Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 254
>Chapter Title: Cinderella's Entrance
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Cheonju and Chiwu suddenly sprang into action as if someone had flipped a switch.
“No way! In two days! The banquet’s in two days! Why did Lord Jegaek have to schedule it so tight… No, two days is plenty!”
Cheonju muttered on like she was conversing with a god, while Chiwu propped her chin on her hand and grumbled.
“Custom-made would take more than two days… But we can’t just throw any old thing on her… Sigh…”
Meanwhile, the person in question, Seolhong, just blinked around nervously, shrinking smaller by the second even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Lady Chiwu, do you perhaps have any capable maids on hand?”
“Doesn’t Cheonju know about this stuff?”
“It’s been so long, I barely remember. I knew this day would come someday, but to slack off in my preparations like this! I really…”
“I’ve got plenty of martial servants, but they’re all clueless about events like this.”
“Argh… Tsk… Guess we have no choice then…”
Just then, a commotion erupted outside.
“Visitors here for Lady Seolhong. Please bring her out promptly…”
Cheonju shot to her feet and dashed to the door of their residence.
“What’s going—huh?”
Her eyes were immediately stolen by the three elegant women standing outside. From their movements to their attire, everything screamed refinement. For a moment, she racked her brain trying to recall if any resembled the dragonflowers she knew.
“Lord Kwak Seong sent us.”
“…Lord Kwak Seong?”
“Yes. Here’s a letter.”
Rustle…
Cheonju stared at the letter for a long while before breaking into a beaming smile and rushing back to Seolhong. Her joints ached from the overuse.
“Lady Seolhong! Lady Seolhong!”
“What is it, Cheonju? Who’s here?”
“Read this. Salvation has arrived!”
“…Salvation?”
Seolhong, puzzled by Cheonju’s odd words, took the letter and scanned it.
- From Kwak Seong.
“It’s a letter from Lord Kwak Seong.”
“Lord? Lady Seolhong holds a far higher position.”
“You know that’s not how we are, Cheonju.”
“W-well, true.”
“Anyway.”
- …Thus, I understand the hardships of the dragon strife. I’ve learned that Lady Seolhong hasn’t had a single proper maid to her name until now, and I, Kwak, could not simply stand by. These are girls I’ve raised and trained since they were young, so they will serve Lady Seolhong faithfully for life. If they do not please you, say the word anytime.
“…”
The letter bore Kwak Seong’s seal, so its contents rang true.
“Reinforcements! Rear-guard supplies have arrived!”
“Cheonju, what about them?”
“I left them at the door. Shall I bring them in?”
“Yes, please.”
The maids who followed were all older-looking women than Seolhong.
Not quite stunning beauties one and all, but each had a striking presence.
“I am Hwaara.”
“I’m Cheonga.”
“I’m Hwiya, Lady Seolhong.”
- It’s Cerberus!
- Aja rolling!
Their speech patterns were all over the place, which was oddly fascinating, but since they came vouched by Kwak Seong, Seolhong held back any snap judgments.
Kang Seol eyed them sharply.
‘They’ve trained in martial arts.’
By now, he could gauge opponents just from their stance, gaze, and bodily balance.
Chiwu, sensing they were no ordinary women, met Kang Seol’s eyes and nodded.
“We’ll handle any task you give us.”
“Please don’t turn us away after such a long journey.”
“Lady Seolhong, you’re so beautiful!”
Hwiya in particular, with her bubbly voice and personality, flustered Seolhong.
“Ah… Y-yeah? Thank you. More importantly, Lord Kwak Seong really sent you?”
“Yep! That old man probably sent us to cut down on mouths to feed. Boo-hoo… Don’t abandon us.”
Hwiya fake-cried dramatically.
“Abandon? What are you… That won’t happen.”
Seeing Seolhong’s fluster, the three new maids spoke up.
“She really is kind.”
“Just like Lord Kwak Seong said.”
“What did Lord Kwak Seong say?”
“He said to be of help to the kind Lady Seolhong. That when trouble comes, we must stand by her as allies.”
Seolhong quietly closed her mouth and even her eyes.
Not to heighten her senses, but to savor the sincerity from Kwak Seong reaching her heart.
“Lord Kwak Seong truly has a boundless magnanimity.”
“That old man?”
“Shh, Hwiya. Mind your words in front of Lady Seolhong.”
“Ah! Sorry… Was I crude?”
Seolhong shook her head.
“No.”
“Then… you’ll take us?”
Nod.
“Please take care of us from now on.”
“We should be saying that!”
“We’re at your service.”
“We’ll do our best.”
Cheonju, who had been watching quietly, asked them.
“Have you ever prepared for a banquet?”
“We’ve hosted a few.”
“Hosted? I mean attended.”
Hwaara, Cheonga, and Hwiya exchanged glances and eyed Cheonju oddly.
“Does attending require preparation?”
“Of course! Attire, jewelry…”
“Oh, that!”
Hwiya nodded vigorously.
“Naturally. That’s what all our skills are for, after all. But asking about it now means…”
Grin…
Hwiya was mischievous enough, but playful smiles crept onto the other maids’ lips too.
“You’re attending the banquet?”
“The banquet?”
“Banquet, is it?”
Cheonju nodded.
“Yes. Unfortunately, it’s just two grubby guys and one ancient hag, so not much help there. I was hoping for your input…”
“What’s the deadline?”
“Tomorrow night. Can you do it?”
Kwak Seong’s sudden rear-guard reinforcements nodded in unison.
“Plenty of time!”
* * *
Kang Seol stayed alert to their every move.
‘Looks like more than just the three were dispatched.’
They probably had a few underlings in tow—two or three, by the look of it. Salaries seemed handled by Kwak Seong.
Soon after, the maids gathered intel from their underlings, then led Seolhong off somewhere.
“There’s a place in Hongyeon that specializes in nobles’ formal wear.”
“…You know Hongyeon pretty well?”
“Yes! It’s like a second home!”
“Have you been?”
“First time!”
“…”
“But we know just what to do, so don’t worry, Lady Seolhong.”
“I’ll trust you.”
Hwiya offered light advice.
“When entering a shop, go in with maximum confidence. Lord Kwak Seong’s kicked doors open before.”
“That’s…”
“We won’t ask that much! Come on in.”
“W-wait… Uh…”
She entered the shop clutching a heap of embarrassment, like a kid shopping for the first time.
“Welcome.”
It felt like stepping into a library lined with silk bookshelves. People genteelly or elegantly handled fabrics or tried on garments.
The maids, now Seolhong’s, transformed upon entry.
They coolly scanned the surroundings and beckoned a clerk.
“Looking for something?”
“Ye…”
Poke…
“Mmph…”
“Hm?”
Hwiya blocked Seolhong’s reply with a jab to her side.
Hwiya said coolly to the clerk.
“We need attire for an important banquet.”
“Any particular style?”
“Something as refined and luxurious as possible. Minimal ornamentation.”
To achieve that vibe with sparse decor, the fabric itself had to be exceptional.
“Understood. Please wait a moment.”
Soon, clerks paraded life-sized mannequins draped in outfits before Seolhong. Many seemed assigned specifically here.
“Anything that catches your eye?”
“Uh…”
Poke…
“Mmph…”
“None.”
“Yes, next ones coming up.”
“No need for dull colors like that murky green—clear them out and bring something different.”
“Yes.”
Seolhong looked glum.
But it felt right to follow Hwiya’s lead, so they all waited patiently.
Among the next batch, one caught the maids’ fancy.
“That one.”
“Excellent eye.”
“No need for sweet talk. Can she try it on?”
“Ah, that garment…”
Hwaara, listening quietly, furrowed her delicate brow.
“How tiresome.”
Her brief words conveyed volumes in an instant, sharpening the air.
“Y-you can try it on. This way, please.”
Seolhong was practically dragged into the fitting room by the maids. She emerged shortly after.
Swish…
A subtle blue gown cinched at the waist. No eye-catching trim, but it paired perfectly with Seolhong’s pale skin.
“D-doesn’t it feel awkward?”
Kang Seol and Chiwu glanced at each other and smiled faintly.
“It’s good.”
“Very good.”
Seolhong said to Hwiya.
“It shows skin…”
“You’ll wear an outer layer. And it’s just a bit of arm, right?”
“Well… true, but…”
Hwiya told the clerk they’d take it.
“One platinum coin.”
Seolhong gasped at the price.
“I-it’s fine. No need for something so expensive…”
“I’ll cover it today.”
“…Chiwu?”
Chiwu might not have been the one paying anyway—Kang Seol would have—but her offering to foot all today’s expenses was unexpected.
“Yeah. It’s the prettiest. Wear that.”
“…Thank you.”
- The [fucking] system has powered on.
- Shut it off quick, it’s your half-brother.
- Hello, world… I failed.
- Oopsie! It’s bromance!
They settled the bill, secured delivery to the residence, and moved on.
The maids as vanguard, strategist Cheonju, and quartermaster Chiwu led a grand shopping march.
They blitzed high-end shops that screamed luxury at breakneck speed.
- Proud Mechanized Shopping Battalion!
- Chief of Staff Chiwu fires!
Seolhong was Cinderella from the fairy tale right now.
“Next, Danghye! Top grade, naturally!”
“Top grade!”
They even bought pretty flower slippers for the banquet god, then pressed on.
Her pumpkin carriage and glass slippers were taking shape.
“Next, jewelry!”
“Jewellllry!”
- Groooan… Jewellllryyy…
- Zombies! They’re zombies!
- Reason’s gone!
At first, Seolhong delighted in her changing look, but soon struggled to keep up with the transformation.
Layer upon layer of finery piled on.
Not bad—quite good, even.
But not quite her. Not Seolhong-like.
After dashing about until exhausted, even Chiwu had conked out in the carriage.
‘Days are short.’
The sun was already setting.
Like a dad waiting out his daughter’s shopping, Kang Seol sat outside a two-story shop, watching the sunset.
A presence stirred behind him.
“Tired?”
Kang Seol’s gaze turned toward the voice.
Seolhong stood awkwardly, fussing with her wild-maned hair.
She’d apparently touched up her makeup early—her cheeks unnaturally flushed, lips overly vibrant.
“Bearing it or not, just a bit longer. I’m just as unused to this.”
They sat on chairs, taking in the view.
Luxurious carriages crisscrossed the sunset-lit streets. Seolhong spoke.
“Long ago—very long ago—I hated being born in the Dragon Palace.”
“Why was that?”
“If not for the Dragon Palace, I wouldn’t have felt that scorn among nobles.”
“…”
“Selfish whining from a full belly. But back then, that was my whole world.”
Had Seolhong matured early because she had to survive alone?
“At this hour, nobles’ carriages carrying dragonflowers often roam the city streets.”
“Where to?”
“What do you think?”
Kang Seol answered Seolhong’s sly smile.
“To banquets.”
“Even after night falls and the moon rises, laughter spills from those carriages. I’d perch on an unassuming hill by the Dragon Palace, watching them. Then Cheonju would scold me…”
Regret tinged the old memory.
“Back then, I daydreamed clumsily: Could I ever ride one, mingle with others? Would such a day even come?”
“Not a daydream.”
Kang Seol met Seolhong’s eyes.
“Lately, I’ve been dreaming.”
“Dreams?”
“Yes, thanks to you. Feels like walking on clouds. A height too lofty for my skills—breathless. Cheers and welcomes shake me.”
“Fruits of Lady Seolhong’s long efforts.”
“I’m still…”
“Enjoy the banquet. Too many thoughts.”
Seolhong and Kang Seol grinned.
“Don’t mock my awkwardness. Everyone has a first time.”
“Lady Seolhong’s first is just a bit late. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“…I’ll give it my all.”
Kang Seol looked back over the city.
Hongyeon’s nightscape began to emerge.
“I’ll cheer you on.”
Soon, Cheonga and Hwiya spotted them.
“Hiding here!”
“Come on over!”
* * *
Banquet day.
Jegaek stood at the grand palace entrance in splendid crimson robes. This was his private estate, not the Dragon Palace.
Creak…
A burly man and woman descended from an antique carriage. Jegaek and Yugyeong eyed them.
“Shin Yo…”
“And Jang Du beside him.”
“Indeed. If left alone, he’d block my path—a real headache.”
Yawn…
Jang Du yawned and glanced around.
“Shin Yo’s here!”
“Shin Yo, over here!”
Jang Du and Shin Yo alike found banquets a chore. Without Jegaek’s invitation, they’d have skipped it.
“Not here yet?”
“Jang Du, scan with those big eyes.”
“Lady Shin Yo’s eyes are just as big, no? Size doesn’t mean wider vision.”
“Fair point.”
“What about the clingy pests?”
“Ignore them. Sometimes you need this.”
“You hate banquets?”
“Loved them once. Hate them now. Mother dragged me to so many I’m sick of it. Wasting time greeting strangers over a hundred times…”
“Pointless.”
Shin Yo shook her head at Jang Du’s words.
“Not quite. Once, at a banquet, I met someone life-changing.”
“Ah! I think I know.”
“Yes, my master.”
Shin Yo’s sorcery was second to none among dragonflowers.
“Mother succeeded, then.”
“Yes, so I can’t criticize much.”
“But… looks like every dragonflower cooped up in the palace poured out.”
“…Indeed. Even I see many. A banquet this scale—first in years.”
“Taeyul skipping, I suppose.”
“Might not be invited. He always steals the show.”
Clop clop clop…
Then, a black horse-drawn carriage arrived.
“Fine steed. Whose carriage?”
As Shin Yo said, the black horse gleamed with luster, its mane stylishly flowing.
The carriage alone captivated the crowd.
“Handsome without excess. Far better than gaudy fools.”
“Agreed. Curious about the owner.”
“If it’s someone unremarkable, I’ll be disappointed.”
Dragonflowers and Hongyeon notables invited by Jegaek couldn’t tear eyes from the new arrival.
“Who is it?”
“Why no exit?”
And then.
Creeeak…
The pumpkin carriage door opened.
Shin Yo’s pupils trembled.
“Seol… hong?”