HSM 9

Chapter 9

I stopped by Jami-gwan and ended up being held there for nearly an hour.

I had expected it, but the entire Jami-gwan was in complete chaos over Eok I-geon asking for a refill of noodle soup.

He had simply enjoyed a meal, yet everyone was excited beyond measure, saying that Maegyo’s greatest beauty had finally begun to show interest in Jami-gwan.

While some were busy dolling themselves up, others came to ask me how to win Prince Lee’s favor.

Many said they saw me in a new light, claiming that interesting things kept happening one after another from my very first day as his personal maid.

Fortunately, I managed to escape using the excuse that I had to attend to Eok I-geon, or I might have been trapped there until evening, suffering through their interrogation.

“Eok I-geon’s popularity is incredible, just incredible.”

Even if he’s the protagonist, isn’t this a bit excessive?

I had planned to stay quiet and unnoticed until my resignation day, but somehow the future feels uncertain.

My efforts to survive seem to be flowing in a strange direction, which feels ominous.

“No! I decided to think positively!”

Mind control is especially important at times like this.

Just two months at most.

If I can just get past that deadline, I can survive.

So wouldn’t it be okay if things get a little noisy?

After all, it was just commotion among the maids.

Who would pay attention to us doing menial work?

“Look! Now that I’m at Geonyeong-gak, I don’t see a single ant!”

After being at Jami-gwan, which was more chaotic than a marketplace, arriving at Geonyeong-gak felt like entering a temple.

I’d noticed since morning, but this place felt unusually quiet.

Even if Eok I-geon is sensitive to noise, this seems excessive.

Come to think of it, there’s another strange thing.

“Why aren’t there any warriors here?”

I had seen many guards standing watch at the residences of the First Prince and Third Prince.

Especially First Prince Eok Wi-baek had quite strict security, if I remember correctly.

Could it be that he only brought Cheon-gang because he doesn’t want his true nature discovered?

Though it was my own thought, it made quite a bit of sense.

Since maids like me would handle the trivial matters, there wouldn’t be any inconvenience in Eok I-geon’s daily life.

He might be vulnerable to surprise attacks, but that’s not my concern.

I just need to be faithful to my own duties.

Therefore, now is the time to polish his private chambers until they sparkle.

Time was tight if I wanted to finish cleaning before Eok I-geon returned.

“Excuse me…”

How much time had passed like that?

Senior Doe’s group came to find me while I was organizing the laundry.

Looking out the window, the sun was already setting.

“What’s the matter?”

When I lifted my chin and met their gaze, the two excluding Senior Doe quickly lowered their eyes.

At least for them, this morning’s warning still seemed to be working.

Still, there’s no need to be that scared.

“…We’ve prepared the bath water.”

“And?”

“You might not know since it’s your first time, but preparing bath water is normally the end of the daily routine for Geonyeong-gak maids.”

“That’s right. This is something Prince Lee specifically instructed!”

“Really!”

Their voices were loud, as if worried they might be misunderstood as lying.

Only then did I recall the contents of the manual.

“Ah, I remember now. His Highness prefers to be alone from evening onwards.”

Even so, it’s just three maids leaving this vast Geonyeong-gak, yet Eok I-geon is quite particular.

“I understand, so please go ahead.”

I would have liked to clock out with them too.

But damn it, I was the personal maid.

There’s always a reason for high salaries.

“See you later then.”

Senior Doe, who had been silent until now, grinned at me before turning around.

The sudden smile was strange enough, but his tone reeked of something fishy.

Is he planning some kind of revenge against me?

“Take care.”

I watched Senior Doe leave while waving his hand, feeling uneasy.

He seemed to have prepared something, but I had no idea what it could be right now.

I had prided myself on getting along quite well with my colleagues during my time as a palace maid, but perhaps that was just my own thinking.

I could only resent Eok I-geon for why I kept getting entangled in such troublesome affairs.

“Ah, forget it! If push comes to shove, I’ll just beat them all up again.”

There’s not enough time even when focusing on Eok I-geon.

I hurriedly finished folding the remaining laundry and headed to Mokgan.

And immediately shouted at thin air.

“These bastards! The water has already gone cold!”

Eok I-geon had a habit of bathing in warm water even in midsummer. There’s no way Senior Doe wouldn’t know this.

That means he deliberately pulled this stunt to mess with me.

Wow, what nerve.

To mess with Eok I-geon just to torment me.

This all happened because he hasn’t revealed his true nature yet.

If they knew how scary he was, they wouldn’t have dared to even try.

“How wonderful it would be if I could conjure the Three True Fires at times like this.”

Then I wouldn’t have to suffer like this.

The process of lighting the furnace, boiling water in the pot, and carrying it to Mokgan was too harsh an ordeal for someone born and raised in modern times.

I’m in my fifth year in this world, but this is really hard to adapt to.

It was a moment when I truly missed the warm water that used to come out just by turning the faucet.

“Tomorrow I’ll definitely check personally before letting them go!”

The same mistake never happened twice in my dictionary.

I’ll catch all three of them and show them a proper lesson.

Hmm, this should be good enough, right?

While moving around fuming, I finally got the bath water to the right temperature.

I was confident it was the perfect temperature for a half-bath.

Having been someone who used to relieve my tired body with half-baths after work, I could tell just by touch.

“Now then, shall I use my final trump card?”

What I took out from my bosom was a specially prepared medicinal powder.

It was something Shin Geum always got from the pharmacy for me, who enjoyed half-baths.

“I heard it’s quite expensive…”

Suppressing my reluctance, I carefully dissolved the medicinal powder into the water.

This was honestly a gamble.

Even in the original work, bathing scenes weren’t described in detail.

I was just trying this on my own because he seemed to enjoy bathing more than other warriors.

It would be fortunate if Eok I-geon liked it, but if not… it would be quite a loss.

“He wouldn’t just kill me outright, right? There should be some goodwill left from the noodle soup.”

Though his final look at the training grounds bothered me, I decided to trust in those two bowls of noodle soup.

It was only one day, but perhaps he might think I’m somewhat useful.

Adding the ice water, it was a game worth playing.

Anyway, that damn bastard Eok I-geon.

A maid just needs to do her maid duties well, so why do I have to prove my usefulness too?

Though it was something I did myself to match the psychopath’s needs, being annoyed was a separate matter.

But I can’t get excited about it.

Relax, relax.

I need to stay calm.

I was controlling my mind and body, steadying my breathing.

That’s when I heard the sound of someone approaching with heavy footsteps.

I quickly hid behind the screen set up behind the bathtub.

I absolutely was not trying to peek at Eok I-geon’s bath.

It was also my duty to attend to anything he might need while he was washing.

Besides, with Eok I-geon’s level of skill, he would already know more than enough that I was behind the screen.

Creak.

The door opened and Eok I-geon walked in.

Though he should have been quite tired from the arduous training, his steps were full of strength.

Thud.

Though I couldn’t see it, I heard what sounded like clothes dropping to the floor.

Then there was a splash, so it seemed Eok I-geon had entered the bathtub.

With his sensitive personality, he would have immediately noticed that something was different from usual.

Sure enough.

“What did you put in the water?”

Eok I-geon asked right away.

I replied clearly without trembling, just as I had practiced.

“It’s a medicinal preparation that helps relax tense muscles and aids in fatigue recovery. You seemed to be overexerting yourself all day, so I prepared it.”

“I was overexerting myself?”

Was that not good?

“If the scent is uncomfortable…”

“I have something to ask you, so come here.”

“…Yes?”

At Eok I-geon’s sudden summons, a metallic sound escaped from my mouth.

But that was only for a moment, as my body was already rushing toward him.

Because I knew well that he hated having to say something twice more than anything.

“Wh-what do you need… from me?”

I asked hesitantly while keeping my head down as much as possible to avoid seeing Eok I-geon’s naked body.

“Earlier. What did you give?”

“…Give? Me?”