That night, Catherine, Reyna, Martha, and Olive sat at the dining table. Today, Evan had prepared a small celebration for the income he earned.
On the table, various meat dishes were served alongside vegetables and boiled potatoes, all cooked by Catherine and Martha. They ate and chatted happily. Afterwards, Martha took her daughter and left first, giving the family some space.
In the middle of the casual conversation, Evan suddenly cleared his throat, successfully drawing everyone's attention. Without waiting for them to ask, he said,
"Mom, since I earned quite a lot today, and my daily income is already more than enough, I think it's time for us to rent our own house."
Hearing that, Reyna froze for a moment, and so did their mother.
Catherine looked at Evan with slightly widened eyes. "Rent a house? Isn't this inn already comfortable for us?" she asked with a curious tone.
Evan gave a faint smile. "It is comfortable… but it's not ours. Besides, I want you all to have more space. No more hearing drunk guests shouting in the middle of the night, and no more sharing a kitchen with strangers."
Reyna's eyes immediately lit up. "If we get our own house… can I have my own room?" she asked hopefully.
Evan nodded, patting his sister's head. "Of course. And you, Mom, won't have to work anymore. You can even have a small garden in the back to grow vegetables."
Their mother slowly smiled, as if she was already picturing this new life. "In that case… I suppose it wouldn't hurt to take a look tomorrow," she replied.
Evan nodded. "Alright. Tomorrow, we'll start searching."
That night, the atmosphere at the table turned warm—not just because of the simple meal before them, but also because of the image of a better future.
---
The next day, Evan didn't go into the forest to hunt, as he planned to look for a rental house with his mother and sister.
They didn't leave too early, departing around ten in the morning. Their destination was the property department managed by the city's leader. According to Martha, if they wanted to rent a better house, it was easier and more reliable to go through this department.
When the three of them arrived at the address Martha had given, they saw a spacious two-story marble building. The large main door was always open. The steady flow of people coming and going showed how busy the place was.
As they reached the entrance, a beautiful woman in neat and elegant clothing greeted them. Her long brown hair reached her waist, and a gentle, professional smile graced her face.
"Good morning, I'm Melis. How may I help you?" Her soft voice was relaxing to the ears.
Evan glanced at his mother, who remained silent, then replied, "My name is Evan. We'd like to rent a house."
Melis nodded and said, "Alright, Mr. Evan, please follow me to see the listings."
She led them into a large room filled with many people. Judging by their fine clothing, most seemed wealthy. Staff members like Melis attended to each one.
Melis let them sit on a sofa before asking, pen and notepad in hand, "Alright, Mr. Evan, could you tell me the criteria for the house you're looking for?"
Evan looked at his mother and sister, who had been quiet the whole time. He knew he was the one making the decision today.
"First, the neighborhood must be safe," he said. "It would be better if it's not too far from the guild, and it should have a garden. It doesn't have to be too big, but it should have a yard."
Hearing his request, Melis flipped through a file for several minutes before handing Evan three sheets of paper containing house information.
"These are the three most suitable options based on your criteria. You can take a look first, then choose one—or all—so we can visit them in person," she explained.
Evan reviewed the information with his mother and sister. Ten minutes later, he returned the file to Melis. "Let's visit this one first. If it's good, we'll rent it right away," he said, pointing at one of the listings.
Melis nodded in agreement, took the house key, and brought them to the location by horse-drawn carriage.
---
The house was fairly close to the city center, and not far from it was a luxurious shopping street.
When they arrived, the first thing they saw was a sturdy, well-maintained house with cream-colored walls that still looked clean. Its black iron gate opened slowly as Melis pushed it, revealing a spacious front yard with shady trees and colorful flowers lining the path.
Melis began explaining, "This house belongs to a wealthy merchant, but he owns another residence in the city, so he's renting this one out through us…"
After going over the details of the house, she stopped and said, "The rent is 1 gold coins and 80 silver coin per month, but if you pay for half a year in advance, it's only 10 gold coins in total."
Reyna, who had been silent, couldn't hold back her shock. "That expensive?!"
Melis smiled in response. "It is quite expensive, but considering the location, the building, and its facilities, it's worth the price."
This time, Catherine spoke up. "Evan, we don't need such an expensive house. Let's find something cheaper," she whispered, urging him.
But Evan didn't seem too concerned. "Don't worry about the price, Mom. Even if it's a bit costly, I can still afford it," he said confidently.
Then he turned to Melis. "I'll rent it for half a year, but I'll pay for three months first, and the rest before the end of the month. Is that acceptable?" he asked.
Melis immediately agreed. They returned to the office and signed the contract after Evan showed his guild card and paid 5 gold coins.
Once the paperwork was done, Evan and his family went back to the inn to gather their belongings. Before nightfall, they had already moved in—after saying goodbye to Martha and her daughter.