Chapter 4: A Brave Rebuttal

Lily's momentary panic quickly turned into defiance. "So what if I did? You're lucky Master Parrysh is so forgiving. He overlooked your rudeness, and that's why you're back safe and sound!"

After pushing Anna, Lily had stayed to see the outcome. When she saw Parrysh Wilson lift Anna into the carriage, panic had set in. She worried that Anna would identify her or that Parrysh might be captivated by Anna's appearance. Unable to stay any longer, Lily had fled. Only when she saw Anna limping home alone did she relax, realizing Parrysh had not been seduced by Anna.

Tomorrow, Lily would start working at the Earl's mansion and wouldn't have to think about Anna anymore. Admitting to pushing her seemed inconsequential now.

Anna's anger flared. If it weren't for Lily, she wouldn't have caught the demon's attention. The memory of seeing the demon within Parrysh's body still sent chills down her spine. She had always been terrified of horror movies, and now she was living in one.

Managing to return unharmed after repeatedly refusing the demon felt surreal. Just recalling the experience made her heart race. The one responsible for all this fear stood before her, unrepentant.

Anna felt it would be an injustice to her principles if she didn't confront Lily. She stepped closer, looking Lily directly in the eyes. "Do you think you're guaranteed this job? No, I will take it from you."

Lily, who had never faced direct confrontation from Anna, was stunned. She nearly jumped up, shouting, "Dream on! You think the lord would hire a lowborn like you? Without a recommendation, you won't even get past the gate!"

Anna didn't argue. "Don't call me a lowborn. Insulting me is insulting yourself. As for whether I can get in, we'll see."

With that, Anna pushed past Lily and went home, leaving Lily stomping and shouting outside.

Anna's resolve to compete for the job wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision. She reasoned that if the demon was still watching her, it wouldn't matter what she did. If he had lost interest, working in the Earl's kitchen wouldn't bring her into contact with Parrysh Wilson anyway. So she had nothing to lose by trying. Even if she couldn't get in, she had faced many rejections in her job searches both in her previous life and this world.

She tore Little Tim's bread into small pieces, heading to her room to give a piece to each of her siblings. Adele and little Evan accepted the treat with wide-eyed delight, thanking her profusely.

Seeing their joy, Anna smiled and went to the next room, knocking before entering. "Mom, this is a white bread roll from Little Tim. I divided it into six parts and gave a piece to Adele and little Evan."

Gai put down her glass beads and took the bread, looking at the small portion thoughtfully. "Mom?"

Gai shook her head, smiling softly. "Anna, sit. I want to talk to you."

Anna sat down, puzzled. She winced as her knee hurt, and Gai quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Anna said, but Gai lifted her skirt to reveal the nasty wound on her knee.

"My goodness, how did this happen?" Gai exclaimed.

"I tripped and fell," Anna explained, not wanting to delve into the details involving the demon.

Gai couldn't imagine her daughter facing something as bizarre as "being pushed in front of a noble's carriage, only to encounter a demon-possessed lord's son who proposed multiple times to secure her soul." She looked at Anna's wound with concern. "It's our fault for not taking better care of you."

"It's not your fault, Mom. We're never hungry, and you've done more than enough," Anna reassured her.

Their family was only barely getting by, but Anna knew this was due to the larger societal issues. As an ordinary commoner, there was little they could do. Still, she was determined not to merely survive at the bottom.

Gai sighed, holding Anna close. "Anna, you're seventeen now."

Anna stiffened, knowing where this was going. Marriage age varied widely, with peasants often marrying young while nobles married later. Seventeen was a typical age for a commoner girl to marry.

Gai continued, "Your father and I have been thinking about finding you a husband. Little Tim is a good boy. He likes you and often brings us things. If you agree, we can talk to his father about your marriage."

For the original Anna, Little Tim might have been a good match. His family was relatively well-off, he was kind and gentle, and showed no signs of domestic violence. They could have several children, lose one or two to the harsh conditions, but mostly live a simple, uneventful life.

But Anna didn't want a predictable life. In her previous world, she had just started to establish her career. She didn't like this world, but she couldn't leave it. She didn't expect to change the world, but she didn't want it to change her either.

"Mom, I don't want to get married yet," Anna said earnestly, looking at Gai.

Gai sighed and hugged her. "I don't want to marry you off so soon either. But if you marry Little Tim, you'll have a better life. You could eat white bread every day."

"I understand, but I want to earn the money to buy white bread myself," Anna insisted.

Gai patted her head. "Little Tim is a good boy, and many are interested in him. If you miss this chance, it might be hard to find another good match."

"I won't regret it," Anna replied firmly. "Mom, I heard that the Earl's mansion is hiring maids. I want to try."

Gai was surprised. "Really?"

"Yes, I'll go tomorrow," Anna said. "Let's talk about marriage later."

Gai and Evan respected their children's opinions more than most parents in this world. Gai finally nodded. "Try it. If you can become a maid for the lord, you might find an even better husband."

Anna beamed and didn't argue further. If she could get the job, she'd save a lot of money and gain more independence. As for marriage, that could wait.

The tavern operated until late, and by the time Evan and Jem returned, Anna was asleep. Jem quietly slipped into bed, not waking her. Anna, waking early, tried not to disturb Jem, but he awoke anyway.

"Sorry, Jem. Go back to sleep. I left some white bread for you and Dad. It's delicious," Anna whispered.

Jem, still sleepy, mumbled, "Okay, Anna," and went back to sleep.

Anna dressed in her best gray-blue dress, which made her look more vibrant than the drab gray one from the previous day. She braided her auburn hair, adding a touch of youthful liveliness.

After saying goodbye to her mother, who wished her luck, Anna headed to the Earl's mansion. The walk took half an hour, hindered by her knee injury, only to be stopped at the gate.

Without a recommendation, she was told she couldn't enter.

Recalling Lily's words, Anna felt disheartened but didn't want to give up. "Please, let me in. I have a clean record... Oh, there's a maid named Anna inside who knows me."

Using Lily's aunt's name didn't sway the guard, who grew increasingly impatient.

Just then, a familiar voice said, "I know her."

Anna and the guard turned to see the coachman, Shane, from yesterday. The guard smiled. "Shane, what brings you here?"

"Helping a relative find work," Shane said casually. Given his status as Parrysh's coachman, Shane had some influence. The guard immediately nodded.

"If Shane vouches for you, that's good enough. You can go in."

"Thanks! I'll treat you to a drink sometime," Shane said with a laugh.

"Sure, I'd like that," the guard replied, laughing as well.

Anna followed Shane, still processing her sudden success. She was in, but did this mean the demon was still watching her?