Chapter 15
“It would be caught so easily”
“Seriously, I said no!”
The man who introduced himself—along with his name—as the factory owner kept shutting down Viola’s request that she be allowed to take over Nurse Maria’s job.
“Whether it’s a job or compensation, that’s no longer my concern, young lady.”
“Then who am I supposed to ask?”
Even while wearing the title of “owner,” the man kept repeating contradictory excuses. The main point was that he no longer had any authority to decide.
Then why had he even agreed to meet her?
Since he had readily accepted her request for an interview, she had thought—perhaps naïvely—that she might at least be able to keep the job. But it had been a useless hope.
Viola looked at him as he continued avoiding giving her any proper answers.
He appeared to be in his thirties, with a somewhat thin build. His eyes were small and sunken, as if hollowed out. His cheekbones were deeply recessed, and his brown hair looked dry and unkempt from neglect.
He certainly didn’t look like someone who owned such a large factory.
What caught Viola’s attention more, however, was something else entirely: the man’s small eyes kept shifting restlessly, his black pupils darting around without pause. He kept glancing out the window, which was suspicious in itself.
It was as if he were checking on someone—or waiting for someone.
Without taking her eyes off his strange behavior, Viola spoke again.
“Could you pass on my request to the person you need to ask? I can work. You’ll need workers anyway.”
As if unwilling to back down easily, her persistence made Marco Donso—the factory owner—look increasingly troubled as he glanced again toward the window.
“No, young lady. From what I hear, you were once a noble lady, weren’t you? Do you really think those delicate hands can properly handle changing threads and machinery?”
“…I can do it. If you teach me, I’ll learn quickly.”
“If you want to lose a finger like that nurse did, you should give up now.”
He was subtly blaming the previous accident on the nurse. Viola felt a surge of anger, but she swallowed it down and lowered her head.
“That won’t… happen again. I’ll make sure of it.”
Marco Donso studied her from head to toe with a meaningful gaze. After a few awkward coughs, he slowly stood up.
“Haah… if you insist that much, I suppose I have no choice.”
Viola lifted her head, eyes widening. Surprise, faint hope, and doubt flickered across her face—but above all, desperation.
She needed to survive. She had people depending on her. More than anything, she needed to protect the future she still believed she could reach.
To do that, she had to repay the debt she owed that absurd duke—within three days—so she could refuse his proposal without hesitation.
At least she had some experience from learning embroidery under the nurse. She wasn’t completely unfamiliar with thread. If she could just learn properly, she was confident she could work hard.
“Of course our young lady learns everything quickly.”
That was what the nurse always said. Remembering those affectionate words, Viola’s pale violet eyes grew dim.
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”
Marco walked toward the window, peering outside as he spoke.
Could she allow herself to hope?
As soon as Viola answered, “Yes,” he left the office without hesitation. Something about it lingered uncomfortably in her mind, but she pushed the thought away.
Right now, what mattered most was whether she could work here or not.
Sitting on the sofa, Viola clasped her hands tightly over her skirt, holding onto her desperation.
Meanwhile
“So she’s already there?”
A mocking voice slipped through the slightly lowered carriage window.
Outside, Marco Donso stood with his shoulders hunched, reporting the situation while facing the distant factory.
Half an hour earlier, when Leopold saw Marco’s messenger sent to the ducal estate, he had immediately laughed.
As expected, the woman had come to the factory. And to replace the nurse, no less.
“Yes, I rejected her twice as you ordered. I thought she might give up at that point, but as you said, she kept insisting.”
“That’s how it should be. She needs to be desperate enough.”
“I told her I don’t have decision-making power, and at the end I acted like I’d ask you and come back.”
Leopold nodded silently.
But Marco Donso, unable to suppress his curiosity, cautiously spoke again.
“But… just how much did she borrow…?”
“Are you curious?”
“N-no, not at all, Your Grace.”
At the chilling reply, Marco immediately shut his mouth.
Leopold’s gaze drifted past him toward the factory—specifically, the second-floor window built into the red brick building.
So easily caught.
The woman was already in his hands. She had stepped into the trap without even realizing it.
He smirked.
After briefly brushing his lips in thought, Leopold gave his next order.
“Let her work. Tell her that if she performs well for three days, you’ll consider extending the contract positively.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And double the workload. Tell her compensation will depend on performance.”
Leopold’s gaze sharpened.
“Make sure she signs a contract. No loopholes. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Marco bowed deeply.
Leopold casually pulled out several banknotes and flicked them through the open carriage window. They fluttered in the wind as they crossed the factory yard.
“Your bonus. Keep your mouth shut.”
“Of course, sir!”
Leopold leaned back.
“I’ll be here. Call me when it’s done. I should at least welcome the new employee.”
He smiled faintly, silver eyes gleaming with amusement.
At the factory
“So from today, she’ll be working here. Treat her accordingly.”
Marco Donso introduced Viola to the workers.
Between piles of scrap metal filling the vast factory floor, women wearing round mob caps peeked out cautiously. Viola greeted them with an awkward but bright smile.
“Hello, I’m Viola Hernandez. Please take care of me.”
A brief, polite round of applause followed—weak and quickly fading. The roar of machines immediately swallowed the sound.
There was no warmth, no curiosity.
They were as mechanical as the rusted machines themselves.
Viola smiled awkwardly, fidgeting with her skirt.
Marco pointed at someone.
“Rina. You’ll handle her training. Make sure there are no incidents like yesterday.”
“Yes.”
A girl about Viola’s age stood from the second row. Rina looked her over expressionlessly, offering only a forced, indifferent glance. A hint of annoyance flickered in her eyes.
Viola felt uneasy.
She had come here to earn money quickly, but everything felt far harsher than she expected.
Can I really do well here?
After her family’s downfall, she had desperately sought any job she could find—maid, tutor, sewing work—but her noble background always got in the way.
People said they couldn’t trust someone raised so delicately. Some even rejected her outright because of the Hernandez family’s disgrace.
Still, she had to succeed. Failure was not an option.
3 days. 5 million crowns.
It was an overwhelming workload, but she couldn’t hesitate. She needed to repay her debt to the duke.
Even if it meant overworking herself.
“Are you sure you can start today?”
“Yes. Please just tell me what to do.”
She signed the contract without hesitation. The factory was short-staffed, so there was a lot of work. Normally they wouldn’t hire someone like this, but she had been accepted as a special exception.
Viola silently thanked the “someone” who had approved it.
They must be very kind.
Of course, something about how perfectly things were arranged made her feel a faint unease—but she dismissed it as paranoia.
And then—
The factory doors suddenly burst open.
