Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Rooftop
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Jeong-a opened her eyes precisely at the usual hour she always woke.
She could only guess it was due to the influence of her "eyes," but her ability to sense time was extraordinarily sharp.
Her bedding was comfortable.
Unlike the maids' quarters in the guest hall, there were no night-shift workers coming and going, nor any patrol captains making rounds at all hours.
Moreover, the room was so spacious, and the facilities so excellent.
Just by looking at the accommodations, one could tell how much care Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon had always shown to those beneath him.
She had woken once due to a nightmare, but it was nothing serious.
It seemed like she had felt again that horrific sensation from just before she fainted in the forest yesterday.
But she figured she still hadn't fully escaped the influence of the formation called a barrier.
Even as she mulled over such thoughts, she didn't let her body idle.
Considering the amount of food the Eldest Young Master had eaten yesterday, it was better to hurry a little.
* * *
In less than a full day, she had grasped a few things about this Eldest Young Master and this place called Won-gak Pavilion.
First among them.
The Eldest Young Master enjoyed eccentric behavior that disregarded formalities.
"Come on, come on, let's have breakfast today with a cheerful heart, too."
"E-Eldest Young Master...?"
Sure enough, today as well, the Eldest Young Master barged into the kitchen with freshly harvested vegetables tucked under his arm.
Then he busied himself, claiming he was helping prepare breakfast.
Of course, he was astonishingly skilled at kitchen work, so he was helpful rather than a hindrance.
However, there was an enormous gap in status between them.
It was inevitable that having such a person bustling about nearby would wear on her nerves.
"...Shall we dine together again today?"
The Eldest Young Master looked at her as if wondering what nonsense she was spouting.
"Not 'again'—it's ongoing. It'll be like this from now on, too."
"......."
"Come on, come on. Don't just stand there blankly—try some of this braised dish. It's my handiwork, but it turned out amazingly good."
Second.
The two-story main building where the Eldest Young Master's chambers were located was dangerous.
"Eldest Young Master, it's Jeong-a. I've brought tea and refreshments."
Before entering the main building, she announced loudly.
Soon, Yeon So-hyeon's voice replied from inside.
"Yeah. Leave it at the entrance. I'll get it later."
"How could I possibly do that?"
Shaking her head, Jeong-a carefully opened the door to the main building and stepped inside.
"......."
And as soon as she entered the main building, she turned right around and left.
"...I'll leave it at the entrance."
"Sure."
What she had spotted immediately upon entering was the bamboo slips scattered on the floor.
She had glanced at the titles—they were unmistakably martial arts manuals.
Martial arts manuals recorded on bamboo slips.
They were undoubtedly extremely ancient manuals, possessing value beyond imagination.
That wasn't all.
There were also famous martial arts secret books she had at least heard of while working in a martial family, just lying around haphazardly on the floor.
If she so much as peeked at their contents, it was obvious she'd vanish without a trace.
If she was lucky, it might end with her eyes gouged out and tongue cut off.
'They definitely weren't scattering around such dangerous books yesterday...'
It seemed the Eldest Young Master's interest today was in martial arts.
'I probably shouldn't go in there for a while.'
And third.
That third point was the most important issue for her.
The Eldest Young Master showed absolutely no interest in her.
Not the slightest bit, not even a hint.
No interest in her personal history, her thoughts or opinions, not even basic sexual curiosity.
The first two could be overlooked, but the lack of curiosity was highly unexpected.
The Luoyang Sword Clan entrusted discreet hospitality entirely to thoroughly vetted and selected outsiders.
Thus, the women of the guest hall, composed of those so beautiful it was overwhelming, received excessive attention.
And among them, Jeong-a was one called a "flower (ice flower)" for her exceptional beauty.
As far back as she could remember, she had lived under men's gazes her whole life, and she was accustomed to ignoring them.
Yet this Eldest Young Master hardly ever directed his gaze at her.
It wasn't that she couldn't sense his gaze due to his enigmatic nature, which her "eyes" couldn't fully grasp.
No matter how one looked at it, he clearly had no interest in her.
If she hadn't seen erotic paintings and illustrated books scattered here and there while wandering Won-gak Pavilion (which was shocking in itself), she might have suspected his sexual preferences.
"This book's fun."
Even now, at lunch, he was chuckling over an illustrated erotic book.
"...Yes, Eldest Young Master."
Jeong-a deliberately averted her eyes from the sight and focused on the meal.
'...This is really confusing.'
She swallowed a sigh inwardly.
She was relieved on one hand that the Eldest Young Master had no interest in her body, but it wasn't entirely a good thing.
It wasn't some maiden's carelessness, leaving room while pushing away.
It was a matter of her own survival.
From the start, her goal in escaping the Second and Third Young Masters' clutches wasn't to protect some lowly maid's chastity.
They were the type to toy with women out of mere curiosity and discard them when broken.
Whether due to perverse tastes or because they were so immersed in their status that they saw women they touched as less than objects, she couldn't say.
But what was clear was that every woman they took an interest in disappeared.
Others believed they had simply been reassigned to better positions.
But she, having heard the truth from the head housekeeper, knew full well that wasn't the case.
From the moment she came to Won-gak Pavilion, she had steeled herself.
If the Eldest Young Master was as remarkable as expected, throwing herself to him for protection would be an excellent choice.
But it seemed that option didn't exist from the start.
And if he had no interest in her personally...
Was she truly right to be under this Eldest Young Master's roof now?
The answer to that question came all too quickly.
"Um, Eldest Young Master."
Before lunch at Won-gak Pavilion's scenic pavilion had even ended, a man in guard uniform appeared stealthily.
He was one of the "experts" Jeong-a had seen at Won-gak Pavilion's entrance yesterday, seemingly a squad leader.
"The Eldest Young Master is currently eating. What is it?"
Jeong-a stood and asked.
"Ah, well, a guest has come."
He was blatantly showing his annoyance.
She knew he was currently hiding his true identity, but even accounting for that, it was rude.
Even after she mentioned the Eldest Young Master was eating, he showed no concern.
A litany of things she wanted to point out rose to the tip of her tongue, but she was still just a newcomer here.
She swallowed them down and asked.
"...Who has come?"
The guard captain sighed visibly and answered.
"What was it? Something about the Three Absolutes Warriors from the main house, I think."
'Three Absolutes Warriors...!'
Jeong-a felt stunned by the response.
The Luoyang Sword Clan had countless large and small martial groups, but only one distinguished its ranks with the term "absolute."
'The Third Young Master's direct martial force!'
Jeong-a swallowed dryly and spoke.
"What business do the Three Absolutes Warriors have with the Eldest Young Master?"
"No, not with the Eldest Young Master..."
The guard captain sighed and continued.
"Something about summoning the maid who arrived yesterday..."
It seemed what was coming had come.
Jeong-a bit her lip.
She glanced at Yeon So-hyeon for a moment.
He was still scooping rice while reading the erotic book.
Jeong-a organized the situation in her mind.
For now, avoiding confrontation whatever the errand was the best course.
Fortunately, this was Won-gak Pavilion, where not just anyone could enter, so there was plenty of room to maneuver.
"...I am that maid. How dare the Three Absolutes Warriors order the Eldest Young Master's maid about like this?"
It was a valid point.
Strictly speaking, the Three Absolutes Warriors were of course far superior to a mere maid, but when that maid served the Eldest Young Master, it wasn't so simple.
At her words, the guard captain let out a deep sigh.
"No, I said the same thing, but they claimed to be acting on the Third Young Master's orders, so I can't just refuse on my own judgment..."
Jeong-a gritted her teeth at the mention of "Third Young Master's orders."
"Even so, I am the Eldest Young Master's maid. Even if it's on the Third Young Master's orders, shouldn't they receive orders directly from him?"
"No, but still..."
At that moment, Yeon So-hyeon set down his chopsticks with a clack.
"Go ahead."
That was the word deciding she couldn't stay under the Eldest Young Master's roof.
"...Eldest Young Master?"
Yeon So-hyeon continued, eyes still on the erotic book.
"It's noisy, so go hear what they want."
Jeong-a nearly buckled at the knees but held firm.
'Right. No matter how overbearing the Third Young Master is, he can't ignore all procedure and drag me off right away.'
And even if he followed procedure, the head housekeeper on her side would drag it out plenty.
"...Eldest Young Master, then I'll go."
As she descended the pavilion, barely hiding her trembling legs, Yeon So-hyeon's voice came from behind.
"Wait."
Jeong-a turned back, harboring a sliver of hope.
"Yes, Eldest Young Master."
But the Eldest Young Master's gaze wasn't on her.
"You, you."
He pointed his chopsticks at the guard captain.
"Me? You mean me?"
Yeon So-hyeon asked in an indifferent tone.
"Who told you to enter here as you please?"
He panicked momentarily and replied.
"Ah, that's... I know you're not supposed to enter without permission, but."
Yeon So-hyeon's gaze down from the pavilion was ruthlessly indifferent.
"You know you're not supposed to enter without permission, yet you did?"
"Ah, n-no, that's not it. Normally there's always a messenger servant near the main gate, but since yesterday's incident..."
Yeon So-hyeon's eyes didn't twitch.
"No one's there, so you figured you could just come in whenever you want?"
"N-No, sir!"
It was the same intimidating presence Jeong-a had felt yesterday from Yeon So-hyeon.
He pressed him further with a few more words.
His manner of methodically cornering the man allowed no argument.
Before long, the guard captain was on his knees.
"I'm sorry, Eldest Young Master! It won't happen again!"
The Three Absolutes Warriors were impressive, no doubt.
But far inferior to this unaffiliated expert.
Yeon So-hyeon had so easily made such an expert grovel and apologize.
Seeing Yeon So-hyeon like that, Jeong-a tightened her fist slightly.
"Is that so? Fine, you're forgiven this time. But from now on, you're the main gate liaison. Stand by at the main gate indefinitely."
The guard captain, who had been kowtowing, jolted in surprise.
"Yes?!"
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