* * *
"How is it?"
She looked down from above, gently lifting her collar. Beautiful white skin, violet eyes, and silver hair fluttering in the night breeze streaming in through the window. Slowly caressing my cheek, she asked with small, red lips.
"Today too...you are so beautiful...Noel...Young-ae."
She slowly straightened her collar and brushed her loose hair to the side, as if tempting me, slowly and with a mysterious warmth that was different from her cold skin.
"But... why did you greet that other girl so friendly?"
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. I stopped by the bakery today to buy some snacks to share with the servants. There, I was greeted by Mary, the baker, who always greets me so warmly... When was the last time I saw her?
"Ah... that..."
I stare at her tightly shut mouth, as if no answer is needed. A small, white hand gradually takes hold of my wrist.
"Why...were you talking to another woman?"
She bit her slightly red lips. It was tempting, and I could feel my lower body slowly rising, but just as much, fear began to creep up from the top of my head.
'Plop!'
"Kwaaaa ...
Her wrist was broken. As soon as she grabbed it and gently pressed her fingers against it, it snapped into a position it shouldn't have, like a sprain.
"Ahhhh!"
Save me, please!!!
.
"Yes, Tir."
That sullen face that's talking to me. It's so pathetic, like he's just woken up from a long, slumbering night. I can't help but feel irritated by it.
"You crazy bastard, you missed all your work today."
A bustling market, bustling with vendors and merchants arriving from the early morning breeze. I was a laborer, working among these busy people, like this pitiful-looking Jeffers.
"Who knew there would be so many people in the morning?"
"Haven't I told you so many times? This market will be bustling with the return of that...Countess Youngae."
"Haaam! What difference does that make?"
"If it's not morning, people have bloodshot eyes and can't properly monitor the work."
"Why are you being so picky? Since it's almost nap time, people will be feeling quite drowsy. So, wouldn't it be better?
"Crazy... How many times have I told you that the time when you can't come to your senses in the morning is our biggest problem? Haa... Enough."
"So, how about that side?"
I followed Jeffers's finger and saw a woman. She was wearing a soft, white, lace-trimmed dress, white gloves, and a yellow hat... She looked like a doll.
"How is it? She looks like a pretty girl who came to visit the market. Isn't this enough work?"
"Well... it's okay."
"Hehehe, I looked for something to work on while I was coming here. This is it."
It seems she must have gotten caught while sleeping naked. She's a girl who came to the market to play, seemingly completely ignorant of the ways of the world. It's definitely the season for the big bucks.
"I thought you'd let it slide just this once."
"Yes, yes. Then, will Tir-nim choose the first starter?"
He's secretly pushing the work off to me. But if he does, the split will be 80:2, so the profits will inevitably be quite lucrative, so Jeffers has subtly made a concession to me. I guess he feels a bit sorry.
"Then I'll be back."
"It doesn't go far."
Pulling his hat down low, he slowly approached her. He tried not to stand out, blending into the crowd, his pace brisk, and his eyes scanned the market as if he were completely disinterested.
'Relax your hands a bit...'
Slowly, I practiced, clenching and unclenching my fingers. This wasn't a skill I'd learned just once or twice. I could easily target other merchants or adventurers, but I had to be careful not to miss the big fish I'd seen while fishing.
'slowly.'
Naturally, and to the point of melting into me, I slowly reach for the small bag hanging from the arm of the girl who is admiring the scenery from afar. The task is now practically complete.
'It's over.'
Quickly put your hand into the bag and pull it out.
'That's it!'
At that moment, my eyes were looking at the sky, the slowly moving clouds, and the warm sunlight.
'what...'
I felt buoyant, powerless. I felt like I was nothing more than a small animal, swaying by the law of inertia, at the edge of gravity. What goes up must naturally flow down.
'ah.'
I feel a fleeting moment of slow descent. And all I see are those cold, frightening purple eyes, swaying silver hair... and an arm holding me.
'Pfft!'
The vision turned white like that.
.
10 minutes later.
"Huh!"
I woke up with a scream, not a scream, remembering the shocking scene from just moments ago. I looked around, taking stock of the situation.
'Fuck, is this fucked up?'
Back in my rookie days, I was caught more than once for not doing my job properly. Back then, I was a child, crying and snot-nosed, begging and begging, only to get beaten up, and it all ended in a sad story. But now, I'm a stalwart 18-year-old. It's clear I'm going to end up like this.
'You tied it up really well!'
The ropes binding my arms and ankles showed no sign of loosening. I wanted to pull out the small knife I'd hidden in my bosom, but it was wrapped tightly around my wrists, making it impossible to reach my pockets.
"Are you awake?"
A clear and beautiful voice. Then I raised my head and looked at the source of the voice.
'ah...'
Perched atop a large wooden box, she resembled that... goddess statue I'd seen before. She was so beautiful that she could never have been human, and her skin was as clear as glass. Her flowing white hair and violet eyes were enough to dazzle me.
"Are you sick?"
"...no."
I answered, momentarily forgetting that my head was spinning.
"Then I guess I'll have to hand you over to the soldiers now."
"Okay, wait a minute!!!"
I screamed louder than ever. Beauty is beauty, and right now, only this woman holds my life. If I were dragged away by the soldiers now, I'd be beaten until I was half-crippled, and I'd live a life where I couldn't even live. She must have been a high-ranking lady, and I knew that touching her sleeve would be a serious crime.
"why?"
"Just this once! If you forgive me just this once, I won't do it again!!!"
"I've never met anyone who said that and didn't do it."
That's true. I've never seen anyone like that, and when I was young, I'd beg for favors and then work the next day...
"...sob!"
In times like these, I had no choice but to use my young, adult face. I tried to use my hidden secret: tear and snot removal.
"If you cry, I'll kill you?"
"......."
I put the tears I was preparing to cry into my eyes.
"That's fast."
"......."
"Your hands are pretty fast too."
Lie. If my hands were quicker, that girl's bag would already be in my arms. And I wouldn't have been caught like I am now.
"Are you a thieves' guild?"
"Oh, no! Why would someone like me join such an incredibly vicious guild? I'm just a pickpocket who was once a good citizen, but couldn't overcome hunger and turned into a criminal."
"Well, I cleaned up the whole area around here."
"yes?"
"What's your name?"
"Tir! It's Tyr!"
"......"
The woman fell silent. I waited for her to say something, but despair set in when she stared at me, her lips still closed.
'Why, why... don't you like the name?!'
Was he angry because of his name? I thought of the foreman who would occasionally get angry at me for being so feminine because my name was Tir. Of course, I've escaped that guy and am now active in the market, but I've heard from him occasionally, but I haven't heard from him at all lately.
"It's not a lie...Tirga...is right."
I wondered how she knew me. I'd sometimes given her several fake names, but now I felt compelled to reveal my real name, so I did.
'what?'
She was certain my real name was Tir. I wondered if I was some kind of fortune teller or witch, as rumors abounded.
"long time no see."
At that moment, I racked my brain. Sophia, the one I'd met as a child? No, she had brown hair. Ellie? Susan? Evella?... None of them. A woman with that distinctive hair, a pretty face, and violet eyes. It was a shadowy place, near the end of an alley, but her face still seemed to glow. However, he couldn't recall ever seeing such a beautiful woman, as white as a piece of sculpted glass.
"...Uh, uh! How have you been?! You! Right?!"
First, he pretends to know her in order to survive.
"......"
"Wow! How long has it been! You've become so pretty! You've changed so much I can't even recognize you!"
"...Why don't you stop lying?"
"......"
I paused again. Her face seemed even more stern... I could tell instinctively that she was incredibly angry. Those red lips parted again, demanding my answer.
"Don't you remember?"
What on earth are you talking about? I've never seen anyone with silver hair and purple eyes before. I opened my mouth, risking her anger.
"Yes... Have we ever... met?"
"huh."
"Yeah," didn't give me any good hints. No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't recall her. It felt like a more daunting challenge than when I tried to figure out the tricks of the swindler who'd robbed me of my small fortune as a child.
"Anyway, um... yeah. You tried to steal my bag, right?"
"Ah, ah! I'm sorry! I swear to my god I won't do that again!"
"You don't believe in God?"
I suddenly felt a twinge of fear at the thought that she could see through it all. I felt like she really was a witch.
"...sorry."
"Now, these are the things you were after in my bag."
'Clang!'
There was a sound of glass falling, and the large gems inside tumbled to the ground. Necklaces, rings, earrings, and other intricately crafted items. The mismatched, ornate ornaments spilled onto the rough dirt floor, bouncing back and forth, scattering around me.
"Huh!"
I met my reflection in the fallen necklace, and it seemed that even if I spent all my money, I wouldn't be able to buy a single ruby that was set in that necklace.
"Now you see what a serious crime that is?"
"Never again! Never again, I will touch your things! Please, at least my life!"
"Then I can just ask them to spare my life and hand me over to the soldiers?"
"Ahhh! No! Please, just give me my life and hand me over to the soldiers!!!"
I have to live. The fact that I was carelessly dropping jewels meant I was incredibly wealthy, and I was now acutely aware of my misstep. I wanted to curse Jeffers endlessly. I was lost in the useless fantasy of what if he hadn't handed me the job.
"Then be my servant."
"yes?"
"servant."
I screamed loudly then. I still... regret that moment. It was a better choice than being handed over to the authorities and becoming a half-cripple.
"Yes!!! I will! Servant! I will do anything you tell me to do! If you spare my life, I will become a hard-working servant and serve you with all my heart!"
"okay."
'Slurp!'
All the strings that had bound me were released. Sharp cuts were visible... The question lingers in my mind: when did I cut them?
"Follow me."
"yes!"
I follow her, determined to survive, my mind sharp. Now that my restraints are lifted, should I run away? My steps slow down for a moment.
"......"
She stares at me, speechless and frozen. If my survival instincts tell me... if I run away now, I'll regret it to the bitter end.
"Okay, please wait a moment!"
I found the reason for my hesitation. I quickly picked up the bag she had dropped, collected the spilled jewels, and stood before her. That was enough reason for my hesitation.
"You're a good person."
Fortunately, I seemed to have scored a point. I was laughing and thinking I could use this opportunity to score more.
"Miss! What is your name?"
"......"
As I approached her, rubbing my palms together, she bit her lip again without saying a word. Her face was once again angry.
"You really don't remember."
"yes?"
"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Noel. My name is Noel Deckard."
Noel...Noel Deckard...Deckard...Wait.
"Count Deckard!!!"
"It is rude to say someone else's family name out loud."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
I desperately lowered my head. I'd made a mistake. The weather was nice today, and the market was bustling, so I figured it was a lucky day. Jeffers's late arrival was annoying, but if he watched over me and I worked manually, I could at least make a silver coin. But...
'Why the Countess of all people!'
The young lady of that rumor. After a long period of training as a knight, she returned to the count's household. And now, she is before our eyes.
'Oh... God...'
It was a moment when I suddenly wanted to believe in God. But what I saw before me wasn't a merciful god, but a high-ranking figure who would have no problem beheading me for offending me.
"Then follow me properly."
However, she smiled slightly and extended her hand to me.
"yes?"
"You don't know where you're going. You'll have to pass through a crowded place, so hold hands so you don't get lost."
That day, at the age of 18, I held a woman's hand for the first time. It felt very soft, small, and warm.
"......"
I follow her silently, as if embarrassed. With the illusion that it's just the two of us in the world,
"Congratulations on becoming Youngae's servant."
I meet the old butler and accept the servant's uniform, white gloves, and shoes he hands me.
"Okay, just a moment."
"Did you say Tir?"
"yes..."
It was a dizzying experience. Holding her hand, we crossed the bridge over the great river, opened the massive gate, and entered the inner castle of the count's family. I was greeted by a large line of knights, and then a dignified butler in a black suit, sporting a beard, led me to the guest room.
'what's this...'
I was already feeling dazed. I had no choice but to accept the clothes the butler handed me and head straight to the changing room.
"Hmm, not bad."
The butler speaks to me while I am wearing a servant's uniform.
"Our Lady Noel, Count of Deckard, doesn't have a dedicated servant yet. She didn't specifically ask for one, but I never thought she'd bring one in from outside."
"A dedicated servant?"
"Yes, from now on, you will be working exclusively for Young-ae. It was quite a struggle to keep the maids busy, but that's fortunate. Now that you have a servant in charge of everything except underwear, you can rest easy."
With a sullen face, I became a servant to the count's household. Afterwards, I exchanged greetings with the other servants and hurriedly learned the Count's duties. If I failed to properly perform this task, I would be dragged off to the guards for stealing jewels. I was desperate in my own way.
"Now, you can go to Noel's room with dinner tonight."
"yes yes..."
I was learning the etiquette to the point of confusion, so I quickly picked up the plate and headed to Noel's room, following the butler's instructions.
Knock! Knock!
"No, Noel. I brought you some food."
I listen closely, and I hear a very small voice.
"Come in."
At those words, he slowly opened the door and went inside, and what he saw was a huge bed larger than a queen size, a huge window that overlooked the Count's house, and her sitting in a soft chair reading a book.
"Hey, can I leave it here?"
"Okay."
"yes..."
He slowly puts down the bowl, following the steps of a servant of the count's household.
"You came just in time. The etiquette is also good."
"Hehe, thank you."
Although the training lasted less than half a day, I seemed to enjoy it. I felt a sense of pride in my impressive memory.
"however."
"yes?"
It was only then that I realized that being this beautiful young lady's servant was hell.
"Did you talk to the other maids?"
"Yes? Yes... to learn manners..."
"why?"
"Huh? Etiquette..."
"why?"
"......"
She was getting closer and closer. I wanted to run away. But she slowly grabbed my neck and whispered, letting out a small gasp.
"Do you want to die?"
That day, I could feel the despair of being caught in Arachne's web, the heart of a knight trapped. The helplessness and fear of being unable to do anything. And...
'Plop!'
"AAAAHHHH!!!!"
I mean the feeling of your wrist being twisted.
* * *