Rawabi residence.
Although it was not directly in front of the Imperial Palace, it was still a beautiful house located not too far away.
I sighed and opened the door.
At the same time, a middle-aged couple who had been sitting impatiently in the living room stood up.
“Namiya!”
"You're here, Namia!
Did you hear anything from Juan?"
Arghgh.
I didn't feel good.
It was a very bad sign for Baron and Baroness Rawabi to welcome me in this way.
“First of all, something happened.”
I really didn't have a good feeling.
Moreover, I heard from Luca yesterday that they were selling my name here and there while they borrowed.
"…no."
I replied, unconsciously taking a step back.
“Just… Juan just asked me to go home… Oh, I also handed over the work of the Ministry of Finance, really.”
“Okay I see.
Well, as long as you handle it well...”
Baroness Rawabi gently wiped her tears.
Then she took a deep breath and said:
“Namiya, your uncle lost a lot of money this time through investments.”
“Ah yes.”
I nodded, not really surprised.
Everyone except Baron Rawabi himself knew that he had no talent for investing.
However, it was a bit sad to know that the money he lost included my salary.
“But the problem is...”
“No, but are there more problems?”
“It was an investment that carried a little bit of excessive debt...”
My eyes widened.
“A lot of debt” means “a huge amount of debt,” right?
As I stared at the Baron in disbelief, he raised his hands and shouted.
“They said it was confirmed information that no one knew!
How did I know it would end this way!”
“No, you're really stupid, aren't you?
Why would they give you certain information that no one knows?…They're just trying to take advantage of you.”
When she sighed, the Baron widened his eyes as if he was truly wronged.
“All this so our family can do well!
Huh?
Did I do it on purpose?
Just because I lost some money, you’re looking at me like that!
I took care of you!
Where did you learn that?”
“I didn't look at you that way on purpose.
I also want my uncle to be okay.
Anyway, so...”
I answered without blinking.
“…Why are you looking for me?”
There was no need to feel unjustified responsibility towards them just because of blood ties.
I was aware of all the injustice they did to me.
Therefore, I simply considered them business partners.
Not as a family related by blood, but as a business partner necessary to find my father.
It meant that I had closed the door of my heart to them a long time ago.
“Ah, that's why.”
The Baroness smiled slightly and stammered.
“Namiya, what about marriage?
You’re of marriageable age too...”
What? marriage?
These people…
Are you crossing the line with a business partner?
“He is the eldest son of the Olten merchants… He really likes you.”
The account came immediately.
Olten was a fairly prosperous trading group.
They were wealthy enough to pay off any amount of debt owed by Baron Rawabi.
However, Olten's eldest son was older than Baron Rawabi.
"Don't you know?
He's the real deal.
He hasn't seen a single woman since his divorce 14 years ago.
Oh, and he has conditions too.
He wants you to quit your job at the palace.
He doesn't like the idea of his wife being busy with work."
"...Hasn't he been in a domestic violence case before and he was the one doing the abusing?
Is the phrase 'the real deal' used in cases like this these days?"
“Ah, I heard there was a misunderstanding.
What’s so important anyway?
It’s a rich family, so you can live comfortably.”
The Baroness smiled and tightened her grip on me.
“Hey, I'm saying this because I really think you're my daughter.
Quit your job, and if you can please this man, you'll be able to live as lavishly spending money as water.
If I had a daughter, I would send her there with all my blessings.”
“But the lady has no daughter.”
When I said that frankly, the Baroness added as if she was complaining.
“Hey, you should think about Juan too… Juan Fei is on a high and keeps going up, so we can’t let his family stop him, right?”
"Why should I think about Juan?
Juan is not my son?"
At that time the Baron entered, waving her hand as if to say that there was no need for further explanation.
“Okay, just get married.”
It was obvious.
His tone indicated that he was confident I would listen to him.
“Then I will tell you right away.”
The Baron laughed evilly as if to show mercy.
“Where did your father go?”
I lowered my gaze and did not answer.
my dad… .
My most precious memory.
The thing that is most valuable to me and that I must protect.
That's why I've endured until now.
In fact, it's been worth it so far.
‘But…but I am also precious to my father.’
The question that was buried in my head came to the fore.
When my father later finds out that I lived this way, will he be happy?
“Come on, I'll tell you where your father is.
Even though we have three more years left on the contract.”
قال البارون وهو يفرك يديه.
“You can marry into a rich family and get money to visit your father!
You can give up your civil service job for this right?!”
The Baron exclaimed happily, as if he were doing me a great favor.
“This is a golden opportunity for you!
You can achieve whatever you want!”
She looked at the Baron with an expressionless face.
Yes.
It was a golden opportunity where everything I wanted could come true.
Everything I have been aiming for so far can be achieved as if it were an illusion, quickly and effortlessly.
‘I will find out where my father is, and I will get the money to save him…’
Suddenly, a fantasy began to unfold in my head.
[my dad!
Dad!]
[My daughter!
How did you get here, huh?]
In my imagination, my father and I were more emotionally reunited than ever before.
[I married an ugly man older than you and gave up my good job!
Oh, this notorious guy hit me up?
That's why I broke up!
I sacrificed so much for my father, haven't I done a good job?]
[No no, impossible!
You shouldn't pray that far!]
My imagination ran out quickly.
I sighed and shook the Baroness's arms.
“It's okay, let's end our bad relationship here.”
It was a phrase I had imagined saying many times.
There have been more than one or two occasions when I've wanted to escape this house.
I endured it.
But this time was simply unbearable.
“I have nothing to do in this house anymore.”
"Hey!
You...have you lost your mind?
I'm the only one who knows where your father went?"
Confused, Baron Rawabi's arm moved as he tried to grab me.
“I'm completely sensible, and I don't really want to discuss the rest with my uncle.”
I avoided his arm without looking back.
I had nothing to carry with me, so I felt no hesitation.
But something inside me collapsed at once.
[The work is not difficult at all!
Just one look at Namiya's face gives me energy!]
But for the love of my father, I had to let go of those memories even more.
This was not what my father wanted.
I've endured enough so far.
“Please don’t ask me in the future.”
The Baron shouted something, but I couldn't hear him.
I had no intention of listening to him in the first place.
“Oh, just so you know, I'm changing my salary account too.”
I left the baron's house.