Chapter 9
Stopping by Jamigwan delayed me by nearly half an hour.
I had expected it, but the whole place was in an uproar over Jeok I-geon’s request for a refill of the chicken noodle soup.
He had merely enjoyed a dish of food, yet everyone was excited, exclaiming that the most handsome man in the Demonic Cult had finally taken an interest in Jamigwan.
Some started touching up their makeup, while others came to me, asking how to win the Second Young Master’s favor.
Several people even said they saw me differently now, claiming that my first day as his dedicated maid was already packed with intriguing events.
It was fortunate I used the excuse of serving Jeok I-geon to escape. Any longer, and I might have been held captive until dinner, enduring what felt like live torture.
“Jeok I-geon sure is popular.”
Even for the protagonist of a story, this felt excessive.
I had planned to stay quiet and avoid attention until my resignation, but the future suddenly seemed uncertain.
It felt ominous, as though all my efforts to survive were going astray.
“No! I decided to think positively!”
In moments like these, maintaining a positive mindset was crucial.
It’s just two months.
As long as I get through this time, I can survive.
So what if things get a little noisy?
After all, this kind of fuss would remain confined to the maids.
Who would even care about us lowly workers doing menial chores?
“See? There’s not a single ant in sight at Geonyeong Pavilion!”
After leaving the bustling market-like chaos of Jamigwan, Geonyeong Pavilion felt as quiet as a monastery.
It had been noticeable since morning, but the silence here was truly remarkable.
No matter how sensitive Jeok I-geon was to noise, this seemed excessive.
Now that I think about it, there’s something else strange.
“Why aren’t there any guards?”
At the residences of the First and Third Young Masters, I had seen plenty of guards standing watch.
In particular, Jeok Wi-baek, the Eldest Young Master, maintained notably tight security.
Was it because Jeok I-geon didn’t want anyone discovering his true nature?
It seemed plausible, even to me.
With mundane tasks handled by maids like me, Jeok I-geon would face no inconvenience in his daily life.
He might be vulnerable to surprise attacks, but that wasn’t my concern.
All I had to do was focus on my job.
Right now, that meant cleaning the inner chambers until they sparkled.
I needed to finish before Jeok I-geon returned.
“How long has it been…?”
I was folding laundry when Do-ae and her group appeared.
The sun was already setting, casting the room in a soft glow.
“What’s the matter?”
When I raised my chin to meet her gaze, the two standing behind Do-ae immediately averted their eyes.
At least my warning from this morning seemed to still resonate with them.
They really didn’t need to be this scared.
“…We’ve prepared the bathwater.”
“And?”
“You’re new, so you wouldn’t know. But for the maids of Geonyeong Pavilion, preparing the bathwater is the last task of the day.”
“Yeah! It’s a special order from the Second Young Master!”
“Really!”
Their voices rose as if worried they might be suspected of lying.
Then I remembered something from the manual Lady Gwak had given me.
“Ah, yes, I recall. The Second Young Master prefers to be alone in the evenings.”
As if removing just three maids from this massive Geonyeong Pavilion was such a big deal. Jeok I-geon truly was particular.
“All right, you can go.”
Honestly, I wanted to leave with them.
But alas, I was the exclusive maid.
There was a reason my pay was higher than theirs.
“Well then, see you later.”
Do-ae, who had been silent until now, smirked as she turned to leave.
Her sudden smile and the strange vibe in her tone felt unsettling.
Was this some sort of veiled threat or a hint of revenge?
“Take care.”
I watched her wave as she walked away, a feeling of unease gnawing at me.
It was clear she was plotting something, but I couldn’t begin to guess what.
I had prided myself on getting along well with my coworkers during my time as a maid in the Inner City.
Apparently, that was just my perspective.
Why did I keep getting dragged into these exhausting situations?
Once again, I silently cursed Jeok I-geon.
“Whatever! If worse comes to worst, I’ll just beat them up again.”
There was no time to waste on them.
Jeok I-geon required all of my attention.
I quickly finished folding the rest of the laundry and headed to the bath.
Then, I yelled into the empty air.
“Seriously? The water’s already gone cold!”
Jeok I-geon had a habit of bathing in warm water even during the height of summer.
Do-ae would have known that.
Which meant this was intentional—a scheme to mess with me.
Wow, they’ve got guts.
To mess with Jeok I-geon just to get at me?
This was all because he hadn’t revealed his true colors yet.
If they had truly understood fear, they wouldn’t have dared to try something like this.
“If only I could summon the Triadic True Flame in moments like these.”
That way, I wouldn’t have to endure such hardship.
The process of lighting the furnace, boiling water in the cauldron, and carrying it to the bathhouse was grueling for someone like me, born and raised in a modern world.
Though I had been in this world for five years, some tasks were still impossible to adapt to.
I genuinely missed the warm water that flowed effortlessly from a faucet at the turn of a knob.
“Tomorrow, I’ll make sure to confirm everything before letting them leave!”
In my dictionary, mistakes weren’t repeated.
I’d catch all three of them, keep them back, and show them what a proper lesson looked like.
Huffing and puffing as I moved, I finally managed to get the bathwater to the perfect temperature.
I could confidently say it was ideal for a half-body soak.
Having often unwound after work with a relaxing bath, I could gauge it with just a touch.
“Now, time to deploy the final cheat code.”
I took out a special herbal packet I had prepared in advance.
Shin Geum had always procured it for me from the apothecary, knowing how much I loved my baths.
“It’s supposed to be pretty expensive…”
Suppressing my hesitation, I carefully dissolved the herbs into the water.
Honestly, this was a gamble.
The original novel never went into detail about bathing scenes.
It just hinted that, compared to other martial artists, Jeok I-geon seemed to enjoy baths.
So this was a personal experiment.
If he liked it, great. If not… well, that’d be unfortunate.
“He wouldn’t just kill me outright, would he? Surely the goodwill from the chicken noodle soup still counts for something.”
The piercing glare he’d given me at the training ground lingered in my mind, but I decided to put my faith in those two bowls of noodles.
Though it had only been a day, maybe—just maybe—he saw me as somewhat useful.
With the ice water incident factored in, it was worth the risk.
Still, Jeok I-geon, you ruthless psycho.
All a maid should need to do is her job. Why does she have to prove her worth too?
Even though I brought this on myself by catering to his whims, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
That said, losing my temper wouldn’t help.
Relax, relax.
Stay calm.
As I worked to steady my breathing and compose myself, I heard footsteps approaching.
Quickly, I hid behind the screen near the bath.
I wasn’t trying to spy on Jeok I-geon’s bath.
Part of my duty was to prepare anything he might need while he bathed.
Besides, someone of Jeok I-geon’s caliber would already know I was behind the screen.
The door creaked open, and Jeok I-geon stepped inside.
Despite what must have been a grueling training session, his stride was full of energy.
Thud.
Though I couldn’t see, the sound of his clothes hitting the floor was unmistakable.
Then came the splash of water as he entered the tub.
Given his sharp senses, he would surely notice the difference right away.
And sure enough.
“What did you put in the water?”
Jeok I-geon asked immediately.
As rehearsed, I responded without faltering, speaking clearly.
“It’s a blend of herbs that relaxes tense muscles and helps with recovery. Since you seemed to have exerted yourself today, I prepared it for you.”
“You think I’ve overexerted myself?”
Not a fan?
“If the scent bothers you, I can—”
“Come here. I have something to ask you.”
“…Excuse me?”
Startled by his sudden summons, I let out a metallic squeak of a response.
But my body moved instinctively, rushing toward him.
I knew how much he despised having to repeat himself.
“Wh-what can I do for you, sir?”
Keeping my head bowed to avoid seeing him unclothed, I stammered out the question.
“Earlier. What did you give him?”
“…Give him?”
“Yes, what did you give him?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand… who are you referring to?”
“Not me.”
Not you?
“Cheon Gang.”
Oh, Cheon Gang?
Was he asking about the incident at the training ground?
“Are you perhaps referring to the rice balls?”
“…Rice balls?”
“Yes, I gave Cheon Gang a rice ball. He seemed to have skipped a meal.”
“You gave it to Cheon Gang, not me…”
“…!”
Hearing Jeok I-geon mutter to himself in that low tone sent a chill down my spine.
This was a familiar pattern from the novel.
Whenever he murmured like this, harsh punishment inevitably followed.
Was I really going to die because of a rice ball?
To think my life would end so pointlessly…
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment