# 31
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The place Dana headed to was the bank.
She had visited that bank in the capital square for the first time when she joined work, to open an account to which her salaries would be transferred.
'Since then I have never touched him.'
Dana's salaries were transferred to her family as soon as they entered her account.
There were many people waiting at the bank. Dana sat in the waiting seat after being directed by a staff member.
At that moment, a screaming voice brimming with anger rang out in the distance.
“Does this make sense? I don’t know anything about it!”
A young woman about Dana's age was screaming, her face trembling with rage. The staff tried to calm her down; Their faces seem accustomed to this scene.
“My father stole my identity and borrowed in my name! I told you to cancel the loan immediately!”
“But after the recent monster incident, the empire’s law has changed, so…”
“Monsters or other, cancel this loan now!”
Yes, that damned incident!
They have simplified borrowing procedures in order to support those whose poverty has increased due to monsters, but allowing borrowing using only a family member’s ID card... is an absurd idea, no matter how much you try to accept it.
From afar, a voice could be heard sobbing.
“It's not me...it's my son who...”
“There is no way to change the matter. According to the law of the empire, if a family member has financial credit, his identity is enough to guarantee...”
The middle-aged man held the back of his neck tiredly.
There's trouble with the son this time, apparently.
Dana looked at him with pity.
It was clear that the bank had many people affected like her; People who found themves paying off debts they did not borrow.
Had it not been for her marriage to Edwin, she, too, might have fallen into even greater debt.
She was fortunate to finally be separated from her family.
After a long wait, it was Dana's turn. The employee who called her number led her to the administrator's office.
She knocked on the door and entered, and the official looked up at her with a face devoid of interest.
“What's wrong?” He asked, pushing his glasses up nonchalantly.
“I would like to change my salary account.”
“Okay, write your information here. And your ID as well.”
“I don’t have an ID, but I have proof that I am a supervisor...”
“Yes, that's enough. Give it to me.”
The procedures were simple...absurdly.
The salaries were transferred to Dana's new account. Her money is now under her management alone.
“And there is something else.”
"What is it?"
The official seemed exhausted to the point of complaining.
“There are several loans registered in my name.”
The employee repeated the sentence as if he knew it by heart.
“It is not possible. As long as there is a family member whose financial trust is approved, the law allows for—”
“No, I didn’t come to object!”
He must have thought she was like those who had been raising their voices a moment ago.
His features immediately relaxed.
“So what is required?”
“I want to transfer the security from my trust to the family mansion. This is possible, right?”
She had already checked it.
The official nodded. Dana quickly took out the Count's ID card.
The employee gave her a quick look before saying.
“Ah, this is your father then.”
She frowned.
“Do you know my father?”
The employee waved his tongue in disapproval.
“Of course. Whenever he came, he acted as badly as possible to extort money, using his daughter’s name...”
Then he realized when he met her gaze.
“Hmm...excuse me.”
His gaze seemed to soften, the look of someone who says: You are that poor daughter, then.
The mortgage transfer was completed quickly.
Then the employee said another alert.
“Since the palace is the security, failure to pay interest accurately means its ownership will pass to the bank. Keep this in mind.”
“Yes, of course.”
This is exactly what she wanted.
You no longer have to carry their burdens. They have to pay the price for the chaos they created with their own hands.
Even if they ended up being thrown out of the palace and into the street… Dana did not feel an ounce of remorse.
She walked out of the bank, the bright sunset light streaming over her head.
'Why couldn't I do something that simple?'
Although she knew that Kira was right when she told her: Stay away from your family.
Although she was aware that her family's eyes did not hold an ounce of affection for her.
Dana remained patient with them every day.
Therefore, this sudden change in herf seemed strange to her.
Was there something that moved her?
She tilted her head questioningly.
***
The next destination was Capital Square.
She and Edwin had agreed to meet there.
Since they returned from their trip, not a single day had passed without him paying attention to Dana's dinner.
Their evening date has become a constant habit.
She saw him from afar, standing near the water fountain.
Despite the crowding of the place, his presence was noticeable in a way that was difficult to ignore. Even passers-by were looking at him furtively.
“Senpai.”
He waved at her, smiling with gentle eyes. Dana smiled too and walked towards him.
“You waited long?”
"no."
Even if he had waited a whole day, he would have said the same answer.
Edwin extended his arm to her, and Dana crossed hers with his naturally, making him smile contentedly; The familiarity of being close to him had become a habit for her.
She looked up at him and said.
“There is something I want to do today.”
“Say anything.”
“I want to waste time in a library. Just read without thinking.”
Since her childhood, Dana was immersed in housework and exhausting work, so she did not know the taste of emptiness.
However, the novels she read surreptitiously gave her brief moments of happiness.
"Good."
As usual, Edwin did not object.
They walked for a while in the square, and then a quiet street appeared, crowded with libraries.
Dana headed towards one of them without hesitation.
She pointed to the paper hanging by the door, and put her finger to her lips.
“Shh.”
“Shh.”
Edwin imitated her mischievously.
The place was filled with the smell of old paper, and the books were arranged reverently by an elderly woman who ran the library.
They wandered through the shelves for a while.
Dana stopped at the novel corner and pulled out a book.
It was a little girl's adventure. She immersed herf in the story and started turning the pages, but something heavy, similar to warm looks, was touching her.
'Why?'
She moved her lips soundlessly as she looked at Edwin.
He was leaning against the bookshelf, giving her a meek, lazy look.
'Read too.'
She moved her lips again.
He moved his lips in turn, as if he was answering her.
'What?'
Her eyes widened in confusion.
He walked towards her with calm steps, then leaned his body towards her.
Behind her was the shelf, and in front of her was Edwin…
The distance between her and him closed until all that remained was a narrow space that almost confined her to his embrace.
The heat between them was palpable, his sweet scent hitting her nose. His warm breath fell on her cheek.
Dana blinked in horror.
“For a moment…”
He didn't stop.
He brought his lips to her ear and placed them gently.
“You read the book, and I will read you.”
Dana's heart shook violently at his low, deep voice. She felt as if strength was leaving her limbs, as if light feathers were fluttering in her chest.
He pulled away from her ear after just whispering what he wanted. Dana's face glowed until she felt like it was burning.
She couldn't even look at him.
She quickly put the book back in its place and turned in another direction.
She thought she heard a short laugh behind her, but she didn't have time to be sure.
Making sure Edwin was not following her, she took a deep breath to cool her face, then looked around.
It seems she has reached the marriage department.
'Now that I'm about to start a family, don't I know almost nothing?'
If Edwin wanted to have a wedding, she would have to understand the marriage arrangements at least a little.
Her gaze stopped somewhere.