Translator: Nox

Chapter 118

<118> A New Path

"......"

"Did you sign a contract or something?"

"Um, if you don't mind me asking, why do you say that...?"

Miss Rotis smoked her cigar, seemingly lost in thought.

Leaning back on the sofa and exhaling smoke, she had a captivating aura. Laura wondered, out of the blue, if she had a lover. She was quite beautiful, wealthy, and not too old to be in love. Surely discerning gentlemen wouldn't leave her alone.

Eventually, Miss Rotis stubbed out her cigar.

"I heard you started preparing for independence around the time you were past your marriageable age. You're a strong woman, Miss Pendleton. If I were twenty-five and without a dowry, I would have committed suicide with a pistol. As I said, I'd rather be a robber than a governess, but I can't rob with these legs, can I?"

Laura was once again perplexed by her ambiguous way of speaking, unsure if it was praise or insult.

Miss Rotis continued.

"But reality is cruel. Whether you graduated at the top of your class from Grant Ladies' School or speak five languages, you're worth 50 pounds. Can you plan a future as a governess?"

Laura shook her head. It was a reality she had felt to the bone while wandering around employment agencies before coming to Dunville Park.

Still, Laura wanted to defend her position.

"I know. Becoming a governess isn't about using my abilities, but rather burying them underground. Many employers make governesses cook, do laundry, and run errands to the dry cleaner's. But, I had no other choice. And I was faithful to my choice."

"So, if you had another choice, it would have been different?"

"Pardon?"

"If there was a job where you could earn more than 200 pounds a year, would you have taken it?"

"......If it wasn't illegal, didn't go against my conscience, and wasn't life-threatening... yes, I would have."

Miss Rotis stared at Laura. Her black eyes sparkled.

"Then, I'll suggest another choice now. How about becoming a translator?"

Laura's eyes widened.

"How long would it take you to translate the book you're reading now?"

"......Probably, six to eight months..."

"The translation fee for a book of that length is 150 pounds. You have a talent for languages and you're diligent. Jane said so, and I can see it myself. You can be a translator."

Laura's body trembled. She placed a bookmark in the page she was reading, closed the book, and set it aside, then placed her tingling hands on her knees.

"Would a publisher accept someone like me?"

"What kind of person is someone like you?"

"A woman... with no translation experience..."

"If your ability is sufficient, the editor will hire you even if you're not a woman but an octopus. It doesn't matter that you have no experience. I know many publishers, and I'll introduce you to good people."

Laura's face turned bright red. Overwhelmed with surprise and gratitude, she lost her usual composure. A new possibility in life was slowly opening up before her eyes through an unexpected person.

She stammered out her thanks. Then Miss Rotis said,

"I have a duty to help you. As a student of Principal Grant, I must put her vision into practice. And also,"

Miss Rotis smiled sweetly.

"You helped Jane get a job at the publishing house. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have met Jane."

Just then, Miss Hyde's door opened with a creak. Miss Hyde came out of the room with messy hair and a robe thrown on. She rubbed her eyes and approached the sofa.

"I think I slept too late. I have a headache."

"It must be because of the rum you drank yesterday."

"I didn't drink that much."

Miss Rotis moved the cane she had placed beside her when Miss Hyde came over. Jane naturally sat down next to her.

"Jane, I just suggested that Miss Pendleton try translating."

Miss Hyde took her hand away from her eyes and looked at Miss Pendleton.

"A translator? Wow, that's perfect for Miss Pendleton. Miss Pendleton, you accepted, right? Right?"

Miss Pendleton smiled brightly.

"Of course, I can earn three times as much as a governess."

Miss Hyde clapped her hands with a happy expression. Miss Rotis said,

"From now on, I'll introduce Miss Pendleton to the editors I know. There will be many opportunities to accompany me, so when you make dinner reservations, set an extra place."

"Yes. Miss Rotis."

Miss Hyde grinned and then suddenly hugged Miss Rotis around the neck.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. Miss Rotis."

A faint blush spread across Miss Rotis's face.

Laura stared at her face for a moment, then averted her gaze. Somehow, she felt like her blush was contagious.

* * *

After that, Laura followed Miss Rotis around with Miss Hyde. At lectures, autograph sessions, and readings, Laura was introduced to many publishers and had meals with them.

Miss Rotis introduced Laura as a 'genius fluent in five languages' and a 'talented person with academic insight comparable to an Oxbridge graduate.'

The publishers, reading Miss Rotis's intention to debut her as a translator, rushed to sign contracts with Laura for manuscripts. There were rumors that Miss Rotis was breaking up with the publishers she had been giving manuscripts to until now and was looking for a new publishing house.

Laura carefully chose a work to start her career with.

Soon, a suitable manuscript appeared before her. It was a collection of essays written by a German priest. The publisher offered 100 pounds for the translation of this one book.

Laura received the original book and flipped through it, thinking.

'I can finish this in two months.'

Laura's heart was filled with confidence. She felt more secure in her own existence than ever before. Now she could escape poverty with her own strength. She could live without relying on luck or chance.

Laura signed the formal contract in front of Miss Rotis and Miss Hyde.

"Hooray!"

As soon as they stepped out onto the street, Miss Hyde raised her arms into the air and shouted loudly. Passersby glanced at her.

Laura's face turned red as she held the contract. Not because she was embarrassed, but because she was happy. If she were less reserved, she would have shouted 'Hooray!' even louder than Miss Hyde.

"Our Miss Pendleton will be rich now. She'll live in a big house, drive a Four-wheeled carriage, and employ several servants!"

"Not yet. I've only just signed a contract for my first book."

Miss Rotis shook her head.

"If you work steadily for 10 years, it will be as Jane says. Translation skills are a valuable talent in the publishing industry."

Laura's heart pounded. She thought she shouldn't be too optimistic about the future that hadn't come yet, but her heart was endlessly excited and joyful. As her expected income increased, the anxiety about the future that had always been in one corner of her mind disappeared like snow melting.

The three walked slowly along the orange-lit pavement as the sunset faded.

Miss Rotis suggested.

"It's a shame to just go home on a day like today, shall we stop somewhere and have dinner?"

Laura replied in a much brighter voice than usual.

"Let's go to 'Beatrice'. I'll pay today."

The three headed to the famous Italian restaurant 'Beatrice'. But even though it was only 5:30, the tables were already full. The manager apologized, saying it would take an hour for a table to become available.

They considered other options. But they all agreed that they didn't want to eat at a mediocre restaurant on a day as memorable as today.

They put their names on the waiting list and headed to the Mineral Water Hall near the restaurant.

The Mineral Water Hall was a famous landmark in Bath where you could drink mineral water for free. The building was spacious and beautiful, making it a suitable place for socializing or making appointments.

When they arrived at the hall, they each took a glass of mineral water in a pretty cocktail glass and began to walk through the central hall. The hall was as crowded as usual.

Tired of being jostled by the crowd, they took a seat by the window in a secluded corner. And they drank mineral water and had light conversations.

Laura talked about the future. She wanted to translate at least three books a year. If she combined that money with the inheritance she received from her father, she would be able to live without any shortages.

"Maybe in about ten years, I can build a small school in the countryside. Teaching children during the day and translating in the evening would be a very rewarding life."

Miss Hyde responded excitedly.

"If it's Miss Pendleton, she'll send all the farmers' children to Oxbridge and still have some left over. She's a natural teacher."

While the two were having a lively conversation, Miss Rotis remained silent. After about thirty minutes, Miss Rotis called out to the two in a low voice.

"Someone is watching us."

The two looked at Miss Rotis with wide eyes.

"Who?"

Miss Hyde asked.

"I don't know. But I can feel someone's gaze. They've been watching us without taking their eyes off us for thirty minutes."

"Maybe they're a fan of Miss Rotis? They want to come and say hello, but they can't because they have company..."

Laura cautiously offered her opinion. Miss Rotis shook her head.

"If they were a fan, they would have asked for an autograph already. I guess the other person is definitely a man."

Displeasure was evident on Miss Rotis's face.

"It looks like there's a gentleman who's fallen for one of us. Probably Miss Rotis, the most beautiful of us."

Laura tried to speak softly again to ease the atmosphere, but Miss Rotis's expression didn't change.

Miss Hyde opened her mouth.

"Let's go back to the hotel for now. If we take a chartered carriage as soon as we go out, they won't be able to follow us."

They quickly left the Mineral Water Hall. And they hurriedly grabbed one of the passing chartered carriages and headed to the Laurelia Hotel.

Back at the hotel, they gathered in the living room and pondered. Who was the owner of that gaze, and why were they staring so persistently?

It was impossible to know who it was. Bath was bursting with people, and half of them were men.

But as for why they were staring, Miss Rotis asserted that they must have dirty intentions.

"If you're interested in a lady, the normal thing to do is to approach her directly. If you stare at someone for more than thirty minutes in one place, it's obvious that the person has impure motives or is out of their mind."

Laura didn't think so extremely, but she could understand her anxiety. For a woman, a man's gaze can sometimes be a harbinger of crisis.

Miss Hyde stroked her chin and thought.

"Who were they targeting among us? Miss Pendleton? Me? Or Miss Rotis?"

"Maybe all three of us."

Laura shuddered at Miss Rotis's words.

"If it's all three of us, they're really crazy."