Chapter 43
“Why are you blaming me for that? You didn’t clean like I told you, and instead you went and picked a fight with a customer.”
“That’s because—! Anyway, not just here but everywhere else, I’ve been cut off from work. Do you feel good about cutting off a kid’s livelihood?”
“Yeah, feels great. Fantastic. Happy now?”
At Ravian’s careless sneer, Katya struggled to swallow down the boiling anger inside her.
“No one gives me any jobs because they’re all wary of you. Even when I try to work properly for once…”
“And what’s that got to do with me? People can mind me however they like.”
“That’s why I’m saying you should give me work directly!”
“And why would I? What reason do I have to trust you?”
“I even gave back that jewel!”
Ravian, who had just been stubbing out his cigarette, froze mid-motion.
As his gaze lifted slowly, Katya swallowed hard.
“…What jewel?”
“……”
Katya blinked in confusion.
Was he just mocking her? But no—Ravian really looked like someone who had just heard something completely out of the blue.
He acted like he knew about it before… Well, I was going to return it anyway.
Her thoughts jumbled, Katya forced herself to steady her mind again.
“Ask Nina and Meshi about it. Anyway, I never stole anything from you. I won’t ever steal from you, either.”
“Really? Well, that’s a relief.”
Ravian muttered in a sighing tone as he lit another cigarette.
By this point, Katya couldn’t even tell whether he was being sarcastic or serious.
“That’s why I’m saying—just give me something, anything to do. I can do everything well. You know I’d be useful. And if I ever tried any funny business, you could just kill me, so…”
Her trembling voice carried raw desperation.
Ravian clicked his tongue, brows furrowing.
“Could you drop that whole ‘kill me’ crap? Doesn’t your tongue get blisters from saying it so much? Tch, so damn annoying.”
The irritation in his voice made Katya flinch and hunch her shoulders.
Only then did she realize how pathetic she sounded.
Talking about death when you’re someone no one would even miss if you died—nothing but a ridiculous tantrum.
She knew better, and still slipped up.
“Nina begged me, said she’d rather you come than anyone else, so I thought I’d at least give you an interview. And that’s your best answer to my question?”
“No. I—I have a family I need to feed.”
“……”
Ravian’s eyes went cold, as if bored of her soap opera act. Katya licked her lips nervously.
It was hard to believe this was the same man she’d just seen at the playground.
“But I don’t want to scrape by doing the same shady stuff as before. I want to work honestly, and be friends with that girl.”
“That girl?”
“Nina. I really want to be her friend. Honestly, the reason I went to the playground today was because I had something I wanted to give her…”
Katya lowered her face, cheeks burning red.
A pang of guilt stung her chest—not because she’d lied, but because it made her feel like a sham.
Wanting to be Nina’s friend was true.
Because Nina felt… similar to her.
And yet, Nina had everything Katya didn’t.
Meanwhile, Ravian was lost in thought.
Is this seriously some brat’s curse?
Whoever had cast it, it was a damn clever one.
He’d planned to bring in another brat to watch over Nina anyway, but…
Hold on.
His sharp eyes narrowed as he studied Katya.
The reason he’d let her constant needling slide until now was simple.
To him, Katya was no different from a buzzing gnat.
In other words, he’d just let her live.
If he ever changed his mind, crushing her or putting her to use would be nothing.
He’d just never seen the need before.
Better to take her than some random stray I don’t know a thing about.
He hadn’t been looking for some polished governess anyway. This wasn’t a bad deal.
She already knew Nina, which would make things smoother.
And if that lunatic Merci had recommended her, well—whatever else he was, that guy was good at judging people. That was worth considering.
Decision made, Ravian finally spoke, his tone relaxed.
“How old are you?”
“Me? Nine.”
In the slums, nine was old enough to have done just about every kind of dirty job.
“Such youth, I’m jealous. Anyway, you said you can handle anything, right?”
“I’ve never worked as a nanny officially before, but…”
“Doesn’t matter. I wasn’t hiring because I needed an extra hand anyway.”
Katya blinked, unsure what he meant, but nodded quickly all the same.
“I can do it. I’ll be good at it.”
“Confident. I like that. But first, there are some things you need to know.”
“Like what?”
“This job isn’t clock-in, clock-out. It’s live-in.”
“That much I expected—”
“And until the contract ends, you’re forbidden from going out alone.”
“What? But what if something happens at my home—”
“I said alone is forbidden, not going out at all. If you need to send money, someone will do it for you. Don’t worry about that.”
Katya’s face wavered for a moment.
No going out alone meant even if she visited her family, it would be under the eyes of Anubis gang members.
Which meant… they’d forever see her as a traitor.
They’ll find out where I work soon enough anyway.
Taking this chance meant she’d be branded a traitor no matter what.
But Katya didn’t want to let this slip by.
If she did, her only choices would be to go back to pickpocketing on the streets, or end up like her cousin working at the baths.
“…Okay. What else?”
“It’ll be in the contract, but—whatever you see or hear here, you don’t tell anyone.”
“…And if I do?”
Katya asked out of stubbornness, but immediately regretted it.
Luckily, Ravian didn’t seem too bothered.
“Use your imagination.”
She didn’t need to imagine.
Her father’s last moments flashed through her mind.
The body. The warning. The blood on the tracks of the newly built railway.
“…Got it. Anything else?”
Silence fell.
Ravian spun his lighter absently, eyes fixed on her. Then, out of nowhere, he smiled.
Not the usual mocking smirk, but a smile that was almost—pleased.
“And all that’s left is for you to sign the contract.”
* * *
[Chapter 1]
[Once upon a time, in an ordinary little village, there lived a girl.
The girl had ordinary parents and ordinary neighbors.
And growing up ordinary, the girl was always lonely.
Because at some point, no one wanted to play with her anymore.
With no friends, she always played alone.
Then one day, unexpected news came to her.
The truth was, those weren’t her real parents.
Her true identity was the hidden daughter of someone very important.
Her real parents had left her with the couple to keep her safe.
And now, she was to live with her real parents.
The always-lonely girl was overjoyed.
Her true parents lived in a huge winter castle in the snowy north.
And her father was…]
“Sweetie.”
Nina snapped her head up from the book in surprise.
Her blue eyes lit up the moment she saw Ravian leaning casually in the doorway.
