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Chapter 27
The person who had called me was precisely the strong servant that Master So always had with him, while Master So himself was standing behind with his hands clasped behind his back.
Even so, I couldn’t hide my astonishment.
“Miss… I’ve been avoiding this so carefully.”
In truth, even without the young lady paying attention, I had been avoiding Master So.
It was only natural. Master So had been waiting for any chance to enter Sonangwon, and only a few people could come and go there freely.
For example, the head of the estate, the general overseer, and me… Among these, I, a mere servant, would naturally be the easiest to target.
So I had been avoiding him with all my might…
“Are you deaf? I said, come here!”
“Wow, he’s speaking so bluntly.”
But what could I do? That servant was probably three times my size.
“Y-Yes!”
I scrambled forward to Master So, clasped my hands together, bowed almost like a deep prostration, and shouted loudly:
“I humbly greet Master So of the Great Byeokdomun, the pride of Gwangju! I have long admired your esteemed reputation, and meeting you like this is the honor of a lifetime!”
Master So smiled with satisfaction at my flattering words.
“Young servant, you know your manners.”
“Seems like I know my place. So, tell me—I’ve heard you are the only servant serving Miss So. Is that true?”
Damn it, where did he hear that from?
But now was not the time to argue. I decided it was best to act as clueless as possible. Blinking innocently, I said in a bumbling tone:
“W-Well, it is true, but it would be a bit of an exaggeration to say I serve her. The only place I’ve been allowed to go is the front yard of Sonangwon, where I sweep the dust or run errands… I don’t serve her directly…”
“I heard you are favored by Miss So. Are you lying?”
“Oh, oh! Please don’t say such frightening things. Do you know how much the young lady despises someone like me? She scolds me just for being near her quarters. If such rumors reached her ears, I’d be beaten badly!”
I glanced around fearfully, as if worried someone might hear, trembling all over. Master So and his servant looked even more puzzled.
Outwardly, I appeared flustered, but inwardly, I was stifling laughter.
“Well, actually, this lowly servant has entered the young lady’s quarters and even seen her face.”
The servant asked again:
“…Is it really true? That you do not serve the young lady?”
“Yes, yes! Who would dare lie in front of anyone else?”
“Master So, it seems there’s nothing this one can find out. Judging by his clumsy behavior, he might fail at any task anyway.”
“Hmm…”
Master So frowned and looked down at me. I lowered my head, rolling my eyes nervously while praying inwardly:
“Please, please, please work…!”
Finally, Master So spoke.
“It can’t be helped, then.”
“Did it work?”
“Then I’ll ask you to do one simple task. If you succeed, a great reward awaits you.”
“Eh? What task…?”
“Go with me to the gatekeeper and report exactly as I say. Tell them the young lady has allowed me to enter. Even someone as dull as you should manage that, right?”
“Y-Yes?”
Have I gone mad? If I did that, I could be killed, reward or no reward.
But if I said anything else, it could get worse. So I flopped to the ground, pleading.
“No, no! If the young lady hears that I acted on my own, I won’t survive it!”
“Do not worry. Miss So will be my wife one day. If her husband explains, she will understand. Just let me in, and I’ll handle everything else.”
“B-But… what if the warrior questions me? What if he asks the young lady again…?”
“Do you think a mere gatekeeper will dare question me when I am here? There’s no need to be afraid.”
“But, but…”
“Why so much talking!”
Finally, the servant grabbed me by the collar. As mentioned before, he was three times my size, and I was hoisted into the air.
Suddenly, my neck was squeezed and I couldn’t breathe. Gasping, I saw the servant looming over me with a fierce face.
“Will you do it or not? Just answer that!”
“C-cough… I-I c-can’t…!”
Smack!
In an instant, he slapped my cheek. My head spun, and tears welled up. As the sting spread across my face, the servant pressed harder.
“Still can’t do it? Still can’t?!”
“I can’t! I said I can’t!”
But I couldn’t speak with my neck trapped, and the servant raised his hand again. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the blow.
“Stop—!”
A familiar voice made me snap my eyes open. I turned toward the voice and saw…
“Miss…!”
A familiar figure appeared in the distance.
Through layers of white fabric, a person wearing a white veil was approaching, the fabric fluttering.
It was unmistakably the young lady.
She strode toward me gracefully. Behind her were two warriors in gray uniforms, one of whom I knew well.
“Brother Im?”
Even Brother Im had come?
Joy vanished instantly. My face turned pale. The situation was getting serious.
“Miss shouldn’t have come out.”
I had planned to resolve this myself!
Ignoring my inner panic, the young lady approached steadily. Master So seemed completely unaware that she would appear, staring blankly.
She reached me and coldly glared at the servant, ordering:
“Let go.”
The startled servant loosened his grip. I was thrown to the ground and immediately coughed, barely noticing the pain.
Brother Im supported me from the side.
“Brother Im… how…?”
“Shh.”
Even at my question, he only pressed a finger to his lips. By then, Master So had regained his composure and forced a smile.
“Miss So, I am honored to meet you. I have long wished to see you. I had hoped for a better setting, but I apologize for showing you this unpleasant scene…”
“……”
“It seems there was a minor quarrel between the two servants. I was about to stop it, but my servant will be reprimanded by me, so please…”
“A minor quarrel, you say?”
“Eh?”
The young lady sneered suddenly.
“Do you think I am an idiot who cannot see or hear, Master So? A minor quarrel? I clearly saw that only my servant was being excessively mistreated. You call that a quarrel?”
“Miss, that’s…”
“And that servant was pressing whether he could enter my quarters. Did I misunderstand that?”
“……”
Only then did Master So clench his lips. I, listening from behind, was secretly shocked.
“What, he heard everything?”
So he was just watching me suffer all this time?
Feeling a little betrayed, the young lady continued:
“Do you find me amusing, Master So? To insult this child, knowing he is my servant, is it not an insult to me?”
“Not at all, Miss So. I just…”
“Also, you threatened the servant, trying to enter my quarters without permission! Entering by force, without my approval, how is that any different from threatening me? Is this what Master So of Byeokdomun has come to?”
“You wouldn’t open the door…”
“You blame me? You, the heir of the Byeokdomun, claim to value righteousness, yet you intimidate a weak woman. How disappointing. What will your father think when he hears this?”
“……!”
“I will write to him immediately. I will detail every rude act you have committed here and ask how you intend to take responsibility for the insult I have endured!”
“Miss So…!”
At the mention of the patriarch, Master So’s face turned pale. Even at thirty, it seemed he feared his father.
Biting his lip, he hesitated, then meekly answered:
“…I have overstepped. I did not intend to, but I apologize for insulting you.”
“Just with words?”
“W-What else can I do? I will do anything within my power. But please, not writing to my father…”
I clicked my tongue at the pitiful sight of him.
“Ugh, pathetic, truly pathetic.”
Suddenly, the young lady’s voice softened.
“I understand that you apologize sincerely, Master So. I also do not wish to cause discord between Byeokdomun and the So family. What I desire is simple.”
“What is that…?”
She pointed at the servant.
“Hit him on the cheek, just as he did to my servant.”
