Morning came with unusual noise echoing through the Kang residence.The courtyard, usually calm and orderly, was in complete chaos—servants running, guards straightening banners, and the head maid yelling like a general at war.
"Move faster! The guests are from the capital! One mistake and we're all dead!"
Eun-bi blinked, still holding a basket of fruit. "Wait, dead-dead? Or, like, unemployed-dead?"
"Both!"
"Ah. Motivating."
She quickly hurried off, bumping into Seo Mi-sun who was balancing a tray of tea."What's happening?" Eun-bi whispered.
Mi-sun leaned closer. "The Oh family is coming. Lady Oh Hwa-jin's father, Minister Oh Tae-gwang, and his wife, Lady Yoo Seon-ok. And…" she lowered her voice, "…their eldest son, Oh Ji-hoon."
"Wait," Eun-bi said. "There's another one? She has a brother?"
Mi-sun nodded. "And rumor says he's charming—but dangerously clever."
"Perfect," Eun-bi muttered. "This house really needed more intimidatingly perfect people."
Not long after, the sound of horses echoed from beyond the gates.The main door slid open to reveal Minister Oh Tae-gwang, tall and imposing in his navy robes, followed by Lady Yoo Seon-ok, elegant as a portrait, and Oh Ji-hoon, their eldest son—smiling faintly, eyes sharp like his father's.
Kang Jun-yeol greeted them with a polite bow."Welcome to the Kang residence, Minister Oh. Lady Yoo. It's an honor."
"Oh, the honor is ours," Minister Oh replied warmly. "We've heard much of your success with the royal supply trade."
Eun-bi watched from a distance, hiding behind a potted plant. "Wow, politics really has the same tone everywhere. Compliment first, plan destruction later."
She was supposed to stay invisible. That was the plan.Except, of course, plans and Eun-bi never got along.
As the guests were being seated, Eun-bi carried in a tray of tea and sweets—carefully, cautiously, almost like walking on a minefield.
Everything was going well until Lady Yoo Seon-ok turned toward her and smiled gently."My, such a new face. What's your name, dear?"
Eun-bi froze."Uh… Han Eun-bi, my lady. From… the countryside. Very far countryside."
"Oh? Which region?"
Eun-bi panicked. Her brain short-circuited."Uh… south. Very south. So south it's practically... down under."
There was an awkward pause.Jun-yeol, sitting beside Minister Oh, subtly coughed to cover a laugh.
Lady Yoo simply nodded, amused. "What a lively girl."
Then came Oh Ji-hoon's turn.He leaned back slightly, studying her with curiosity. "You don't sound like most servants here."
Eun-bi blinked. "That's because… I'm unique."
"Unique?" His lips curved faintly. "That's one word for it."
Jun-yeol's eyes flicked toward Ji-hoon—briefly, but with quiet warning.
Eun-bi, of course, noticed. Oh no. Please don't let this turn into another historical love triangle. My heart—and my career—can't handle it.
She bowed quickly. "If you'll excuse me, I'll just—uh—go make sure no one poisoned the tea."
Everyone blinked.
She froze. "I mean—uh—no one spilled the tea. Yes. Spilled! Totally different thing."
Lady Yoo chuckled softly. "Charming girl indeed."
After the meal, Minister Oh and Kang Jun-yeol retreated to the study for a private discussion.The women, including Lady Yoo and Hwa-jin, moved to the veranda, leaving Eun-bi to help serve refreshments.
From the other side of the paper screen, voices could be faintly heard.
"…the missing royal letter," Minister Oh said quietly. "The palace still demands answers.""I assure you, Minister," Jun-yeol replied calmly, "the matter is under control."
"Oh, I have no doubt," Minister Oh said, smiling—but the kind of smile that never reached his eyes. "Still, if anything threatens my daughter's position, I'd consider it… a personal matter."
The air grew cold.
Eun-bi, crouched nearby refilling teacups, nearly stopped breathing. Great. Another man who could kill me with one eyebrow.
When they exited, Jun-yeol's expression remained calm—but his hand was clenched behind his back.
Later that evening, Eun-bi sat under the lanterns by the servants' quarters, recounting her disastrous day to Jo-an.
"So yeah," she said, waving her hands dramatically, "I may have accidentally implied that I'm from Australia."
Jo-an blinked. "What's… Australia?"
"Exactly." She sighed. "If the Oh family doesn't expose me, my mouth will."
Jo-an laughed so hard he nearly spilled his tea. "You're unbelievable."
"I know," she said proudly. "It's my only consistent skill."
But far from the laughter, Lady Oh Hwa-jin stood near the garden pavilion, watching her family leave.
Beside her, her brother Ji-hoon glanced toward the servants' quarters where Eun-bi's laughter echoed faintly.
"She's not like the others," he murmured.
Hwa-jin's lips curved into a cold smile. "No. And that's exactly why she's dangerous."