Dinner at Hacker Castle
Judging solely by the atmosphere of the castle, Park Jeong-jae figured that even bloodstains on the dormitory walls wouldn't seem out of place. Steel ing himself, he followed Jenis up to the second floor.
Jenis led him to a room not far from the stairs—close to what must have been the special suites. Tense as he opened the door, Jeong-jae let out an exclamation at the surprisingly pristine interior.
"Whoa. It's spotless."
"Surprised it's spotless?"
"Nah, it's just... I braced myself to not be shocked no matter what came out."
The room beyond the door was the epitome of 'ordinary'—like a perfectly normal inn room awkwardly shoehorned into this gothic castle. Jeong-jae glanced back and forth between the gloomy hallway outside and the cozy space within, struggling to reconcile the jarring contrast.
"That's one reason I love this place. The gloom and comfort coexist. If it was just one or the other, it'd be too exhausting... or too boring."
"Like a kid who loves basement adventures."
"Exactly."
Jeong-jae nodded a few times before stepping into the room where he'd spend the night. Jenis lingered just outside the door, watching him without entering.
"My room's right across the hall, so knock if you need anything. Dinner should be ready now—just unpack lightly and call me."
"No need, I'll head down right away. Hate to keep you waiting."
He tossed his bag onto the bed. There were no spare clothes to change into anyway, and with dinner waiting, he saw no reason to dawdle. Jenis smiled and nodded.
"Alright, follow me then. I'll take you to the dining hall."
Jeong-jae trailed her back down to the first floor. She guided him past the hall they'd entered through earlier, stopping at the dining room door.
"This is the dining hall. It's too big for everyday meals, so we rarely use it—except when guests arrive. That's when this door swings open, and our head chef finally gets busy!"
The mention of a chef stirred an odd feeling in Jeong-jae. The castle was vast and shadowy, yet he'd seen no servants managing it.
"Who takes care of a place this size? It can't be easy to maintain. You don't handle it all with magic, do you?"
Having witnessed her skills, he could imagine her pulling it off—but she'd spent years away at the capital's academy. The Hacker Count alone couldn't keep mold and cobwebs at bay. Honestly, if it stopped at mold and cobwebs, that'd be a miracle.
"Of course we have servants. Maids who are absolute pros at cleaning. No male servants, though—Father thinks it's better to hire able-bodied men as guards instead."
"Where are these maids, then?"
"Clocked out. Most are wives of the guards, and with family dinners to handle, they're the only ones for the job."
Jenis said it matter-of-factly, but Jeong-jae knew it wasn't something taken for granted even in a world without rigid class systems.
"Suspiciously attractive benefits..."
"Father's too shy to skimp on people. He shudders at the thought of them badmouthing him behind his back."
Jeong-jae marveled at how such a man had risen to lead a noble faction. Or perhaps it was precisely his unconventional nature that earned him both accusations of treason and praise as a true noble. Conforming wouldn't make you mediocre—it'd keep you from becoming pivotal like the Hacker Count. Jeong-jae's curiosity about Arthur Hacker himself began to grow.
"Anyway, let's head in. Father must be waiting."
Jenis placed her hand on the doorknob. Jeong-jae nodded, and she flung the door open.
The first thing that caught his eye was the long table dominating the vast room's center. At the head sat the Hacker Count in casual attire, sipping water as he watched them enter.
"You arrived quickly. I expected a longer wait."
The count remarked. Jeong-jae bowed lightly in greeting.
"A guest shouldn't keep the host waiting, right?"
"Thanks anyway. You saved on the chef's overtime. Ah, you're free to go now."
The chef, who had been standing by a food cart beside the count, bowed deeply.
"I'll take my leave, my lord. I hope the young lady and the baron enjoy their meal."
"Good work. Safe travels."
Jenis bowed politely to the chef. Jeong-jae watched as she exited toward the main gate, then softly closed the dining room door before turning to the count.
"Overtime by the hour?"
"Clarity is key in expenses. Spending a lot isn't the issue—if it's predictable. Fixed salaries are haphazard; this way, you forecast budgets accurately. Predictability means preparation."
"Wise words. Something a new lord like me should etch in stone."
"Do that. Too many fools think scrimping a bit equals thrift."
Jeong-jae finally grasped the count's mindset—not aristocratic, but like a modern entrepreneur. Innovative thinking. No wonder his daughter was exceptional, raised under such influence. It made perfect sense for such a man to lead.
"Enough chatter. Let's eat before it gets cold—no chef to reheat now."
They took seats flanking the count—Jeong-jae to his left, Jenis to his right, facing each other naturally. The count, closest to the cart, served the dishes himself. Jeong-jae started to rise to help, but the count waved him down.
"Sit, sit. No rule says guests serve themselves."
Jeong-jae settled awkwardly. Jenis grinned broadly, nodding along happily.
The meal was thick steak with buttered potatoes—neither light nor lavish, but perfectly thoughtful. Jeong-jae was deeply satisfied; it balanced hospitality without excess ostentation.
"Forgive the simple fare. With more time, it'd be different—but these days, even I lack leisure."
"Not at all. This is more than generous."
"I told them rare. Hope it suits you."
"Perfect for me."
Jeong-jae meant it—the sear and quality were impeccable. After a bite, he continued.
"You look after your servants well, my lord."
"A ruler treasures all subjects. Hiring guards' wives as maids—and minding their kids during shifts—boosts morale. Defending the castle is defending their families."
"That means extra pay for childcare."
"Predictable expense. Growth isn't the problem."
"Are troops that short?"
Recalling Jenis's words about the count's fixation on guards, Jeong-jae probed.
The count sighed, setting down his knife mid-cut.
"Our house already sent 14,000 men—the territory's full levy—to the hero. It's dire. I wrestle with it all day."
"My lands too, I suppose."
The count nodded without denial, weighing on Jeong-jae.
"I've spoken with General Hellhound multiple times. He knows rear territories need minimal defenses. Without my intransigence, we'd compromise—but now we're at the limit."
"He's promised no more levies after this edict?"
"Yes, and it's credible, so relief there. But Harriet's situation is... particularly tangled."
"Why is that?"
Jeong-jae asked warily—no new lord wanted 'particularly tangled' headaches in their first domain.
"Bandit activity's picking up. Not full-scale raiders, but headache enough for a small barony."
"That tough to handle?"
"Formerly, no issue. Now, no spare forces. Suppress without casualties? Send ten, a hundred times the numbers for a sweep. But with my own lands bare, how can I dispatch an army to crush them?"
It rang true. This fell squarely on Jeong-jae.
"It's fine, Baron! I'll help—thieves are nothing for us two!"
"Not nothing, Jenis. These need careful handling."
Jeong-jae stabbed his knife into the thick cut.
"Careful how?"
"They're human. Especially in hard times like these—not monsters like orcs. Crush too harshly, and you just reopen wounds."
The mood sobered at the thorny issue. Gauging it, the count glanced between them and pivoted.
"Anyway, I'd love to hear about my daughter's school days. How was Jenis at the academy? I heard she excelled, but a father wants details."
Thanks to the timely shift, Jeong-jae set aside worries for lighter talk. Still, gleaning fragments of Harriet's crisis that evening was a major gain.