“P-please spare me! This lowly one was short-sighted and failed to understand the Young Lord’s heart!”
Of course, I couldn’t die like this. I prostrated myself flat on the floor, desperately begging Jeok Igeon for mercy.
“When did I ever say I would kill you?” Jeok Igeon snorted, sounding as if the very idea was absurd. “I’ve felt this since this afternoon, but you have a tendency to be excessively afraid of me. Has some rumor spread that I devour servant girls?”
“N-no! I have heard nothing but praise for the Young Lord’s excellent character since I began my service in the Palace. My ears are worn out from hearing it!”
“Is that so?”
“Having dared to disturb the mood of such a person, this lowly one deserves death, but please—give me a chance to explain.”
When I slightly raised my head, I saw Jeok Igeon sitting up, turned completely toward me. His lips curved up at an angle; he seemed genuinely amused by the situation.
That bastard. I’m dying of fear right now and you’re laughing? I was flabbergasted, but if I let it show, I’d be bidding a final farewell to this world. I took a deep breath and began explaining as calmly as I could manage.
“Originally, rice balls are food that lower servants make in their spare time to stave off hunger. Naturally, they do not suit a noble person like the Young Lord. They are made by roughly mixing leftover rice and side dishes—how could I possibly offer such a thing to you?”
“Cheongang seemed to eat them with quite an appetite, though.”
“If you are curious about the taste, then despite it being beneath your status, shall I include them with dinner? I will prepare everything fresh, not with leftovers.”
“Very well. Do that.”
Only after seeing Jeok Igeon answer as if he’d been waiting for those words did I realize: this was exactly what he wanted. He had frightened me just to hear that offer. If he wanted rice balls, he could have just told me to bring them—why toy with someone’s life like this?
It was fortunate I knew Jeok Igeon was a madman, otherwise, I would have been too bewildered to survive. From ice water to knife-cut noodles, and now rice balls... Had I led him down the wrong path? The original novel never mentioned he had such a large appetite.
“This lowly one will take leave now to prepare the meal so you may dine immediately after your bath.”
I didn’t want to stay with him for a single second longer. As soon as he gave permission, I escaped the bathhouse with quick, backward steps.
“Whew!”
My legs gave out. As the tension released, I collapsed onto the floor before I could even get far. I really almost died this time. If I hadn’t begged, I’d be a cold corpse on this cold floor by now. That vague way of speaking right before he strikes—if I hadn’t caught that, there would have been only one ending.
“Sob... Grandmother...”
The joy of survival was brief. I desperately missed Ms. Shin Geum, who would be diligently rolling noodles at her shop. Grandmother wouldn’t know how many times I stepped on death’s threshold today. I’ll escape the Demon Cult, and when Jeok Igeon eventually launches his invasion of the Central Plains, I’ll tell her my heroic tales. I’ll boast about how I survived these two terrifying months and saved her life too.
Steeling myself with a resolve I couldn't share with anyone, I pulled myself together. There was no time to delay. I had to hurry to add rice balls to the dinner menu. Jami-gwan was about to be turned upside down again.
“What? You want me to make rice balls for the Second Young Lord? Me?”
As expected, Seolok was on the verge of fainting. The girl who could make rice balls with her eyes closed was trembling in a total state of panic. Still, thanks to my nagging, the rice balls were completed, and I safely served dinner to Jeok Igeon.
I was right to increase the portion size, remembering the afternoon’s noodles. Jeok Igeon didn’t even glance at the formal dishes; he just kept stuffing rice balls into his mouth.
It would be so nice if those were stones. Maybe then three or four of his teeth would fall out? Just imagining it felt refreshing. But I couldn't let that actually happen. I had to survive. As frustrating as it was, serving him well was my only lifeline.
“Phew, now all that’s left is the late-night snack.”
After returning the dinner tray to Jami-gwan, a long sigh escaped my lips. Today has been so long. It’s only the first day and I’m already this exhausted... I didn’t even want to imagine the rest of my contract.
“Seolha!”
I was lost in these dark thoughts when I saw someone waiting for me in front of the Hall of Lasting Glory’s main gate.
“Senior Gaye?”
She was a third-year senior I knew only by name. We weren't close.
“What brings you here, Senior?”
She approached with a smile and suddenly linked arms with me. “What do you mean? I came to congratulate you!”
“Congratulate me?”
“It’s your first day as the Second Young Lord’s personal maid. We usually celebrate milestones like this. Let’s go, quickly.”
“...Uh, I can’t leave my post...”
Technically, I had to be on standby for Jeok Igeon’s summons. All the other maids had gone off duty; there was no one in the Hall of Lasting Glory to replace me.
“The Young Lord is reading right now, so it’s fine. Do you think we’d take you away without checking?”
Gaye dismissed my hesitation and dragged me toward the outer wall. Her grip was surprisingly strong.
“You’re finally here?”
She called it a party, so why were we going to such a secluded place? My question was answered quickly. At the end of the wall, a woman who had been crouching by a tree stood up, swaggering toward us. Behind her, I spotted a familiar face.
“I told you I’d see you later, didn’t I?”
It was Doae, greeting me with a delighted, ominous wave.
“How dare you lay hands on my sister?”
Sister? I looked between them. Doae lifted her chin triumphantly. I’d heard of sisters working as maids together—this must be one of those cases. Now that I knew, the resemblance was obvious. They had the exact same wicked expressions.
“Is this bitch deaf? A senior is asking you a question and you just keep your mouth shut?”
“Jiae, stop. Seolha is scared,” Gaye said, though her gaze was full of hostility.
“Seolha, I see you’re getting cocky because of that pretty face, but do you really think the Young Lord will look at you differently?”
Ah, so that’s it? I felt embarrassed for wondering if I’d hurt her feelings. Gaye, like the others, simply hated that I had become the personal attendant.
“There is a hierarchy among us maids. Even if you are a personal attendant, how could you hit a senior?”
“They attacked first,” I replied. It was three against one; I was acting in self-defense. Wasn’t it petty to run crying to your big sister after losing a fight?
“Oh my, she’s finally talking.” Doae’s sister, Jiae, spat on the ground. When I frowned, a slap flew toward my face. I didn't just stand there; I stepped back, dodging it easily.
“You’re dodging?” Her expression crumpled as her hand hit empty air. “I was going to end this with one slap, but I guess that won’t work. You’re getting a beating today!”
She swung again. And again, I easily escaped her grasp.
Wait. I was actually a bit flustered by her footwork. Her movements were different from her sister's. She wasn't just lunging; she was cleverly interfering with my paths, herding me like a rabbit into a corner.
It’s a footwork technique! Unlike Doae, the older sister had actually learned martial arts. No wonder she was so confident.
But what could I do? I’m not the type to just take a beating. I haven't learned the legendary arts of a protagonist, but I'm more than skilled enough to handle a common maid.
My Grandmother, Ms. Shin Geum, didn't raise me to be a pushover!