Chapter 8

Chapter 8

It was time for a counterattack.

Leasis, who came out of the maid’s palace, stretched all the way. The fresh air of dawn changed her mood.

On the previous day, she had been given the Imperial Palace’s maid clothes. It was tailored to the average height, so the length was slightly short, but it was not too uncomfortable. The white apron around her waist came down to her knees.

The white lace on her head was as grim as a battle hat. For the time being, she would be in charge of Area A1, the training ground for the Imperial Elite Knights. It was a place where it was possible to see the training of the knights.

It was the training of the Knights led by Hizen, the strongest knight of the Empire. Her expectations had already risen. She began to gather her hair with a hair tie in her mouth. Higher than usual, tied tightly.

Then, someone tapped on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw a cute girl. A short and skinny girl with short brown hair and freckles. She smiled shyly.

“Hey… Good morning.”

“Oh. Good morning.”

Leasis, who had tied her hair, bowed her head. Then the girl with brown hair said brightly.

“You’re Leasis-nim, right? My name is Owen and I’m in charge of Area A2!”

“Oh, nice to meet you, Owen-nim.”

How could she know her name? Her red eyes were curious. Owen said in a flurry of excuses.

“I heard about you from headmaid Kasha-nim. You were the first one for who she smiled and gave compliments, so I kept it in mind! She gathered the maids yesterday, and told us that from now on, we should look and learn from Leasis-nim…”

“M-me?”

“Yes! I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

“I’ll be in your care.”

“Me too!”

Boom. The two who bowed their heads in a hurry shook their foreheads. They burst into laughter holding on to their sore heads.

Thanks to their similar tendencies, the two quickly became close. Owen was seventeen, two years younger than Leasis. She was a little timid, but she had a warm heart.

Owen entered the palace a week ago as a servant of the temple, but was quickly transferred to the Imperial Elite Kights.

The reason was money.

“I came up to the capital for my little brothers back home. There are no jobs in the province…”

“I see…”

“They said they couldn’t find maids to work for the Imperial Elite Knights, so they would double the wages.”

“Oh my…”

Leasis, who was carrying a broom in a dark warehouse, closed her lips. Owen picked up two mops that fell on the floor and laughed. It looked like a daffodil.

“But it’s okay. I can work with a good person like Leasis Unnie.”[1]

“Thank you for being so kind.”

“Unnie, where are you from?”

“Well… where was it?”

“Huh?”

“Actually, I grew up in an orphanage. I don’t have parents or siblings.”

Owen opened her eyes wide. Leasis had always such a bright and cheerful expression that she did not notice at all. Owen sincerely apologized, cursing at herself for being a fool.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It was a little difficult back then, but now I’ve met a lot of good people. Owen, I’m glad I could work with a good person like you.”

“Unnie… you’re such a nice person.”

“You’re a better person.”

The two laughed brightly. Before they knew it, Leasis, who had packed her hands full, pointed to the door. Her face was full of expectations.

“Shall we go to work now?”

Is she enjoying her work so much? Owen tilted her head.

*

Peaceful sunlight fell on the huge training ground. The floor was filled with precious grass managed by the imperial wizards. The lively grass shone with the sunshine.

The men in black uniforms on the grass were all well-built. Even their light gymnastic movements were sharp.

A medal bearing a silver bird decorated the left side of their uniforms. It shone proudly and symbolized the membership to the Imperial Elite Knights.

At the discretion of the Vice Commander Max, the morning of the Imperial Elite Knights was peaceful for the first time in a while. After training early, they relaxed lightly.

Of course, some were still grouchy among them.

“Oh, why the hell am I stuck with you guys on such a nice day?”

A handsome honey-haired man plunged into the grass. His golden brown-colored eyes were unique, and the scar that slightly brushed against his nose had a mischievous charm.

The young man pouted his lips. It had been a long time since the expensive grass, which had amazed him when he first saw it, had became boring. He pulled out the grass one by one with his bent hands. If the imperial wizards saw him, they would completely freak out.

“Huh. It’s only good in name. I haven’t had a day off since I joined the Imperial Elite Knights.”

Two members of the team who were doing gymnastics nearby found him and rushed over. It was Taker, a dark-skinned gray-haired man, and Bern, a pink-haired young man, who was also the youngest member of the Knights.

“Jason, stop! Do you have many lives?”

“Jason-ssi,[2] if you don’t want to die, get up!”

Despite the worries of the two, Jason was so carefree. He laid down on the grass.

There was no way to make him stand up.

“You fools. The Commander is not even here. He said he was coming in the afternoon.”

“The Commander-nim is very busy these days. I think you’re going to be in big trouble if you try so hard.”

“Is the Commander a normal human being? Don’t worry, Bern.”

“But… Lord Letton was seriously injured recently because he was targeted by an assassination. Rumor has it that Commander-nim was threatened by a female assassin…”

The members’ faces darkened. To them, Hizen was not just a Commander, but rather a being shining brighter than the sun. No matter how strong he was, they had to be worried if he was exposed to danger.

Jason, who was playfully tiptoeing, refuted.

“That’s funny! You think the Commander is going to be be killed by someone else’s sword? He will never die by other people’s hands. He’s the strongest knight on the continent.”

Even though he spoke roughly, there was a lot of pride in his words. Jason looked up to Hizen. Bern laughed so hard at his cute figure.

“That’s true.”

“Hey, by the way, did you guys feel it? The Commander’s expression was a bit unusual yesterday.”

At Jason’s words, Taker asked low.

“What do you mean?”

“The Commander. He’s a little weird these days. Did he get hit in the eye by a pretty girl?”

“What? The Commander-nim would never do that. It can’t be.”

“I don’t know. It is said that a calm cat goes up to the kitchen first.[3] He could be playing with a girl next to you, right?”

Bern and Taker shook their heads as Jason giggled. With this kind of delusion, they thought he should go to the temple and get treatment.

Jason lifted himself up while whistling softly.

“Now, I’m going to go see my ladies… What?”

Jason opened his eyes wide. He saw in the distance a woman he had never seen before. She was more beautiful than a rose.

Perhaps she was an angel. She was carrying a lot in her hands on such a hot day, but she did not complain even once. Even the sweatdrops on her forehead were art, and her slightly smiling face was beautiful.

It was a fresh shock. Usually, the women whom Jason met were conventional, although their passionate behavior was pretty. They were vulnerable, nervous, and sensitive. That woman seemed different. Her arms and legs were full of health, and he felt an unknown spirit coming from her.

“Oh, Goddess Freya…”

“Jason?”

“Jason-ssi?”

This was fate! He could not respond to the calls of his colleagues, and his white cheeks were finely colored. Jason, who was watching her blankly, pulled out a sword from his waist.

Startled by the unannounced rough movement, his colleagues stepped back.

“Wow, what are you doing?”

“You crazy bastard!”

He could not hear anything. Jason stared at his own reflection in the cool blade of his sword.

“What, what are you doing?”

“Getting my hair done.”

His big hand moved without a break. Jason, who arranged his clothes in an instant, even practiced smiling.

Stunned, Taker and Bern shook their heads. Jason rushed to the mysterious girl.

*

Someone approached in front of Leasis. He was a neat handsome man who was similar in height to her.

Who was he? Her red eyes blinked once. She was wondering if he was a customer of Liduré, but it did not seem so. No matter how hard she thought about it, it was her first time seeing him, so she asked carefully.

“Hmm… Excuse me, who are you?”

“Hello, Lady.”

“…What?”

She asked back reflexely as it was the first time she had been called ‘Lady’. Unlike her embarrassed expression, Jason was very serious. He greeted her gracefully with a hand on his chest.

“I am Jason Ron Sebnert.”

“Oh, hello.”

Leasis greeted him with her lips slightly open. Jason held his left chest at this pretty sight. He felt like his heart was about to burst.

Leasis was a little puzzled by his continuous unusual reaction. Why would he be so happy? She checked again carefully just in case he was someone who knew her.

Unique honey-colored blond hair, smooth face, uniform she had seen a lot… Her red eyes got bigger. With its sleek design, it was the black uniform of the Imperial Elite Knights. Leasis, realizing his identity, hurriedly lowered the cleaning tools on the floor. She tightened her hair right away.

“Good morning, Knight-nim.”

“W-what do you mean Knight-nim? Open up, speak comfortably.”

“Oh, good to see you, Jason-nim. My name is Leasis.”

He was nervous for no reason. Jason swallowed his dry saliva. He was not usually called a playboy. He spoke gibberish.

“Hu-hum. Le…asis… You have a beautiful name. Of course, your appearance is even more…”

“What?”

“Oh, no. Are you busy right now?”

“Ah… You need help!”

Her red eyes shone brightly. The beauty mesmerized Jason once more. He could not hear anything when she spoke again.

“…Is there anything else you want?”

“…What?”

Jason blinked his eyes. Then Leasis said actively.

“Jason-nim, you’ve got something you need me to do. I’ll do everything for you! Anything Jason-nim wants.”

Jason gulped down his dry saliva. If she agreed to it, he wanted to know about her. How old was she, did she have a lover, did she have an appointment tonight, and…

His face to his neck turned red from delusion and shame. On the contrary, Leasis had no other idea but a mission. Most of the men who talked to her were to get her to work.

She had to work hard! Her enthusiasm emerged from her loud voice.

“It’s my first mission!”

“M-mission?”

“Yes! Tell me anything! Shall we mow the training ground lawn? Or is the bathroom dirty?”

His mind burst. The cloth tied to her head, a practical black dress, and a white apron. Now he could see her identity properly.

He was trash! Jason condemned himself and looked at the grass on the ground. His face seemed to burn with shame.

“Oh no! No! How could I make a lady so beautiful do such a thing… Well, just rest!”

Telling a maid to rest. Leasis’ face became serious because she wondered if her skills were lacking.

“Perhaps… Am I not trustworthy?”

“Oh, no!”

“Please let me do anything, Knight-nim. I’m confident that I can do it well.”

“Well, then…”

Jason gulped down his saliva. He said with his hands clenched together.

“Please have tea with me!”

Asking her to bring tea! Leasis answered confidently, recalling various tea recipes in her head.

“Yes!”

*

Hizen sighed while reviewing the documents in the Commander’s office. The incompetent imperial powers were on the verge of making him sick.

He was getting a headache. He pulled himself up to cool off his head.

“Where are you going?”

“To the cafeteria.”

“Let’s go together.”

Max, who was reading documents on the sofa, also got up. The two naturally headed to the cafeteria of the Imperial Elite Knights.

The knights usually order tea or drinks from the maids in charge. However, the Imperial Elite Knights had the custom to go in and eat.

When he arrived at the cafeteria, he noticed a faint light. A table where many people were sitting together, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and a fluffy…

Hizen’s eyes grew as if he had seen a ghost. He pointed his hand at the center of the cafeteria.

“Why is she here?”

“Yes? Who?… Huh!”

Max, startled, covered his mouth with his hand. The red-haired girl was standing there with a big smile. She had two giant pots in her hands. Next to her, Jason was laughing like a fool, and the knights were handing their cups to her. In Hizen’s eyes, they looked like beggars at a free distribution station.

“Commander-nim! Vice Commander-nim, you are here!”

She saw the amazed knights salute, and her red eyes headed for Hizen.

Count-nim! Leasis’ mouth opened wide. Although it was only their second meeting, she recognized Hizen at a glance. Even though there were countless men wearing the same uniform.

Today, Hizen was perfectly handsome. He shone brightly in the cafeteria like the main character on the stage. Max would be disappointed if he knew, but she did not even see Max’s brown hair.

Hizen, whom she had not seen in a while, was nicer and friendlier. It even made her forget the fear. Her joy was evident from her voice.

“Hi, Count Dratius-nim!”

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I…”

“I must have said it clearly. Go back.”

There was a heavy snowstorm. Everyone gulped down dry saliva in the chilly atmosphere.

Except for one. She smiled broadly as if she had waited for it.

“Don’t worry, Count-nim! I came legally today.”

“……What?”

“I was so sorry last time. Really, really. But this time, I entered the Imperial Palace without any problems and became a maid through due process.”

One more chance. Leasis’ face seemed to be in full bloom. She looked innocent like she knew nothing. Thanks to this, the cold temperature in the cafeteria went up.

Hizen’s eyes trembled slightly by the unexpected attack. His flow of thought had stopped. It was the first time a woman was so brazen in front of him that his slightly open lips could not fulfill their role.

It was making him crazy. Max was in trouble holding back his laughter. It was the first time seeing him take a punch.

‘Ahh. What will happen now?’

Max was both troubled and joyful.

TL notes

[1] Unnie is ‘older sister’ like Noona, but said by a girl/woman to an older girl/woman. It also means a close relationship without necessarily being from the same family.

[2] -ssi is a honorific suffix, commonly used amongst people of approximately equal speech level.

[3] A Korean proverb. When the fireplace gets warmer by setting fire to the furnace, the cat that always looked calm goes up first and sits down. In other words, it’s about when a seemingly calm and decent person acts unexpectedly. It’s especially used for people who pretend to be calm on the outside when they do something strange for the first time, or when they do something bad afterwards.