Chapter 36

“… What is this?”

There was a basket under the bed that was supposed to be full of dust. There was nothing in this little house that she did not know, so Liv did not hesitate to pull out the basket.

When she lifted up the thin cloth covering it, she could see clothes, needles, and threads inside. Liv, who had tried her hand at sewing a few times when she was in a pinch, quickly realized what it was. The only question was why it was under the bed.

Liv, looking down at the basket with perplexed eyes, picked up the cloth on the top. Seeing the clumsy traces of sewing, Liv looked back at Coryda in disbelief.

“Did you do this?”

“Well…”

“Is this a new hobby?”

She must be taking this as a new hobby as she is bored staying at home alone all day.

Liv tried to understand it like that, but her eyes saw Coryda was hesitating. Coryda averted her gaze and looked down at her feet, her cheeks flushed.

Liv couldn’t help but notice as she saw her reaction.

“Who taught you this?”

Liv had never handed Coryda a needle before. Not only a needle, but also a kitchen knife. She taught her to not touch dangerous tools unless they are absolutely necessary. This was because, in the past, when Corrida was injured, she suffered greatly because the bleeding did not stop easily.

Coryda herself knew that when she got hurt, she would bleed more and longer than others. Thus why she was being careful on her own.

No, it was Liv who thought that Coryda had been careful. Until she found the basket.

“It’s, it’s nothing hard, so I just did it.”

“Coryda. Who brought this to you?”

There was no way that Coryda, who didn’t go outside, could have suddenly gotten this sewing kit.

Liv wondered if it was Pommel who said something useless to Coryda by mentioning the rent. Liv, gritting her teeth, put down the basket and jumped up.

“It’s Mr. Pommel, isn’t it? Did he tell you to do something like this to add up for the rent?”

Coryda hurriedly said to Liv as she saw she was ready to visit him and argue.

“No! It’s just Rita…!”

“Rita?”

“I… learned it from Rita. Sewing is something I can easily do at home…”

Rita, the next-door neighbor, was quite doting on Liv and Coryda. She was about Liv’s age and was so skilled with her hands that she could feed her family with her embroidery. While working at home, she sometimes took care of Coryda, so Liv was grateful to her.

But if Liv knew she was teaching this, she would have warned her first.

Seeing Liv’s expression, Coryda continued with a tearful look.

“I-I asked her to teach me! I’m old enough to work!”

Coryda was 15 years old, and of course, it was the age to jump into the life front depending on family circumstances. However, that was only for a healthy fifteen-year-old girl.

“You? Don’t talk nonsense, Coryda. Who told you to work? I told you clearly. I’m working extra hours, so I’m paid enough now.”

“But you couldn’t eat dinner and work until late, so…”

At that moment, Liv recalled the specific circumstance of “extra work” where she couldn’t even eat dinner. The secret work of being naked, sitting still as an appetizer for drinks to a man.

Coryda seemed to think that Liv was enduring her hungry stomach while suffering from books and documents until late. She wouldn’t even think of Liv making money by taking her clothes off in front of a man. That must be why she was trying to earn a little money to help their family.

Liv’s face flushed red with shame and embarrassment. The chagrin due to the extra work she couldn’t be proud of was inadvertently directed at Coryda.

“If you collapse from working, who will take care of you?”

“I’m not a fool! I am capable enough of taking—!”

“You are home alone, but if you touch something like this and get hurt, how are you going to handle it when your bleeding can hardly stop?”

“I’m just trying to give a little help.”

“You’re helping by not getting hurt or sick!”

At the end of Liv’s rant, silence settled over the house.

Liv, who was breathing hard while looking at Coryda’s white face, clenched her teeth. The sense of shame that immediately kicked in made her back stiff.

“I’m sorry. I was being too harsh.”

Liv, touching her forehead, apologized in a weak voice. Coryda, who was staring at Liv blankly, finally came to her senses and shook her head quickly.

“No, it’s natural for you to be worried.”

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