Chapter 94 The Girl Who Gambled Everything (Part 1) [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Ten-year-old Lily decides to take a gamble.
"This is not a job for a little girl like you! Get out of here!"
Ten-year-old Lily stood on the dock, her short, messy red hair and her worn-out men's clothes, which were clearly a size too big for her, staring angrily at a tall man.
"Please give me this job!" she shouted resolutely, summoning all her courage. "I can move those boxes too. I'm taller than them, I'm strong, and I can definitely do this job!"
"If you don't get out of here, I'll beat you up! Get out of here! Don't block my way! We don't need a woman here. If you're really short of money, just like your mother, go to a brothel and spread your legs!"
"My mother isn't the one you're talking about."
Before she could finish speaking, the girl was pushed aside by a thin, bony boy of the same age. She was jostled and stepped into the sewage puddles on the roadside, her shoes and trouser legs splattered with mud.
He gave her a wicked grin and rolled his eyes, showing off his joy at getting the job she had always wanted.
She realized there was no point in continuing. Her time was precious; she shouldn't waste it on meaningless people. This was already the fifth employer to refuse her work today. Before sunset, she needed to find more people, even temporary workers, even just a delivery boy…
If we don't raise enough money to treat my mother's illness, she will definitely...
She remembered her mother lying unconscious in bed when she was leaving the house. When she did wake up, it was usually because she was in unbearable pain and groaned in agony.
Since her mother fell ill, they had completely lost all sources of income. Her mother's employer, Sherlock, not only didn't fire her, but also occasionally brought them food and water, which was already a great favor. But she knew that if she wanted treatment, she would have to earn more money.
She stared at the busy intersection in front of her, unsure of which way to go next.
She saw a woman walking towards her from directly in front of her, waving an exquisitely decorated fan and chatting and laughing with the lady beside her.
Lily took a deep breath, strode forward, and stood in front of the two women, flashing them a dazzling smile.
"Ladies, hello! You look absolutely stunning today, even more beautiful than the statues of the Virgin Mary in the church! I need a job; may I ask if I can help you?"
The two men merely glanced at her before hurrying away, continuing to speak in languages she couldn't understand and topics she couldn't comprehend.
Lily was pushed to the side of the road. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. Had she said too much flattery? What if she went up directly and stated her needs? She observed for a while longer, then identified her next target and rushed straight towards them.
"I need a job!"
They were still ignored.
Is it because of a lack of competitiveness?
"Sir, I am the fastest messenger on the entire island of Venice! Please hire me!"
I was rejected. Was it because I didn't target the right people with the right needs?
Lily suddenly realized that instead of looking for work in the chaotic square, she should probably try her luck in the wealthy residential area.
As a child from the very bottom of society, she had never been allowed inside before. Law enforcement officers would rightfully expel these social destabilizing elements. But what if she were a messenger on a mission?
Then no one can stop her.
Lilith quickly ran to the garbage heap in the alleyway where the shop had left, rummaging through it until she finally found a crumpled piece of paper covered in stains and ink. She carefully unfolded the paper, folded it neatly, and held it openly in her hand, pretending it was a note.
Before entering the neighborhood, she indeed encountered patrolling law enforcement officers.
"I'm here to deliver a letter!" She smiled and waved the paper in her hand, deliberately pressing her fingertips against the stain.
The officer glanced at her and then let her in.
This was Lily's first time stepping into this opulent and dazzling neighborhood. The magnificent palaces were adorned with intricate marble reliefs, and expensive glass windows shone with lights as bright as day. Lily gazed longingly at the houses; they were so beautiful, she loved them so much.
I wish I could have a chance to go inside and take a look. Just a quick glance.
She slowed her pace, gazing fascinated at the houses. Through the glass window, she saw a girl about her age, with a maid of similar age standing beside her, combing her hair.
If I could work in a house like this...
Lily couldn't help but yearn for this beautiful, oil painting-like scene.
She suddenly remembered a man who used to visit her mother often. Her mother had told him that he was someone who lived in this kind of house, someone they could never afford to offend.
He brought his mother many gifts, and even gave Lily a silk handkerchief.
Although Lily sold her hair to save her mother, she still couldn't find a suitable pawnshop to sell her hair scarf. It was a silk scarf, definitely worth a fortune. The pawnshops in the slums treated it as stolen goods and refused to offer her a reasonable price.
Since he can give away such an expensive hair towel so easily, if we find him now and ask him to treat my mother's illness, wouldn't my mother be saved?
But where can I find him...?
Lily remembered he had the same green eyes as her. Her mother used to call him Bruno… He might be a wealthy businessman or nobleman who kept her mother as a mistress, but out of some kind of precaution, never mentioned his name. If only she could find him…
As Lily was lost in thought, suddenly, a large door opened in front of her. A young woman, with her hair styled in a beautiful updo, wearing a dazzling gemstone necklace, and even her exquisite and gorgeous long dress adorned with jewels, stepped in. Her eyes met Lily's.
It was so beautiful that Lily even thought it might be a dream. She was momentarily stunned, forgetting to seize those few seconds to speak and try to get a job.
“Poor Anna, give her some silver coins and let her go.”
Before Lily could even react, the maid named Anna opened her purse and placed several silver coins in her hand. Not thrown on the ground, but placed in her hand… This was the first time Lily had received such treatment; she felt an unprecedented sense of respect.
But what she wanted was not just a few silver coins, nor just to be respected.
She needs more.
“Excuse me, madam, as beautiful as an angel,” she tried to mimic the tone and accent of a noblewoman, bowing with the most courteous manners she could imagine, “I have been entrusted to deliver an important letter to a green-eyed gentleman named Bruno. Excuse me, do you know where I should find him?”
"Green eyes? That must be Bruno of the Knarro family. Go straight down this road and turn right; that's the Knarro palace."
"Thank you! May God bless you! May you be happy every day!" Lily responded to the other person's generosity with a smile, and bowed several more times.
“It’s on my way, I’ll take you to their house.” The woman smiled gently at her. She looked Lily up and down, then suddenly stared suspiciously at her messy red hair and grey-green eyes. “Your eyes do look a bit like those of the Knarro family. What’s your name?”
"Lily! My name is Lily."
“Lily, you can call me Mrs. Dawfen.” Mrs. Dawfen smiled. “It must be hard for you to have to start working at such a young age.”
"It's no trouble at all! It's an honor to have this opportunity to work. If you need me to deliver mail, I can do that for you too!"
"What a diligent child. I don't need to deliver any mail today. If I do, I'll definitely call you next time."
“Great!” Lilith puffed out her chest proudly. “Leave it to me!”
After chatting for a few more minutes, Lily stood at the door of the Knarro family's house and thanked Mrs. Dawfen profusely.
Mrs. Dawfen smiled knowingly and said to her in a cryptic tone:
"We'll meet again in the future."
Lily watched Mrs. Dawfen's departing figure, trying to think about what they had said.
She said she and he looked a lot alike...
An unexpected yet logical conjecture surfaced in her mind.
Perhaps she is Bruno's illegitimate daughter...?
Lily looked up, staring incredulously at the magnificent, towering building. The man's years of visits, her mother's evasive answers about his origins, and her repeated insistence that he was "a big shot you can't mess with," all made Lily afraid to think about it.
Perhaps it is precisely because this is the truth that they are trying their best to cover it up?
Isn't it perfectly common for nobles to have illegitimate daughters? What's there to hide? Is it because her mother's status is too lowly to be acknowledged?
If she could successfully find him and beg him for money to treat her mother's illness, then he would have complete control over the situation, leaving her with no room for negotiation and only able to rely on his conscience.
But if he really had a conscience, would he have abandoned his own daughter and stood idly by while his mistress was terminally ill?
However, perhaps she could use her status as leverage to force him to help her, or else she would ruin his reputation in high society...
No, those are important figures they can't afford to offend.
Her mother's words echoed in her ears. Lily couldn't help but tremble with fear at the thought of disobeying her mother and doing something extremely dangerous.
For someone like that, crushing her would be as easy as crushing an ant. Who would care whether a dying woman's daughter of unknown origin lives or dies?
But she wasn't afraid of dying. She just wanted to save her mother.
If she lives such a lowly life, and is about to lose the only family member in her life, what is the point of her life?
Despite the enormous risks involved, the potential rewards are simply too tempting.
When her mother wasn't so ill before, and when she was still working at the casino, Lily would sometimes help her out. She had seen too many people become rich overnight at casinos, or lose everything. Of course, after becoming familiar with the numerical logic behind casino operations, she knew very well that the latter was usually more likely to happen.
The vast majority of people are losers under this unfair rule.
But she has nothing left now, and she's not afraid of losing anything more.
Only by taking a gamble, using everything at her disposal and going all in, can she have any chance of turning the tables.
She stuffed the silver coin Mrs. Dawfen had given her and the crumpled piece of paper into her pocket and knocked on the door.
[Author's Note]
The prequel I kept you in suspense is finally here! Lilith's childhood story. Back then, her name was still Lily.
While writing, I kept thinking that Lilith's most remarkable ability is making quick decisions and taking action under extreme pressure. This is a businesswoman's (financial woman's) instinct, because the market is often constantly changing, and choice is more important than effort; therefore, the ability to make the right decisions quickly is more important than anything else. In contrast, Heinrich's decision-making process is more like that of a politician who needs to carefully weigh the interests of all parties; their ways of thinking are very different.
Therefore, I've always believed that Lilith possesses a stronger core and greater mental stability than Heinrich. Although she often cries in the early parts of the story, I think this is actually a healthy way to release emotions. After venting, she instantly regains her composure and doesn't let emotions affect the accuracy of her decisions.
Sorry for rambling on again... Anyway, I'll continue updating tomorrow! This little story, like the last one, will end in three chapters. If anyone is interested, I might write more about Lilith's personal growth before she came of age. After all, these were ideas I conceived before writing the main story, and although they weren't included in the main text, I really wanted to share them with everyone!
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