I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 7

“Then I’ll use it.”

Without the slightest hesitation, I picked up the ribbon from the floor.

“Yes, it suits you well. Then take care on your way, Luzi.”

At my reply, Arvina smiled brightly as if satisfied. I smiled back and waved, then slipped out of her room as if fleeing.

The smile disappeared from my face in an instant.

Ah, I’m tired. I lightly patted my face.

Arvina, my childhood friend, was a Purifier trainee like me, but our standing was completely different.

Unlike first-rank Arvina, whom everyone was eager to recruit, I was a fourth-rank freelancer who was as good as nonexistent, though still slightly better than being nothing at all.

“Personal physician, my foot…”

If I went to the personal physician specially assigned to Arvina by the temple, who knew what kind of trouble I might run into.

I knew Arvina meant well, but in all actuality, her kindness very rarely worked in my favor.

Still, it wasn’t like I resented her. My trainee salary from the temple barely covered rent, and thanks to the occasional errands she gave me, I could at least earn a little extra.

Around Arvina were Purifiers blinded by jealousy. Because of that, her dresses and belongings were frequently lost or damaged.

After several incidents like that, Arvina came to trust even her own attendants less, and naturally I ended up taking the role of her personal errand runner.

“Wonder if I should take a carriage.”

I paused, watching a passing hired carriage. It took about fifty minutes to walk from the Odriann estate to the temple.

Normally I wouldn’t even have thought about it, but starting with being late this morning, then running into Gerard and being dragged to a temporary holding cell, my stamina was already close to exhaustion.

Feeling the heavier purse from the errand payment, I considered it seriously.

But then the rent came to mind, along with my worn-out shoes, and the lamp that had been broken for months without being repaired. As the list of expenses kept growing, the thought of taking a carriage quickly disappeared.

“It’s not like I’ll die.”

I forced my heavy feet forward and headed toward the temple.

* * *

I stared at the mirror attached to the cabinet for a long time.

“Goodness, we all know you’re pretty already, no need to look so much.”

Turner said as he tied on a black apron.

“Turner, do you think this scar will last?”

I leaned my face close to him and pointed near my cheekbone. Turner grabbed my cheek in surprise. His large, rough-haired hand mercilessly squeezed the flesh.

“What is this on a lady’s face. Who did this to you!”

“Ugh, you’re hurting my jaw.”

Only when I shook my head did Turner let go. I rubbed my tingling jaw with the back of my hand.

“I just got hurt by accident.”

“Good grief, be more careful. Don’t touch it at all until it scabs over. Avoid sunlight as much as possible.”

“Sure.”

I had pretended to be fine in front of Arvina, but in truth, I was very bothered by the wound on my face.

Haah, maybe I shouldn’t have insisted on not going to the physician.

I had scraped it lightly against a stone wall while struggling with a guard in the temporary holding cell, but when I checked at home, the injured area was wider than I thought.

“Are you putting ointment on it?”

“The best kind.”

“You can afford the best?”

“Someone gave it to me.”

“Miss Odriann?”

“Yep. Correct.”

“Then it must be a good one.”

After tying on an apron the same color as Turner’s, I stepped out of the break room.

I worked part-time at a pub three times a week. According to temple rules, Purifiers were not allowed to have side jobs.

If I were caught, I would be immediately expelled for damaging the dignity of the temple or something like that. But no one cared whether a trainee like me, after classes, fried potatoes or fried shoes.

The only way the temple allowed me to earn money was through errands for Arvina.

Even that was possible only because it was a one-time personal request directed to Arvina herself.

I was standing at the bar, wiping glasses.

Jingle— The bell on the shop door rang.

“Welcome.”

The moment I finished wiping the glass and looked up, I almost dropped it.

“Do you greet customers without even looking at their faces here?”

It was Gerard Castion.

I thought my heart was going to jump out of my mouth. Why was he here?

‘…Don’t tell me, did he remember something.’

I had run into Gerard here and there, but aside from what happened yesterday, we had never even properly exchanged greetings.

I barely steadied my trembling breath and spoke.

“…This isn’t really the kind of pub someone like Your Lordship would visit.”

At my words, Gerard let out a faint scoff and lifted one corner of his mouth as he approached. It was a bad sign.

“So now you’re throwing me out. I should suggest to the owner that the staff need better training. Excuse me!”

“N-No! That’s not it, just a moment! Would you like to sit? Please, have a seat for a moment.”

The memory of him handing me over to the guards overlapped in my mind, and panic rose instantly.

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