Alice opened her eyes slowly and noticed the sun shining through the windows in her house. "What am I doing? Why am I on the sofa instead of my bed?"

"Thank goodness you're awake!" Chris rushed over first and held the redhead's left hand tightly. "You had us so worried yesterday! I walked with you to the rickshaw station and then came home by myself. You didn't come back until after Soon and I had dinner. The next thing I knew was that you fainted after taking your shoes off!"

"Really? That's all that I after coming back?"

Soon entered the living room with a bucket of warm water and some facecloths. "You didn't even eat dinner last night, Miss Alice. Shun said you had a fever, but it got better overnight."

"Why would I have a fever?" While her housemaids returned to the kitchen, the redhead continued thinking until she suddenly sat up and sent a facecloth flying in the air. "Where's Shun?! He—"

"I suggest you continue sleeping until you're fully better." Said person returned from outside and removed his shoes before sitting next to her on the ottoman. "You were out the whole day. I offered to reheat your dinner, but then you said you forgot something and walked toward the front door before fainting."

"Did you catch me while I fainted?"

"Yes...why?"

"Imagine if you didn't. I would've hit my head, had a concussion, and bleed internally or externally..." Alice picked up the fallen facecloth and pressed it on her forehead. "I owe you one for saving me, Shun."

"Um...I work here, so your safety is my priority?"

"Of course you'd say that, but is there anything that I can get for you? Or for you your family?"

This is not exactly how I wanted to obtain valuable items from her. "Alice, I don't need anything. All that matters is that you're alive and well so that Chris and Soon can stop worrying about you."

"They worry about me every day anyway. Even with my fever gone, they have other things to worry—"

"Alice, I'm going to the market to buy groceries with Soon!" Chris interrupted. "Is there anything you want to eat in particular?"

"Hmm...maybe some echinacea flowers from the apothecary for my cold. I probably got sick when running errands yesterday."

"Will you be okay by yourself at home?" Soon asked. "Shun's still fixing the wind and water damage outside."

"I'll be fine," Alice reassured. Once her housemaid left the premises, she asked, "What's for breakfast?"

"There's porridge from last night and fresh oatmeal from this morning."

"I'll have porridge. I don't want it to go waste since I didn't eat yesterday." While Shun operated the stove, Alice retrieved a thick coat from her bedroom before entering to the kitchen. "If you don't mind, could you bring the food outside to the patio behind the house?"

"Isn't it cold outside?"

"But I want the fresh air to uncloud my mind."

"Fine." Why does she think it's safe to be outside when it's cold and with a cold?! Once the porridge and tea were ready, Shun transferred everything onto a tray and carried to the patio table on the deck behind the house. "Per your request."

"Thank you!" Alice blew softly against the bowl of porridge and ate slowly. "Have a seat in the other chair."

"I can't. I need to fix—"

"What's this?" On the tray was a steaming teapot, and she lifted the cap to see a mixture of herbs inside. "Chamomile? Ginger? Peppermint?"

"How did you know what I used?" Shun asked, finally taking a seat across from the heiress. "I know echinacea is used for immune health. In the meantime, I figured I'd mix these three items together to boil a tea for your headaches."

"How did you know I have headaches?"

"You've been pressing against your forehead and nose bridge ever since you jumped up from the sofa. Don't get up so quickly like that again."

"Wow, you're very observant." Alice smiled and poured herself a cup of herbal tea. "Just because Chris and Soon do most of the shopping, doesn't mean I don't know what's in my own kitchen."

Shun watched the redhead enjoy the herbal tea and asked, "What was so important yesterday that you had to spend all day doing?"

"Pardon?"

"You mumbled 'Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to get everything done'. Pretty sure you weren't referring to me."

"Oh, that." Alice put down her tea and pulled her feet up onto her chair. "I had some administrative affairs to follow up on. Grandfather used to be a shareholder in this local company before he passed. I inherited all his shares per his will, but I don't know what to do with them. I'd rather sell the shares for profits and never attend these meetings ever again."

"Shares? Like where you get return on investment if the company excels?"

"Exactly! Did you learn that from Kagusa's place?"

"Somewhat. You learn a lot of things by unintentionally eavesdropping on everyone's conversations at home. But if you get profit over time from the shares, why not just hold on to the shares? They're worth more than the instant gratification of selling them immediately, right? Where and how else are you going to earn your income?"

"But should I?"

"Why did your grandfather choose to be a shareholder in the first place? And why this specific company? If he left you with so much money, then maybe these shares are worth keeping?" That last sentence caught Alice's attention and earned Shun a curious glare from her, and he realized his mistake. "Sorry. I didn't mean to assume any monetary value. I actually don't know how inheritance works, but in many cases, it usually will not last forever without outside income."

"You're right." After feeling the temperature of the teacup, the redhead downed the entire cup of tea and slammed the teacup gently on the table. "I really don't know what I'm doing, but I will hold onto the shares for now until I've done more research."

Shun refilled the teacup and also asked, "I don't know anything about your family background, but how come you only have two servants prior to my arrival?"

"That's simple. Our elderly staff members wished to retire and return to their hometown. Others chose to get married, so they moved out as well. All in all, you can't remain a servant in someone's household forever." Alice noticed her domestic servant facing the garden instead of her. "Are you sure I can't get you or your family any—"

"I'd appreciate it if you'd stop asking me that."

They both stared at each other and realized their own mistakes. "Don't worry. But if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask."

"I'm fine. I just don't want you to offer me things when I just started, and we barely know each other."

"How about you take the day off and visit your family?"

"Excuse me?"

"You're right about us barely knowing each other, but that conversation about inheritance was deeper than anything that the lawyers or my other family members have told me. You should go home and let your family know how you've been doing during these past few days here. Mail is slow under these weather conditions, so go meet them in person instead of sending a letter. You're excused!"

Shun stared in awe as Alice cleaned up the table. "Wait. Let me clean—"

"You're done for the day! See you tomorrow...or later tonight. Bye!"

Is she genuinely giving me the day off because I helped clear her mind? Or does she not want me around because it seem like I asked and know too much?

The raven-haired servant bowed before the heiress before leaving the premises quickly. Parked in the same hidden spot last time was a familiar ridiculous vintage car. "Shadow, weren't you here just the other day? Why are you here if you're not actually visiting Alice?"

"It's my day off! I can spend my free time however I like. Now, where are you going?"

"What a coincidence. Alice gave me the day off to so I can visit my 'family'. Other than that, do you know anything about some local company that her grandfather used to own shares in? Alice didn't say the name, only that he passed the shares to her in his will."

"Probably some construction company. That's the big business in this immediate area. Why do you ask?"

"She was going to sell the shares for immediately pay, but I told her to keep them for now because the shares do pay back the shareholder."

"That's wonderful! Something I can inherit if out plan goes through. Anything else?"

"No cash or valuables to offer, if that's what you mean." I know exactly how to steal without getting caught, but to accept valuables when offered? Ironically, that makes me feel guilty.

"Not a problem. By the way, I'll be back in a few days for serious matters with Alice, so have some more patience."

"Right...when exactly do you get paid?"

"For now, you'll just have to steal whatever's valuable in that house that's easy to hide and won't be missed. See you next time!"

Shadow drove away without further comment. Day off? More like kicked off. I can't do anything if Alice doesn't want me in the house. Shun walked through the market streets in hopes of returning to his previous hideout, but Alice's housemaids were shopping at a stand near the side entrance.

"Chris, that's not the flavor Alice likes!"

"All these buns look the same on the outside, Soon!"

Great, now I can't even go 'home' because those two will see me. He pounded his fist against a random brick wall and continued wandering off to nowhere.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Shadow visited a few days later and handed Alice his invitation for a charity ball. "Take a look at this. The local orphanage is hosting a fundraiser as a charity ball in conjunction with an auction. Every invited person can bring a plus-one"

"I already know about it. Chris and Soon sorted saw flyers posted at the town square." Alice was still sorting through the rest of yesterday's mail since the weather delayed delivers. More letters from potential suitors. I should just throw these away. "I'm not interested, to be honest. The point of a fundraiser is to donate, and I can't even manage my own finances right now."

"You don't have to donate that much. If we go together, then maybe people will stop bothering you. It's also good way to relax and take a break from managing your finances. Besides, look at the date. You have a couple weeks to decide if you want to go or not."

"I guess. You'll probably come by again a few more times before that date anyway. Anything else you want to inform me?"

"Nope, that's it. See you next time."

As Shadow exited, Shun returned with today's mail and unwilling bowed before the guest, who simply smirked and left the premises. The raven-haired servant handed the mail to Alice. "This is today's mail. Not as much as yesterday's pile."

"Thank you. By the way, you don't need to bow to Shadow every time you see him."

"But he's still your guest, after all." Shun watched Alice tossed away some mail pieces from today without opening them. "You don't need to check the contents?"

"I know exactly who these senders are. They're all other potential suitors that I consistently ignore. They're clearly not getting the message."

"Maybe because you're clearly not replying?"

"Oh, come on..." Among today's pile of mail was the exact same invitation that Shadow had showed Alice earlier. "This is déjà vu. The sole purpose of Shadow's visit today was to inform me about this. Do I have to go?"

"Well...I heard him ask you already, so he's waiting for your reply. If you go, then it might be good for publicity. Let everyone know who you are so that they don't bother or look down on you anymore."

"That's funny. Shadow said that if I go with him, then maybe these other suitors will finally give up. Besides, I already knew about the charity ball because Chris and Soon told me about it. Once I receive my invitation, I would definitely attend—alone. But now Shadow asked, and I don't know if I still want to go."

Shun kneeled down to pick up all the mail on the floor. "What is it about Shadow that makes you so nervous and uneasy?"

"I don't know. It just seems like he's always on top of things and know every latest update in town."

"You can always say no." He extended his free hand to Alice. "Are you really going to say yes if you so have so many second doubts?"

The redhead who stared in confusion until she realized Shun was cleaning up her unwanted mail. "Here, you can toss all this away."

"You're clearly uncomfortable around him."

"Shun, please stop. You're not the one being invited." Alice kept the relevant mail for herself and went upstairs to her room. He's telling the truth, but it just hurts more to hear from his mouth instead of my own.

Out of curiosity, the raven-haired servant opened all the suitor letters, but ultimately tossed them into the kitchen fire. No wonder Alice is tired of reading these letters. Everyone literally says the same thing over and over. But why won't she admit that Shadow makes her feel uncomfortable?

Chris entered the kitchen to boil echinacea tea. "Shun, did you throw the unwanted the mail into the fire?"

"Why can't I? Paper is made from plants."

"I'm not saying you can't, but Alice usually throws them into the compost bins to recreate soil for her garden. But if you burning mail gives you a feeling of satisfaction, then go for it." The blonde housemaid placed the teaware on a tray before leaving.

Shun had one more piece of mail to dispose of, which he lit up with a touch of the kitchen fire and watched it piece burn slowly in his hand. Chris is right. This is satisfying. Maybe Alice should try this next time to get rid of all her worries.

Chris knocked on Alice's bedroom door and greeted, "Echinacea tea is here!"

"Perfect!" The heiress let her housemaid inside and closed the door. "Chris, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead!"

"What do you think about Shun? In term of both his work ethic and personality, that is."

"He definitely works hard and picked up tasks that are too difficult for Soon and I to handle. Why do you ask? Is he acting weird around you?!"

"Of course not! And quiet down. I'm just planning ahead for the future in that case that I actually get married to Shadow."

"Oh...you're debating between letting him go versus bring him with us to Shadow's residence. To be honest, we don't know anything about Shadow Prove's background. Your aunt and uncle dealt with that when they were still in town. What if Shadow already has servants already?"

"That's what I'm talking about. Anytime a girl gets married, she has to move to the husband's residence, and whether to bring a housemaid from home—or not—is always an issue. I don't have any another family here, so what would be my excuse to 'come home'? And you'll all get bored if you stay instead of coming with me."

"I get that. So why did you hire Shun in the first place? Soon and I really don't mind doing heavy duty work, but Shun's just more efficient at it."

"Because he was laid off the first time, and I don't want him to be possibly laid off a second time—by me. I just feel really bad for him. You know, I gave him the day off a few days ago so he could visit his family. I don't know how well that went. It's difficult to tell if he's in a good or bad mood."

"Alice, don't be too hard on yourself. You can't save everyone." Chris poured a cup of echinacea tea and handed it to Alice. "Take care of yourself first."

"You're absolutely right..."

Little did they know that Shun heard everything from outside and bit his lip upon processing that conversation. All this time, I felt bad for you for unknowing being stuck with a suitor that's actually a complete scam. You really don't put yourself first, don't you?