Chapter 31
I looked at the clock.
Well, this much I can handle.
“…….”
I pulled out a book that didn’t even register in my mind and leafed through it pointlessly.
“…….”
I even let out a dry cough to make my presence known.
“Ahem.”
There was no response.
The reason I couldn’t open that paper-thin door despite that was because of Oscar’s answer to my question about whether I could start by winning her over physically.
“As long as there are no side effects.”
Furthermore, it was better for the first encounter to appear accidental.
However, as time passed, Abel’s expression began to sour. By the time he felt his patience reaching its absolute limit, the world had turned a deep crimson with the sunset. Unable to bear wondering what on earth she was doing inside any longer, he was about to knock when Barbara entered.
Bringing dinner, she took one look at his state and laughed.
“I feel a bit sorry that I’m the first one to see you practically half-naked like that.”
“That’s enough. We’re both just doing our jobs here.”
“Watch your tongue.”
Then, with an ease that made Abel’s long, patient wait seem utterly pointless, she knocked on Seo-ah’s door.
“Young lady, I’ve brought dinner. I’m coming in.”
The door opened. Unable to help himself, Abel peered over Barbara’s shoulder to see the state of the room. The moment they saw inside, Barbara let out a laugh that sounded like a cough, while Abel choked back a groan.
The entire afternoon he’d spent with his shirt unbuttoned, sucking his thumb while waiting for that woman to come out, suddenly felt pathetic.
The woman he’d assumed was timidly holding her breath in silence was fast asleep, curled up on the bed as if she believed this place was the safest, most welcoming environment in the world.
Seo-ah—who had unintentionally pushed Abel Sting’s patience to its limit without even knowing it—only opened her eyes the next day.
Chirp, chirp. Waking up groggily to the unfamiliar sound of birds, she realized she hadn’t just taken a nap but had slept through the entire night. Her face went pale.
I must be out of my mind.
She had definitely fallen asleep watching the sunlight, but now a pale dawn was tinting the world in shades of blue.
To have slept so deeply that she missed the coming of night and the arrival of dawn.
Moreover, she hadn’t even noticed when someone entered her room. On the side table sat a note, likely left by Barbara after bringing dinner, telling her to pull the cord if she woke up hungry.
The clock pointed to six in the morning.
She hurriedly unpacked and washed up in the bathroom. Today, instead of a one-piece dress, she took out a top called a shirt and a skirt. She fastened the shirt buttons all the way to her neck and smoothed the wrinkles out of the skirt with her hands. As she was braiding her hair and tying it with a danggi, she heard someone outside.
Knock, knock.
“I’m coming in.”
The person who opened the door was Barbara.
“You’re awake.”
She was carrying a tray of food.
Seeing her hold the heavy tray with one hand, Seo-ah hurried over, but Barbara set it down on the table before she could reach. On the tray sat a bowl of steaming soup, some crisp-looking bread, a bit of fruit, and a cup of tea.
“Eat comfortably and leave the dishes when you’re finished. I’ll clear them away later. Also, His Excellency mentioned there is a weekly wage to be paid to you. Since the amount is quite significant, it would be difficult to bring the cash to you every week. I was thinking of keeping a vault for you in my office and filling it with your share each week. How does that sound?”
“Yes, that sounds fine.”
“If you ever need money, just let me know. I’ll prepare whatever amount you need in advance.”
“I will.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“Um…”
Seo-ah spoke calmly, recalling the task she had to do.
“The city looked wonderful when I was coming here by carriage. I’d like to go somewhere with a lot of people later. Where would be a good place?”
Her heart hammered as she asked.
She watched Barbara’s reaction, fearing she might say no, but fortunately, the woman didn’t seem to mind.
“Are you saying you want to see the city?”
When Barbara asked back as if unsure of her intentions, Seo-ah quickly added more.
“Yes. Somewhere with many people passing by… like a market. If possible.”
“A market, I see…”
Barbara trailed off as if thinking, then arched an eyebrow.
“That shouldn’t be difficult. Go to the Central Market. It’s the largest market in Vies.”
“Central Market…”
Barbara stared impassively at the stranger who murmured the words back as if memorizing them. In the dawn light, the girl’s pale face had a certain softness unique to someone who had never known physical hardship.
What business brought her all this way alone? The thought crossed her mind briefly, but that was all.
“It would be best for you to collect some money when you get ready. Now, enjoy your meal.”
With those words, Barbara left the room.
Only after she heard Barbara cross the study and the click of the hallway door closing did Seo-ah sit down before the steaming food.
About an hour later, Barbara returned. Seo-ah asked her as she quietly cleared the dishes.
“Can I go to the market now?”
An hour had been a long time to sit around doing nothing. Barbara checked the clock, thought for a moment, and replied.
“It should be open by now.”
In that case, there was no reason to stay at the mansion.
Seo-ah followed Barbara out immediately. After handing the dishes to a man in a suit who was walking through the mansion, Barbara led Seo-ah to her office. Barbara’s office was located on the first floor, to the side of the grand staircase.
“How much should I give you?”
“I have something to ask first. On the way here, I saw many tables outside. Can I just sit at those?”
“Those are usually cafes.”
“Cafes?”
“Places that sell tea or coffee.”
Barbara stared at the stranger, who seemed more than just sheltered—she seemed completely disconnected from the world—and simply handed her 200,000 Kerete.
“This should be enough for the market.”
The stranger gripped two shiny 100,000 Kerete gold coins tightly with both hands.
Watching her, Barbara wanted to click her tongue.
A naive face that was a prime target for scammers, small white hands without a single callus, and two gold coins clutched inside them.
She found herself questioning Abel’s competence once again.
Barbara pulled a small pouch with a safety pin from a drawer and held it out.
“Pin this to the inside of your coat and keep the money in there.”
She said it wondering if this clumsy girl would even understand, but while she might not have known what a cafe was, she seemed familiar with pinning pouches inside clothes. She handled it skillfully and then, for the first time, gave a faint smile.
“Thank you, Barbara.”
Seeing that, Barbara finally let out a small click of her tongue. Thinking she should double the backup personnel, she spoke.
“Wait here a moment. I’ll call Abel.”
Abel Sting, who had been drinking all night, had only fallen asleep at dawn, as was his habit. It was a habit because his targets were invariably noblewomen, and they usually went to bed at that hour.
Take his most recent target, the Countess, for example. She was the type to fall asleep when the morning moon rose and wake up when the sun was high overhead. She would get up late and head to department stores or boutiques as if she were going to work, and then, as the sun set, she would take her purchases and attend parties until the morning moon rose again the next day.
Abel had spent exactly six months rolling around with her. It suited his temperament.
But now…
“I can’t believe this.”
I’m not even a merchant, and yet here I am at a market before nine in the morning.
“Out of the way!”
A rough shout erupted from behind him just as a merchant’s cart splashed through a puddle. Abel reacted with animal instincts, stepping back. He managed to avoid getting soaked in the filthy water, but he couldn’t stop a few droplets from splashing onto the hem of his clothes.
That looks like rotten fish water.
“…….”
His patience was already hitting rock bottom right at the start of the job. He reached for his handkerchief but hesitated, thinking about how much it cost. Ultimately, he just shook his clothes out to flick the droplets off and looked up with annoyed eyes.
The first thing he saw was a peculiar red ribbon.
That ribbon could probably be seen from a hundred meters away. It was a very deep red. The color was a high-saturation crimson, but the material itself felt heavy and substantial.
