❦❦❦
THE next morning, Rosie returned, but this time, she brought a young man with her. It was immediately obvious this was the Dan who was supposed to be Yuuri’s lover.
“I’m so sorry!”
Yuuri heard him shout. She didn’t stop what she was doing long enough to notice that he was bent over in a deep bow.
“Why did you use my name?”
“I figured a foreign witch with such a bad reputation wouldn’t mind one more little sin on her pile. And I was so afraid of my girlfriend. But I never expected her to barge in on you like this!”
Yuuri regretted ever trying to make sense of the irritating couple.
The nickname, “Misfortune Devouring Witch” was supposed to be a compliment, as her grandmother would seek to resolve that which ailed the people of this town. But then the name took on a life of its own, becoming “The Witch Who Preys Upon Misfortune” instead. Yuuri hated that new name because it dishonored her grandmother’s memory. Despite that name, not one bad thing about her grandmother had ever been said.
“Why did you want to break up with me then?!”
“Well…”
Rosie now directed the anger she had for Yuuri yesterday at Dan. Dan approached her, his eyes moist with tears.
“Would you two mind taking this outside? I really don’t care…”
“No, please, you must let me explain myself. The truth is…”
And then, despite the fact that Yuuri wasn’t even listening, Dan launched into the story of his life.
He was born in a town about half a day’s ride from the city. His parents and brother managed a factory, but he chose to come to the city to look for work.
As luck would have it, he was taken in by the baron’s estate, and found himself with a stable lifestyle.
And yet…
“I became the guarantor for my family’s debts. I was afraid that, after we got married, someone might show up, looking to collect…and you would think I was pathetic…but I was so embarrassed I couldn’t tell you. I was just afraid anyone coming to collect may go after you, Rosie.”
“Don’t you think involving a complete stranger is even more embarrassing?”
A woman could never truly understand a man’s pride. Somehow, having his fiancée think he had cheated was less shameful than her knowing he had debts to his name.
Yuuri definitely didn’t get it. She thought the former was far worse.
“I’m sorry. But everything’s all right now. Someone came to the baron’s home to collect and, when I explained everything to the baron, he paid the debt on my behalf.”
“Dan, that’s wonderful!”
“He’s going to take it out of my monthly pay, but he agreed not to charge me interest.”
For them to come all the way to his workplace, it sounded like these lenders weren’t legitimate. They were likely the sort to charge a high interest rate and no matter how much the borrower paid, the principle total never went down. For the baron to pay down Dan’s debts, he must have truly been a generous man.
“That is good.”
Yuuri had no reason to fret over the collectors, as she had only just met Dan. Moreover, she resented him for dragging her into his personal problems. But at least the incident had resolved without issue.
“Uhm…actually, I hate to trouble you further, but I have a request.”
“…What now?”
“Rosie and I have very little education. But we’re about to go sign our promissory note and we were wondering if you would stand in as our witness?”
Yuuri was shocked. She thought the whole ordeal was over.
“I don’t want to be involved any further.”
“I understand. But what got my family into this mess was not understanding things like interest. So as embarrassing as this is, would you please come along and help us?”
Dan had dragged Yuuri into this, so there was no real reason for her to help them. But something deep down wouldn’t allow her to abandon people who needed her.
And they weren’t asking for much. They didn’t seem to be bad people either.
“All right. I’ll help you.”
“Really? Thank you, Miss Witch!”
“It’s Yuuri.”
The three of them set off for Baron Thewlis’ estate.
The couple assured Yuuri that their carriage was waiting just off on the main road, so she left her parasol in the shop, electing to walk in their shadows instead. As they were walking, Yuuri sensed someone behind her. She glanced back and noticed two tough-looking men heading her way.
“A-Are those the bill collectors? Why are they here?!” Dan’s voice wavered.
“I don’t know. We’d better run the rest of the way to the carriage!” Rosie grabbed Yuuri’s hand, even though she wasn’t the one they were after, and they took off running.
“Wait! You there. Miss Yu—”
They burst out onto the main road, the men’s voices drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Yuuri was out of breath, but somehow, she made it to the carriage and jumped in.
“I thought the baron paid off your debt?” she questioned.
“I thought so too! Those aren’t the usual collectors though. Maybe not all of their collectors were informed? Either way, we’ll be safe at the manor!”
I knew I shouldn’t have gone along with this. Yuuri lamented as the carriage rolled on toward Thewlis Estate.