It was the first time in many days that Liana Ashford had slept long enough to nearly reach the dawn. The accumulated exhaustion from her journey and the horrific events that followed had made her body cry out for rest.
She slowly pushed herself up from the bed, a soft groan escaping her lips from the soreness that ran through her body. Liana could still feel a dull ache at the back of her neck, and her wrists were still bruised from being bound. Fortunately, she had no other, more serious injuries.
A feeling of emptiness and unfamiliarity with her surroundings left Liana confused for a moment, but a sound from outside drew her to the small wooden window out of curiosity.
The sight before her made her freeze.
In the middle of the training yard, now completely white with snow, the figure of the young man who had saved her life was standing motionless in a strange posture. He was crouched low, as if sitting on an invisible chair, his arms extended forward, parallel to the ground.
Even from a distance, she could clearly see that his body was trembling violently. Every muscle must have been screaming in agony.
But what was more amazing was his expression and his eyes. Though contorted in torment, they shone with an ultimate stubbornness. There wasn't a single thought of giving up in them.
He was fighting… fighting his own battle to become stronger.
That image struck Liana's heart with great force. She reflected on what had happened to her, the help she had received, the weakness that had nearly cost her her life. And a single question rose clearly in her mind.
Then why am I not fighting back?
That thought ignited a spark in her golden-brown eyes. She would not be just a fragile young lady waiting to be protected any longer.
She had to find a way to do something, to prove her own worth, and to be a part of this place that had given her a new life.
After dressing in the simple clothes Elen had provided, Liana put on an old cotton maid's cap she found in the room.
It did a good job of hiding her distinctive reddish-brown hair, making her look no different from an ordinary city girl who had to work for a living.
Even though she had escaped immediate danger, she still needed to be careful.
Liana gathered her courage and went downstairs to the bar. There, she found Elen and Brack preparing for the new day.
She took a deep breath before walking up to them and introducing herself formally, in the manner of someone well-brought-up. "My name is Liana Ashford. Thank you again for your help." She chose not to reveal any more details about her family.
"I have a favor to ask… I would like to help with some work as a way of repayment."
Brack stopped what he was doing and turned to look at her fully. He surveyed her from head to toe before speaking in his gruff, direct tone, "My bar doesn't have work suitable for a little missy like you. The work here is hard and dirty."
Though his words were blunt and harsh, Liana knew he was speaking the truth.
The pressure from the giant man's gaze made her clench her fists unconsciously. Though she was intimidated by his boisterous nature, her eyes stared back at him with resolve.
"I may not have the strength to lift a beer keg," she said, her voice trembling slightly but still clear. "But I can still do small tasks like cleaning. Besides… I am literate and I know my numbers."
Liana's firm and intelligent reply made Brack pause for a moment. Elen, who had been observing, smiled faintly. She saw the determination in the girl's eyes and gave a slight nod of approval before turning to Brack to speak on her behalf.
"Brother, her knowledge might be more useful than we think. Let's give her a chance."
Brack snorted through his nose but didn't refuse. He disappeared into his office for a moment before returning with a thick, dusty, and messy leather-bound ledger. He threw it onto a table in a relatively well-lit corner with a loud "Thump."
"If you think you can do it, try this," he said in a challenging tone. "Organize my last three months of expenses. If you can do that… then I'll believe you're not just all talk."
That was Liana's new workplace: a small oak table in a corner of the bar. She began her first day with determination.
Later that morning, Ann returned from her training run, her braid slightly undone and sweat beading on her temples, but her eyes were bright and alert. When she saw the strange girl, Ann paused before speaking in a friendly manner, "Hello, I'm Ann." She introduced herself with a small smile.
Liana was slightly surprised, but she quickly stood up out of politeness. "Hello, I am Liana."
Ann laughed softly. "Sit down, really. No need for all the ceremony." She said, looking Liana over. "How are you? Feeling better?"
"Much better, thank you," Liana replied, sitting down gracefully.
Ann's gaze swept over the ledgers piled on the table. "And what are you doing here? It looks like a mess."
"I'm helping Sir Brack organize his expense accounts," Liana answered.
Just then, Frey, still looking a little pale, walked over to their table holding a glass of water for Ann and warm milk for Liana. "Lady Elen told me to bring you some breakfast…" Frey smiled before gently placing the tray down.
"Thank you…" Liana said, trailing off as her eyes lowered, as if trying to recall something she had missed. But before she could speak, a friendly voice cut in. "Frey. My name is Frey. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Hearing this, Liana was about to stand up to introduce herself formally again, but Ann stopped her by placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "We don't need formalities here. We just need sincerity," Ann said softly.
Liana nodded in understanding before turning to Frey. "I'm Liana. It's a pleasure to meet you, Frey." Frey smiled back, then he murmured, "Sir Brack was really serious with James this morning."
Ann walked over to a nearby water jug. She poured some water as she spoke, "That's just my uncle's way. He's like that with everyone he has high hopes for." She looked at Liana, who had a questioning look. "The ones who can endure my uncle's training always go far. Don't you worry about him."
After a brief chat, both Ann and Frey went their separate ways to attend to their duties, leaving Liana at the oak table. Her eyes gazed absently out the old window, reflecting the image of a snow-covered Felnia, the taste of their recent conversation lingering.
It was a short conversation, but it made Liana feel surprisingly relaxed.
Here… no one cared about titles or status. She didn't have to worry about choosing the right words or acting according to the strict etiquette of the capital city she came from.
Ann's directness and Frey's smile, full of concern, though simple… she could feel a sincerity that was incredibly rare. For the first time, she felt that getting to know someone didn't require a wall of etiquette between them.
Throughout the day, Varena came to her table a few times to inform her of tasks. Her voice was always flat and business-like. "The delivery is in the back. Go check the list," she would say curtly, her sharp, violet-gray eyes looking directly at Liana, making her feel as if she were being seen through. But Liana would just nod in acknowledgment, concluding that Varena was likely just a quiet person who was very serious about her work.
Meanwhile, Elen would watch over her from a distance, bringing her lunch and always giving her a warm smile, which made her feel that she wasn't alone.
Liana tried to focus on the numbers in the ledger, and by the time the bar was about to close late at night, she had noticed several errors in the accounting, including incorrect additions and duplicate entries. It clearly showed the bar owner's lack of attention to detail.
After the bar was completely closed, she gathered her courage and brought the reorganized ledger to Brack, pointing out the errors. He simply took it, nodded slowly, and said, "Hmph... not bad."
That short phrase, however, made Liana's heart swell.
That night, when she returned to her small room, Liana collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. But it was an exhaustion filled with a sense of comfort and relief.
She had proven herself. She had been accepted. And most importantly, she had found a way to help everyone with her own abilities.
At the very least, she no longer felt like a "burden."
Life at Cranewold Bar was strange and different from anything she had ever known, but it had a genuine vitality hidden within… However, beneath that warmth, she knew well that this was only a temporary haven, and danger was still waiting for her outside.