Chapter 17
Jeok I-geon was a superstar among the maids of the Inner City.
A sudden scandal involving spending a night with him?
If Jeok Wi-baek knew about it, then every maid probably knew too. That meant I had become public enemy number one.
Even if I claimed it wasn’t true, who would believe me?
Circumstantial evidence was against me; it was true that I spent the night at Geonyeong Pavilion.
How would I overcome this challenge?
If I had known such a great trial awaited me after my fortune, I would have approached things with more caution.
Just imagining facing the other maids at Jamigwan made my head throb.
“Ho, the young lady is becoming quite the beauty. In a few years, you’ll be a stunning woman. How about coming to my chambers tonight?”
This bastard needs to tone it down. He keeps crossing the line.
Already overwhelmed, my anger boiled at Jeok Wi-baek’s audacious harassment.
If revulsion had a face, it would be Jeok Wi-baek’s.
I already knew he had a thing for women, but this was on another level—absolutely despicable.
Unfortunately, this was the Demonic Cult, and Jeok Wi-baek was the first son of the Heavenly Demon.
I wasn’t bold enough to stand up to him.
All I could do was stay silent and avoid reacting, which felt like the most courage I could muster.
“As foul-mouthed as ever, Brother.”
Jeok I-geon finally spoke. He had been silently glaring at his older brother but now let loose a series of sharp retorts.
“If you’re desperate for a woman, go to a brothel. If you merely mention that you’re the Heavenly Demon’s son, courtesans will flock to you. So, maintain some decorum here. Your vulgarity makes me want to cut off my ears.”
“What, what did you just say?” Jeok Wi-baek stammered, stunned.
“Believe me, I’m holding back. If your words made sense, I’d consider responding properly.”
“Are you worried I’ll take her? Can’t you offer your brother a mere maid?”
“Does she seem so irresistible to you?”
Jeok I-geon glanced at me briefly before asking his brother directly.
Suddenly, I felt a wave of anxiety.
He’s not going to hand me over, right?
Didn’t we just have a decent rapport?
I was even prepared to devote myself fully to my martial training!
Unfazed, Jeok Wi-baek shouted at his brother, seemingly unaware of my growing panic.
“Yes, I refuse to let go now that things have reached this point!”
“Then try taking her.”
“What?”
“If you can take her, go ahead.”
“Are you suggesting I challenge you to a duel?”
“If you think you’re capable, go ahead.”
Jeok I-geon’s expression carried an unmistakable sneer.
“You…!” Jeok Wi-baek’s face twisted in rage as his cheeks trembled.
Even he knew the truth.
Though born the eldest son of the Heavenly Demon, Jeok Wi-baek’s martial prowess fell short compared to Jeok I-geon. It was a common opinion.
His repeated attempts to poison Jeok I-geon stemmed from that inferiority complex.
“Choose your words more carefully in the future. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t visit again.”
Jeok I-geon’s sharp retort now became a blatant dismissal.
The humiliation made Jeok Wi-baek’s face flush with anger.
He looked like he wanted to snap back, but the fear of a real duel seemed to hold him back.
In the end, he left Geonyeong Pavilion in silence.
“Thank you for your help.”
If Jeok I-geon hadn’t intervened, I might have ended up as Jeok Wi-baek’s woman.
Though I tried not to show it, I was genuinely shaken.
Life as a servant was always precarious, and I had done my best to avoid situations like this.
With just two months left on my contract, ending up in such a mess felt like an extraordinary stroke of bad luck.
“I’ll clear up last night’s misunderstanding immediately. I deeply apologize for causing you concern.”
Unlike my gloomy mood, I found myself worrying about Jeok I-geon’s reputation.
For the first time in his life, he had shown consideration, only to be burdened with an unwelcome scandal.
What if his anger turned toward me, and he decided to kill me over this?
Knowing his temperament, it was a genuine fear.
“How dare he covet what’s mine?”
Wait, what?
“Training will resume tomorrow. I’m heading to the training grounds now, so go handle your tasks.”
Though his gaze felt icy, it didn’t seem directed at me.
More importantly, “What’s mine?” What did he mean by that?
Startled and confused, I remained frozen as Jeok I-geon walked to the training grounds.
Even after he left, I stood there, racking my brain but unable to decipher his words.
Maybe I had become someone valuable to him.
That was the best explanation I could come up with.
“Enough overthinking! Let’s get his lunch!”
Jeok I-geon had instructed me to focus solely on preparing his meals.
My goal remained clear: survive until the end of my contract.
That meant following his orders to the letter.
What should I bring him for lunch?
Since he complained about breakfast, I had to put extra care into the next meal.
Jeok I-geon might be friendly now, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
How many characters have fallen to ruin because of one careless mistake?
I will definitely escape this hell alive.
What’s something simple, easy to eat, and delicious?
As I headed to Jamigwan, my mind was entirely preoccupied with planning a menu for Jeok I-geon.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that was a mistake.
“Seol-ha! What happened last night? Did you really sleep at Geonyeong Pavilion?”
The maids, led by So-ok, swarmed me.
What an idiot I was.
Of course, the first concern after hearing about the scandal was this. But distracted by thoughts of the menu, I had forgotten all about it.
“Did the Second Young Master actually choose you as his woman?”
“How did this even happen?”
“Why you, of all people?”
“Sure, you’re kind of pretty, but you’re not exactly the most beautiful woman in the world!”
“Why Seol-ha, though? Why?”
Jealous and resentful remarks poured in nonstop.
There was some envy, but most of the gazes were full of bitterness and suspicion.
I had to choose my words carefully.
If I couldn’t come up with a convincing and plausible excuse, my remaining days as a maid would be anything but peaceful.
Especially since Jamigwan was where Jeok I-geon’s meals were prepared. To continue receiving help, I needed to clear my name.
“Oh no, that’s not it! Why would the Second Young Master, of all people, be interested in someone like me? This is all just a misunderstanding!”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes! The truth has been completely distorted. I didn’t think the maids at Jamigwan would believe such nonsense!”
“What do you mean, distorted?”
“Well, it’s true I spent the night at Geonyeong Pavilion.”
“What?! So you did sleep there after all!”
“I just said I spent the night; I didn’t say I slept there.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Why did you stay there all night?”
“Ah, I don’t know if I should say…”
Feigning discomfort, I trailed off.
Frustrated, the maids began pressing me for answers.
“What are you hiding?”
“Are you just stalling to get out of trouble?”
“If you’re innocent, explain the real reason!”
The real reason was something I couldn’t possibly reveal.
Pretending to deliberate, I hesitated for a while before finally lowering my voice to speak.
“Actually… the Second Young Master wasn’t feeling well.”
“What? The Second Young Master was sick?”
“Yes. When I went to bid him farewell before leaving for the night, he didn’t respond. Normally, he would always thank me kindly for my efforts.”
“That sounds like him. The Second Young Master would definitely do that.”
“So, I thought it was odd and peeked inside. And he was burning up with a fever!”
“What?! He had a fever?”
“That healthy man?”
“They say healthy people tend to fall harder when they get sick.”
“I was so shocked that I immediately called for the senior doctor from Demonic Cult’s Medical Wing and stayed up all night assisting him. As you know, at that hour, I was the only maid at Geonyeong Pavilion.”
Cornered, the lies spilled out of my mouth effortlessly.
I wasn’t sure why the Demonic Cult’s senior doctor had suddenly come to mind, but it seemed like a plausible explanation after saying it.
And who would dare go ask the senior doctor to verify my story? That confidence bolstered my resolve.
“I stayed up all night nursing him and only managed to rest briefly in a small room. I can’t believe such a ridiculous rumor came out of that. As if I could even dream of being involved with the Second Young Master!”
“How is the Young Master now?”
“He recovered completely within a day. He’s currently training at the training grounds.”
“Really? Not even a shred of falsehood?”
Most of them seemed convinced, but a few still eyed me with suspicion.
In situations like this, a decisive final blow was necessary.
“Please trust me. I have no interest whatsoever in getting involved with people of high status. And there’s something I haven’t told anyone yet… I actually have someone I like.”
“What?! You have a lover?”
“Yes. He just got accepted into the Blood Shadow Corps. If you don’t believe me, I’ll introduce him to you.”
Yang So-baek, I’m sorry.
You just joined the Blood Shadow Corps, and here I am dragging you into my lie.
But isn’t that what friends are for?
Helping each other in tough times.
And so, my childhood friend Yang So-baek, my platonic male companion, suddenly became my fabricated lover.
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