.
Watching them, Silvia barely held back the emotions rising inside her.
“Did the director not trouble you today?”
Silvia gently brushed Rebecca’s hair behind her ear and asked carefully.
The children exchanged glances, watching each other.
“Why? Do you want me to trouble them?”
The answer came from behind her.
Silvia turned to see who it was.
A middle-aged woman stood in the hallway, arms crossed, looking down at her.
“Director.”
Silvia stood up. The director slowly walked toward her.
Her gaze was fixed on the bread the children were eating.
“You didn’t hide any of your salary, did you?”
As expected.
“Of course not. You know I always keep my promises.”
“Good. Then hand it over.”
The director held out her hand as if it were obvious.
Silvia stared at that hand, then took out her salary envelope and handed it over.
The director pulled out the bills and counted them one by one, then smiled in satisfaction.
“As long as you bring me money, I have no reason to lay a hand on the children.”
“You’ve worked hard today. Tomorrow, the day after, and from now on as well… I’ll be counting on you.”
After finishing her words, the director lightly patted Silvia’s hand on purpose, then glanced at the children and left the room.
Marie, who had been watching carefully, approached Silvia.
“Sis… do you want this?”
Silvia, who had been staring at the door where the director left, came back to her senses and looked at Marie.
Even though she must have wanted to eat it herself, Marie was offering it to her.
Silvia felt grateful for her kindness.
“No. I’m not hungry, so don’t worry and eat.”
“…Okay.”
After answering, Silvia noticed it was late and began preparing for sleep.
Lying on the floor with the children, she quietly let out a small sigh.
All the money she earned from the café ended up going to the director.
Since the director already knew her salary, it was impossible to hide any money.
Fortunately, the manager occasionally gave her extra bonuses.
With that bonus money, she bought bread and clothes for the children, and saved whatever remained.
But no matter how much she saved, it was far from enough to leave the orphanage.
Of course, it would be enough for her alone to leave.
But she couldn’t bring herself to leave the children behind.
Looking up at the dark ceiling, worry filled Silvia’s eyes.
If Ed truly intends to hire me and match my salary…
Then even if I feel sorry for the manager, going to work for him might be a way.
