I stopped by the Servants' Quarters and ended up being held there for nearly an hour.
I had expected it, but the entire place was in complete chaos over Jeok Igeon asking for a second helping of noodle soup. He had simply enjoyed a meal, yet everyone was excited beyond measure, claiming that the "Greatest Beauty of the Demon Cult" had finally begun to show interest in the food from the Servants' Quarters.
While some were busy dolling themselves up, others cornered me to ask how to win the Second Young Lord’s favor. Many said they saw me in a new light, claiming that interesting things kept happening one after another from my very first day as his personal maid. Fortunately, I managed to escape using the excuse that I had to attend to Jeok Igeon, or I might have been trapped there until evening, suffering through their interrogation.
“Jeok Igeon’s popularity is incredible, just incredible.”
Even if he’s the protagonist, isn’t this a bit excessive? I had planned to stay quiet and unnoticed until my resignation day, but somehow the future feels uncertain. My efforts to survive seem to be flowing in a strange direction, which feels ominous.
“No! I decided to think positively!”
Mind control is especially important at times like this. Just two months at most. If I can just get past that deadline, I can survive. So wouldn’t it be okay if things get a little noisy? After all, it was just commotion among the maids. Who would pay attention to us doing menial work?
“Look! Now that I’m at the Hall of Lasting Glory, I don’t see a single ant!”
After the Servants' Quarters, which was more chaotic than a marketplace, arriving at the Hall of Lasting Glory felt like entering a temple. I’d noticed since morning, but this place felt unusually quiet. Even if Jeok Igeon is sensitive to noise, this seems excessive.
Come to think of it, there’s another strange thing.
“Why aren’t there any warriors here?”
I had seen many guards standing watch at the residences of the First and Third Young Lords. Especially the First Young Lord, Jeok Wibaek, who had quite strict security, if I remember correctly. Could it be that Jeok Igeon only brought Cheongang because he doesn’t want his true nature discovered? Though it was just a thought, it made quite a bit of sense.
Since maids like me handle the trivial matters, there wouldn’t be any inconvenience in Jeok Igeon’s daily life. He might be vulnerable to surprise attacks, but that’s not my concern. I just need to be faithful to my own duties. Therefore, now is the time to polish his private chambers until they sparkle.
Time was tight if I wanted to finish cleaning before Jeok Igeon returned.
“Excuse me…”
How much time had passed? Doae and her group came to find me while I was organizing the laundry. Looking out the window, the sun was already setting.
“What’s the matter?”
When I lifted my chin and met their gaze, the two companions behind Doae quickly lowered their eyes. At least for them, this morning’s warning still seemed to be working. Still, there’s no need to be that scared.
“…We’ve prepared the bath water.”
“And?”
“You might not know since it’s your first time, but preparing bath water is normally the end of the daily routine for the maids here.”
“That’s right. This is something the Young Lord specifically instructed!”
Their voices were loud, as if worried they might be suspected of lying. Only then did I recall the contents of the manual.
“Ah, I remember now. His Highness prefers to be alone from evening onwards.”
Even so, it’s just three maids leaving this vast residence; Jeok Igeon is certainly particular.
“I understand, so please go ahead.”
I would have liked to clock out with them too. But damn it, I was the personal maid. There’s always a reason for high salaries.
“See you later then.”
Doae, who had been silent until now, grinned at me before turning around. That sudden smile was strange enough, but her tone reeked of something fishy. Is she planning some kind of revenge against me?
“Take care.”
I watched Doae leave while waving her hand, feeling uneasy. She seemed to have prepared something, but I had no idea what it could be yet. I had prided myself on getting along quite well with my colleagues during my time as a maid, but perhaps that was just my own delusion. I could only resent Jeok Igeon for why I kept getting entangled in such troublesome affairs.
“Ah, forget it! If push comes to shove, I’ll just beat them all up again.”
There’s not enough time even when focusing only on Jeok Igeon. I hurriedly finished folding the remaining laundry and headed to the bathhouse.
And immediately shouted at thin air.
“Those bastards! The water has already gone cold!”
Jeok Igeon had a habit of bathing in warm water even in midsummer. There’s no way Doae wouldn’t know this. That means she deliberately pulled this stunt to mess with me. Wow, what nerve—to mess with Jeok Igeon’s needs just to torment me.
This all happened because he hasn’t revealed his true nature to them yet. If they knew how terrifying he actually was, they wouldn’t have dared to try.
“How wonderful it would be if I could conjure the Three True Fires at times like this.”
The process of lighting the furnace, boiling water in the pot, and carrying it to the bathhouse was too harsh an ordeal for someone born and raised in modern times. I’m in my fifth year in this world, but this is really hard to adapt to. It was a moment when I truly missed the warm water that used to come out just by turning a faucet.
“Tomorrow I’ll definitely check personally before letting them go!”
The same mistake never happens twice in my dictionary. I’ll catch all three of them and teach them a proper lesson.
Hmm, this should be good enough, right?
While moving around fuming, I finally got the bath water to the right temperature. I was confident it was perfect for a half-bath. Having been someone who used to relieve her tired body with half-baths after work, I could tell just by touch.
“Now then, shall I use my final trump card?”
What I took out from my blouse was a specially prepared medicinal powder. It was something Ms. Shin Geum always got from the pharmacy for me.
“I heard it’s quite expensive…”
Suppressing my reluctance, I carefully dissolved the powder into the water. This was honestly a gamble. Even in the original novel, bathing scenes weren’t described in detail. I was just trying this on my own because he seemed to enjoy bathing more than other warriors. It would be fortunate if Jeok Igeon liked it, but if not… it would be quite a loss.
“He wouldn’t just kill me outright, right? There should be some goodwill left from the noodles.”
Though his final look at the training grounds bothered me, I decided to trust in those two bowls of kalguksu. It was only one day, but perhaps he might think I’m somewhat useful. Adding the ice water, it was a game worth playing.
Anyway, that damn bastard Jeok Igeon. A maid just needs to do her duties well, so why do I have to prove my usefulness too? Though it was something I did myself to match the psychopath’s needs, being annoyed was a separate matter.
But I can’t get worked up. Relax, relax.
I was controlling my mind and body, steadying my breathing. That’s when I heard the sound of someone approaching with heavy footsteps. I quickly hid behind the screen set up near the bathtub. I absolutely was not trying to peek at Jeok Igeon’s bath; it was my duty to attend to anything he might need while he was washing. Besides, with Jeok Igeon’s level of skill, he would already know I was behind the screen.
Creak.
The door opened and Jeok Igeon walked in. Though he should have been exhausted from the arduous training, his steps were full of strength.
Thud.
Though I couldn't see it, I heard the sound of clothes dropping to the floor. Then there was a splash; it seemed Jeok Igeon had entered the tub. With his sensitive personality, he would have immediately noticed that something was different from usual.
Sure enough.
“What did you put in the water?” Jeok Igeon asked immediately.
I replied clearly without trembling, just as I had practiced.
“It’s a medicinal preparation that helps relax tense muscles and aids in recovery. You seemed to be overexerting yourself all day, so I prepared it.”
“I was overexerting myself?”
Was that not good?
“If the scent is uncomfortable…”
“I have something to ask you, so come here.”
“…Yes?”
At Jeok Igeon’s sudden summons, a metallic sound escaped my throat. But that was only for a moment, as my body was already rushing toward him. I knew well that he hated having to say something twice more than anything.
“Wh-what do you need… from me?” I asked hesitantly, keeping my head down as much as possible to avoid seeing Jeok Igeon’s naked body.
“Earlier. What did you give?”
“…Give? Me?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t give anything to you, Young Master…”
“Not me.”
Not you?
“Cheongang.”
Ah, Cheongang? Is he asking about what happened at the training grounds?
“Are you perhaps referring to the rice balls?”
“…Rice balls?”
“Yes, I gave rice balls to Cheongang. He seemed to have skipped a meal.”
“You gave them to Cheongang, not me…”
“…!”
At Jeok Igeon’s quiet muttering, my heart sank. It was a pattern that appeared frequently in the original novel. Usually, after muttering to himself like that, merciless punishment would follow.
Don’t tell me I’m going to die because of rice balls? Am I going out this pathetically?