Min-ha was disappointed to see the man’s face, which is like that of art, looking at her with a serious face. She was trembling and wanted to avoid meeting his eyes again, but she held back her fear.
If you don’t look at him now, he’ll assume you’re lying again.
Perhaps, it was the right choice. But even if it was, Seth’s cold blue eyes can see Min-ha trembling in fear.
Then, a strange atmosphere filled the room.
‘What is with this atmosphere? Why is he staring at me like that?’
As soon as she noticed that Seth’s gaze was focused on her, Min-ha gulped and pretended not to notice it by avoiding his gaze. Seth, who was still suspicious, asked once again.
“…..Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“You want to try working? You?”
“Yes, I mean it. So, give me a chance to earn money by myself. I’ll find a way to make a living as soon as possible and disappear from your sight. I know you want that, too.”
“………”
Min-ha explained, further emphasizing her sincerity.
But, upon hearing her words, Seth’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. After some time, he laughed and said in a sarcastic tone,
“I see. I’ll give you a job you can certainly do.”
“Really? Thank you!”
Min-ha replied happily as soon as Seth agreed. Upon seeing her reaction, his expression became even worse, but he promptly fixed it before Min-ha could see it. He made a slightly subdued face to make it seem like he was in agony and asserted himself to Min-ha.
“You can’t go back on your words because even if you do, I won’t listen.”
“I’m not the type of person to do that, so you need not worry.”
Min-ha answered Seth firmly, as if she won’t give up until she has reached her goal.
“Is that enough?”
Then, Seth’s eyes widened as he was taken aback by her words. But, he soon returned with an expressionless face and rolled up the divorce papers on the table. Then, he said,
“Then, our marriage ends here. Do not forget that you were the one who confidently said that you wouldn’t go back on your words.”
“I know.”
“Don’t regret it.”
“I will have no regrets.”
Although Seth got what he wanted, he repeatedly asked Min-ha in a roundabout manner to confirm her will before he stopped talking and left her alone in the bedroom.
Min-ha, who was immersed in her thoughts, was still looking at the door that Seth had closed.
I thought he would be very relieved as soon as I signed the divorce papers, but his reaction was a little strange. Contrary to what I expected, his expression wasn’t that of a pleased one.
‘……Well, even if we didn’t have feelings for each other, we were married for 3 years after all.’
Only those who are couples know what happens between a couple. Perhaps, Min-ha had complex emotional changes that she did not know of. I thought so, recalling what a friend of my age, who was married early, once said.
“…..Now, I finally see hope.”
I muttered in the quiet room.
Upon realizing that I have attained a tiny bit of freedom somehow, it made my heart less stuffy. Moreover, it felt like I can finally breathe now that I have a vague idea of what to do in the future.
All of a sudden, I was thrown into a completely different world and was given a new body. I received strong hostility and contempt like never before. Thinking that this was all a dream, I almost tried escaping from reality. However, I was not a person who gives up rather easily.
‘Under any circumstances, be positive. Whenever a difficult situation arises, have trust in yourself, and never give up until you find a solution.’
Upon remembering the words of her parents who deeply cared for her, Min-ha vowed to live the same way here.
“……Ah, I shouldn’t cry.”
She mumbled to herself while wiping away the tears around her eyes.
***
Early morning, the next day.
Min-ha opened her eyes in the room that was too flashy and spacious for her to sleep alone in.
Even though I made a firm commitment, I kept on crying at the slightest thought of my family and friends. As a result, I sniffled alone until late last night, but I was still able to wake up quite early.
‘…….Is it because I fell asleep in a strange place?’
As I pondered about it, I got out of bed and opened the curtains. As the sun gradually rose, people busily walked throughout the garden.
‘Everyone’s working so early. And so did my parents.’
Min-ha recalled the time whenever her parents would wake up early to open a restaurant they ran.
“……M-Madam? Are you awake?”
Just when I was being sentimental again, I heard someone knocking on the door and a voice calling out to me. I was surprised at first, but I replied calmly.
“Oh, yes! Come in!”
As soon as Min-ha answered, a dwarf-built red-haired girl wearing an old maid’s uniform opened the door and entered the bedroom.
The red-haired girl, who had freckles around her eyes and cheeks, hesitated before approaching Min-ha. Then, she stretched out a small tray and bucket in her arms whilst saying in a quivering voice,
“M-Madam, the Duke asked me to bring you this.”
On the tray were old gray clothes and an old apron, while the bucket contained an old mop, as if she was going to work as a maid.
As Min-ha continued to stare at it and waited for the girl’s next words, she continued on, still quivering.
“T-Then, he ordered me to tell you to clean the east annex.”
“…..Ah, why did he give me a job that’s done inside the mansion, not outside?”
I thought what he meant yesterday was he’d introduce me to a job that I can certainly do outside, but what he gave me was a job like that of a maid’s.
‘…..Well, maybe it was difficult for him to find a job for me outside right now.’
She only had a vague idea of her job. Min-ha looked at the girl in deep thought. The girl, who seemed troubled with the words she needed to say, was trembling as if she was scared.
“A-And, the Duke said he’d be giving you 5,500 lunas per day.”
“Really? Is that a large amount of money?”
She asked because she knew nothing about this world’s currency. At her question, the girl suddenly got startled. Then, she shuddered with fear and suddenly bowed down, as if she was guilty of something.
“M-M-Madam, please spare my life!”
“What?!”
“S-Sorry, I’m sorry, Madam! Please show mercy, Madam! Spare me!”
“Wait, spare you? Why are you begging me for mercy? Get up now!”
“H-How can I be so d-daring and t-tell you to do such a vulgar thing such as cleaning the house? T-T-The Duke told me to bring this to M-M-Madam, so….please show mercy! Please spare me, Madam!”
Min-ha was stunned by the girl’s appearance. Her eyes were overflowing with tears, begging for forgiveness helplessly.
‘……Ah. I remember now.’
According to what Ella and Seth said yesterday, Minase Persen was a woman who never worked before and has always acted in accordance with her mood. Now that I have been ordered to clean the mansion by my husband, it was not too much of her to expect that I’ll become furious and do something bad to her.
‘……It seems like Minase Persen really lived a life worth living.’
Min-ha lamented and quickly approached the girl and lifted her up saying,
“I won’t kill you! Why would I do that? I just asked you a question, didn’t I?”
“…..Really? M-Madam?”
“Yes. So, no need to cry. I’m here for you….Anyway, your name is….’
“……It is Annie.”
“Annie! There will be no punishment or whatsoever for Annie. Now and in the future. So, you don’t have to be scared, alright?”
Min-ha reassured Annie. She looked back and forth to see if there’s anything she could use to wipe her tears.
However, she couldn’t find anything other than her sleeve no matter how much she looked around. So, she used it to wipe Annie’s wet face.
Although I used my old clothes, it wasn’t that dirty enough for Annie to look at me with widened eyes and for the other maids to look at me with such expressions on their faces.
‘……Oh, was it too much of me to wipe your tears with my clothes…?’
Min-ha said with an awkward smile.
“I-I’m sorry, Annie. I wiped your tears using my sleeves because I didn’t have anything else to wipe it with. Was it too much of me to do so?”
“….Y-Yes?! Oh, that’s not it! Madam’s expensive dress will get dirty if you use it to wipe the tears of a mere maid like me, so please stop!”
“What do you mean by dirty? Are people’s tears dirty? You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m sorry if I startled you, but please stop crying soon.”
“…..Oh no! I’m sorry!”
“I’m fine. Don’t apologize. On another note, do I have to wear this?”
“Y-Yes!”
If we continue our conversation in this way, Annie will continue to apologize. So, Min-ha asked, lifting up the clothes placed on the tray. Then, Annie answered quickly and approached Min-ha saying,
“W-Well, please let me help you change.”
“Ah, no need. I can change my clothes alone.”
“…..Pardon? But, you’ve never even changed by yourself before….”
“……….”
‘….Ah, shit. I’m speechless. How can Minase Persen not even change by herself once?’
Min-ha, who looked at the old gray clothes, hesitantly smiled at Annie and said,
“I’m good. Today…..no. From now on, I’ll wear clothes on my own, so you are not obliged to help me anymore.”
“What? I understand….”
She turned away from Annie and slowly retreated. Then, Min-ha threw off the uncomfortable, colorful dress she was wearing and quickly changed into the old gray one Annie gave her.
It was an old, shabby dress, but contrary to her expectations, it was easier for her to move. Satisfied with the dress, Min-ha, who had her hair tied up using a small string that was attached to her old clothes, said.
“Instead, can you please show me the way to the east annex building?”
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“Y-Yes! I definitely will!”
“Then, please take the lead. I’ll walk behind you.”
In fact, I wasn’t planning to ask for that favor because I knew that going east would take me to the east wing, but I asked her anyway because it made me feel safe and sound.
Anyway, Annie was willing to do me a favor.
Fortunately, Min-ha quickly put the small cleaning tools that were placed on the tray into the bucket together with the mop before they left the room.