“From now on, you are the main gate’s messenger. You will be on standby at the gate indefinitely.”

“What?!”

The master of unknown origin lifted his head and stared at Yeon So-hyeon.

“There are facilities at the gate that the previous messenger servants used. You will use them as your quarters.” Yeon So-hyeon continued, paying the man no further mind. “Your access is limited to all areas except the residential buildings. Do not forget.”

His words were nothing less than an official declaration that he was turning this proud warrior into a common errand boy.

“G-Grand Young Master?”

An errand boy, at that, who was to be on standby at the front gate for an eternity.

“What is it?” Yeon So-hyeon pressed on before the master could even formulate a reply. “If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to do as you please this time as well.”

“…”

It was a statement far too heavy for a ‘mere master’ of his caliber to bear. In this place, at this moment, he had no other choice.

“…I will obey the Grand Young Master’s command.”

The Grand Young Master didn’t even bother to acknowledge his answer, instead turning his gaze toward Jeong-ah.

“And you. Why are you still standing there?”

“I will be on my way, Grand Young Master.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, she bowed deeply, then retreated with backward steps.

***

“We have a visitor, yet what is the meaning of this reception?!”

The words were bellowed by a hulking brute who stood a full head taller than any of the stout men she was used to seeing. He had shouted the moment he laid eyes on her. Jeong-ah took in the man with her eyes and lowered her head in a formal greeting.

“…We meet for the first time. My name is Jeong-ah.”

The Three Absolutes Warrior seemed to have no intention of accepting her greeting. He snorted. “Guide me inside. I need to see your master.”

…This madman.

Jeong-ah sighed inwardly. The guards stationed around them were watching the scene with rapt interest, making it clear they had no intention of intervening.

“The Grand Young Master has not granted permission to enter.”

“What—?!”

Jeong-ah deliberately cut him off. “If you have business with me, please state it here.”

Her eyes were demurely lowered, but her face was a mask, devoid of any expression. It was the very same unshakeable dignity that had earned her the name ‘Ice Flower’ among the guests of the Reception Hall. And, as was to be expected, the Three Absolutes Warrior exploded at what was a clear provocation.

“You insane little bitch…?!”

He took one step toward the main gate, his foot crossing the stone threshold, and in that instant—

“Halt.”

There was no sound of swords being drawn. It was as if they had been there from the very beginning. The blades of the guards—the masters disguised as guards—were all raised in unison, their tips aimed squarely at the warrior.

“Wh-What?”

The Three Absolutes Warrior staggered back in alarm. Behind him, the guard captain (and now Yeon So-hyeon’s personal messenger) who had been clutching his head in despair, sighed and issued a warning.

“This is a top-level restricted area. To pass through here without authorization, you either need a Senior First Rank[1] security clearance, or…” He bared his teeth, no longer hiding his irritation. “…in any fucking case, you don’t qualify, so don’t try anything stupid.”

His eyes glinted. “This is your only warning.”

“F-Fine, I understand.”

The warrior raised both hands, showing he had no intention of hostility. The guards sheathed their swords as one and stepped back, once more becoming mere spectators. The guard captain simply leaned against the gate and slumped to the ground, once again clutching his head.

“Hmph, hmph.”

Seeing their attitude—that as long as he didn’t step inside, they wouldn’t interfere—the warrior cleared his throat a few times and decided to focus solely on Jeong-ah. “You are to come with me to see the Third Young Master.”

It was a brutish demand, but its force had been noticeably diminished. Jeong-ah didn’t even nod, refusing him flatly. “My affairs are not for the Third Young Master to decide.”

The warrior sneered at her. “That’s not for you to say. Since when does a serving wench² have the right to question anything?”

The words were meant to humiliate, but Jeong-ah answered without batting an eye. “I am merely stating the established laws³ of the main clan.”

“Enough. The law is that when the Third Young Master summons you, you come. Let’s go.”

He reached out a hand as large as a pot lid, and Jeong-ah naturally took a step back.

“This little bitch…!”

Her retreat had put her just out of his reach unless he stepped across the threshold. “My name is Jeong-ah.”

He was so incensed that his toes twitched. Just one step. One step was all it would take to grab the neck of this pretentious little wench. But it was impossible to ignore the masters of unknown origin who were watching him with amused expressions.

“…I will make sure to see if you can act so high and mighty in front of the Third Young Master.” The sound of him grinding his teeth was chilling. “You’d do well to take care of yourself until then. The Third Young Master dislikes using things that others have touched.”

Jeong-ah gave a slight bow. “I will not see you off.”

He spat on the ground and turned away. As she watched him disappear into the distance, Jeong-ah felt a desperate urge to collapse where she stood. The savage aura radiating from the warrior was not something an ordinary person without a speck of internal energy could endure. But she had stood her ground, firm and unyielding to the very end, not showing a single tremor. It was partly from a will to never show weakness, but more importantly, it was because another guest was already approaching the gate.

“Hmph.”

“Heh.”

The middle-aged man who passed the Three Absolutes Warrior let out a soft snort; the warrior returned it with a loud one. From that exchange alone, it was easy to guess the man’s affiliation.

“I am the steward in charge of the Second Young Master’s Howon[2].”

“The Grand Young Master’s handmaiden, Jeong-ah, greets the steward of the Howon.”

He snapped open a fan (in the middle of winter!) and peered at her over it with a look of displeasure. “An impudent thing. I have no words for you. Quickly, guide me to your master.”

“My apologies, but the Grand Young Master is not receiving guests.”

“What…?!” A vein pulsed on the hand gripping the fan. “Do you know that I have come on behalf of the Second Young Master, and still you speak such nonsense?”

Jeong-ah’s expression did not change. “I am truly sorry.”

Over the top of the fan, the Howon steward’s eyes narrowed. From her posture, standing firm without leaving the confines of the gate, he understood far more than her few words conveyed.

“…I thought you were merely impudent, but you are a shameless wench as well.”

Jeong-ah did not respond to the low, anger-laced murmur. Seeing her lack of reaction, he turned his gaze from her to the guard captain slumped on the ground. “You all go through much hardship.”

His tone made it clear that he had discerned these were no ordinary men. He may not have had a speck of internal energy himself, but he was showing that he hadn’t gotten his position as steward by playing games. “Is it true, as this child says, that the Grand Young Master is not receiving visitors?”

At his question, the guard standing at the very front shrugged. “We wouldn’t know.”

“I see. Is there perhaps someone who does know?”

In that brief moment, the gaze of the guard captain, who had been clutching his head, flickered toward Jeong-ah. She flinched but did not look away.

“Well now, if no one here knows, then I suppose it cannot be helped.” The Howon steward produced a letter from his robes, the wax seal of the Second Young Master clearly visible on the envelope. “As the one entrusted with the responsibility of delivering this letter from the Second Young Master, I must regrettably…”

Just then, the guard captain rose to his feet with a short sigh. “The Grand Young Master is not receiving guests.”

The Howon steward’s long eyebrows twitched. “…Is that so?”

The guard captain smacked his lips. “I myself was just reprimanded for that very issue.”

“I see…” The Howon steward stroked his thin beard. “This has become rather troublesome.” He paused to gather his thoughts, then clicked his tongue. “Then I suppose it cannot be helped.”

Jeong-ah reached out to take the letter he offered, but the steward did not release his grip, his eyes on the guard captain. “Would it be possible for you to confirm that this child delivers the letter properly?”

The guard captain’s face showed his extreme reluctance, but he gave a grudging nod. “I will do so.”

Only then did the Howon steward relax his hand, allowing Jeong-ah to take the letter. “…Remember this well,” he said, looking down at her with eyes like a viper’s, his voice a low hiss. “Whatever you are scheming in that little head of yours, you are ultimately in the palm of the Second Young Master’s hand.”

He then gave a perfunctory nod to the guards, turned, and walked away.

“Steward of the Howon, I will not see you off.”

All that returned in response to Jeong-ah’s parting words was a snort. As soon as he was a sufficient distance away, one of the guards shrugged.

“…Unpleasant bastards.”

“Tell me about it.”

They then gave Jeong-ah a nod of approval.

“You have great spirit for a young lady.”

“Mm-hm. I don’t know the circumstances, but it was admirable to see such dignity.”

It was not the way guards ought to speak. But Jeong-ah took it as a positive sign. They were not speaking to her in their false roles as guards, but were acknowledging her sincerely, from their true identities as masters. After briefly exchanging pleasantries, she managed to hide the trembling in her body and turned to leave.

“You, there. A moment.”

It was the guard captain. “…Do you have something to say to me?”

He had followed her onto the forest path and now spoke in a low voice. “The Grand Young Master never gave an order forbidding visitors, did he? Am I wrong?”

Jeong-ah bit her lip. “He did not command it directly, but in my judgment…”

He raised a hand, cutting her off. “As you well know, I hold no goodwill toward your master.”

“…”

“The only reason I’m saying this is because it pains me to see a girl who could be my own daughter in such a difficult situation.”

Jeong-ah bowed her head. “I will take your words to heart.”

He sighed, cursing his own meddlesome nature, but continued. “You understand that the Grand Young Master could have protected you, but he chose not to, correct?”

An uneasy expression crossed Jeong-ah’s face. “…I am but a humble handmaiden, my lord.”

He waved his hand. “No, no. There seems to be a misunderstanding. The meaning of my words is different from what you assume.” He scratched his head roughly. “I’ve spent my entire life with a sword, so my way with words is hopelessly lacking. But because I have lived as a warrior, there are some things I can see more clearly.” His gaze fixed on her. “Are you trying to pledge your loyalty to the Grand Young Master? Or are you trying to protect yourself? When I saw you presuming to know his thoughts earlier, that’s the question that came to my mind.”

It felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Jeong-ah froze on the spot.

“The Grand Young Master could have sent them away with a single word. So why didn’t he?”

She could not find an answer. Seeing her state, the guard captain gave a bitter smile. “Well, I’ll be heading back now.”

Regaining her senses, Jeong-ah quickly asked, “Will you not be confirming that I deliver the letter?”

He was already walking back toward the main gate. “No, no. You can handle that yourself. I, for one, need to figure out how to get away from that Grand Young Master as soon as possible.”

He vanished in an instant. But Jeong-ah, who had turned to walk in the opposite direction, could not bring herself to take a step. The guard captain’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind.

‘Are you trying to pledge your loyalty to the Grand Young Master? Or are you trying to protect yourself?’