"Ilona! "A sharp voice awakens her. A madam is in front of her waving her hand. The shop is open and customers are in line to take their daily bread. The villagers know her well. They know her situation even more.
She came to them as a pretty open person and reliable. Her mannered behavior and sweet smiles always make the day of many villagers that came with glum faces into the shop. This morning, however, she seems to be lost in her thoughts if something is crushing her.
"She is probably tired from all the jobs she takes.." An old woman that is in the back of the line mumbles to the person in front of her. The old man listens to the old lady and nods having a pitiful look.
"She should take a rest …. maybe finding a husband would make her life easier."
The people in line agree with the old man but Ilona ignores their voices as she serves the madam.
"There you are. Have a good day! "She hands the bag with five loaves of bread and smiles brightly at the madam, pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind.
"Thank you, sweetheart! Take care of yourself! "The madam smiles sweetly and pats her hand. Ilona knows that she cares about her, the lady has three children so she must have a strong motherly side.
After giving the bread to almost all the people in line, is the old man's turn. As Ilona puts the bread in his bag, the man starts to talk.
"Lady, you seem to be very tired today. Could it be that you reached your limit? What if you get sick?"
He makes a worried expression and speaks his mind not caring if the girl listened or not.
"Have you thought of marrying? I have a nephew that would look good next to you. Come to me tomorrow and I will present him to you."
Ilona flinches and holds her anger. As if she needed a man to take care of her. As if a man would take her. Even if she was friendly and had manners, her true self was not like her facade. Her heart is not ready for a romantic relationship and will probably never be.
"Grandpa, I appreciate your kindness but I …." She can't tell the man that she doesn't want to meet the boy because she couldn't refuse his kindness she really appreciates. This was one of her flaws from her perspective.
"That is settled! I wouldn't disappoint you, my daughter. "The old man smiles and leaves the shop having flowers on his path. He seemed really happy.
Ilona sighs. The old lady is the last of the customers.
"My girl, don't be afraid! One day you will thank the old man. He has a really good nephew. He will take care of you." She smiles sweetly at the girl that is puzzled. As if she could understand these old people!
"Take care, grandma!" Ilona keeps her composure and smiles back. The sweet old lady waves and leaves staggering. Ilona knows the old lady. She was the first person to help her after their parents' death. Of course, she feels indebted.
The morning passes and she sells the bread smiling with warmth as the people came and go in a hurry.
The next job she has is at a butchery shop. She cuts the meat of the animals brought by the hunters. Her skill with swords makes her use the knife with the same precision. The owner hired her on the spot after she slashed a deer in a few minutes.
"Ilona! Have you finished cutting the caw?" The owner is entering the kitchen with fast steps and looks at her with expectation.
She steps away and on the table is the caw portioned in different parts. Everything is neat and the blood is draining in the bucket near a corner of the table.
"Of course, you are ready! Let's move them!" Ilona wipes her sweat and helps the man put the meat in the shop. She takes the apron off and washes her hands.
'I am done here…'
After announcing the owner, she leaves for her third job. Her steps hurry under the sun shining way too much. In the afternoon a farm will welcome her to work the farm with her for a few hours. They were friends with her parents and by giving her this job they helped the girl a lot with their 300 coins.
300 coins were the equivalent of a copious meal. With the other jobs, she manages to gather at least 1000 coins a day. But she wasn't working every day the same jobs, just the bread shop job. Her other works were shifting daily giving her an insecurity that she wished to subside by overworking every day so that she would have money if it were to not find anything to work someday. Also, she needed to pay for Anise's school. Even though the little sister wanted to drop out and help her with work, Ilona refused vehemently every time the sister proposed.
"The sun will burn you, lady!" A servant comes running to her as she wipes her sweat stopping from carving through the corn that was till her waist. Her skin was tanned so she doesn't give a damn about being burned by the evil sun. Ilona just wishes that the boy will come faster with the water.
"Don't worry! Pass me the water! "She covers her face with one palm and frowns to see the boy better. He is a boy the family took to take care of the animal on the farm. The boy sometimes carves with her, but this time, the family was out and he needed to cook for them.
Ilona catches the glass bottle that has cold water. She feels her mouth dry. As if she couldn't compose herself anymore is rises the bottle letting water linger from the corner of her mouth, tracing her neck and wetting her shirt.
The boy blushes when her shirt glues to her skin as the water and the sweatness make it see-through.
She rarely wore the so-called bras. Her breasts could be hidden under the vest she always were. Now that she just had this shirt, the boy gulps seeing their shape.
"What?" She looks at the boy and smirks. She pours the water left in the bottle on her head. Her hand traces her braided hair and she shakes her head. The water is spotting her shirt more and she feels better. The cold feeling is giving her the energy to continue.
"Catch it! "Ilona throws the bottle and he falls back as he tries to fetch it. The dusty earth blows op as he touches the ground with his body. He coughs.
Ilona steps toward him and looks down at him.
"Next time be more subtle when you look at my breasts. "She smiles at the shy boy who reddens.
Ilona doesn't want to tease him more and turns to pick her hoe. She doesn't have time to lose.
The dust sets off and her breathing quickens as she digs and digs.
After a few hours, she is done and takes her vest on, and steps towards the farmhouse.
She takes her money from the boy and greets him after he gives her a hat to protect her from the sun who still wants to fry everything under him.
It is good that the weather can change quickly. They should be glad that he shines so brightly. In a few hours, he will probably be hidden for weeks and the rain will take its place.
She is home and goes to wash up the dirt. After she grabs some bread she rushes out to be in time for her tutoring job.
Her attire is composed of a vest and a new shirt. Her pants and boots are also part of her outfit. She has her sword and on top of her vest a garment that consists of braces tightening her posture under her breasts and over her shoulders. Also, a wide belt is enveloping her waist and the sword is linked to it, swinging a little as her legs stride toward a noble household.
Every village had a noble family. Well, the Windsor village, her village, has the house of de Ros. The lord is the leader of the village and he has a ten-year-old son. He is paying Ilona for teaching him sword two times a week.
"Ilona! Ilona! Mom, Ilona is here! "The boy with curly black hair reminds him of the boy that cured her horse. The boy should be around her age now. Anyways, the little kid is the object of her passionate teaching. She loved to battle with him. His cheerful personality outside the training makes her day brighter and his fierce eyes in the training give her satisfaction. Seeing him improve makes her somewhat proud. Also, his father, Eugen de Ros, pays her well and respects her as much as his son loves the girl.
"Carl … "Ilona smiles and opens the gate. The kid jumps in her arms and she spins him a little.
"You lost weight…" The kid puts his head o her chest as he has his arms wrapped around her.
"No way! I ate a lot." She pats his head and blames herself for lying to Carl. She knows that her habit of skipping lunch shows in her body. But what can she do? She can't tell the boy that she didn't have time to eat because of her job. Carl will probably beg his father till he will rise her payment so that she will not work anything else. Ilona wouldn't put it past that Carl will do so if he would know the reason she slimmed down.
'Here we go again ….'
Ilona sweats as the kid drags her around.