Episode 2
“I was just about to send for you, Seolha. Looking at your face, I see you’ve already heard the news?”
Madame Gwak greeted me with a smile the moment I burst through the door. I was in no mood to smile back.
“Seolok told me something strange. Is it true that I’ve been appointed as the personal maid for the Second Young Lord?”
It’s not, right? There’s some kind of misunderstanding, isn't there? Please tell me that’s the case. I looked at Madame Gwak with eyes desperate enough to be begging. However, the words that left her mouth shattered my hopes.
“Yes, it is true. You seem quite surprised. It was decided so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to give you a heads-up.”
Her tone was apologetic, but Madame Gwak was still wearing a beaming expression. And why wouldn't she? Becoming a personal maid was a promotion of sorts in this world. Not only did your salary increase immediately, but if you caught the eye of the high and mighty, you could change your destiny forever. In fact, many people took jobs as maids specifically aiming for that. In short, it was a situation where thanking Madame Gwak a hundred times for giving me this opportunity wouldn't be enough.
...Under normal circumstances, that is.
Once the facts were confirmed, a cold sweat began to pour down my back. It was a literal bolt from the blue. This was something I hadn't expected even by the margin of a fingernail.
Seolha, get a grip! You can still turn this around. I only have two months left on my contract.
From Madame Gwak’s perspective, having to find another personal maid so soon could be a nuisance. I decided to appeal to that point.
“First, thank you for looking favorably upon my lacking self. I know many of my peers want to be personal maids, so I’m honored you chose me.”
“Your handiwork is quite meticulous, isn't it, Seolha? As you’ve heard, the Second Young Lord has a generous temperament, but he is a bit of a perfectionist with a touch of a germaphobe. Unless a girl is sharp and precise, she’ll have a hard time matching his standards. I trust that you will adapt quickly.”
Generous temperament, my foot!
I barely suppressed my rising anger and let my words flow softly.
“But Madame, my contract period is almost up. Rather than picking a personal maid and having to find another one so soon, wouldn't it be better to choose someone else from the start?”
“Now that you mention it, you have two months left, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s a great opportunity, so it’s a real shame.”
I played along, looking dejected as if I were truly disappointed. At that, she held out a piece of paper as if wondering what the problem was.
“The contract? We can just extend it. It’s not complicated at all. You just need to leave your thumbprint here.”
Madame Gwak kindly pushed the red inkpad toward me. She didn't seem to have the slightest inkling that I intended to quit being a maid. Honestly, unless there was a special case, the trend was for most to extend their service. To outsiders, we were just lowly maids, but getting a job at the main cult headquarters was incredibly competitive. Because it guaranteed the right of autonomous entry and exit to the castle—the core of the Demon Cult—background checks were conducted upon hiring. This was to prevent spies from the Murim Alliance in advance. Since we had made it through such a tedious process, staying as long as possible was everyone’s dream and hope.
“Here, take this.”
Even though I hadn't put my thumbprint on the extension contract yet, Madame Gwak handed me a small booklet.
“I’m looking out for you specially. As long as you do as it’s written in there, you won't fall out of the Second Young Lord’s favor.”
“The thing is, Madame, I...”
“It’s a good thing you know how to read and write. There are countless girls who couldn't be personal maids even if they wanted to because they weren't taught.”
Madame Gwak let out a deep sigh as if that were a great pity. Regardless of her feelings, an emergency light went off in my head. If this continued, my position as personal maid was a done deal. Strangely, while this body couldn't remember anything from before the possession, it was somehow capable of reading and writing. I had considered it a blessing in disguise, but now I only felt resentment.
Beating around the bush with polite refusals wasn't going to work anymore. In times like this, direct speech was the only answer.
“I’m sorry, Madame, but I don't think I can do it.”
“You can’t? What do you mean?”
“The position as the Second Young Lord’s personal maid. Actually, I plan to quit in two months.”
“...Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask why?”
She seemed quite flustered by my refusal. It was understandable that she couldn't comprehend why a hardworking employee she had doted on would suddenly throw a resignation letter in her face right before a promotion.
“I’m worried about my grandmother.”
Since I couldn't tell the truth, I used my elderly grandmother as an excuse.
“As she gets older, her health isn't what it used to be. Running a shop is so physically demanding. At first, I thought I should get a job and earn money to let her live in luxury, but now I think being by her side is the better way to show filial piety.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
My only family was Ms. Shin Geum, who ran the noodle shop. Madame Gwak knew about my family situation—a young girl living alone with her grandmother without parents. I saw a flicker of pity in Madame Gwak’s eyes.
Success! She won't push it anymore. I was almost certain.
“If that is truly your wish, then I suppose it can't be helped.”
As expected, she accepted my refusal readily. Of course, she looked extremely disappointed at the thought of losing a talented worker.
“Then let’s do this. You will assist the Second Young Lord only until I decide on a successor. You can do that much, right?”
“Pardon? What do you...!”
“As I said earlier, this situation hit so suddenly that I have no immediate alternative. I can't just send anyone to the Second Young Lord.”
“But I’ll be quitting soon...”
“Yes, two months. I’ll have to find a suitable person within that time. Seolha, you are to report for work at the Second Young Lord’s residence starting tomorrow morning. Make sure you familiarize yourself with that booklet by today.”
As if she didn't want to waste any more time on the same conversation, Madame Gwak glanced toward the door. It was a dismissal. Perhaps because of the task of having to re-select my successor, there was a faint trace of irritation in her voice.
I wanted to ask her to reconsider, but I had no grounds for refusal. If I pushed any further, I might fall out of her favor, and my remaining two months could become hell.
Am I really becoming the Second Young Lord’s personal maid? Do I really have to serve that crazy psychopath?
In this lightning-strike situation, I was on the verge of losing my mind. The last five years flashed before my eyes like a kaleidoscope. I had worked so desperately hard... and for the result to be like this was absurd and staggering.
If I could, I felt like running away in the middle of the night. But if I did that, I’d be caught by the Manma Squad guarding the castle walls and sent straight to the dungeon. I’d be treated as a spy and killed during torture while they questioned my motives for climbing the wall.
I was definitely cursed with bad luck. From being possessed into a Wuxia novel to having to face Jeok Igeon—the man I wanted to avoid most—with only two months left until my escape. To think I would see that madman with my own eyes.
While reading the book, I had cursed him countless times. "Crazy psychopath" was among the milder insults. No matter how much the current Jeok Igeon was hiding his nature, my status was merely that of a maid—the weakest of the weak who could be treated however he pleased. A being of no use whatsoever to Jeok Igeon, whose goal was the unification of the Murim.
Come to think of it, Jeok Igeon was someone who exceptionally emphasized "usefulness." He never let anyone off the hook if they failed a mission, but he would grant rewards even if someone went against orders as long as the result was good.
Right, I have to become a useful person!
Even though I’m just a maid, if I prove some kind of usefulness, I might be able to avoid a dog's death. I have to avoid being a variable that disappears without anyone knowing. Two months at most. Until my successor is chosen, I have to buy time while catering to Jeok Igeon’s whims as much as possible.
Fortunately, I knew what he liked and what he hated. I also remembered a few important anecdotes from before he ascended as the Cult Leader. I could only hope that would help in extending my life.
“Um, Madame. Would it be alright if I went home to sleep tonight?” I stopped as I was about to leave and turned back to Madame Gwak, asking politely. “Once I become the personal maid for the Second Young Lord, I don't think I'll have time to see my grandmother for a while. I don't want to cause her unnecessary worry.”
“I suppose so. You’ll be busy adjusting to your new workplace. Very well. You must return by tomorrow morning without being late.”
“Yes, Madame. Thank you.”
Perhaps tonight would be the last time with Ms. Shin Geum. The Jeok Igeon of the original novel was a character with many variables who you never knew which way he would jump. No matter how well I did, he was the kind of guy who would kill me anyway depending on his mood. So, I should at least say goodbye.
I left Madame Gwak’s quarters with a grim determination, like a general heading onto a battlefield.