Part 45 - Talented Girls
The three girls were trembling as if a poplar tree were shivering.
It wasn't because they were standing naked in the dead of winter.
It was because of the single woman standing before them.
Her dazzling attire and glittering ornaments, her face so beautiful it was almost eerie.
The instant they first saw her, all three let out an involuntary gasp.
But now, all of it felt like a disguise hiding what she truly was.
"I'll ask one last time."
Light spilled from the woman's golden eyes.
Her vertically slit pupils looked as if they were piercing straight through them.
"What can you do for the First Young Master?"
The three girls answered in perfect unison, without a flicker of hesitation.
"We can only devote everything and follow him."
A satisfied smile curled at Jeong-a's lips.
She had observed every reaction in their bodies and felt the state of their hearts.
Their words contained not the slightest lie—only sincerity.
"Put on proper clothes. And pack your things."
At her command, the girls shook violently, yet they couldn't hide the joy on their faces.
"You will now come with me to Wongakjeong."
What rose to their lips was unmistakably a smile of rapture.
They had been granted permission to serve their master.
***
"Triplets. My finest masterpiece."
It was the voice of the head of the Steward's Office, who had been waiting outside for Jeong-a.
"They're excellent."
Jeong-a couldn't hide her admiration.
"You said they were from the Special Unit."
"That's right. To the outside world, the Special Unit is known as a place that provides special education to troublesome children—highly capable, but with serious defects…"
In truth, it was a place where the head of the Steward's Office handpicked children and made them into people who would devote everything to his lord, Yeon Sang-hyeon.
"Do all three triplets use martial arts?"
"Not at a high level. With the resources I can mobilize, that was the limit."
He smacked his lips in regret.
"But I can guarantee their talent, so don't you worry."
Jeong-a shook her head at his words.
If it weren't for the Sword Clan of Luoyang—
If it weren't for the head of the Steward's Office and his madness-laced loyalty and obsession—
Where in the Central Plains Nation would anyone even think of using such talents as mere maids?
"Thanks to you, Elder, we won't have to worry about staffing Wongakjeong from now on."
He burst into hearty laughter.
"At the end of that long wait, I can finally do something properly for my lord!"
***
The girls, now dressed in the maid uniforms issued by Wongakjeong, were so lovely that the word beautiful came naturally.
At their waists, each of them carried a small sword.
Bright smiles hung on the triplets' identical faces.
"Finally…"
It wasn't only the head of the Steward's Office who had waited long to see the day they could serve their master—after pouring his whole self into raising them.
"It's time for us to shine for our master."
"What kind of work will we be assigned as our first mission?"
"Tracking, assassination, sabotage, spreading fear—there isn't a single field to be afraid of."
"Intelligence work is good too. Investigation, analysis, prediction, counterintelligence—I'm confident in anything."
"I'm looking forward to the everyday maid duties as well. We have to show the guests the dignity of Wongakjeong."
Strong confidence flowed from their faces.
They were the ones who had survived all those horrific trainings and the education that followed them even into their dreams.
Now, it was time for them to step out into the vast world.
"There's nothing to fear."
"We're the best."
"Ohohoho."
At that moment, a voice came from beyond the door.
"So you've finished preparing and you're just chatting?"
Just hearing Jeong-a's voice made the backs of their necks prickle.
In an instant, they finished readying themselves and lined up in perfect formation before the door.
"Head Maid. Preparation complete!"
The door opened, and Jeong-a revealed herself.
Her cold gaze swept over each of them.
Under that gaze, cold sweat ran down the triplets' backs.
After checking them, Jeong-a nodded.
"Let's depart."
***
With Jeong-a at the lead—dressed splendidly and radiant with beauty—and the beautiful maids following behind her, they drew stares and exclamations wherever they went.
"Oh my, they're so pretty."
"Where are they from? I'm so jealous."
The triplets' pride rose higher and higher.
Hehe. Good. Keep praising the beauty of our Wongakjeong maids.
Ah, so this is the joy of being noticed. I'm happy.
A perfect debut. Come on—look up at us even more.
Jeong-a let out a bitter smile at the emotions flowing to her from behind.
They were lively girls.
Even if they were… broken.
After walking and walking, at last Jeong-a came to a halt.
"Now. This is the front gate of Wongakjeong."
The triplets' faces turned pale.
The gate was guarded by those dressed as guards, and among them one person was emitting an overwhelming aura.
Th-that's an incredible master!
As expected of the heart of the Sword Clan!
We're heading into the center of power!
Leaning against the wall with his head bowed, exuding a ferocious, murderous presence like a grim reaper, was none other than the gatekeeper—The Sword of Stealing the Ghost.
His mood was so severe that even his fellow guards kept their distance.
Seeing him like that, Jeong-a instinctively sensed her master had provoked him in some way.
"These are Wongakjeong's new maids. Please take good care of them from now on as well."
After finishing the entry procedures, Jeong-a pushed the stiff-frozen triplets inside the gate.
"Alright, alright—pull yourselves together. Inside here, you must never stray from the forest path."
She was about to lead the maids onward as they looked around in a daze, when a voice called from behind her.
"A dedicated maid… no. Now I should call you the Head Maid."
It was The Sword of Stealing the Ghost.
"Could you spare a moment?"
Jeong-a nodded and had the maids wait.
When they moved a little deeper inside, he spoke first.
"The First Young Master… what kind of person is he, really?"
Jeong-a smiled.
So her guess had been right.
"To me, he is the best master."
He roughly scratched his head.
"You know that's not what I'm asking."
Jeong-a covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"You may feel confused. I did too."
"This isn't confusion, it's—"
She cut him off.
"There is only one thing I can tell you."
Her serious gaze fixed on The Sword of Stealing the Ghost.
"Throw away every bad prejudice you have about him, and try looking at him again."
"...…"
She continued, speaking to him as he fell into thought.
"And today, a guest will be arriving."
***
The further inward they walked, the warmer the air became.
As a beautiful scenery began to reveal itself, the triplets' expressions shifted with wonder.
Jeong-a stopped in front of a building.
"Now. This is the place our master currently uses as his residence and office. Straighten your posture once more."
Plain tension spread across the triplets' faces.
D-dear… we're finally meeting our master!
Good first impression! Good first impression!
We won't be chased away after coming all this way… right?
After confirming they were ready, Jeong-a announced toward the inside.
"Master. This is Jeong-a. I have brought new girls."
A quiet voice came from within.
"Come in."
***
The triplets knelt before Yeon Sang-hyeon, who was leaning back in his chair.
With their gazes fixed on the floor, they barely managed to suppress their shaking.
Th-this is our master!
Such overwhelming dignity!
Ah, Master—please accept us!
Meanwhile, Yeon Sang-hyeon wasn't releasing any aura or majesty at all.
If anything, he couldn't hide the bafflement on his face.
While reading the letter from the head of the Steward's Office and the report containing information about the triplets, he let out a hollow chuckle.
Head of the Steward's Office…
He looked at Jeong-a.
He'd told her to bring someone to cook rice and do chores—so what on earth had she done with the head of the Steward's Office?
Jeong-a widened her eyes at his look and asked.
"Master. Do these children displease you?"
At that, Yeon Sang-hyeon saw the girls sprawled low to the ground trembling even harder.
He felt nothing but pity.
He sighed.
There was no way Jeong-a, who possessed Dragon Eyes, hadn't read his gaze—so this must have been her way of making her will known.
"Fine. I will accept these children."
"We are infinitely grateful!"
Yeon Sang-hyeon waved a hand.
"These girls… From now on, I'll call them 'the twins.' As for the twins, I'll delegate full authority to the Head Maid."
"I obey your command."
Jeong-a bowed deeply to Yeon Sang-hyeon, then spoke to the twins.
"Now, follow me. I will deliver your first mission."
At the words first mission, the girls followed Jeong-a with solemn faces.
At the naked mischief in Jeong-a's voice when she said "first mission", Yeon Sang-hyeon sighed and shook his head.
Well, in any case… it turned out fine.
His eyes returned to the report containing the triplets' information.
A bitter smile crossed his face.
So they were children raised by the head of the Steward's Office.
He sank deeper into his chair.
…I see. So that's what happened.
His gaze drifted toward a distant place.
***
"Th-this is kind of strange, isn't it?"
One of the triplets was casting a net in the pond.
"Eek!"
Mud covered her whole body, and a fish caught in the net leapt up and splashed water all over her.
"Why are we doing this…?"
Another one was in the field with a hoe, digging up crops.
In Wongakjeong's mild climate, weeds were growing at a terrifying pace.
"Why isn't there a single maid or servant in this Wongakjeong?!"
The last one was diligently fanning the stove.
"Cough, cough."
The acrid smoke stung her eyes.
I-it's just tears from the smoke… that's all…
Jeong-a, making her rounds and checking on them from afar, chuckled quietly.
They complained nonstop, their lips stuck out in a pout—but not one of them tried to slack off.
Rather than cutting corners, they were drenched in sweat, doing their very best.
Hold on and endure a little longer, all of you.
The more her master moved, the faster Wongakjeong's numbers would swell.
When that time came, they would become senior maids, take on real duties, and fulfill their roles.
***
"Do you know why the Second Young Master and Third Young Master are furious at you, yet still haven't moved in earnest?"
Jeong-a nodded.
"They fear rumors will spread."
A rumor that the maid they were targeting had gone to Swordless could severely damage their pride.
In a grave voice, the head of the Steward's Office warned her.
"There's a saying: you can block water, but you can't block people's mouths. In the end, rumors will start spreading, and they will have no choice but to take action against you."
Jeong-a needed to finish every preparation she could before that day arrived.
***
As the sun began to sink.
"Head Maid!"
The Sword of Stealing the Ghost appeared, executing a movement art as swift as a beam of light.
"What is it?"
From him, she sensed shock, urgency, and confusion.
"There's an old man at the front gate right now."
"Is it the person you mentioned?"
He nodded quickly.
"Yes! That Medicine King has arrived!"
The time was steadily drawing near for the First Young Master, Yeon Sang-hyeon—rather than the Dark Heaven Venerable One—to begin moving in earnest.