Chapter 13
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Chapter 13: The Uninvited Guest
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“From now on, you are the contact person for the main gate. You are to remain on standby at the main gate indefinitely.”
“Pardon?!”
The unidentified Master tilted his head and looked at Yeon So-hyeon.
“There is a facility at the main gate previously used by the contact servants. Use that as your quarters.”
Yeon So-hyeon continued, not even sparing him a glance.
“Your access is restricted to everywhere except the residence. Do not forget that.”
His words were effectively the same as officially demoting him to a mere errand boy.
“Y-Young Master?”
And one who had to wait indefinitely in front of the main gate, at that.
“Why?”
Yeon So-hyeon continued before the unidentified Master could even respond.
“If you don’t like it, you can try doing as you please again this time.”
“…….”
It was a weight too heavy for him to bear, being nothing more than a ‘mere Master.’ At the very least, he had no other options in this situation.
“……I shall obey the Young Master’s command.”
The Young Master didn’t even offer a reply, instead looking toward Jeong-ah.
“Why are you still standing there?”
“I will take my leave, Young Master.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, she bowed deeply and retreated backward.
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“A guest has arrived, so why is the hospitality so pathetic?!”
A man of massive stature, a head taller than the burly guards, shouted the moment he saw Jeong-ah. Jeong-ah read her opponent with her ‘visionary power’ and bowed her head in greeting.
“……It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jeong-ah.”
The Three-Absolute Warrior didn’t seem to have any intention of acknowledging her greeting. He scoffed and said, “Show me inside. I need to see your master.”
‘……What a lunatic.’
Jeong-ah sighed inwardly. It was clear that the surrounding guards were merely watching the spectacle with interest and had no intention of helping her.
“The Young Master has not granted permission for entry.”
“What……?!”
Jeong-ah intentionally cut him off.
“If you have business with me, please state it here.”
Though her eyes were lowered softly, there was not a trace of expression on her face. It was the very embodiment of that composure the guests at the reception hall had called the Ice Flower. And naturally, at an action that was tantamount to a ‘provocation,’ the Three-Absolute Warrior exploded.
“You insane wench……?!”
As he took one step toward the main gate, and then another step inside the boundary stone,
“Halt.”
There wasn’t even the sound of a blade being drawn. It was as if they had been standing that way from the very beginning. The blades raised by the Masters—disguised as guards—were all pointed directly at the Three-Absolute Warrior.
“W-what?”
The Three-Absolute Warrior stepped back in panic. Then, the guard captain (who had become Yeon So-hyeon’s contact person) sighed and warned him while clutching his head.
“This is a Grade A restricted area. To pass through here at will, you must have a security clearance of Grade 1 or higher…….”
He didn’t hide his irritation, baring his teeth.
“……Damn it, regardless, you don’t meet the requirements, so don’t act up.”
His eyes glinted.
“That is your final warning.”
“A-all right.”
The Three-Absolute Warrior raised both hands to show he had no intention of being hostile. The guards then sheathed their swords and stepped back, returning to their roles as spectators. The guard captain slumped against the gate, sitting down on the spot, and began to pull at his hair again.
“Ahem, ahem.”
Seeing that they wouldn’t interfere as long as he didn’t enter, the Three-Absolute Warrior cleared his throat a few times and decided to focus solely on Jeong-ah.
“You must come with me to see the Third Young Master.”
It was a violent request, but his momentum had noticeably diminished. Jeong-ah didn’t even nod, refusing his words.
“My movements are not decided by the Third Young Master.”
The Three-Absolute Warrior sneered at her.
“That’s none of your concern. Are you going to argue about this and that, you lowly servant girl?”
It was a demeaning remark, but Jeong-ah didn’t blink as she replied, “I am merely stating the laws of the main family.”
“Enough. It is the law that if the Third Young Master calls, you come. Let’s go, now.”
He reached out a hand like a pot lid, and Jeong-ah naturally stepped back.
“You wench……?!”
As Jeong-ah retreated, he could no longer grab her without stepping inside.
“My name is Jeong-ah, if you please.”
He felt a surge of frustration and his toes twitched. Just one step. With one step, he could wring the neck of that arrogant girl. But it was impossible to ignore the unidentified Masters who were watching with amused expressions.
“……I will make sure to see if you can act so high and mighty in front of the Third Young Master.”
The sound of him grinding his teeth echoed chillingly.
“You had better watch your step until then. The Third Young Master dislikes using things that others have already used.”
Jeong-ah bowed her head slightly.
“I will not see you out.”
He spat on the ground and turned away. As she watched him move away, Jeong-ah wanted to collapse right there. The momentum the Three-Absolute Warrior exuded was fierce, not something an ordinary person without a shred of internal energy could withstand. Yet, without the slightest tremor, she stood tall and endured until the end. She had the will not to show weakness to anyone, but more than that, another guest was approaching the main gate.
“Hmph.”
“Hmph.”
The middle-aged man who encountered the Three-Absolute Warrior let out a low scoff, and the Three-Absolute Warrior scoffed loudly in return. Just by that, one could easily guess where the middle-aged man had come from.
“I am the steward responsible for the Second Young Master’s Lake Garden.”
“I am Jeong-ah, a maid serving the Young Master. I greet the steward of the Lake Garden.”
He unfolded his fan (in the middle of winter!) and peered at Jeong-ah with displeased eyes from over the top of it.
“Precocious thing. I have nothing to say to you, so lead me to your master at once.”
“I apologize, but the Young Master is not receiving guests.”
“What……?!”
Veins bulged on the hand holding the fan.
“Do you dare spout such nonsense knowing that I have come on behalf of the Second Young Master?”
Jeong-ah replied without a single change in her expression.
“I am truly sorry.”
The eyes of the Lake Garden steward narrowed over his fan. From Jeong-ah’s stance and attitude, standing firm without leaving the main gate, he grasped far more than a few words could convey.
“……I thought you were merely precocious, but you are a shameless girl.”
Jeong-ah did not respond to his low, angry mutterings. He turned his gaze away from the unresponsive Jeong-ah and greeted the guard captain sitting on the ground.
“You have a difficult job.”
One could tell from his tone that he had realized these men were no ordinary guards. Even without a shred of internal energy, it showed that he hadn’t earned his position as a steward by playing games.
“Is it true, as this girl says, that the Young Master is not receiving visitors?”
At his question, the guard at the front shrugged.
“We do not know for sure.”
“Oh? Is that so? Does anyone else happen to know?”
In that brief moment, the gaze of the guard captain, who had been clutching his head, lingered on Jeong-ah. Jeong-ah flinched slightly at the look, but she did not avert her eyes.
“Oh, if none of you know, then it cannot be helped.”
The Lake Garden steward took a letter from his robes and continued. The seal of the Second Young Master was clearly stamped on the envelope.
“As one who bears the responsibility of delivering the Second Young Master’s letter, I have no choice but to…….”
At that moment, the guard captain stood up with a short sigh.
“The Young Master is not receiving guests.”
The Lake Garden steward’s long eyebrows twitched.
“……Is that so?”
The guard captain smacked his lips and said, “I myself am on my way back after being reprimanded for that very issue just now.”
“Oh my…….”
The Lake Garden steward stroked his thin beard.
“This is troublesome.”
He gathered his thoughts for a moment and clicked his tongue.
“Then it cannot be helped.”
Jeong-ah reached out to take the letter the steward was holding, but he did not let go, instead looking at the guard captain.
“Could you verify that this girl delivers the letter properly?”
The guard captain wore a reluctant expression but eventually nodded.
“I will do so.”
Only then did the Lake Garden steward loosen his grip and allow Jeong-ah to take the letter.
“……Remember this well.”
He looked down at Jeong-ah with eyes like a viper and said in a low voice, “No matter what you think you’re plotting with that small head of yours, you are ultimately in the palm of the Second Young Master’s hand.”
He then bowed to the guards and turned to leave.
“Steward of the Lake Garden, I will not see you out.”
Jeong-ah’s greeting was met only with a scoff. Once he was sufficiently far away, one of the guards shrugged.
“……What an unpleasant fellow.”
“Indeed.”
Then, they all nodded at Jeong-ah.
“A young lady with remarkable spirit.”
“Indeed. I don’t know the circumstances, but seeing that dignified demeanor, I am impressed.”
It was a tone of voice ill-suited for guards.
“Thank you for your kind words.”
However, Jeong-ah considered this a positive outcome. It was because they had sincerely acknowledged her not as a fake guard, but for who she truly was. After exchanging brief pleasantries with them, Jeong-ah hid her trembling body and managed to take a step forward.
“Hey, wait a moment.”
It was none other than the guard captain.
“……Do you have something to say to me?”
Having followed her to the forest path, he spoke to her in a low voice.
“The Young Master never said he forbade visitors. Isn’t that right?”
Jeong-ah bit her lip for a moment.
“He did not command it directly, but in my judgment…….”
He waved his hand to stop her.
“As you know, I don’t have a single good feeling toward your Young Master.”
“…….”
“The only reason I’m telling you this is because it bothers me to see a girl the age of my own daughter in such a difficult position.”
Jeong-ah bowed her head.
“I will take your words to heart.”
He sighed for a moment, blaming his own meddlesome nature, but eventually continued.
“You do know, at least, that the Young Master could have protected you but chose not to, right?”
At those words, Jeong-ah revealed a troubled expression.
“……I am merely a servant.”
He waved his hand.
“No, no. It seems there is a misunderstanding; the meaning of my words is different from what you are guessing.”
He scratched his head roughly and spoke.
“Having spent my entire life with a sword, my way with words is absurdly lacking. But as a warrior, there are things that catch my eye.”
His gaze turned toward Jeong-ah.
“Are you trying to offer your loyalty to the Young Master? Or are you trying to protect yourself? When I saw you second-guessing the Young Master’s intentions earlier, that is what I thought.”
It was as if she had been struck by lightning.
Jeong-ah’s body froze in place.
“The Young Master could have dismissed them with a single word. So why didn’t he?”
In the end, she could not offer any answer.
Seeing her like that, the head of the guards gave a bitter smile.
“Then, I shall be going.”
Only then did Jeong-ah regain her senses and ask him hurriedly.
“Do you not need to confirm that I have delivered the letter?”
He was already turning toward the main gate.
“No, no. You handle that yourself. I need to figure out how to get away from that Young Master as soon as possible.”
He vanished in an instant.
However, Jeong-ah, who had turned in the opposite direction, could not easily move her feet.
The words the head of the guards had left behind would not leave her mind.
‘Are you trying to offer your loyalty to the Young Master? Or are you trying to protect yourself?’
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