Chapter 7, The Case Of Gina (Part 2)

Translator: Lizz

 

 

Gina decided to leave the house.

 

At that moment, she remembered the bag her uncle had given her.

 

That ordinary bag had once been taken by the son. He had said he was ‘borrowing’ it, but he still hadn’t returned it; she recalled.

 

The son, looking awkward, reluctantly said he had to go and calm his fiancée down. When Gina said she would apologize because it was her fault, he immediately looked relieved and said,

 

“That’s right. It was because I was defending Gina. Since you’ll be sisters-in-law, go apologize and make up.”

 

She was inwardly astonished by his words.

 

Then, as if suddenly remembering, she asked him to return the bag she had received from her uncle, and he openly showed a displeased expression.

 

In the past, she would have retracted her statement the moment she saw that face and said ‘Never mind’. But this time, she really wanted that bag back.

 

When she urged him to return it again, he seemed annoyed and said ‘Later’. Realizing that ‘later’ would probably never come, she firmly told him, ‘In that case, I’ll go apologize after you return it’. He angrily went back to his room and started rummaging around. Then he yelled, ‘Here you go! I’ve returned it, so go apologize already! Remember, you repay our kindness with ingratitude!’ and threw it at her, crumpled and tattered.

 

Looking at that bag, she deeply understood how this family felt about her.

 

–Taking away a gift from her uncle that she had never used, not returning it, throwing it at her like this with not an apology but insults, that was how they treated her.

 

Having lost her parents, she had been starved for family love. That was why she was deceived by cheap words. Her uncle had sincerely and honestly expressed his feelings. As a traveling salesman, he wasn’t wealthy and couldn’t give her the same love as her parents. But he could treat her better than deceiving and keeping her like a working animal.

 

Hugging the crumpled bag, Gina went to meet the daughter of the wealthy merchant.

 

The daughter was reluctant to meet her, but after standing at the gate for about two hours, Gina was finally able to meet her.

 

As soon as they met, Gina bowed deeply and said,

 

“I want to leave that house. Please help me.”

 

The daughter was speechless, but asked in a low voice.

 

“…Are you serious?”

 

“I am serious! I want to leave! If I stay, I’ll be kept like a working animal, living in the shadows for the rest of my life! Both the parents and he are  unconsciously forcing this life on me, but I don’t want to live like that! Please! If I can get some money and a change of clothes, I’ll leave immediately, so please help me!”

 

The daughter stood there, speechless. Gina kept her head bowed.

 

“——Alright.”

 

The daughter finally said, as if she had made up her mind.

 

“Do you mean to pack with that bag? It’s quite dirty, though.”

 

Gina finally cried and spoke.

 

“This – this was – a gift – from – my uncle. He – said – it was – mine. But – brother – took it – until now – when – I finally – got it back – it was – like this.” 

 

“…Alright. I understand. I’ll put some clothes and my pocket money in the bag. But in return, you must leave immediately! If you linger around, I’ll report you to the guards for extorting money from me!”

 

The daughter, shouting as if she had given up, stuffed various things into the bag as she said she would.

 

“It’s a dirty bag, but it’s a good one. It’s a magic bag. It has more capacity than it looks, and no matter how much you pack into it, it stays light. If you ever need money, you can sell this bag. It will fetch a very high price.”

 

She handed it over as she said this.

 

“Thank you…! Thank you so much!”

 

Gina bowed her head repeatedly.

 

It was a gamble.

 

She must have wanted to get rid of her. So, Gina thought she might help her escape.

 

Without her help, she had no way to run away. After all, she had no money. If she stole money from the house, she would be caught immediately. She would be captured, brought back, and then, they would make sure she could never escape again.

 

She even helped Gina change clothes for a disguise.

 

After bowing her head repeatedly and leaving the daughter’s house, she just kept walking.

 

She thought there might be pursuers, but she had no choice but to walk. She couldn’t ride a carriage.

 

She walked and walked, and finally, after passing through two towns, she breathed a sigh of relief.

 

She didn’t think they were so attached to her that they would send pursuers, but she definitely never wanted to see their faces again.

 

The uncertainty of the future made her anxious, but it was far better than a life of being kept like a working animal.

 

What should she do now… She wanted to go to the next town, but she had been told that walking alone from here on was dangerous.

 

But she couldn’t ride a carriage.

 

When she was at a loss, she saw a little girl with livestock.

 

It seemed she was going to the next town.

 

She was talking to a man who seemed to be her father.

 

She decided to ask if she could accompany them.

 

---