* * *
"How is it?"
She looks down from above, stealthily lifting her collar. Her beautiful white skin, purple eyes, and silver hair fluttering in the night breeze coming in through the window. Slowly caressing my cheek, she asks with her small, red lips.
"Today too...you are so beautiful...Noel...Youngae."
She slowly straightened her collar and brushed her remaining hair to the side, as if tempting me, but in a mysterious and hot way that was different from her cold skin.
"But... why did you greet that other girl so friendly?"
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. I stopped by the bakery today to buy some snacks to share with the servants. There, I was greeted by the bakery Mary, who always greets me warmly... When did I see her last?
"Ah... that..."
I look at her tightly shut mouth as if there is no need for an answer. A small white hand gradually grabs my wrist.
"Why...did you talk to another woman?"
She bit her slightly red lips. It was tempting, and I could feel my lower body rising little by little, but at the same time, fear began to creep up from the top of my head.
'Plop!'
"Kuaaaahhhh!!!"
Her wrist was broken. As soon as she grabbed her wrist and gently pressed it with her fingers, it snapped into a position that it shouldn't have, as if it had been sprained.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
Save me, please!!!
.
"Yes, Tir."
That face that is talking to me. It is so pitiful that it looks like it woke up from a deep sleep all day long. I can't help but feel irritated by that pitiful face.
"You crazy bastard, I'm done with all my work today."
A busy market place with peddlers and merchants coming in from the morning breeze. I was a worker working among busy people like Jeffers with this pitiful face.
"What, who knew there would be so many people in the morning?"
"Haven't I told you so many times? The market will be bustling with the return of the Countess Youngae."
"Haaam! What difference would that make?"
"If it's not morning, people's eyes are bloodshot and it's impossible to monitor the work."
"What, are you being so picky? Since it's almost nap time anyway, people will be pretty drowsy. So wouldn't it be okay?
"Crazy... How many times have I told you that the time when you can't come to your senses in the morning is our biggest burden? Sigh... Enough."
"So, how is it over there?"
I then followed the finger Jeffers pointed at and saw a woman. She was wearing a soft white dress with lace, white gloves, and a yellow hat... She looked like a doll.
"How is it? She looks like a pretty girl who came to the market to play. Isn't this work enough?"
"Well... it's okay."
"Hehehe, I also looked for something to work on on my way here."
It seems like she got caught while lying around and talking. She's a girl who came to the market to play, who seems to know nothing about the world. She's definitely a fool.
"I thought you'd let me off the hook just this once."
"Yes, yes. Then will Tir-nim pick the first starter?"
He secretly put off the work for me. However, if I do the work, the distribution will be 8¼2, so the profit will inevitably be good, so Zephyrs secretly gave me a concession. I guess he feels sorry.
"Then I'll be back."
"It's going far."
He pulls his hat down low and slowly approaches her. He walks briskly, trying not to stand out, blending in with the crowd, and deliberately glances around the market as if he has no interest at all.
'Relax your hands a bit...'
Slowly clench and unclench your fingers and practice. This is not a skill that you have only tried once or twice. You can easily strike at people who look like other merchants or adventurers, but you have to be careful because you might miss a fish while fishing.
'slowly.'
Naturally, and to the point of melting in. I slowly reach for the small bag hanging on the arm of the girl who is looking at the scenery from afar. Now, the work is almost done.
'It's over.'
Quickly put your hand into the bag and pull it out.
'Okay!'
At that moment, my eyes were looking at the sky, the slowly moving clouds, and the warm sunlight.
'what...'
The feeling of floating and having no strength. I felt like I was nothing more than a small animal at the edge of gravity, shaken by the law of inertia. What goes up naturally flows down.
'ah.'
I feel a fleeting moment of slowly falling down. And what I see are those cold, scary purple eyes, fluttering silver hair... and the arm holding me.
'Pfft!'
The vision turned white like that.
.
10 minutes later.
"Ugh!"
I woke up screaming, not really screaming, as I remembered the shocking scene from just a moment ago. I looked around and quickly checked the situation.
'Fuck, is this fucked up?'
When I was a beginner, I got caught more than once because I didn't do my work properly. Back then, I was young and cried and cried and got beat up, but now I'm a manly 18-year-old adult. I'm sure I'll end up like this.
'You tied it really well!'
The strings binding my arms and ankles show no sign of loosening. I wanted to take out the small knife I had hidden in my bosom, but even though it was wrapped around my wrists, I couldn't reach my pockets.
"Are you awake?"
A clear and beautiful voice. Then I raised my head and looked at the source of the voice.
'ah...'
She, sitting on a large wooden box, looked like the statue of a goddess I had seen before. She was so beautiful that she didn't look like a person, and her skin was as clean as glass. Her flowing white hair and purple eyes were enough to dazzle me.
"Are you sick?"
"...no."
I answered, momentarily forgetting that my head was spinning.
"Then I guess I should hand you over to the soldiers now."
"Okay, just wait a minute!!!"
I screamed louder than ever. Beauty is beauty, and now only this woman has my way of life. If I were to be dragged away by the soldiers now, I would be beaten until I became a half-cripple and would live a life where I could not die. She must have been a high-ranking lady, and I knew that touching her sleeve would be a serious crime.
"why?"
"Just this once! If you forgive me just this once, I won't do it again!!!"
"I've never met anyone who didn't say that."
That's true. I've never seen anyone like that, and when I was young, I would get a job the next day after begging for help...
"...Sob!"
In times like these, I had no choice but to use my childish face, which was now an adult. I tried to use my hidden secret, the ability to shed tears and a runny nose.
"If you cry, I'll kill you?"
"...."
I held back the tears I was preparing to cry.
"That's fast."
"...."
"Your hands are pretty fast too."
Lie. If my hands were quicker, that girl's bag would have already been in my arms. And it wouldn't have been caught like it is now.
"Are you a thieves' guild?"
"Oh, no! How could someone like that join such an incredibly evil guild! I'm just a pickpocket who was once a good citizen, but couldn't overcome hunger and turned into a criminal."
"Well, I cleaned up this whole area."
"yes?"
"What's your name?"
"Tir! It's Tir!"
"..."
The woman became silent. I waited for her to say something, but I felt despair as she just stared at me without moving her closed lips.
'Why, why... don't you like the name?!'
Was he angry because of his name? Sometimes I thought of the workshop manager who would get angry because his name was Tir and he sounded like a woman. Of course, he escaped from that guy and is now active in the market, but I heard news from him from time to time, but I haven't heard any news from him lately.
"It's not a lie... Tirga... is right."
I wondered how she knew me. I sometimes gave her fake names, but now I felt like I had to tell her my real name, so I did.
'what?'
She was certain that my real name was Tir. When she began to wonder if I was a fortune teller or a witch, as the rumors were all over the place.
"long time no see."
At that time, I racked my brain. Sophia, whom I had met when I was young? No, she had brown hair.
Ellie? Susan? Evella?... Not all of them. A woman with such distinctive hair, a pretty face, and purple eyes. It was a shadowy place, near the end of an alley, but her face seemed to shine. However, he could not remember seeing such a white beauty like a piece of glass.
"...Uh, uh! How have you been?! You! Right?!"
In order to survive, he pretends to know her.
"..."
"Wow! How long has it been! You've become so pretty! You've changed so much I can't recognize you!"
"...So, stop lying?"
"..."
I stopped talking again. Her face seemed even more stern... I could just instinctively tell that she was incredibly angry right now. Those red lips opened again, wanting an answer from me.
"Don't you remember?"
What do you mean? I've never seen anyone with silver hair and purple eyes before. She opened her mouth, risking getting angry.
"Yes... Have we ever... met?"
"huh."
The word "yes" didn't give me any good hints at all. No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't remember her. It felt like a more difficult challenge than when I was young and tried to figure out the tricks of the rock-climber who stole my small money.
"Anyway, um... yeah. I tried to steal the bag, right?"
"Ah, ah! I'm sorry! I swear to God I won't do it again!"
"You don't believe in God, do you?"
I suddenly felt scared as I thought that she could see through it all. It seemed like she really was a witch.
"...sorry."
"Now, these are the things in the room you're after."
'Clang!'
There was a sound of glass falling, and the large jewels inside fell to the ground in large quantities. Necklaces, rings, earrings, etc.
that had been carved out. The mismatched and gorgeous ornaments spilled onto the rough dirt floor, bouncing back and forth several times and scattering around me.
"Huh!"
I looked at myself reflected in the fallen necklace and my eyes met mine, and I felt that even if I emptied all my possessions, I would not be able to buy a single gem, the ruby, that was on the necklace.
"Now you know what a serious crime it is?"
"Never again! Never again, I will touch your belongings! Please, at least my life!"
"Then, should I just ask them to spare my life and hand me over to the police?"
"Ahhhh! No! Please, just hand over my life to the guards!!!"
I have to live. I must be incredibly rich if I drop the jewels indiscriminately, and I really feel like I've been fooled. I want to curse Jeffers endlessly. When I was lost in useless fantasies about what if he hadn't handed me the job.
"Then be my servant."
"yes?"
"servant."
I screamed loudly at that time. I still... regret that time. It was a better choice to be handed over to the government and become a half-soldier.
"Yes!!! I will do it! Servant! I will do anything you tell me to do! If you spare my life, I will become a hard-working servant and serve you with all my heart!"
"okay."
'Sssss!'
All the strings that were binding my body came loose. I can see the sharp cross-sections... I wonder when I cut them.
"Follow me."
"yes!"
I follow her to survive with my mind sharp. Now that I'm free from restraint, should I run away? My steps slow down for a moment.
"..."
She stares at me blankly without saying anything. According to my survival instinct... if I run away now, I will end up regretting it bitterly.
"Okay, please wait a moment!"
I found the reason for my hesitation. I quickly picked up the bag she had dropped, put the spilled jewels in it, and stood in front of her. That was enough of a reason for my hesitation.
"You're a good person."
Fortunately, it seems like he got a point. He was laughing and was planning to get more points on this opportunity.
"Miss! What is your name?"
"..."
As I approached her, rubbing my palms together, she bit her lips again without saying anything. Her face was once again pitiful.
"You really don't remember."
"yes?"
"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Noel. My name is Noel Deckard."
Noel...Noel Deckard...Deckard...Wait.
"Author Deckerdback!!!"
"It is rude to speak loudly about another person's family background."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
I bowed my head desperately. I made a mistake. Today was a good day and the market was crowded, so I thought it was a lucky day. It was annoying that Jeffers came late, but if he looked after me and I worked with my hands, it was a lucky day where I could at least pull out one silver coin. But.
'Why of all people, Baekjakga Yeongae!'
The rumor is that she is the young lady. She has returned as a countess after receiving training as a knight for a long time.
And now she is before my eyes.
'Oh...my God...'
It was a moment when I suddenly wanted to believe in God. However, what I saw before my eyes was not a merciful God, but a person of such high status that I could cut off his head if he offended me.
"Then follow me."
However, she smiled faintly and reached out her hand to me.
"yes?"
"I don't know where I'm going. I have to pass by a lot of people, so let's hold hands so we don't get lost."
That day, I held a woman's hand for the first time in 18 years. It felt very soft, small, and warm.
"..."
I follow her without saying anything, as if I am embarrassed. With the illusion that we are the only two people in the world,
"Congratulations on becoming Lady Youngae's servant."
I meet the old butler and accept the servant's uniform, white gloves, and shoes he hands me.
"Okay, just a moment."
"Did you say Tir?"
"yes..."
It was a dizzying experience. Holding her hand, I crossed the bridge over the great river, opened the large gate, and entered the Count's inner castle. I was greeted by numerous knights lined up and entered, and a dignified-looking butler in a black suit showed off his beard and guided me to the guest room.
'what's this...'
I already felt dazed. I had no choice but to accept the clothes the butler handed me and head straight to the changing room.
"Hmm, not bad."
A butler speaking to me while wearing a servant's uniform.
"Our Lady of Deckard, Lady Noel, does not have a dedicated servant yet. She did not specifically ask for one, so she did not have one, but I thought she would bring one from outside."
"Are you a personal servant?"
"Yes, you will be working exclusively for Young-ae from now on. I had a lot of trouble with the maids, but fortunately, I can now rest easy since I have a servant in charge of everything except underwear."
With a cold face, I became the servant of the count. After that, I exchanged greetings with other servants and quickly learned the work of the count. If I failed to do this work properly, I would be dragged to the police station for stealing jewels. I was desperate in my own way.
"Now, you can go to Noel's room with the dinner tonight."
"yes yes..."
As I was learning the etiquette to the point of confusion, I quickly picked up the plate and headed to Noel's room, following the butler's words.
'Knock! Knock!'
"No, Noel. I brought you some food."
I listen closely and I hear a tiny voice.
"Come in."
At those words, I slowly opened the door and went inside, and all I could see was a queen-size bed or larger, a window that looked out onto the Countess's house, and her sitting on a soft chair, reading a book.
"Hey, can I leave it here?"
"Okay."
"yes..."
He slowly places down the bowl, following the steps that a servant of a count should take.
"You came just in time. Your manners are also very good."
"Hehehe, thank you."
Although the training was less than half a day, he seemed to like it. He felt proud of himself for having such a good memory.
"however."
"yes?"
It was only then that I realized that being this beautiful lady's servant was hell.
"Did you talk to the other maids?"
"Yes? Yes... to learn manners..."
"why?"
"Yes? Etiquette..."
"why?"
"..."
She was coming closer and closer. I wanted to run away. But she slowly grabbed my neck and whispered to me while letting out small breaths.
"Do you want to die?"
That day, I could feel the despair of being caught in Arachne's web, and the heart of a knight caught in a trap. The helplessness and fear of not being able to do anything. And.
'Plop!'
"AAAAAHHH!!!!"
I'm talking about the feeling of your wrist being twisted.
* * *