Chapter 9| Nothing More Than A Maid

On the way, Ginny caught sight of a store displaying weapons.

"Woahhh," she gasped, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Just ahead, she noticed a gambling house and gasped again, her enthusiasm undeterred. Every sight in this unfamiliar place intrigued her—every building, every street vendor, every person walking past her, all so different from what she was used to. It was a world entirely apart from her own, yet she was expected to blend into it seamlessly.

Without warning, the horse screeched to a halt, nearly sending Ginny flying forward. Her arms flailed as she barely managed to keep herself from tumbling over.

She grumbled, steadying herself before hopping off. "I'm afraid this horse isn't properly trained," she huffed, dusting off her sleeves, glaring at the animal as though it had personally offended her.

"You've trained one before, I presume?" Chan Yeol quipped, raising a brow, his tone dripping with amusement.

"I don't need to train one to recognize a poorly trained animal," she shot back defensively, folding her arms across her chest.

"Do you even own one?" he challenged, taking a deliberate step forward, eyes locked onto hers with a smug expression.

Ginny paused. Did she own a horse? No, but that didn't mean she was clueless. Before she could respond, he smirked knowingly.

"Of course not. You belong to a middle-class family."

She scoffed in disbelief. "I own a means of transportation, and trust me, it's nothing like this. It's faster and can carry more than two people."

Chan Yeol curled his lips, unimpressed. "Oh? And what, pray tell, is this marvelous contraption?"

Ginny hesitated. How could she possibly explain a car in a place like this? Instead, she huffed. "It doesn't matter. Just know that it's superior."

Chan Yeol chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as if she were a child spouting nonsense. The audacity.

Ginny scoffed again, her eyes widening in frustration. "I do! I—ugh, never mind. Where did Seung Woo head off to?"

"You don't need to know that," he stated firmly, the amusement in his voice replaced by a cold finality.

"Oh, of course, there are plenty of things I don't need to know." She rolled her eyes before shifting the topic. "Can we at least go inside?"

Chan Yeol exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples as though she was giving him a headache. "Why do you speak to me so casually?"

'Who does this man think he is? He might be even more arrogant than—'

"What do you expect? Should I bow my head and kiss your feet instead?" she asked dryly, arching a brow, her sarcasm not lost on him.

He ignored her entirely, straightening his posture. "Before we go in, there are some rules. First, you only speak when I ask you to. Second, you only act when I instruct you. And lastly, you are entering as nothing more than a maid."

Ginny blinked. 'Wow. Are these people just going to keep insulting me? My self-respect.' She clutched her chest dramatically, fighting the urge to groan. This was just getting worse.

Clearing her throat, she nodded. "Mhmm."

Without another word, Chan Yeol led the way inside. The moment they stepped in, Ginny felt the weight of a hundred stares pressing upon her. The hostility in their gazes was palpable, like invisible daggers cutting into her skin.

"Is this Seorim?" she asked, recalling Seung Woo mentioning the name before.

"Yes. Why?" Chan Yeol asked.

Ginny shook her head and faced forward. The stares intensified, sharp as blades.

"Atrocious," she muttered under her breath. After all, she was the so-called wicked woman, the murderer of a noble lady.

'No wonder Seung Woo is absent. Would it have been humiliating to walk beside his mother's murderer?'

She mustered a slight smile at an elderly woman who glared at her with open disdain. Before long, they reached a chamber, its doors adorned with intricate carvings that told a story she didn't have time to decipher.

"Wait here," Park Chan Yeol instructed.

Ginny nodded as he turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, she called out, "Whose maid am I, exactly?"

Chan Yeol didn't answer, disappearing beyond the door as if she hadn't spoken at all.

Anxiety gnawed at her. She was being controlled—she knew it too well. Whatever was expected of her, she would have to comply. But why? And for how long?

She paced back and forth, biting her lip. "Is this a punishment, or does he actually need me for something?" she murmured, thinking aloud.

Her fingers drummed against her arm as she waited. Every passing second made her more restless. The chamber was eerily silent, the thick air making her feel trapped. She eyed the walls, their decorations intricate yet unfamiliar. A tapestry hung on the far end, depicting a battle scene—one she couldn't recognize. Was it a story of victory or loss? Either way, it didn't concern her, but the longer she waited, the more she found herself studying the details.

She sighed, rolling her shoulders. "If I have to wait any longer, I might just go insane," she muttered, throwing a glance at the door.

Just then, muffled voices seeped through the wooden panels. She strained her ears, catching only fragments of conversation. None of it made sense, but the hushed tones and urgency in their voices were enough to pique her curiosity.

Ginny tapped her foot impatiently. "I hate waiting," she mumbled.

The door creaked slightly, and she straightened her posture, expecting someone to enter. Instead, it remained ajar, as if teasing her.

She inhaled sharply. If she were back home, she would've pulled out her phone and drowned out the boredom with music or a game. But here? Here she had nothing but her thoughts, and they were doing a poor job of keeping her entertained.

She huffed, glancing at the closed door once more. "Any day now..."

Finally, footsteps approached, firm and deliberate. Her pulse quickened as the door swung open, revealing a familiar figure.

Seung Woo stepped inside, his presence commanding the room.

Ginny exhaled sharply. "Great."