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The next morning.
I stepped out into the backyard to collect the laundry and couldn’t help but be startled by the sight of the garden.
In just two days, the small garden of the Weatherwoods estate had taken on a surprisingly decent shape.
No contractors had come by since the first day, yet all the dead grass had disappeared, replaced by soft, moist soil covering the ground.
‘So he didn’t just take on any random job to get into this estate.’
The same went for his cooking. Why was he unnecessarily good at so many things? It only made him more suspicious.
As I recalled his face—one that could easily shake a person’s resolve—I was suddenly reminded of his remark about potatoes from last night, which annoyed me all over again. At that moment, my eyes met 루, who was passing by with a shovel.
As if the timing was perfect, he beckoned to me.
“Come here, maid.”
I wanted to ignore him.
‘But if I want to properly figure out what kind of man he is, I’ll need some level of interaction.’
I stopped midway through putting laundry into the basket and approached him. Then, in a blunt tone even I found curt, I said:
“Daisy.”
루, who had been bending over near the entrance steps, looked back at me with a puzzled expression. Facing his dazzling face, I spoke again.
“My name.”
“……Ah.”
With his usual gentle smile, 루 stepped closer.
“Very well, Maid Daisy. After three days, we finally exchange proper names. I’d say this is quite remarkable progress in our relationship.”
No matter what he says, it always sounds like mockery. Is that a problem with the speaker, or the listener?
“I’ll entrust this flowerpot to you.”
Without thinking, I accepted the small brown pot he handed me. It was filled with rich, moist soil that looked high quality at a glance.
“Entrust?”
“Anything is fine, so try to make a flower bloom in it. But no transplanting. Start from seeds, not seedlings.”
“Me? Why?”
When I asked in disbelief, 루 answered as if it were obvious.
“Didn’t you say you were curious? About me.”
What does that have to do with flowers?
“As it happens, my identity is a very, very significant secret—enough to make your eyes spin. I have no intention of revealing it for free. In that sense, making a flower bloom is a rather modest price, don’t you think?”
I frowned deeply and looked down at the pot in my arms.
‘Why a flower of all things?’
This wasn’t some childish game.
Was he making fun of me?
‘Why bother now?’
This flowerpot was the first meaningful response he had given to my suspicion and distrust. Unlike the first day, he didn’t ignore me. Instead, he offered a condition in exchange for answers.
Refusing just because it annoyed me might be foolish.
“If you don’t want to, then 500 gold.”
“……500 gold?”
“That’s the price to hear the secret without blooming a flower.”
Is this scammer insane? Where am I supposed to get 500 gold? Does he think that kind of money grows out of the ground? Even working as a maid for a hundred years wouldn’t earn that much!
I hugged the flowerpot tightly with both arms and answered:
“I’ll do it.”
“Good choice.”
“Keep your promise.”
Smiling warmly, 루 lightly tapped my head. It was the most natural, effortless smile he had shown so far.
“Alright, Maid Daisy. I look forward to seeing what kind of flower you grow.”
Infuriating bastard.
I shot a glare at his broad back, then set the pot down where it had been and went back to collecting laundry.
For now, I decided to stop investigating 루.
It wasn’t that I had given up on uncovering his identity. I was simply taking a step back.
In the end, I judged that the head maid was right—observing for the time being was the best option.
I had neither the manpower nor the funds to investigate him. He wasn’t the type to speak easily, nor someone I could subdue and force answers out of.
‘Besides, my suspicions are just that—suspicions. He hasn’t actually done anything yet.’
Spending any more energy on him would be a waste of both time and mental strength. For now, cooperating with the assassin-turned-butler would be enough.
Now that I had grown accustomed to maid work, it was time to focus on gathering information about Dian Ket’s relic.
Everything has its priorities.
“Have you collected all the laundry, Daisy?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take care of putting it away, so go buy the ingredients. I left the list and money in the kitchen.”
“Yes.”
As I left the estate, I checked the list of ingredients. Aside from the addition of eggs, it was the same as last time.
Though there was still no meat, I didn’t mind much. If it was 루, he would surely make even a meatless meal satisfying.
Knowing how to cook—
That talent was truly his one and only redeeming quality.
Before entering the market, I stopped in a narrow alley, where a frail old man was crouched, selling dull-looking vegetables.
‘Hmm.’
The potatoes didn’t look to be in great condition, but I decided to buy them anyway.
His shabby appearance bothered me, and considering the cook’s skill, even poor ingredients would likely turn out fine.
“Seven potatoes.”
The dozing old man snapped his eyes open and looked up at me.
“Huh? Oh my, finally a customer.”
He probably couldn’t go home until he sold at least some of his potatoes.
“Thank you, miss. Please come again.”
The old man bowed repeatedly, his thin frame trembling with gratitude.
After paying, I walked toward the market and counted them.
‘One, two, three… eight.’
Not seven—eight. He must have miscounted.
I turned back to return one potato.
In the meantime, the previously empty alley had been occupied by others.
It was an unpleasant sight.
“Well, well! Looks like grandma finally made some money.”
Three large men surrounded the old vendor.
The one in the middle held out his hand toward the old man.
“Hand it over.”
“P-please, just give me one more month—”
“You’re over a week late on your merchant association dues. Did you think hiding here would get you out of paying?”
“I’ve told you several times, I’m just a small vendor. I don’t join associations—”
Suddenly, the man’s leg lashed out, kicking the old man who had grabbed his pant leg.
The frail old man collapsed to the ground without even managing a scream. Blood began to flow from his forehead, torn by a shoe heel.
As if that weren’t enough, the man stomped harshly on the old man’s hunched back.
“If you don’t have the money to pay dues, then stop selling or get out of our territory!”
He spat on the trembling old man’s back.
“That’s enough. We’ll be back at the same time tomorrow. Be ready.”
Just like that, the old man’s meager earnings were taken.
I looked at the pitiful potatoes.
Not even twenty. And now only about ten remained after I had taken eight. A couple had already sprouted.
This man wasn’t selling potatoes for wealth. He was selling them to survive.
Look at his frail body. If he failed to sell even for a day, he would go hungry and fall ill. Two days, and he wouldn’t be able to move. Three, and he would be at death’s door.
These men were killing him.
All while claiming ownership over a street that belonged to no one.
“Hey.”
The men turned to me.
“What?”
I asked them sincerely:
“Why did you crawl out of a trash can?”
The leader frowned deeply and staggered toward me.
“You crazy bitch. Do you know where you are? Judging by your appearance, you’re a maid. What makes you so bold? Want me to make sure you can’t walk this street again?”
I carefully examined his arrogant face, then nodded.
Perfect timing, friends. I’ve been under quite a bit of stress lately.
I raised my hand and lightly struck his face.
“Ugh.”
He slammed into the wall and collapsed, eyes rolling back.
I did the same to the second one, who was still standing there in shock.
“Ghk.”
The third one finally came to his senses and ran without looking back.
Should I chase him? The thought passed quickly. Instead, I crouched beside the old man and searched through the leader’s pockets.
“Oh.”
A bundle of bills came out. So this was the so-called association fee? More like extortion money. And quite a lot, too.
“Miss, get up quickly. You have to run before they bring more people. Hurry.”
The old man, barely recovering, urged me to leave, despite clearly being shocked that I had taken down two grown men.
Each time he wiped his bleeding forehead, his sleeve turned red.
“They’re dangerous people. Don’t come here again. An old man like me can die and it wouldn’t matter, but if something happens to you, your parents will be heartbroken.”
His wrinkled hand, gripping my arm, trembled.
Fear engraved into the body doesn’t fade easily.
I looked at his anxious face, then brushed dirt off the potatoes scattered on the ground.
If I let things go like this, people like him would only suffer more.
People like those thugs always think the same way. They vent their anger on the weak. They might even raise the dues after this.
The victims would suffer more. This old man would be driven out of the city.
“Grandpa.”
“I told you to run—”
“Do you know where they stay?”
The old man looked at me with confusion, then pointed toward a clean-looking shop across the paved road leading to the market.
“Pub Piece of Land.”
It had the perfect atmosphere for thugs who preyed on the weak.
Strange.
As far as I knew, pubs in the Empire were different.
They were places for one’s hometown and people.
Especially in the southern regions influenced by Archmage Mephisto, pubs were essentially bases for volunteer militias protecting their homes.
People gathered there to defend their families and friends. Those near the frontlines even served as supply hubs.
The people I remembered had faces filled with pride and hardship.
‘And now a merchant association?’
Perhaps, at least for me, this could be useful—especially for gathering information.
I returned the potato money to the old man.
“Don’t come out tomorrow. Count it.”
Then I took part of the money bundle and stuffed it into his hand.
“Treat your wound before it gets worse. Count it.”
After dragging the two unconscious thugs deeper into the alley and leaving them there, I tucked the remaining money into my chest and headed back toward the market.
