Chapter 75 - 75: The Female Lead I (2/2)

Emily went back to her room in a bad mood. Although she did expect the break-up to happen, she was still disappointed. She slammed the door behind her to close it.

”Hey! Do you mind?” her roommate Jean who was woken up because of the loud bang, reproached her.

Emily, not wanting to talk, just ignored her. She did not open the lights and just laid straight on her bed. She looked at the shadows playing in the dark, the four corners of her shared room suffocating her and leaving her dissatisfied.

She was raised in a family with 5 children. The eldest child with 4 younger siblings wherein the youngest was the only boy. Everything was fine at the beginning when her mother was still alive. They lived a frugal life, but they were happy. However, that all changed when she passed away.

Her mother was the one who used to manage the finances for their home and family. When she was gone, although Emily was the eldest, she was but 8 years old. Their father, not knowing how to manage his income that seem to be so little in comparison to the number of mouths to feed in their house, was lured to the gambling den to try his luck and double his money. At the beginning, he was able to win a little here and there. Buying them new clothes, happily spending the extra cash coming in. But after a while, their coffers along with their house were becoming empty.

The first thing she noticed was that some of their servants were getting dismissed. The children's interpretation of frugal was that they were not throwing expensive parties, not buying expensive clothes every season, and not having the best horses like their cousins. This time, the meaning of frugality was a different word entirely. It was a hard time for her and her siblings, before, they had servants to do everything for them. Now, they don't have personal maids, just the butler, the chef, and the one who washed their clothes.

The second thing she noticed was that there were people coming in and out of their house, bringing out their furniture. Even the piano she so loved has been taken away. She hated it, but she was old enough to understand what was going on.

The third was that the jewelries meant for her and her sisters' dowry were being pawned off.

Until lastly, there were people lining up outside their doors looking for her father.

In the end, they were almost driven out of their own home.

Thankfully, Countess Livy came to rescue them. She paid all her father's debt, aiding him to start a new. She stayed with them for a while. She provided them with tutors and even some guidance in life. She remembered her words telling them that they can live not having all those luxuries, but they should have proper education and etiquette.

Countess Livy was their father's sister who married a count twice her age. When she became a widow, she has been married to the count for over 10 years and was in her mid-30's. She was left with her husband's asset, but in his will, he stated that if she were to remarry, she should take none of their wealth into a new marriage.

It was not true love she told them, but her family was very patriarchal, and all the assets were reserved for the boys. Baron Edward was the eldest son, so he got the title and most of the lands. However, he was not very good at managing them. So in the end, all his siblings became wealthier than him. Luckily, he met Ema, Emily's mother, and that at least saved their declining barony.

She understood her aunt's words, but she did not like the thought of marrying an old senile man in the future. She, of course, wanted a fairy tale. She was 12 years old when their aunt left them, and life has been in the decline since then.

Emily was tasked to work with their finances. Managing her father's meager salary to keep them afloat. They were not as poor as when their father was down and out, but they were still struggling to make ends meet. Sometimes, they will go visit their relatives, their father bowing his head asking to borrow some money. His siblings will lend him the money, but their spouse will look at them like they were dirt, and their cousins will also look at them that way.

Despite all these, Emily held her head high. She did not let their looks taunt her. She admits that they were poor, but they have a saving grace, and that was her father's title. Unlike her cousins, she was still a member of the peerage and can still have a brighter future beyond their reach.

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TBC