Shedding his formal persona, Ernst tossed his dress shirt on his desk chair and fell face-first into his bed.
I couldn't sleep well last night either…
At least it wasn't due to a nightmare this time…
He could feel his exhaustion slowly pull him to his bed.
The interview that had just taken place was still on the young man's mind.
After a few minutes of embracing his fatigue, he mustered what little energy he had left and stretched out his body in hopes of feigning his lack of tiredness.
No, I can't sleep yet!
Need to think about what I'm going to do from this point forward.
Walking over to his desk, he plopped himself in his seat and grabbed a blank sheet of paper.
Although he had no other job opportunities, Ernst felt that the least he could do was to list the pros and cons of the job.
Being faced with limited information was no help whatsoever. Regardless, he felt that his habitual overthinking could be a resource in this situation.
A secretary…?
After thinking for some time, he began to write on the paper.
"Secretary"
"Pros: Managing calls, Communicating with clients, Lack of physical demand, Decent amount of freedom during work hours, Set work hours"
"Cons: Chance of facing aggressive clients…"
Ernst stared blankly at his poor list.
I don't have enough information…I don't even know what sort of business I'd be working for…
Tapping his pen against his table, he continued to think of what else he learnt from the interview.
Ultimately, he could not help but feel enticed by the generous salary.
4,500 markings…that could easily pay off our debt…
Although the salary Sonia offered was quite appealing, Ernst could not help but wonder why the pay was so high for a mere secretary job. Although one could reach such a salary in this specific career, it was far too high for an entry-level position.
From Ernst's limited knowledge, he knew that most secretaries would at least be paid a maximum of 2,000 markings at the start of their career.
It would at least take a couple of decades to reach such promising pay.
Not to mention one having to progress through a hierarchy of differing positions with a likelihood of gathering further responsibilities.
Seriously…what would make the pay so high in the first place?
The caveat of this job offer kept nagging at Ernst's mind.
The perplexed young man continued to think over the matter for an hour. However, nothing new came to mind.
His eyes fell toward the watch he had slipped on earlier that morning. Brandishing the accessory, he admired the craftsmanship of the gift left behind by his father.
Looking at the time, he realized that he had not eaten breakfast or lunch yet. Watching the hands slowly move made him realize how his interview had only happened a few hours ago.
Suddenly, he came to another realization.
Grabbing a more casual button-down shirt, he slipped it on before heading down to their family bakery.
Emilia might know…
Ernst had been thinking all on his own up until now.
Seeking counsel was the best option in his position he was in.
Although his father and mother were gone, he still had his sister to seek guidance from.
Opening the backdoor to the bakery, he saw Emilia idly chatting with a customer.
To not disrupt her work, he silently grabbed a seat at one of the tables, waiting until she noticed his presence.
After finishing up her conversation, Emilia seemed to notice her brother sitting a few tables over.
"Is there anything I can get for you, sir?" she asked teasingly.
Following his sister's comedic act, Ernst acted accordingly, saying, "There actually is…I'm hoping to get a consultation from you."
His sister tilted her head upon hearing her brother's request.
After briefly pausing, she spoke, "I'm afraid we don't serve that."
Ernst's eye twitchedat being met with his sister's continuing gimmick.
However, he decided to continue to play along.
"That's a shame, it's related to a job proposal I've received recently."
Realizing the urgency of her brother's appearance, she slowly began to drop the comical persona.
"Oh? And what could that be?" she asked.
After straightening his seating, Ernst signalled his sister to take a seat across from him. Looking at his sister, all at once, he thought of all the good that could come out of accepting Sonia's proposal.
"Remember what I asked a couple of days ago?"
Emilia's smile became faint upon hearing Ernst's question.
"Yes, what about it?"
Being sure not to create a misunderstanding, Ernst decided to be upfront with his intentions.
"The job I was offered could easily pay off our debt within the next year."
"We will even have more than enough to eat out anywhere we want. Perhaps even enough to go on a vacation or two."
His sister's expression remained unchanged.
The young lady turned to glance at the bakery around her.
As usual, there were a few customers who had either come in for a quiet chat or to simply enjoy the calm atmosphere.
She then looked to the counter, seemingly deep in thought.
Emilia could not help but imagine her mother and father enthusiastically tending to customers.
Soon, they were replaced by ghosts of herself and Ernst.
After less than a minute, she finally turned to her brother and began to speak.
"I think you should accept the job."
Staring blankly at each other, Ernst could tell what sort of emotion Emilia was feeling at this moment.
The young lady held a similar look to when Ernst had come home with word of his interview.
"There is a catch, though," Ernst said while sighing.
Her brother began to share Ms. Sonia's mistake of not fully explaining the conditions of the job. He also included the potential upsides and downsides of taking the gamble, including the suspicious salary offer.
Emilia listened thoroughly to Ernst's explanation. From time to time, she showed signs of surprise, especially regarding the 4,500-marking offer. To their luck, no customers had come in to disrupt the flow of their discussion.
Upon sharing his own thoughts on the matter, he awaited his sister's final answer.
Emilia thought carefully once more, reflecting on her brother's own thoughts on the situation he was met with.
Only a few seconds had passed, but to the siblings it felt like minutes.
After thinking for a few moments, she glanced back at her brother and remained resolute with her initial statement.
"My answer hasn't changed. I think you should still take it."
"And the bakery? How will we operate?" Ernst immediately inquired.
Ernst was fully aware of the lack of time he would have to help his sister run their family business. Although customers were never an issue for the siblings, the challenges mainly revolved around preparing their baked goods.
With no hesitation, Emilia spoke once more, "No worries, just make sure to help bring in the ingredients every week. I'll handle your share of the baking from now on. Of course, if you truly miss the task, you're more than welcome to help whenever you want." The young lady's cheerful smile returned.
Her brother already had a feeling that her sister would advocate for Ernst taking up this career opportunity. To him, Emilia was always an accommodating older sister who sincerely wanted the best for her little brother.
I suppose there's no helping it…I should've known this would be her answer.
The young man looked to the window, watching the sunlight reflect from the bakery's counter.
"I guess I'll be heading there tomorrow to accept the position."
A smile formed on Ernst's face.
An infectious feeling of joy filled the small dining room, with similar feelings welling up within his sister.
Emilia moved close to her beloved brother and buried him in her abdomen. Making a fist, she rubbed harshly on his scalp.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! What gives?!"
At the mercy of his sister, Ernst could not break free from her grasp unless he wished to harm her.
"Just because you act a bit serious, doesn't mean you aren't my little brother anymore," she said while laughing gleefully.
After recomposing themselves, Emilia brought another cup of coffee to Ernst and sat down across from him.
"I suppose you'll need to buy some new clothes, though, as handsome as you look wearing dad's old outfits, they don't exactly fit you."
Tugging at the button-down he had worn in his meeting earlier with Sonia, he had to agree. His father was fairly taller than the young man. As time passed by, he did not necessarily have the need to update his wardrobe until now.
"We'll worry about that once I become officially employed," Ernst replied.
"I suppose you're right, we can't celebrate too early…" Emilia crossed her legs and lay her head on the table while chatting.
Although it was still a few hours from closing, the store was now empty.
It was around this time that students and employed members of Gaudnarian society would pass by their humble business.
"Things will be a bit different around here now, huh?"
Emilia's eyes stared stilly out the window.
For eleven odd years did she live with her brother. On paper, such a time would be considered an eternity for those who constantly seek an outcome for their desires. However, Emilia felt as if it was just yesterday when she found a 10-year-old Ernst, covered in mud, rummaging behind their family bakery.
The two would laugh, cry, play, and fight with each other time and time again.
Ernst was far more hostile at the time, severely lacking behind in Gaudnarian educational standards.
Emilia had her own dreams of opening up her own bakery. However, this goal was long met when she inherited the family business.
So much time had passed, yet it all felt as if it had happened in an instant.
How long will these days last… she thought to herself.
Behind the arm that was cushioning her head, the cracks of her lips shook ever so slightly.
"When I fully assimilate into my new job, I think we should do a bit of renovating."
Ernst's words pierced through his sister's daze.
Still being preoccupied with her thoughts of loneliness, Emilia casually looked up to her brother while trying to hide her true feelings.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked.
Straightening his back, Ernst squinted his eyes while looking directly at his sister.
"It's not like I'm going to move out any time soon?"
"Where am I gonna go?"
"Are you going to kick me out?""
Emilia did not say anything to her brother's remark.
After a short pause of silence, her brother began to speak again.
"As much as you hold sentimental value to mom and dad's things, at the very least, we should buy some new chairs or even a new oven."
"There are far better models nowadays, and it would save the bakery more money in the long run."
The young lady sitting across from him felt something shake inside her.
Following that was a warmth that seemed to spread throughout her body.
Right…I was being stupid again…
Quietly, Emilia let out a long sigh.
In a cheerful tone, she began to critique her brother's suggestions.
"Chairs are expensive; the ones we have are still holding out fine."
"The same goes for our oven."
Waving her hand out in the air while delivering her own verdict, Ernst's face became scrunched up.
"What do you mean, 'Our oven is fine?'"
"I had to stick my head into that thing a month ago just to see why the heat was all messed up!"
Crossing her arms, Emilia tilted her chin upward as her tone changed to that of an arrogant warden.
"Hmph! I suppose you'll be doing that more in the future, then."
Silence settled between the Adler siblings once more, but this time, all of it gravitated toward Ernst.
"..."
"I'm just gonna hire someone to take a look if you love that old thing so much…"
Unwilling to argue with his sister, his head drooped to his legs as he let out a long sigh.
The young man got up and began to walk toward the kitchen. "Did you want anything? I'm gonna go make a coffee," he asked his sister while caressing the metal edges of the counter.
With an exaggerated expression, she spoke across the table, "One hot chocolate – please and thank you, good sir."
"Yes, yes, your highness."
Don't underestimate your brother, stupid… He thought while smiling to himself.
Ernst then disappeared into the kitchen as he had done time and time again.