*Spoilers*
The owner (Astrid) got pissed at people asking her for everything and decided to turn to isolation. Astrid gave Rorona's parents some stuff but they couldn't pay her back, so she took Rorona as collateral. Rorona takes over the workshop (or lets it die if you sit on your butt). The messenger works for some royal doofus (the old fart I mentioned) who wants to bulldoze it.
Needless to say, work your butt off and keep the shop or stay a slave to Astrid, a total perve.