Translator: Nox

Ch#9

I stopped by Jamigwan and was held up there for nearly half an hour.

I had expected it, but the entire Jamigwan was in an absolute uproar over the fact that Jeok I-geon had asked for seconds of the hand-cut noodles.

He had merely enjoyed a single dish, but everyone was beside themselves with excitement, gossiping that the Demonic Cult’s most handsome man was finally taking an interest in Jamigwan.

While some took the opportunity to fuss over their own appearance, others came to ask me how to win the Second Young Master’s favor.

Many even said they saw me in a new light, marveling at how one exciting thing after another had happened since my very first day as his personal maid.

It was a relief I could use the excuse of needing to attend to Jeok I-geon to slip away. Otherwise, I might have been held there until evening, enduring absolute torture.

“Jeok I-geon’s popularity is really something else.”

Even if he is the protagonist, isn’t this a bit much?

I had planned to keep my head down and stay as quiet as possible until the day I quit, but somehow, the future was looking uneasy.

I felt an ominous premonition that my efforts to survive were drifting in a strange direction.

“No! I decided to think positively!”

In times like this, maintaining my composure is crucial.

It’s only two months at most.

If I can just survive that period, I can live.

So, what does it matter if things get a little noisy?

Besides, it was only a commotion among the maids anyway.

Who would pay any attention to those of us who just do chores?

“See! Now that I’m back at Geonyeonggak, there’s not a single soul in sight!”

After being in Jamigwan, which was more chaotic than a marketplace, arriving at Geonyeonggak felt like stepping into a secluded temple.

I’d felt it since this morning, but this place felt exceptionally quiet.

No matter how sensitive Jeok I-geon was to noise, this felt a bit excessive.

Come to think of it, there was another strange thing.

“Why aren’t there any guards?”

I had seen plenty of guards standing watch at the residences of the First and Third Young Masters.

I recalled that the security around the First Young Master, Jeok Wi-baek, was particularly tight.

Could it be that he only let Cheon Gang in because he didn’t want to expose his true nature?

It was just a thought of mine, but it made quite a bit of sense.

Since trivial chores would be handled by maids like me, Jeok I-geon wouldn’t face any inconvenience in his daily life.

He might be vulnerable to a surprise attack, but well, that was none of my business.

I just needed to stay faithful to my duties.

Therefore, now was the time to polish the inner chamber until it gleamed.

Time was tight if I wanted to finish cleaning before Jeok I-geon returned.

“Excuse me…”

Some time must have passed.

As I was folding the laundry, Do-ae and her group approached me.

Looking out the window, I saw the sun was already beginning to set.

“What is it?”

When I lifted my chin and met their gaze, the other two, excluding Do-ae, quickly cast their eyes downward.

It seemed my warning from this morning was still working on them, at least.

Not that they needed to be quite that terrified, though.

“…I’ve prepared the bathwater.”

“And?”

“You might not know since it’s your first day, but preparing the bathwater is usually the end of the daily routine for the maids of Geonyeonggak.”

“That’s right. The Second Young Master specifically ordered this!”

“Seriously!”

Their voices were loud, as if they were terrified I might think they were lying.

Only then did I recall the contents of the book.

“Ah, I remember now. The Young Master prefers to be left alone from evening onward.”

Even so, it was just three maids leaving this vast Geonyeonggak empty; Jeok I-geon really was incredibly particular.

“I understand, so you may all leave now.”

Honestly, I wanted to clock out and leave with them.

But damn it, I was his personal maid.

There was a reason they paid so well.

“See you later, then.”

Do-ae, who hadn’t said a word until now, smirked at me before turning around.

The sudden smirk was bad enough, but her tone reeked of something fishy.

Was she planning some kind of revenge, or what?

“Keep up the hard work.”

I watched Do-ae wave her hand as she walked away, leaving me with an uneasy feeling in my gut.

She clearly had something up her sleeve, but I had absolutely no idea what it could be at the moment.

I had prided myself on getting along quite well with my colleagues while working as a maid in the fortress, but I guess that was just my own delusion.

I only resented Jeok I-geon for why I kept getting tangled up in such exhausting situations.

“Ugh, whatever! If worst comes to worst, I’ll just beat them all up again.”

I didn’t even have enough time to focus on Jeok I-geon as it was.

I quickly finished folding the remaining laundry and headed to the bath chamber.

And immediately, I screamed into the empty air.

“Those absolute witches! The water is already freezing cold!”

Jeok I-geon had a habit of washing with warm water even in the dead of summer. There was no way Do-ae didn’t know that.

Which meant she had deliberately done this to screw me over.

Wow, she’s got some nerve.

Messing with Jeok I-geon just to torment me.

This only happened because he hadn’t revealed his true colors yet.

If they knew how terrifying he actually was, they wouldn’t have dared to even dream of it.

“How nice would it be if I could summon the Samadhi Fire at a time like this?”

Then I wouldn’t have to go through this miserable ordeal.

The process of lighting a fire in the hearth, boiling water in a giant cauldron, and hauling it all the way to the bath chamber was far too harsh a chore for someone who had grown up as a modern person.

Although I was already in my fifth year in this world, this was truly difficult to adapt to.

At this moment, I sincerely missed the hot water that used to gush out with just the turn of a faucet.

“Tomorrow, I am definitely going to check it myself before letting them leave!”

There was no such thing as making the same mistake twice in my book.

I’ll hold all three of them back and teach them a proper lesson.

Hmm, this should do, right?

As I busied myself while huffing and puffing, the temperature of the bathwater was finally adjusted.

I could confidently say the water temperature was perfect for a half-bath.

Since I used to soothe my weary body with a half-bath after work in my past life, I could tell just by dipping my hand in.

“Now, shall I unleash my final cheat key?”

What I pulled from my bosom was a specially prepared medicinal concoction.

It was something Madam Sin-geum always procured from the apothecary for me, knowing how much I loved half-baths.

“I heard it was quite expensive…”

Pushing aside my regrets, I carefully dissolved the medicinal herbs into the water.

Honestly, this was a gamble.

Even in the original novel, bath scenes were never described in detail.

I was simply trying this based on my own observation that he seemed to enjoy bathing more than other martial artists.

If Jeok I-geon liked it, great. If not… well, I’d be in a bit of a tight spot.

“But surely he wouldn’t just slice me down in a single blow over this, right? The favor from those hand-cut noodles must still count for something.”

Although his parting gaze at the Training Grounds weighed on my mind, I decided to place my faith in those two bowls of noodles.

It had only been a single day, but perhaps he considered me at least a tiny bit useful.

Adding the ice water to the equation, it was a game worth playing.

Anyway, Jeok I-geon, that cold-hearted bastard.

A maid should only need to be good at her chores; why did I have to go so far as to prove my utility?

Although I had done it of my own accord to cater to a psychopath’s needs, getting annoyed was a separate matter entirely.

Still, I shouldn’t let myself get worked up.

Relax, relax.

I must stay calm.

It was just as I was centering my mind and regulating my breathing.

The sound of steady footsteps echoed as someone approached.

I quickly took cover behind the folding screen set up behind the wooden tub.

It was absolutely not because I wanted to peek at Jeok I-geon bathing.

It was also my duty to fetch whatever he might need while he washed.

Besides, with Jeok I-geon’s level of cultivation, he would easily know I was standing behind the screen anyway.

Creak.

The door opened, and Jeok I-geon walked in.

Though he must have been quite exhausted from his grueling training, his steps were still brimming with power.

Rustle.

Though I couldn’t see, I heard the sound of clothes dropping to the floor.

A soft splash followed, indicating Jeok I-geon had stepped into the tub.

Given his sensitive nature, he would have instantly noticed that something was different from usual.

Sure enough.

“What did you put in the water?”

Jeok I-geon asked immediately.

Just as I had practiced, I answered clearly without trembling.

“It is a medicinal concoction that relieves tense muscles and aids in recovery from fatigue. Seeing as you have been pushing yourself all day, this humble servant prepared it for you.”

“I have been pushing myself?”

Did he not like it?

“If the scent displeases you…”

“Come over here. I have something to ask you.”

“…Pardon?”

At Jeok I-geon’s sudden summons, a raspy croak slipped from my throat.

But only for a split second; my body was already moving toward him.

Because I knew better than anyone that he loathed repeating himself.

“W-what is it… you require, Young Master?”

I stammered, keeping my head bowed as low as possible to avoid catching sight of his bare body.

“Earlier. What did you give him?”

“…Give? Me, Young Master?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t give anything to you, Young Master…”

“Not to me.”

Not him?

“Cheon Gang.”

Ah, Cheon Gang-nim?

Was he asking about what happened at the Training Grounds?

“Are you perhaps referring to the rice ball?”

“…A rice ball?”

“Yes, this servant gave a rice ball to Cheon Gang-nim. He looked as though he had missed his meal.”

“You gave it to Cheon Gang, not me…”

“…”

Jeok I-geon’s low murmur made my heart drop.

This was a pattern that frequently appeared in the original novel.

Usually, after talking to himself like that, ruthless punishment followed.

Surely I wasn’t going to die over a rice ball?

Am I really going to perish so pointlessly?