*Rosemary*
I entered my room and opened the closet, revealing a black briefcase that held my savings. I hoped the money would be enough to help my mother-in-law settle her debt with Cira.
For years, I had been setting aside a small amount from selling the flowers grown in my garden. Each spring, Orlin assisted me with the sales downtown. We would intentionally wear clothes that were less vibrant than usual, aiming to blend in with the crowd. Lately, the earnings were mostly spent on new clothes and books for myself since my father ceased providing for such needs after my seventeen birthday, deeming it unnecessary to invest in someone he saw as unsuccessful. But I also liked buying the kids at the orphanage I volunteered at stuff.
The amount was modest, but it was all I had. My initial plan was to use it for a down payment on a house, to move out of the palace. Now, it was being redirected to save the homes of both my mother-in-law and myself.
