Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Maid's Duty
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"It's delicious today too."
"Right?"
Si-eun asked back, savoring the food with a happy look on her face.
Once again, she couldn't hide her expression. Just how much does she love tasty food?
Well, I like delicious food just as much. I brought another spoonful to my mouth.
Dinner was curry.
It's a dish I've made and eaten alone from time to time. For some reason, whenever my energy overflows and I feel like wasting it somewhere. Like a plane dumping fuel before circling back. Though it's just the three-minute kind.
And now here I was, eating curry loaded with all sorts of vegetables, meat, and even sausages. There was no way it wouldn't taste good.
Before I knew it, Si-eun had emptied her bowl clean and stood up from her seat.
"It's a bit late today, so I'll do the laundry tomorrow. That okay?"
"Sure, but we don't have much laundry to begin with. I do my own too."
"Really? Now that you mention it, you're not always wearing the same clothes."
She looked genuinely surprised. Seems like she had some deep-rooted prejudices about me.
I do laundry just fine. Socks, t-shirts, hand-wash only items—I toss them all in the machine at once.
"Then should I do some cleaning tomorrow?"
"We just moved in, so cleaning isn't urgent. Though if you spot any obviously dirty spots, wipe them down."
"If there's already obviously dirty spots this soon after moving in, that'd be a problem, right?"
"Yeah, true."
I replied indifferently. Si-eun set her bowl in the sink and turned around to face me. Her gaze stung.
"What?"
"No, it's just..."
Si-eun ran her hand through her hair, seeming to think something over.
"...What does a housekeeper normally do?"
She posed the fundamental question.
"Cook meals, clean, do laundry, right?"
"But you said cleaning and laundry aren't needed right now. So I won't have much to do?"
"Hmm."
Now that she mentioned it, that was true.
Houses that hire housekeepers usually have multiple family members. For someone living alone like me, the chores are manageable solo.
Handing that off to someone means the work runs out quick. No need to live here just for that.
"Sounds good to me."
I replied, chewing on an octopus-shaped sausage.
"Getting paid without working? Isn't that great?"
"Nah. Sucking honey like that doesn't suit me."
"Oh?"
"I like getting paid for what I work. Makes my conscience clear. 'He who does not work, neither shall he eat,' right?"
She was eating just fine a moment ago...
Si-eun hummed thoughtfully for a bit, then clapped her hands together and spoke up.
"Ah, how about being my conversation partner? I'm great at chatting about random stuff."
"No thanks. You might not get it, but talking to people drains my mental energy big time."
"Then come on a walk with me?"
"I hired you because I hate going out. No way."
"What about studying major subjects together? I take perfect notes from lectures—it'll help a lot."
"Surprisingly, my grades are decent. Don't need it."
"What? If you hate everything, what am I supposed to do?"
No, if I hate everything, what do you expect me to say?
Still, I admired her enthusiasm. I'd respect it, so I hoped she'd just rest in her room when there was no work.
I set down my spoon and voiced the idea that came to mind.
"Hmm, isn't a maid supposed to wait at home for orders when there's no work? Standing by until the employer gives tasks."
But unexpectedly, a puzzled look crossed Si-eun's face.
"Maid?"
"Ah."
Slip of the tongue. My friend had grilled me about whether housekeeper and maid were the same, so in my head, they'd become synonyms.
"Ah, no. I misspoke."
Even as I added that, Si-eun grinned like she'd caught my weakness.
"You into that kind of play, huh?"
"I said I misspoke."
"You want me to wear a maid outfit or something? Is that why you hired me?"
"No..."
She wasn't in the mood to hear excuses.
Soon, Si-eun peered at me with a smile playing on her lips.
I hadn't noticed since we didn't talk much usually, but is she always like this? Or do popular types just tease and joke around like this?
"Anyway."
I stood up with my bowl.
"Normally, just cook is fine. Then do the dishes. After that, stay in your room or go out—I won't care. Do whatever."
"If you're okay with it, sure. Got it."
With that reply, Si-eun lifted the corners of her mouth again.
"It's a maid's duty to obey her master."
"Ugh."
How long was she planning to tease me over my slip-up?
For a moment, a bubbling feeling rose in my chest.
It wasn't anger. I knew Si-eun meant no harm.
But I wanted to get back at her. She kept pranking me, so I felt like landing one on her.
In that case.
I decided to pitch the idea that flashed in my mind.
"Yeah, you're right. A maid's duty is to obey her master."
"Huh?"
Repeating her own words back at her, Si-eun tilted her head and let out a confused sound.
I pressed on regardless.
"So, I'm giving an order now."
"An order?"
Si-eun mumbled in bewilderment.
To her, I flashed a victorious smile and dropped the line.
"Starting next week, wear a maid outfit at all times in the house."
"...What?"
Si-eun blinked her big eyes, not grasping the meaning at first, then her face twisted in shock.
She clearly hadn't expected me to actually go through with it. Honestly, neither had I.
As I set my bowl in the sink, I added,
"You can change for bed, though. It'd be uncomfortable otherwise."
"W-Wait a sec."
Si-eun held up her palm to interrupt.
"The job posting didn't say anything like that. Doesn't that mean I can refuse?"
"Lots of part-time jobs require uniforms. Just think of it as one of those."
"Uniform my..."
Seemingly at a loss for words, Si-eun sighed. Her glare sharpened a bit, but no counterargument came.
Si-eun, who'd been teasing me, was now stuck obeying. A moment of sweet catharsis.
I cleared my throat to suppress my rising smirk.
"I'll order the maid outfit today. Wear it once it arrives."
"Pervert."
"Why am I the pervert? You've been chanting 'maid, maid' this whole time. Don't you want to wear it? Makes you the pervert, maybe?"
"Pervert...!"
She shot me a fierce glare. Horns might sprout from her head any second.
I couldn't withstand that look. Quietly averting my eyes, I added one line.
"You can't glare at your master like that."
"Ughhh!"
Finally, Si-eun exploded. But what could she do? A maid's duty is to obey her master.
Leaving Si-eun muttering incoherently, I retreated to my room.
If it's like this from day one, things are gonna be rough ahead...