Part 44 - Head Maid
Steward's Office.
Within the Luoyang Sword Clan, there were countless departments, large and small—and naturally, very few of them were ever not busy.
If you asked anyone which department was the busiest, they would all point to the Steward's Office.
The Steward's Office was responsible for the basic education, placement, and personnel management of all the male and female servants across the Luoyang Sword Clan's main house, as well as the training of maids and attendants prior to assignment, among many other things.
Because it was the Steward's Office, there was never a quiet day—day or night.
Right after lunchtime ended, the area in front of the Steward's Office hall looked like Luoyang's marketplace during the rainy season.
Of course, since the Steward's Office was divided into a main road and a back road, the situation on the main-road side was somewhat better.
Even so, if the wait dragged on, it could easily stretch past a full shijin.
And because of that, just watching who got inside how quickly—regardless of the queue—was enough to guess their power and ability.
"Wow. That's an incredible outfit. She has to be the maid of someone high-born. I'm jealous."
"Look at that—she's wearing a sword. Isn't she not a maid, but an escort warrior?"
"Hey. Have you ever seen an escort warrior dressed that lavishly?"
Naturally, the subject of their chatter was Jeong-a.
She wore a bright and beautiful outing dress embroidered with striking red thread, and behind her accentuated slender waist, she carried a sword at her side.
Because this was the Steward's Office main road, nearly everyone around was either a maid or an attendant.
That was why Jeong-a's clothing, ornaments, and especially her sword stood out all the more.
Of course, Jeong-a had been called the Ice Flower since her days as a hostess, so she didn't even spare a thought for stares and whispers of that level.
Her mind was filled entirely with thoughts of training.
"Oh my—hello."
A group of maids approached her.
They were, in their own way, quite pretty—yet standing in front of Jeong-a, they still felt lacking.
Among them, the one who looked like the "queen bee" stepped forward.
"You're someone we haven't seen before, so I thought we might at least introduce ourselves. For maids like us, connections are the most important thing, aren't they?"
Dragon Eyes caught the curiosity coming from the maids—along with a faint thread of envy.
"Yes, hello."
Jeong-a drew a clear line with that response.
It meant she had no interest in talking.
"Ah, don't be like that. Please introduce yourself. We're maids scheduled to be assigned to the Reception Hall."
So that was why they were all so good-looking—these were Jeong-a's juniors.
"You don't seem like someone I've seen in Luoyang's social circles. Could it be you're the young lady of some household…?"
Jeong-a sighed inwardly.
By nature, the position of "maid" often attracted those born to families whose status wasn't something to be ashamed of.
And because of that, among new assignees, there were always a few of these "idiots".
"…I see."
Jeong-a slowly stepped toward them.
Even her simple walk carried a naturally flowing dignity, and the "chicks" went pale.
It was a pressure of a kind you could never feel in some young ladies' social gathering.
"Let me give you one piece of advice, out of goodwill."
Jeong-a's cold eyes looked down on them.
"Now that you've entered the Sword Clan, forget your original family."
"F-Family, you say…?!"
Jeong-a leaned in and whispered into the ear of the chick who still mistook her for some noble young lady.
"Here, nobody cares about your petty little family."
Stubbornness flared in the chick's eyes.
"How dare you—do you even know who I am…?!"
Just then, from behind them, the voice of a Steward's Office attendant rang out.
"Are you Lady Jeong-a?"
Jeong-a answered without taking her eyes off the chick.
"Yes."
The attendant bowed deeply.
"The Chief of the Steward's Office is waiting for you."
At the words Chief of the Steward's Office, the chicks turned white.
A name had come up that maids who hadn't even been assigned yet could never handle.
If it was the Chief of the Steward's Office of the Luoyang Sword Clan, even the Clan Lord of their families would rush out barefoot to receive him.
Jeong-a looked over the chicks' bloodless faces and spoke to the Steward's Office attendant.
"This year's batch is lacking in education."
The attendant's face reddened in shame.
"My apologies. I will inform the training supervisor and ensure measures are—"
Jeong-a cut him off.
"No, it's fine. I'll tell the Chief of the Steward's Office directly."
Now the chicks trembled as though someone had dumped ice water over their heads in midwinter.
"You're lucky. What do you think would happen if you acted like that in the Reception Hall? If it were the Reception Hall Master I know…"
Jeong-a smiled brightly.
"After disciplining you until you couldn't walk on your own for a while, he would've demoted you to latrine maids for at least a full year."
It was not an exaggeration.
"Then, goodbye. Since this is a connection, next time we can exchange names properly."
Without waiting for an answer, Jeong-a turned away.
"I will guide you."
Jeong-a shook her head.
"No. I know the way. Keep those chicks in line instead."
Jeong-a strode off toward the Chief's office.
Those who had been watching with interest hurriedly stepped back and opened a path as she approached.
Only after Jeong-a disappeared from sight did the attendant, who had been bowing the whole time, whirl on the chicks and explode.
"You idiots! Did you dare run your mouths without even knowing who she is?!"
The chicks, stunned out of their minds, could only bow their heads without a word.
Then one of the bystanders crept closer and asked quietly.
"Who is she, that you're acting like this?"
The Reception Hall attendant let out a heavy sigh and replied.
"She is the Head Maid of Wongakjeong, and the First Young Master's chief personal maid."
A gasp ran through the crowd.
It was true that the name Swordless was openly a target of contempt within the Sword Clan.
Even the lower servants gossiped about him when nobody was listening.
But that was nothing more than "cursing the king in his absence".
Would the lowly ever dare—without knowing their place—to treat lightly the position of the Luoyang Sword Clan's First Young Master?
"You worthless fools!"
Now the chicks looked utterly hollow.
The Reception Hall attendant spoke to them in a savage tone.
"You should be grateful for her generosity. If she had demanded punishment befitting her rank, you would already be dead! Do you understand?!"
And so the chicks were learning the life of the Luoyang Sword Clan's main house with their bodies.
***
"…It wasn't easy."
At Jeong-a's sigh, the Chief of the Steward's Office smiled.
"Still, it was exemplary conduct. Well done. You showed dignity befitting your station."
Jeong-a nodded at his words.
"Am I not, in effect, my master's face? I must have dignity and behavior appropriate to my position."
"Exactly. You're no longer just some maid of the Reception Hall. With that mindset, continue to strive even harder."
"Yes. I'll remember."
"And you should also understand that you were somewhat soft."
"Was I?"
Jeong-a listened closely.
"If that had happened inside Wongakjeong, it would have been a matter of internal discipline—so everyone would have been deeply grateful for the mercy you gave."
Jeong-a had said she would speak directly to the Chief of the Steward's Office, the final person responsible for those chicks.
But it seemed even that was still no more than mercy they ought to be grateful for.
"But this is outside. In that case, it's better judgment to show yourself ruling them more firmly. When the opportunity comes, you establish your master's dignity all the more greatly."
The "firmness" he spoke of certainly didn't mean something as simple as a few strikes with a cane.
It might look harsh as a price for rudeness, but this was the Luoyang Sword Clan.
Jeong-a bowed her head in thanks.
"I learned a great deal again today."
"No. You're doing more than well enough—I'm merely indulging my old cravings."
Before, when he had sent her to the First Young Master, the Chief of the Steward's Office had once sent a letter saying that if she didn't know how to bend, she should be dealt with.
Yet there seemed to be no bad blood between the two of them.
With a satisfied expression, the Chief looked at Jeong-a.
"To receive such tremendous trust from him… I'm truly proud of you."
"Isn't it all because my master looked kindly upon me? It's something I should be grateful to my master for."
At the way she attributed everything to her master, the Chief laughed loudly in satisfaction.
Jeong-a now understood his heart—and carried the same heart herself.
The Chief of the Steward's Office was greatly satisfied that his "daughter" was walking the same path as he did.
Everything is for the master we serve.
They were twisted products of the Luoyang Sword Clan—a den of power struggles.
"So", he said, "what brings you here today?"
Jeong-a stated her business.
"In truth, my master wishes to reinforce Wongakjeong with more manpower."
At her words, the Chief's eyes flashed.
"I see. Wongakjeong is quite large, after all. You must have suffered alone."
As he spoke, he pulled ink, brush, and paper toward him and began to scribble rapidly.
[It seems he will finally move.]
[The Crouching Dragon awakens from his long slumber.]
"Since I'm alone, it became too much… I'm ashamed."
Facing each other, the two of them let out a meaningful chuckle—hoo hoo hoo hoo.
Of course, Yeon Sang-hyeon had merely said to bring someone who could cook rice.
But no one here cared about that detail.
Shouldn't the greatest master always be attended by the greatest talent?
A look of deep emotion rose on the Chief's face.
[So it's true. At last, he…]
[I can't explain in detail, but my master was far greater than you expected. 'Giant' is the word that fits him.]
"Good, good. Then we should assemble children skilled at menial work."
"Yes. Please also include one who is familiar with cooking."
Even as they exchanged words, their hands never stopped moving.
[I managed the best children separately at all times, in case a day like this came.]
[I'll leave it in your hands, Chief of the Steward's Office.]
Rising from his seat, he erased the traces of their written exchange.
He made sure every last scrap turned to ash in the brazier.
"Now then, instead of this, it would be better if we choose together, in person."
"Yes. I will follow."
He opened the door and called out loudly for a maid.
"Hey!"
A maid who had been waiting at a distance rushed over and answered.
"Yes, Chief of the Steward's Office."
"A request for personnel reinforcement has come from Wongakjeong, so I will select the people myself. Cancel all of my subsequent appointments for now."
At the word Wongakjeong, surprise flickered across the maid's face.
"Yes, I will deliver the message."
"And among the training supervisors, summon the one in charge of the Gap -Class Special Unit and have them guide us personally."
The maid's eyes widened.
"The Gap-Class Special Unit, you say?"
The Chief of the Steward's Office barked.
"If you understand, then move! Is this Steward's Office such a leisurely place?!"
"I obey!"
The maid bolted as if her tail had caught fire.
After confirming she was out of sight, the Chief turned back to Jeong-a.
"This is just my worry, but…"
His gaze fell on the sword hanging at Jeong-a's waist.
"You do understand, don't you? The meaning of carrying a sword within the Sword Clan."
Jeong-a smiled.
"A warrior is not appointed by someone else. A warrior proves herself."
At that answer, he nodded emphatically.
"Correct! Exactly right!"