Chapter 2
Episode 2
Unlike my gloomy mood, the sky was clear without a single cloud. I averted my gaze from the bright blue sky and moved my feet. Even if it was distressing, I had to do my job.
If I leave the main building, turn left, and pass the willow tree, the laundry area should be… should be there…
Why isn't it there?
Panicked, I started to retrace my steps. If I slowly went back the way I came, I should be able to find it…
…but it's not there. Where am I?
I stood blankly in front of a three-way intersection, looking around. It seemed I had lost my way.
If there was someone, I would grab them and ask, but there was no one in sight.
Left? Right? Or back again? After hesitating, I first put the laundry basket down on the ground. It was terribly heavy.
My legs also ached from walking for so long. Since things had turned out this way, it seemed better to sit down and catch my breath.
Just as I resigned myself and plopped down, someone spoke to me.
"Where are you going?"
Startled, I turned around. A child wearing a green robe was standing there.
Perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old. His jade-like skin gave him the air of a nobleman. His hair, tied tightly with a silk ribbon, shone with a glossy sheen, and his large eyes had a strangely dark blue tint.
His youthful face was smooth without a trace of stubble. Judging by his clear voice, I could tell he hadn't gone through puberty yet. His height was similar to mine, around 150cm.
As I blankly admired the child's beauty, I jumped up and bowed my head.
Even if I didn't know well, wearing a green robe at that age meant he was of high status. It meant he was recognized as a Martial Artist of the Tang Clan, so I couldn't treat him carelessly.
When I lowered my head, I saw the splendid embroidery in gold thread. He might even be a direct descendant. I tried to answer as politely as possible so as not to offend the child.
"I got lost while going to do laundry."
"You must be stupid."
What?
For a moment, I failed to manage my expression and bit my lip, bowing my head even lower.
Where did he learn the manners of judging someone's intelligence so bluntly?
Judging by his way of speaking, the Tang Clan must have failed miserably in their family education.
"A-ha-ha. I'm still clumsy at my work, Young Master."
"…Young Master?"
Then the child frowned. Sensing the displeasure in his voice, I cautiously swallowed hard.
Was the title wrong? Should I call him Young Lord? Little Young Master? Or Master? As I hesitated and rolled my eyes, the child sighed and waved his hand.
"Never mind. There's no way a child who doesn't even know the way would know me. Follow me."
Then he started walking ahead. His attitude suggested he didn't want to associate with an idiot.
His way of speaking was strange, and he treated me like an idiot for not knowing him, so he must be of high status.
The child walked strangely fast. With one step, he was far ahead as if he had taken ten steps.
I tried to follow the child, panting. Even if he was young, a Martial Artist was still a Martial Artist.
The child, hearing my rough breathing, clicked his tongue and stopped walking. Then he came to my side and walked slowly, matching my pace.
Even though his tone was brusque, he showed me the way and matched my pace, so he didn't seem like a bad kid.
"Here."
After walking for a while, the child pointed to a small gate. Through the gate, I could see the familiar laundry area. I bowed my head.
"Thank you, Young Master."
"You better memorize the way quickly. With such dullness, you won't even be able to get gruel to eat."
There was playfulness in the voice that scolded me. The child smiled and turned to leave, but then looked back at me again.
"What is your name?"
As I was about to answer, I opened my mouth with a blank look.
…Oh. What is my name?
Only then did I realize that I didn't know my name. It had been three days since I had fallen into this place, but it was so. No one had called my name during that time.
When I couldn't answer, the child narrowed his eyes. Cold sweat ran down my back. It was the first crisis I faced after possessing this body.
"It's, it's not a name worthy for a noble person to remember."
When I stammered, the child frowned. But he didn't seem to want to pry, and lightly clicked his tongue.
"Never mind. Go on."
I ran to the laundry area before the child changed his mind. My heart pounded, wondering if I was being suspected as a suspicious person.
I am a good citizen of the Republic of Korea. No, a good Maid.
Glancing back, the child was still standing in front of the small gate. The look in his eyes as he looked at me was strange.
I pretended not to notice and took out the laundry soaked in lye water. I didn't dare to raise my head because I felt a persistent gaze.
When I raised my head again, I was alone. I looked at the small gate where the child had been standing with an uneasy expression. I felt strangely uneasy.
* * *
It was almost five o'clock when I barely made it back to Gwan Ga Won. Songji, who found me, gestured.
"Come quickly."
I stood next to Songji and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
More than a hundred servants were already gathered in the front yard of Gwan Ga Won.
I had thought that there would be many people working since the manor was large, but I was surprised that there were so many.
I couldn't help but wonder how much money it would take to feed, clothe, house, and pay wages to so many people.
"Ahem. Ahem!"
Then someone cleared their throat. The noisy crowd immediately fell silent.
A middle-aged man in a green robe was walking from afar.
His neatly arranged hair and beard were streaked with gray, and his eyes were sharp. His stern impression made me think that he must be the Chief Steward.
"Is everyone gathered?"
"Yes, Chief Steward."
A middle-aged Madam wearing a plain green robe stepped forward and answered. Her attire was different from the other Maids, who wore low-saturation clothes with green waistbands. Songji whispered.
"That's Madam Jin. Because Lady of the House Lee left for her parents' home, Madam Jin rose to the position of overseeing the Maids. I'm jealous. I wonder if the day will come when I can wear a green robe?"
"Ah."
I see. She must be the one who manages the Maids. The Chief Steward, looking around the crowd, slowly opened his mouth.
"As you all know, there will soon be a gathering of the Five Great Families. Make sure there is no shortage in welcoming the guests."
"Yes, sir."
A gathering of the Five Great Families? Are the Five Great Families that I've only heard about gathering here?
I listened carefully to the Chief Steward's words.
"You must not do anything that will cause criticism. This is a matter of pride for the Great Sichuan Tang Clan. Refluff the cotton in the bedding that will go into the Guest quarters, and carefully check for any old furniture. Also……."
To put it simply, it was a request to make thorough preparations because the Tang Clan's pride was at stake in welcoming these guests.
The Chief Steward repeated the same words about six times, then gave some instructions to Madam Jin and disappeared.
"Did everyone hear? Move quickly! I won't tolerate anyone being slow."
As the dignified Madam Jin raised her voice, the gathered people scattered. I, who was also looking around nervously, followed Songji out of Gwan Ga Won.
I'm a little excited that the people of the Five Great Families that I've only heard about are coming.
The settings for the Five Great Families are different in every novel, so I wonder who will come.
The Namgung Family will definitely come, and the Zhuge Family? The Murong Family is said to have many beauties, so I want to see them in person. Will the Jinju Eon Family take the remaining spot? Or the Hapuk Paeng Family?
"Sister, what are the Five Great Families?"
"Our Sichuan Tang Clan, the Namgung Family, the Hapuk Paeng Family, the Murong Family, and the Zhuge Family."
So that's how it is here. It was the most common combination. Nodding, I asked again.
"Is the gathering of the Five Great Families frequent?"
"Once a year. They take turns hosting the gathering every year, so it's the first time in five years that the Tang Clan is receiving guests. No, you've lived in the Tang Clan your whole life, so why don't you know this?"
Songji, who had been answering willingly, suddenly became annoyed. She could have just said I didn't know, what's with the temper.
When I pouted, Songji pulled on my cheek.
"Ah, it hurts!"
"So-hye, you. If you can't manage your expression like that, you'll be in big trouble. If you show any dislike in front of the First Young Master or the Third Young Master, it's over, over. You'll go to the afterlife."
"I understand."
Songji, who let go of my cheek, made a gesture of drawing a line across her neck.
I rubbed my tingling cheek and answered. I couldn't tell if she was worrying about me or scolding me.
Come to think of it, she just called me So-hye? So my name here is So-hye.
As I stood blankly, repeating the unfamiliar name, Songji pulled my arm.
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to eat lunch?"
"I'm going."
With my cheeks puffed out, I followed Songji.
* * *
The full-scale welcoming of guests had begun, but my daily life remained unchanged. That's because I was in charge of laundry. The day before yesterday, yesterday, and today, I consistently washed the green robes.
Mountains are mountains, water is water. If there is anyone who has attained enlightenment by hitting laundry with a washing bat, it will be me.
Next to me, who was hitting the laundry with a washing bat with an enlightened face, a little Young Master was sitting and chewing on a blade of grass.
"Young Master. You shouldn't keep coming to such places, you're a noble person."
"There is no place in Tang Clan that I cannot go."
The child scoffed at my words.
Yes, yes. I'm sure. That's the problem with Young Masters who have grown up pampered. They think the world is theirs.
Since showing me the way a few days ago, he had been coming to the laundry area every day to spend time. It seemed he had taken up the hobby of watching me.
Seeing him specifically looking for 'So-hye', who was his age, I wondered if he was lonely because he had no friends. A middle schooler is still at an age where he wants to play with his friends.
"Are you alright?"
"No. It's hard."
"You look fine."
"I'm telling you it's hard."
How could I be alright when I've been hitting the laundry with a washing bat for over an hour? When I grumbled, the child smiled.
"Do you know what you are washing?"
"The green robes worn by the Martial Artists of the Tang Clan."
"Yes. What do you think might be on the green robes?"
"Hmm. Sichuan pepper broth? Dried grains of rice?"
"No. What your hands are touching now is poison refined from the sap of oleander. Ordinary people can fall into critical condition even by inhaling a little of the powder."
"What?!"
Why are you telling me that now! I jumped up and threw the laundry down.
