SWS CH 23

Chapter 23

Was I really allowed to rest?

Yesterday too, aside from choosing a room, I hadn’t done anything.

So I’d assumed that starting today, I’d be given some proper work.

Sure, this was a fantasy world, but it was still a K-fantasy world.

There was no way Francesca, who valued appearances above all else, would bring in a commoner daughter-in-law and then let her laze around. Even if she couldn’t parade me in high society, I thought she’d at least train me thoroughly for the sake of the family’s reputation.

Of course, I had no intention of following that training.

But resting all afternoon?

‘Is this some kind of test?’

A memory from my first visit to my in-laws suddenly surfaced.

“Take it easy today and get a feel for our household. Just greet the elders.”

They’d told me to “take it easy,” and how many hours had I spent washing dishes that day?

I’d peeled an entire box of fruit.

My mother-in-law had expected me to “figure things out on my own,” neatly, efficiently, and with tact.

‘A test? I’m not falling for that.’

Back then, I’d suffered more than necessary out of ignorance. But I was different now.

There was no way I was going to endure in-law hell again, not even here.

I’d do everything my way.

I planned to move exactly how I wanted.

“Yeah, I’ll really rest! Like, seriously rest!”

I answered brightly, like someone with flowers in their head.

Pretending not to know anything was the best strategy from the start.

“…Suit yourself. I have work to do, so tell me in advance if you need anything.”

“Okay. I’m really going to rest, so work comfortably.”

“…Are you resting for real, or ‘pretend’ resting?”

“I’m really resting.”

Geti looked at me strangely, told me she’d bring my meal, and left.

***

After eating my fill, I stepped outside the room.

“You said you were resting earlier. Why not take a nap together?”

“I just ate and drank tea. If I sleep now, my stomach will feel heavy.”

Staying cooped up in the room was stifling. I needed at least a walk.

Then I suddenly wondered if the servants had eaten that stew again for breakfast and lunch, so I changed direction toward the kitchen. Before that, I tossed off the uncomfortable clothes, grabbed a fresh maid uniform from the laundry room, and changed.

“Oh? It’s you, Lara.”

I ran into May almost immediately.

“Halara, where were you all morning?!”

“Huh? Umm… the main building.”

“The main building? Don’t tell me you went to see the head chef?!”

May asked with a despairing look.

“No.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Come quickly. The chef is waiting!”

“The chef?”

May grabbed my arm and pulled me along after giving a vague answer. I’d been planning to go anyway, so thanks to her, I arrived at the kitchen quickly.

Several maids were there, along with a middle-aged man wearing a white hat.

“She’s here! This is her. Chef Hatsen.”

“So it’s you.”

The man folded his arms, then winced and groaned, quickly lowering them again. The way he looked at me was oddly solemn.

“Yes. It’s me.”

I replied just as seriously.

“And what are you, exactly?”

“The person who made something delicious last night?”

I clearly remembered the maids standing beside him.

While May and I were making dumplings in the kitchen yesterday, they’d begged me to make some for them too because it looked so good. Word had spread, and I ended up making enough dumplings for all the annex servants.

They must’ve told Chef Hatsen as well.

“Ahem. I don’t recognize you. Are you really new?”

“Yes, well.”

“Some kind of special hire, then…”

He muttered to himself. I didn’t bother explaining. It was easier if he just thought I was a maid.

“How did you make that dish yesterday? Which recipe did you follow?”

“The dumplings?”

“Dumplings? I’ve never heard of that. What region is it from?”

“It’s food from my hometown, where I lived as a child. It’s very far away, so even if I tell you, you won’t know it. A place called ‘Gimsuhannmu Turtle and Crane Three-Thousand Gap Dongbaksak.’”

I deliberately said something absurdly unfamiliar so he wouldn’t probe further.

“There’s a neighboring town called ‘Taejeong Taese Mun Danse.’ Have you heard of it?”

I rattled it off quickly. Hatsen froze, completely lost.

“I-I’ve never heard such names in my life.”

“The world is wide and diverse.”

I shrugged.

“More importantly, taste matters.”

Hatsen straightened and nodded.

“I tasted what you made yesterday, though late. It was excellent. Can you make anything else?”

“Of course.”

Countless things.

“Then how about dessert? Can you make that?”

“Dessert?”

“Yes.”

“Of course!”

Thanks to my mother-in-law’s constant nagging to cook at home, there wasn’t much I hadn’t tried.

“That’s perfect!”

Hatsen beamed and handed me a white apron.

“The main kitchen prepares meals, but asking them to handle dessert too hurts my pride.”

“Wait, Chef. Dessert? Who’s going to eat it?”

One of the maids asked, overhearing him.

I was curious too.

I needed to know the customer to tailor it properly.

I waited quietly for his answer. He let out a long sigh.

“There’s a young madam staying in the annex.”

Hatsen added that even he had only been told quietly by Head Butler Karl early this morning, and warned them not to spread it around.

“A young madam?! Which young master is getting married?”

“I didn’t hear anything about a wedding. Apparently, Young Master Docep brought a woman in. The secrecy makes it seem suspicious.”

Oh my.

That’s me.

“Young Master Docep brought a woman? Before Young Master Nikolai gets married?”

“Lower your voice! She’s staying in the annex. She might hear.”

Hatsen hushed the maid.

It seemed Geti hadn’t explained my situation properly yet. If she had, they’d know I was walking around in a maid uniform.

“Tell us more. What do you mean, staying in the annex?”

“Didn’t the lady order the annex to be thoroughly cleaned yesterday? That was to prepare for a new family member.”

“What kind of noble lady is she?”

“Well… I heard she has no family.”

“What?!”

The maid yelped, then clapped a hand over her mouth.

‘That’s a fair reaction.’

Even I’d never imagined I’d be living here.

“How could that be? The lady approved it?”

“Why else would she prepare the annex? She even told us to be extra careful with desserts.”

“No way. Young Master Nikolai isn’t even married yet. How could Young Master Docep first—wait, did he cause an accident?”

“Shh. Watch your mouth. The lady will strike you if she hears.”

Half right, half wrong.

He did cause an accident, but not one serious enough to live together over.

Francesca had simply brought me in because she feared her troublemaker son might never marry anyone.

“Could it be…?”

At that moment, their gazes all turned to me.

I gave an awkward smile, wondering if I’d been found out.

“So that’s why a new maid came in.”

“That must be it!”

The maids clapped.

None of them suspected that I was the woman in question.

I looked toward Hatsen, who was staring at me intently.

“No wonder I wondered where such a skilled cook had come from. The lady had a plan all along.”

“Hahaha…”

“You’re truly a blessing.”

Hatsen placed a hand on my shoulder, deeply moved.

“I’ve heard rumors that the young master’s woman is a femme fatale who’s never cooked a meal herself.”

Eek. That used to be true, but not now!

“What? Really? But she’s a commoner.”

“Even so, she apparently seduced wealthy men and lived beyond her means, eating fine food.”

“How shameless! And she even ensnared the young master? Poor Young Master Docep. He’s already in a bad position within the family…”

I was getting beaten up purely by rumor.

“I told you to watch your mouth! Anyway, our job is to serve food that suits her taste. If she managed to worm her way into the ducal family, she’s no ordinary woman. Her palate will be picky too. Let’s be especially careful.”

The maids nodded.

I felt like I’d become a witch without doing anything.

“And you?”

Everyone looked at me standing there blankly.

“Hahaha. I’ll do my best too.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“Shall I start with dessert?”

“Yes, let’s!”

Sweet things were the best way to soften people up.

***

Clack! Clack!

Only the sound of wooden swords colliding and harsh breathing filled the Third Division’s training ground.

Under the blazing sun, the two men facing each other were flushed red, heat radiating off them.

Yet neither lowered their wooden swords.

“Still going? How many hours has it been?”

An apprentice knight asked after returning from a meal.

“No idea. They’ve been like that nonstop. Since morning, at least.”

“No, since dawn. A servant cleaning early said they were already at it before he arrived.”

The tireless pair were Docep and Moldorf.

Since requesting his trial, Docep had continuously crossed swords with Moldorf.

Normally, a trial ended the moment Moldorf said, “Pass.”

But since Moldorf said nothing, Docep couldn’t stop either.

The fierce duel that had carried over from yesterday had become a spectacle for the Third Division’s apprentices.

“What’s the point? A trial now? He left on his own, didn’t he? Then wandered around drinking instead of touching a sword.”

One apprentice from a minor noble family sneered.

“But isn’t it strange? If he really quit for that long, there’s no way he could last this long.”

“Obviously the captain’s going easy on him. He’s still a young master, after all. Just waiting for him to collapse.”

Everyone knew Docep lacked talent.

The disgrace of a swordmaster family.

A stain on a noble house.

A parasite.

Those were the labels he carried.

At an age when every family member awakened at least one star, he was still stuck at one, walking the path of a good-for-nothing. Most knights looked at him with disdain.

Even first-year apprentices mocked him openly, knowing his position in the family was nearly nonexistent.

“What’s he trying to do now?”

“The young duke will inherit soon. He’s probably pretending to do something.”

“If it were me, I’d beg my brothers or marry into some noble house. Way easier than pretending at swordsmanship.”

“Well, his face and body are impressive. He might even land a rich widow.”

Snickers followed.

“Huff… huff…”

But their guesses were only half wrong.

Moldorf was holding Docep to a higher standard, but as time passed, it was Moldorf who grew exhausted.

Docep, on the other hand, showed no sign of fatigue. If anything, he was leading the exchange.

‘What on earth is going on?’

As the gossiping knights said, Docep had abandoned the sword long ago. Rumors claimed he drank daily with shady mercenaries.

Alcohol weakened the body and dulled the mind. Knowing this, Moldorf had intended to push Docep until he collapsed.

He thought it would end quickly.

But Docep endured far longer than expected.

‘No… I’m the one enduring!’

Moldorf was exhausted.

From Docep’s perspective, it made sense.

Even if he was currently weaker than an ordinary knight, he was a man who had once reached a realm higher than even his father, the duke.

He even looked excited.

“Ghk.”

In that moment, Moldorf’s overheated body swayed.

Clack. Clack!

Seeing his condition, Docep struck with controlled force.

Moldorf realized then.

Docep would never be the first to lower his sword.

It was late, but perhaps it was time to declare “Pass.”

Just as Moldorf began to lower his blade—

“Darling!”

A clear voice rang out from afar.

At that sound, Docep’s sword froze in midair.