Chapter 003
Ponia’s ears perked up at the name she couldn’t possibly ignore.
The boy running around with the newspapers had a loud voice and fast feet. Ponia wasn’t about to let him pass by.
“Fresh news, just in!”
“Hey, give me one.”
“Whoa! When did you get here? Here you go.”
It had been three years since she met Cionel. Whenever news related to him appeared in the paper, she collected it, even creating a scrapbook.
As soon as she received the paper, Ponia began scanning the article. Before long, her hands trembled and her face paled.
<Exclusive! Young Lord Cionel Davenham, Missing!>
“He’s missing this time?”
For the past two years, news regarding Cionel had been nothing but bad.
Kidnappings, poisonings, arson, assassin attacks, and more.
Such articles had started appearing sporadically around the time he was supposed to inherit his title, and even now, three years later, he still hadn’t officially succeeded as Duke.
It was exactly as she had read in the novel.
<We Want a Happy Ending> tells the story of the female lead, “Lana,” who, after being wounded by the betrayal of family and friends, meets the male lead, Duke Cionel, and finds happiness.
In the original work, Cionel feels a sense of kinship with the female lead—who shares scars similar to his own past full of adversity—and falls in love as they grow closer.
‘The problem is that the “numerous adversities” Cionel went through are currently happening in real-time.’
In the novel, Cionel’s past was described briefly in passing, so she hadn’t thought much of it…
This is too cruel, Author!
Cionel should only walk on a flower path!
She scanned the recruitment board with a heavy heart, but nothing caught her eye.
“Does money not just fall from the sky?”
I don’t even want much; exactly 20,000 gold would do.
Whoosh—
“Ack!”
It was then that a flyer flew into her face due to a sudden gust of wind.
As she peeled it off, the contents beneath the faded paper were revealed.
<The Easiest Forest Keeper Recruitment in the World>
Duties: Patrol once a day; eat and sleep in the forest.
Location: Mirvan Forest.
Duration: 6 Months.
Requirements: A healthy person, a diligent person, a person with strong nerves.
Rewards: Communion with flora and fauna, enjoying beautiful forest scenery, time for oneself, …
Inquiries: Employment Office.
“Oh, it’s just this.”
The spark in Ponia’s eyes vanished instantly.
This recruitment notice had already been circulating the estate for two months.
The reason the notice remained for two months despite the simple duties was the location: Mirvan Forest.
The forest you never return from once you enter.
That was the modifier used to describe Mirvan Forest.
The reason was unknown. Since no one ever returned, the cause couldn’t be determined.
However, Ponia knew the true nature of that forest.
Because this was the main stage where the protagonists have their first meeting.
In the beginning of the novel, Lana—who was sold as a bride to an old Count after being betrayed by her family—ends up in Mirvan Forest due to a carriage accident.
While she tries to use the crisis as an opportunity to escape, Lana soon encounters the “dangerous elements” of the forest.
At that moment, Cionel is the one who saves her.
Cionel, who owned the forest, had a duty to secretly eliminate the forest’s dangers, and Lana, having encountered such “dangers” frequently since childhood, possessed vital information about them.
Ultimately, the two join forces to eliminate the “dangers,” heal each other’s wounds, fall in love, and do everything else.
But that’s all in the future.
Their first meeting and the removal of the dangers occur only after Cionel becomes the Duke, which is still a long way off.
‘I know exactly what’s in there, so there’s no way I’m going.’
Her green eyes, having lost interest, listlessly read down the remaining text.
“Let’s see… the actual reward is…”
Ah, here it is.
20,000 Gold
“Oh, I guess I was so desperate that it looked like 20,000 gold.”
Ponia chuckled and counted the digits again.
“One, ten, hundred, thousand…”
20,000 Gold
The number didn’t change. Ponia blinked slowly, then snapped her head up.
“What? 20,000 gold?!”
* * *
“This is a massive headache.”
Max threw the flyer onto the desk in frustration.
In the recruitment office, which should have been bustling, not a single soul was visible except for the three employees.
Another employee lying on the sofa complained.
“I told you we shouldn’t have taken it. It’s suspicious because the reward is too high.”
“Did I know it would be something so dangerous? The commission fee was high, so I thought my job was done once I found someone.”
Since they had already received a massive commission, they had to find a forest keeper by any means within the deadline.
“If we can’t find anyone, one of us will have to enter the forest…”
Upon hearing Max’s mutter, the other employees were startled and shook their heads firmly.
“I’m absolutely not doing it! If anyone’s going, it’s you!”
“I’m not going either! Honestly, Max, you’re the one who brought this job in!”
“Why are you only blaming me?! You guys! We moved to a bigger house because I brought this job in!”
“Th-That’s that! Knowing full well how dangerous it is, who would be happy to come and do it! I wouldn’t do it either! What kind of crazy person would volunteer?!”
Ding.
A cheerful bell rang, signaling a truce. The eyes of the men, who looked ready to eat each other alive, turned toward the door simultaneously.
The setting sun happened to be shining on the door, bathing the woman standing there in a reddish glow.
Thanks to that, the woman’s well-maintained vermilion hair sparkled, contrasting with her shabby clothing.
As they stared blankly at the woman who appeared in the sunset, Max finally managed to open his mouth.
“What… brings you here…?”
The woman, who had been eyeing the office, met Max’s eyes. Unconsciously, a small gasp escaped his lips.
After maintaining her silence, the woman soon flashed a picture-perfect smile.
“I heard you’re looking for a forest keeper?”
‘I’ll give being that “crazy person” a try.’
Facing the dazed employees, Ponia deliberately smiled brightly.
As expected, it was simply too much money to ignore.
* * *
“You tell her.”
“You’re the one in charge of consultations. You tell her.”
“It’s the job you brought in, so you should do it this time!”
It had already been an hour.
After seating Ponia on the sofa, they disappeared into the meeting room for thirty minutes. Now, they were wasting time pushing the task onto each other right in front of her eyes.
Finally, it was Max, the one who brought the job, who spoke up.
“Ahem… You’re saying you’ll take this job, My Lady?”
“The flyer made the work seem simple. And I meet the requirements.”
‘She definitely knows nothing.’
Looking at the perfectly cheerful woman, misery clouded his face.
Up until now, he had suppressed his guilt by telling himself that the previous applicants knew what they were getting into, but seeing her innocent face, the guilt began to crawl back up.
“…It might be a bit dangerous. You know, like, wild animals! Yes! Wild animals are extremely dangerous.”
“I’ve followed a group of wild animal hunters before. I’ve seen many ways to deal with different situations. I also like animals.”
As the woman remained composed, Max began to fire off questions in a panic.
“You have to do everything alone. What can you do with such a fragile-looking body?”
“I’m used to doing things alone in my daily life. I have more muscle than I look.”
“Ah! You’ll be isolated for six months, so you might get lonely.”
“I was actually looking for some time alone!”
“It’ll be very scary at night!”
“Being able to spend the night in a forest sounds romantic…”
“Romantic?! It’ll be noisy because of the animal cries!”
“Once I fall asleep, I don’t wake up even if someone sings or shakes me.”
“Isn’t that a problem…? Have you seen a doctor?”
“No.”
“You should go see one. I know a doctor who’s famous for his skills.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Oh, don’t mention it… No, that’s not what I meant to say!”
Instead of scaring her, the conversation had drifted off course. Finally, Max launched his final attack.
“There’s nothing there!”
“Creating something out of nothing is my specialty.”
Ding. Ding. Ding.
The winner: Ponia Harbel.
Max eventually jerked his head away.
It was to hold back his tears. He felt pity for this woman who was so positive while knowing nothing.
‘She must have lived alone without a family, not even knowing what loneliness is…’
No one had said that.
However, Max, already full of prejudice, hardened his resolve.
“Actually, there were people who went to this forest before.”
“I see.”
“But none of them returned!”
“Why would you tell her that!”
The other employees, who were watching anxiously, shouted at once, but Max hung his head.
“Ugh… I can’t lie anymore. She’s too pitiful!”
“But if we don’t, we have to go!”
“Why are you guys crying?! If you cry, I’ll…”
Ignoring the three men who were now hugging each other and sobbing, Ponia was currently extremely bewildered.
‘Why are they suddenly crying?’
These men were seriously misunderstanding something. Ponia sighed.
“I already knew that before I came.”
“…Huh?”
The employees looked at her with bloodshot eyes, still failing to grasp the situation.
“More importantly, I have one question…”
Instead of offering an explanation, Ponia got straight to the point.
“The reward is guaranteed, right?”
“…”
“Don’t you provide a down payment?”
‘I have to make sure the money calculations are solid.’
In terms of numbers and physical strength, Ponia was clearly the underdog. She deliberately put on a serious expression, trying not to look like an easy target.
‘She’s a madwoman.’
She didn’t realize that she had already exerted quite an effect on the employees.
