Surviving as the Dang Clan’s Handmaiden

Chapter 2

In contrast to my gloom, the sun shone brightly without a single cloud in sight. I looked away from the blue sky and began walking. As dreadful as it was, I had to do my job.

I stepped out of the hall and turned left. There, just past the willow tree, was the wash site… except it wasn’t there.

Huh? Where did it go?

Startled, I began retracing my steps.

If I go back to where I started and make my way slowly, I should be able to find it… or not. Where am I?

Suddenly, three paths lay before me. I stood blankly and looked at each one. I had to admit it—I was lost. Had anyone else been around, I could’ve asked for directions, but there was no one.

Do I go left? Right? Or should I go back the way I came?

As I wondered, I put the laundry basket on the ground. It was way too heavy. My legs were also aching from all the walking.

Since I was lost, I decided I might as well take a breather. But the moment I resigned myself to my fate and plopped down on the spot, someone spoke to me.

“Where are you headed?”

I jumped in surprise and turned around.

A child wearing a long, verdant robe stood behind me. He was maybe thirteen or fourteen years old. His skin, smooth like jade, told me that he was a noble. His lustrous hair was tied back firmly with a strip of silk, and his big, round eyes were streaked with a mysterious dark blue hue. Like a newborn, his face was milky smooth and free of facial hair. His high, vibrant voice suggested that he hadn’t gone through puberty yet. As for his height, he was about 150 cm, give or take, just like me.

I studied his appearance in a daze. When I finally snapped out of it, I jumped to my feet and bowed. Although I didn’t know much, I knew that his wearing a luxurious green robe at his age meant that he was of a high status. He was a member of the Dang family—I needed to act carefully.

As I bowed my head, I caught a glimpse of elaborate golden embroidery on his robe. Perhaps he was a direct descendant of the clan.

I responded as politely as possible so as not to cross him.

“I got lost on my way to the wash site.”

“You’re not very smart, are you?”

The hell did you just say?

For a split second, I grimaced. I bit my lip and lowered my head further.

Where did he learn such terrible manners? How could he say that to a stranger?

His manner of speaking convinced me that the Dang family had failed miserably at parenting.

“Ahaha. I am still clumsy, Young Master.”

“Young Master…?”

The child wrinkled his brow. The displeasure in his voice made me tense up. I gulped.

Did I get the title wrong? Should I have called him “sir?” Or “Your Lordship?” Or simply “Master?”

As I looked about nervously, the child sighed and waved his hand.

“Forget it. A child who doesn’t even know the way around here can’t possibly recognize me. Follow me.”

Just like that, he began leading the way. It sounded like he didn’t want to bother talking to an idiot. His strange manner of speech and the way he belittled me for failing to recognize him probably confirmed that he was indeed highborn.

The boy was an abnormally fast walker. A single step seemed to carry him a distance of ten, and he was well ahead in an instant. Huffing and puffing, I tried my best to keep up. Despite his young age, he appeared to be a well-trained martial artist.

Upon hearing my ragged breathing, the boy glanced back and stopped, clicking his tongue. Then, he backtracked to my side and walked slowly to match my pace. Despite his brusque speech, he didn’t seem like a bad kid, given how he was showing me the way and slowing down for me.

“We’re here.”

After a while of walking, we finally came to a stop. The child pointed at a small side gate. I saw the familiar wash site through the entrance. I bowed once more.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

“It’ll be good to familiarize yourself with the way promptly. I’m afraid you may not be able to eat even the crumbs from the servant’s table if you’re so slow-witted.”

He scolded me, but there was a hint of playfulness in his voice. With a smirk, the boy turned around as if to leave but then looked straight back at me.

“You—what is your name?”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t reply.

Huh? What is my name…?

Only then did I realize that I didn’t even know what my name was. Three days had passed since I had woken up here, but no one had bothered to address me by name.

When I struggled to answer, the boy narrowed his eyes. Cold sweat trickled down my back. For the first time since my transmigration, I found myself in a crisis.

“M-my name is of no importance to someone as honorable as you,” I managed to say.

The child furrowed his eyebrows. Instead of interrogating me, he opted for clicking his tongue.

“Forget it. You may go.”

I ran toward the wash site before the boy could change his mind. My heart raced like crazy for fear of arousing his suspicion.

I’m a law-abiding citizen of Korea— I mean, law-abiding handmaiden.

When I peeked back, the child was still standing by the side gate. He gazed at me with a peculiar glint in his eyes. I pretended not to notice and took out the lye-soaked laundry from the basket. I didn’t dare raise my head since I felt his intense gaze on me.

By the time I finally looked up, he was gone. I nervously looked at the side gate where the boy had been standing. For some reason, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach.

* * *

It was an hour before noon by the time I barely managed to arrive at the courtyard in front of the main administrative building. Songji waved me over as soon as she saw me.

“Come quick!”

I stood beside Songji and wiped the sweat on my forehead. More than a hundred servants had already gathered in the yard. I assumed that the huge manor I worked for employed a lot of staff. Still, I was surprised by the sheer number of people. How much did the clan spend on food, clothing, wages, and shelter for so many people?

“Ahem, hem!”

Just then, someone cleared his throat. The bustling crowd became silent at once. A middle-aged man dressed in a long jade robe approached from a distance. His beard was streaked with gray, his hair was equally grizzled and neatly propped up by a headpiece, and his eyes were sharp. The fastidious-looking man appeared to be the housekeeper.

“Is everyone present?”

“Yes, my lord.”

A middle-aged woman stepped forward to reply. She was dressed in a plain jade robe that wasn’t patterned but tidy nonetheless. Her attire was markedly different from those of the other servants, which were of a duller color and held by green waistbands.

Songji whispered, “That’s Lady Jin. After Lady Lee left for her maternal family’s home, Lady Jin took over as the head housemaid. I’m envious. Will I ever get to wear the jade robe?”

“Aha.”

I see.

Lady Jin appeared to be the one in charge of all the handmaidens. The housekeeper looked around at the staff and then began speaking slowly.

“As you already know, the Five Noble Clans will be gathering soon. See to it that the guests are well attended to.”

“Yes, my lord.”

A gathering of the Five Noble Clans?

I had read about them in different stories. And they were all coming together here? My ears perked up at his words.

The housekeeper continued, “You must not make mistakes. The honor of the great Sacheon Dang Clan is at stake. Fill the bedding in the guestrooms with new cotton, and identify any old furniture that needs replacing. Furthermore…”

In brief, we were to make all necessary arrangements to welcome the guests and take extra precautions, as the Dang Clan’s reputation was on the line. The housekeeper droned on and on, repeating himself about six more times. At last, he gave an order to Lady Jin and left.

“You heard him! Now get moving! I’d better not see any dilly-dalliers,” Lady Jin’s commanding voice boomed loudly.

The servants dispersed, off to their duties. I glanced around nervously before following Songji out of the courtyard.

The prospect of seeing the Five Noble Clans, which I had only ever read about, made me a little excited. The makeup of these five clans differed by novel, and I wondered who they were in this world.

I wonder who’s coming. The Namgung Clan, for sure. What about the Jaegal Clan? I heard the Moyong Clan is full of beauties. I can’t wait to see them in person! What about the fifth clan? The Jinju Eons? Or the Habuk Pengs?

“Songji, who are the Five Noble Clans?” I asked.

“Why, they’re the Sacheon Dang Clan—that’s us—the Namgung Clan, the Habuk Peng Clan, the Moyong Clan, and the Jaegal Clan.”

So that’s how it is here.

It was the typical mix. With a nod, I continued asking my questions.

“Do the Five Noble Clans meet often?”

“Only once a year. They take turns hosting, so it’s been five years since the Dang family welcomed them here. Wait, why are you asking? You’ve lived here all your life.”

Songji quickly lost her patience and grumbled in annoyance.

You don’t have to get pissed off at me about it.

When I pouted, Songji pulled at one of my cheeks.

“Ow! That hurts!”

“Sohye, listen to me closely. If you can’t control your facial expressions, you’ll be in big trouble. If you let your emotions slip in front of the first or third young master, it’s over for you. You’ll pay for it with your life.”

“Okay.”

Songji let go and made a throat-slitting gesture. Massaging my throbbing cheek, I told her I understood. I couldn’t tell if she was worried about me or jumping at the chance to scold me.

Wait a second. Did she call me “Sohye” just now? That must be my name here.

In a daze, I put the name on repeat in my mind. Songji grabbed my arm.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go get lunch.”

“All right.”

Puffing my cheeks out to ease the pain, I followed after her.

* * *

We were officially receiving guests now, but my daily routine didn’t change one bit. That was because I was in charge of the laundry. Day after day, I washed one green outfit after another.

Mountains are mountains, and water is water…

If there were ever a person who’d achieved enlightenment while beating a washing paddle, I would be it.

As I swung the paddle, looking like I had reached nirvana, the young noble boy was sitting next to me while chewing on a blade of grass.

“Young Master, a person of your standing should not come down here so often.”

“There is nowhere I can’t go within Dang Manor,” the boy replied with a snort.

Yes, yes, of course.

This was exactly why spoiled young masters were a problem—they believed they had the whole world under their feet. Ever since he had shown me the way a few days ago, he had been visiting me at the washing site every day. Watching me scrub clothes seemed to be a hobby of his now. Then again, I was in the body of a girl who was just as old as he was. Perhaps he was lonely.

At the end of the day, he’s just a teenager who needs a friend.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“No. This is tiring.”

“You look okay enough.”

“I told you, this is difficult work.”

How is pounding robe after robe for more than an hour straight ever okay?

Upon hearing me complain, the boy broke out into a grin.

“Do you even know what you are washing?”

“Green robes worn by the martial artists of the Dang Clan,” I replied plainly.

“Correct. What do you suppose is contaminating these robes?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe the sap of the prickly ash plant? Dried rice paste?”

“No. What is staining your hand now is a poison made of the refined sap of the oleander plant. Ordinary people fall critically ill just by inhaling a small amount of its powder.”

“Pardon?”

Wait! You’re telling me this now?

I leaped to my feet and hurled the clothes away from me.