Chapter 23, Gina, Speaking Of The Past

Translator: Lizz

 

Now calm, Edward turned to Gina to make her talk.

 

“I told an embarrassing story. Gina, you’ll share yours too, right?”

 

“Eh?”

 

Gina was flustered. Compared to Edward’s story, hers wasn’t a big deal. At first, she had wanted to share it, but after hearing Edward’s story, she found it a bit difficult to talk.

 

However, Edward smiled and pressed her, saying ‘You tell too.’.

 

Gina sighed, gathered her courage, and began to talk.

 

“…It started when I was a child and went on a trip with my parents. On the way back, we had an accident. Many people died, and I was the only one who survived. The people in the town near where the accident happened came to rescue us, and I was taken in by the family of the master of the tailoring workshop there.”

 

Gina closed her eyes.

 

Even though the journey was only a few months ago, it felt like something that happened many years ago. So much had happened, and now she was content.

 

“…My family lived in the dormitory of the government office where my father worked, so in that accident, I lost my parents, my home, and everything. That’s why I was deeply grateful to the master and his wife at the workshop who saved me, cleaned up, and extended their hand to help me… until recently.”

 

When Gina opened her eyes, she saw that Edward was listening intently, and she smiled.

 

“I didn’t understand anything. I was just a child. …A while later, my uncle came, saying he had received news of the accident from my father’s workplace. My uncle offered to take me in. He was furious with the master and his wife for how they treated me. He realized that I had been deceived by their superficial kindness and was made to work hard for them, and was robbed of everything. At that time, as a child, I didn’t understand and, together with the master and his wife, drove my uncle away.”

 

Whenever Gina remembered this story, she felt a deep sense of guilt towards her uncle.

 

If her uncle ever came here, she had decided that she would sincerely apologize to him.

 

“My eyes were opened when the master’s son got engaged. Both he and the master’s wife had spoken as if they wanted me to marry him, but when the truth came out, he was engaged to a rich young lady. Moreover, they told me, ‘You can stay in this house without getting married’ – In other words, they wanted me to serve as a slave forever.”

 

Noticing that her voice was trembling, Gina took a deep breath.

 

“Furthermore, he made comments in front of his fiancee as if he was keeping me. I didn’t want that at all. So, with the help of his fiancee, I escaped. And now, here I am.”

 

The master and his wife had disposed of all her parents’ mementos without telling Gina, spreading the word that it was her wish.

 

“Because we want you to get used to our home quickly.”

 

“If you have mementos, you might miss them.”

 

Hearing them say that, she could only nod, desperately trying to be liked. How much those items were sold for, or what happened to the savings her parents and she had saved up?

 

She had kept all those questions bottled up.

 

Edward, hearing such an unexpected story, was wide-eyed. He didn’t know what to say, as it was a much more challenging life than he had imagined.

 

Seeing him troubled, Gina looked at Edward and smiled.

 

“It’s fine. I do think about what it would have been like if I hadn’t had the accident with my parents, but I’m satisfied with my current environment.”

 

Would she have been happy if she hadn’t had the accident with her parents? – She didn’t know. Malice could lurk behind any smile. Perhaps a different malice awaited her.

 

Therefore, she wouldn’t lament the misfortune of that time with ‘what if’.

 

Gina forced herself to speak cheerfully.

 

“–Well, that’s about it. Unlike Edward, I wasn’t thrown into jail, but I was nearly confined, so I escaped and met you two during my flight. That was the turning point in my life!”

 

Gina clenched her fists.

 

Edward, unsure of what to do, got up holding Sylvia, who was still clinging to him, and sat next to Gina.

 

“? What’s going on?”

 

When Gina looked puzzled, Edward lightly patted her head.

 

“You’ve done well so far. It must have been tough. I don’t know your struggles… but we’re companions, so I hope Gina’s efforts are rewarded. And… let’s continue working together. Gina and I will definitely serve Lady Sylvia for life.”

 

Looking at Edward’s gentle eyes, Gina started to cry.

 

It might have been hard all along. But at that time, she couldn’t think of any other choice. She couldn’t choose to follow her worried uncle, reclaim her parents’ inheritance, go to an orphanage alone, or start working. After all, her parents had been suddenly taken away at the end of what had been a fun trip.

 

Suddenly thrown out of what should have been continuous peace, there was no child who wouldn’t be deceived by sweet words. It was good that she opened her eyes.

 

Thinking that way, she felt a weight lift off her heart.