“Actually, I was just about to call for you, Seol-ha. But I see from your face that you’ve already heard the news?”
I hurriedly opened the door and stepped in. Lady Gwak greeted me with a smile, but I wasn’t in the mood to smile back.
“So-ok said something strange. She said I was appointed as Il-gongja’s personal maid. Is that true?”
It can’t be, right?
There must be some misunderstanding along the way, right?
Please, tell me that’s the case.
I looked at Lady Gwak with a pleading, desperate expression.
But the words that came from her mouth crushed my hopes completely.
“Yes, it’s true. You seem quite shocked. It was decided so suddenly that we couldn’t give you prior notice.”
Her tone sounded apologetic, but Lady Gwak still wore a smiling face.
Why wouldn’t she? Becoming a personal maid was a sort of promotion in this world.
The salary would rise immediately, and if you caught the attention of the high-ranking officials, it could change your fate entirely.
In fact, many people became maids precisely for that reason.
In short, it was a situation where I should bow a hundred times in gratitude to Lady Gwak for giving me this opportunity.
…That would have been the case under normal circumstances.
After confirming the truth, cold sweat ran down my back.
It was like a lightning strike from a clear sky. I had not anticipated this even a tiny bit.
Seol-ha, get a grip!
It’s still reversible.
I only have two months left on my contract.
Finding another personal maid after this would have been troublesome even for Lady Gwak. I decided to appeal to that.
“First, thank you for considering me favorably. I know there are many who want to become a personal maid, yet you chose me.”
“Seol-ha, your hands are quite skillful, aren’t they? As you know, Il-gongja has a kind nature but is a bit of a perfectionist. If someone isn’t precise, it will be hard to meet his standards. But I believe you can adapt and handle it quickly.”
Kind nature, my foot!
Suppressing the anger that threatened to rise, I spoke softly.
“But, ma’am, I only have a short time left on my contract. Wouldn’t it be better to assign someone else from the start rather than picking another personal maid later?”
“Ah, that’s right, only two months left.”
“Yes, it’s a good opportunity, but it’s really a shame.”
I feigned disappointment and pouted. Lady Gwak, as if unconcerned, handed me a piece of paperwork.
“Contracts can be extended easily. It’s not complicated. Just stamp here.”
Lady Gwak kindly pushed a red ink pad toward me. She seemed to have no idea I intended to quit.
Normally, most maids did extend their contracts.
To outsiders, a maid might seem insignificant, but entering this school was highly competitive.
Because access to Seongnae, the heart of the Demon Sect, was privileged, background checks were conducted to prevent potential spies from the Martial Alliance.
Having passed such rigorous screening, surviving long-term was the dream of every maid.
“Here, take it.”
Before I even stamped the contract, Lady Gwak handed me a small booklet.
“I’m giving this to you with special care. If you follow what’s written inside, Il-gongja won’t notice anything wrong.”
“Well, I…”
“It’s fortunate that you can read and write. Many children cannot even learn, so they wouldn’t be able to serve as personal maids even if they wanted to.”
Lady Gwak sighed deeply, as if lamenting that fact.
I didn’t have time to dwell on her concern. Alarm bells went off in my head—if things continued, I would be confirmed as the personal maid.
This body, strangely, could read and write despite having no memory of life before the possession.
Once a blessing, now it was a curse.
Polite evasions no longer worked. Only direct speech could do the trick.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I don’t think I can do it.”
“Don’t think you can? What do you mean?”
“Being Il-gongja’s personal maid… I plan to quit in two months.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask why?”
Lady Gwak seemed quite taken aback by my refusal.
A beloved, competent employee suddenly resigning before a promotion was confusing indeed.
“I’m concerned about my grandmother.”
Unable to tell the full truth, I used my elderly grandmother as an excuse.
“She’s not as strong as she used to be. The shop’s work is physically demanding. At first, I thought I’d earn money and treat her, but now I think being by her side is the better way to show filial duty.”
“Hmm, I see.”
My only family was Lady Sin-geum, who ran the noodle shop. Lady Gwak knew my family situation.
A young girl living alone with her grandmother, with no parents.
I saw a flicker of pity cross Lady Gwak’s eyes.
Good!
She wouldn’t push further. I was almost certain.
“If that’s your wish, I suppose there’s nothing to be done.”
Indeed, she accepted my refusal gracefully.
Of course, she looked regretful at losing a capable employee.
“Then let’s do this. Until we find your replacement, you’ll assist Il-gongja. You can manage that, right?”
“Excuse me? What…!”
“As I said, this came up so suddenly that we don’t have an immediate alternative. We can’t just send anyone to him.”
“But I’ll be quitting soon…”
“Yes, two months. I’ll find the right person within that time. Starting tomorrow morning, report to Il-gongja’s quarters. Study the booklet thoroughly today.”
Lady Gwak gave me a sharp glance, as if to end the discussion and hint that I should leave.
Perhaps due to the stress of finding a replacement, her tone carried a faint irritation.
I wanted to ask her to reconsider, but I had no reason to.
Pushing further would only make the remaining two months unbearable under Lady Gwak’s scrutiny.
Am I really becoming Il-gongja’s personal maid?
Do I have to serve that mad psychopath myself?
I felt my sanity teeter on the brink.
The past five years flashed before my eyes. I had worked so desperately… and the result was this absurdity.
If I could, I would have fled tonight under cover of darkness.
But if I did, I’d be caught by the Wanma Corps guards at the city walls and sent straight to the dungeon.
They’d treat me as a spy for climbing over the walls and I’d be tortured to death.
Indeed, I was unlucky.
Possessed by a martial arts novel, and now facing Jeok Igeon—the very person I had tried so hard to avoid—with only two months left to escape.
To think I would actually see that madman with my own eyes.
I had cursed him countless times while reading the book. He was one of the lowest-tier psychopaths.
Even though the current Jeok Igeon was hiding his nature, my status was just a maid. Weakest of the weak.
To someone aiming to dominate the martial world, I was utterly useless.
Come to think of it, Jeok Igeon placed unusual emphasis on usefulness.
Failure of a mission was unforgivable, and even if one disobeyed orders, a successful outcome was rewarded.
Yes, I must become useful!
Even as a maid, if I could prove usefulness, I might avoid a needless death.
I must avoid becoming an unnoticed variable.
Two months is long enough.
Until my replacement is appointed, I must appease Jeok Igeon as much as possible to buy time.
Fortunately, I know what he likes and dislikes.
I even remember some important episodes before he ascended as the Patriarch.
I can only hope that helps extend my life.
“Ma’am, may I go home to sleep tonight?”
I stopped leaving and politely asked Lady Gwak.
“Once I become Il-gongja’s personal maid, I won’t have time to visit my grandmother. I don’t want to cause unnecessary worry.”
“I see. You must be busy adapting to your new duties. Understood. Return by tomorrow morning without fail.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
Tonight might be my last night with Lady Sin-geum.
In the original novel, Jeok Igeon was unpredictable.
No matter how well I performed, his mood could decide my death.
I had to at least bid farewell.
Steeling myself like a general heading to battle, I left Lady Gwak’s quarters.
