Anna Virelle made a mental note of Timothy Hargrove's kindness, intending to repay him once she became successful. As she turned around, however, she spotted a girl standing nearby, watching her with eyes full of hostility.

Seeing Anna look back, the girl didn't hide. Instead, she strode over, tilting her chin up with a look of pure disdain. "Hmph. It's just a piece of white bread. Once I become a maid for the Lord, I'll be able to eat it every day!".

Anna remembered this girl from the original host's memories: Lily Hawke. Lily was the same age as Anna, with straw-yellow hair and a face full of freckles. Because she wasn't as beautiful as Anna, Lily had held a grudge against her since they were children, making it her life's mission to outdo her.

Anna had no interest in bickering with a child and tried to walk past her, but Lily wasn't about to miss an opportunity to gloat. She blocked Anna's path. "I'm telling you, I'm not lying! My Aunt Anna works at Wilson Manor, and she recommended me for a job in the kitchens. I won't even look at cheap white bread like that soon!".

The name "Anna" was incredibly common; in Pomegranate Lane alone, there were three girls with that name. Since commoners didn't have surnames, they were usually distinguished by descriptors, such as "Evan's Anna". Lily had specifically mentioned her "Aunt Anna" just to irritate Anna—pointing out that while they shared a name, her aunt was now a "high-class" person serving the nobility.

Anna had originally intended to ignore her, but Lily's words made her pause. "The kitchens at Wilson Manor are hiring?".

Seeing Anna respond, Lily's smugness intensified. "That's right! It's a secret that only a few people know. My aunt told me and recommended me to the Lord himself! Tomorrow, I'll be a maid in the Lord's house. After that, a peasant like you won't even be able to see me!".

Anna didn't bother correcting Lily on the idea that the Lord would personally handle a kitchen maid's hiring. She was focused on the news: Wilson Manor was hiring, and she was looking for a job.

But then, her heart sank. That terrifying demon with the goat horns was currently possessing Lord Patrick, and the manor was his home. If she went there, wouldn't she be walking straight into the lion's den?.

Seeing Anna's expression darken, Lily assumed she was depressed by the news of Lily's bright future. "Don't think you can use that face of yours to seduce Lord Patrick. He's seen plenty of beautiful women. A peasant will always be a peasant!".

Anna looked up, staring into Lily's arrogant face. "The one who pushed me earlier... was it you?". If it wasn't, Lily's comments wouldn't make sense.

In that moment, Anna realized she had underestimated Lily's malice. In the modern world, a push was just bullying; in this world, it was life-threatening. The classes were strictly divided; no noble would listen to a commoner's explanation. As the coachman had said, a cruel noble could have easily had her hanged for "colliding" with their carriage.

Lily panicked for a split second, but quickly raised her chin again. "So what if it was? You're lucky Lord Patrick is so generous. He didn't mind your insolence, which is the only reason you made it back alive!".

Lily had stayed behind after the push. When she saw Anna being carried into the carriage, she had fled in a panic, fearing Anna would expose her or that the Lord would be charmed by Anna's beauty. Seeing Anna limp home alone gave her the confidence that Anna had failed to seduce him. Since she was starting at the manor tomorrow, she felt she didn't need to fear Anna anymore.

Hearing Lily admit it without a shred of remorse, a wave of anger surged through Anna. If not for Lily, she never would have been targeted by that demon. Inside that carriage, she had been so terrified she nearly cried—she had always been scared of horror movies in her past life!.

The fact that she had returned safely after rejecting a demon multiple times still felt like a dream. But the heart palpitations she felt when remembering it were very real, and the culprit was standing right in front of her. Anna felt that if she didn't settle this score, she would be doing a disservice to her modern values.

She stepped closer, staring Lily in the eye. "You think you've already got the job? No. I'm going to steal it from you".

Lily, stunned by Anna's uncharacteristic aggression, nearly jumped. "In your dreams! You think the Lord would let a peasant like you work for him? Without a recommendation, you won't even get through the front gate!".

Anna didn't argue. "Stop calling people 'peasants.' Calling me names is just insulting yourself. As for whether I can get in... we'll see". Anna pushed past her and went home, leaving Lily stomping her feet in anger.

Anna's decision wasn't just an impulse. She had reasoned that if the demon was still watching her, it didn't matter what she did. If he had lost interest, working in the kitchen would mean she'd have no contact with Lord Patrick anyway. Even if she failed to get through the door, she was used to rejection from her job hunts in both lives.

Anna tore the wheat bread into small pieces. She gave portions to Adeline and Eddie, who accepted them with surprised delight. Seeing them eat happily, Anna smiled and knocked on her parents' door.

"Mom, this is some white bread from Timothy. I've divided it into six pieces and already gave some to the kids".

Grace Virelle set down the glass beads she was working on and looked at the bread, appearing lost in thought for a moment.

"Mom?" Anna asked.

Grace snapped out of it with a gentle smile. She patted the spot next to her. "Anna, sit. I have something to say to you".

Anna sat, but winced as she accidentally pulled at her wound. Grace immediately noticed and lifted Anna's skirt, gasping at the sight of the mangled knee. "Goddess! How did you get this injury?".

"I just fell," Anna lied, not wanting to involve her mother in the business of demons.

Grace looked at the wound with heartache. "It's because your father and I are useless. we can't take proper care of you".

"No, Mom," Anna comforted her. "We've never gone hungry. You've done enough". While the family was poor, Anna knew it was due to the environment of the era. However, she wasn't content to just survive—she wanted to live better.

Grace was silent for a while before saying, "Anna, you are seventeen this year".

Anna stiffened. In this world, marriage ages varied, but commoners generally married early while nobles married around twenty-three or twenty-four. Anna attributed this to the difference in living standards and life expectancy. At seventeen, she was at the "perfect" age for a commoner to marry.

"Your father and I have been thinking about finding you a husband," Grace continued. "Timothy is a good boy. He clearly likes you, always bringing things over. If you don't object, we will go speak to Thomas Hargrove about a match".

Anna thought that for the original Anna, Timothy would have been a great choice. His family was well-off for commoners, and he was shy and kind. They would marry, have children—some of whom might die young—and live a quiet, predictable life.

But Anna didn't want a life where she could see the end from the beginning. She didn't like this world, but she couldn't leave, so she refused to let the world change her.

"Mom, I don't want to get married yet," Anna said seriously.

Grace sighed and hugged her. "I don't want to marry you off so early either. But with Timothy, you would have a better life. You could eat white bread like this every day".

Anna leaned into her mother's embrace. "I know... but I want to earn the money for that bread myself".

Grace stroked Anna's hair. "A good boy like Timothy won't be available forever. If you miss this chance, you might not find another like him".

"I won't regret it," Anna insisted. She pulled back and smiled. "Mom, I just heard that Wilson Manor is hiring maids. I want to go try my luck!".