Chapter 12: Why do you do useless things?

Cross-dressing.

It’s one of the most clichéd tropes in not just martial arts stories but countless media.

Described with delicate features, fair skin, a soft voice—yet somehow, no one notices they’re cross-dressing. A bizarre phenomenon.

Readers often complain that the characters in these stories must be blind.

I was one of those complainers…

But now, facing a cross-dressing woman in real life…

‘Are their eyes just for decoration?’

How could they not see this?

She’s so obviously a woman.

Even if she lowers her voice and binds her chest, the physical differences between men and women are stark.

And this one doesn’t even seem to be trying to hide it—she’s got long hair cascading down. At first, I thought she was just a woman with a husky voice.

Is it because everyone thinks it’s impossible for a woman to deceive the entire clan by posing as a man that they don’t suspect her?

As I seriously questioned the Baek Clan’s discernment, lost in thought…

‘…Oh, right.’

I realized the surroundings had gone eerily quiet.

Of course—staring blankly at her, I was essentially gawking at a Baek Clan direct descendant.

And since she was staring right back, it somehow turned into a staring contest.

…Man or woman, I’m just a maid, and I might get slapped for being rude to a direct blood relative.

I hurriedly bowed my head.

“…Haha.”

Thankfully, she didn’t seem offended, letting out a light laugh.

But the air only grew colder.

Baek Yeon hid me behind her back, and Song Hwa placed her hand on her sword, as if ready to draw it.

‘…What’s with them?’

I was bewildered by the tense situation for a moment.

“So, you’re the new maid serving Yeon.”

The cross-dressing woman of the Baek Clan continued.

“I heard our servants caused you trouble. The Young Master was furious that someone touched his people.”

Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she spoke.

“So, I personally punished those who bothered you.”

A strange glint flashed in her narrowed eyes.

‘…Hm.’

Well, that’s that.

Good news that those jerks got what they deserved.

But… what’s her point?

‘Does she want praise or something?’

Her constant staring, as if expecting a reaction, was making me uncomfortable.

After a moment of thought, I bowed again.

“Thank… you?”

It was the only thing I could think to say.

But, like, I don’t even have a reason to be thankful, do I? She’s the one who sent them to mess with me in the first place.

Still, I’m a powerless commoner.

When a Baek Clan (secretly female) young master stares at me like that, expecting praise, I can bow as many times as needed.

But.

“…Hahaha!”

Apparently, that wasn’t the right response.

The cross-dressing woman burst into laughter, tears forming in her eyes.

“Yes, you’re… really interesting.”

“…”

“Your name’s Seoran, right?”

She bent down, bringing her face close to mine.

“Ever thought of serving me?”

“Huh?”

A sudden… recruitment pitch?

Her unexpected words left me momentarily speechless.

Then.

“Seoran… is mine.”

Baek Yeon’s trembling voice cut in as she stepped between me and the cross-dressing young master.

Unfazed, the young master shook her head.

“Oh, Yeon. No one can own another person. Everyone has their own will.”

“Seoran said she’s mine! So she’s mine!”

“You’re over ten now. I thought you’d outgrown such childish tantrums.”

“You…”

Baek Yeon gritted her teeth, glaring at her.

But the young master, unbothered, turned to me with a light smile.

“You must’ve heard about me. Choosing the better path would benefit your future.”

Yeah, I’ve heard of you.

‘Not the part about you being a woman, though.’

…Anyway.

“Sorry.”

I rejected her without hesitation, bowing again.

Baek Yeon’s face lit up, but the young master’s expression twisted slightly.

“My, I like your loyalty, but I didn’t expect you to reject my direct offer.”

She reached out, lightly lifting my chin to meet my gaze.

“I’ll back off for today. We’ll meet again someday.”

Sure… we live in the same house…

We could bump into each other in the hallway any day, so why the dramatic vibe?

With that, the cross-dressing young master left.

“…Huff.”

Baek Yeon let out an uncharacteristically heavy breath and grabbed my hand tightly.

“You… okay, Seoran?”

“Yeah, nothing happened.”

You’re the one who seems more shaken…

Her trembling hand betrayed her tension.

Worried she might faint, I patted her back.

She wasn’t the only one.

“Sorry, Ran. I tried to avoid her, but I didn’t expect her to show up here.”

Song Hwa apologized with a tense expression, as if meeting this Baek Clan young master was some major crisis.

I genuinely couldn’t understand the situation.

‘Why… is everyone so scared of her?’

She didn’t even really threaten me, did she?

I glanced at the retreating figure of Baek Taehyuk.

And in that brief moment, I caught it.

Her fist clenched triumphantly, as if she’d accomplished something.

That erased any lingering doubts.

Everything the cross-dressing young master did just now?

It was all an act.

I furrowed my brow slightly.

‘…Why?’

Why go through such pointless theatrics?

With that curiosity, I stared at her back until she disappeared.

After that incident, the night market outing naturally fizzled out, and we returned to the Baek Clan estate.

The next day.

Finally, permission came through for me to learn martial arts.

That afternoon.

With my heart pounding, I borrowed one of the vast Baek Clan’s training halls and began my martial arts training.

…Or rather, I tried to.

“Yeon, it’s not that big a room. Do you really have to sit on the opposite side?”

“Where I am in this house is my choice.”

“Hm, fair enough.”

If it weren’t for her*.

This damn world never goes my way.

“Phew…”

Song Hwa sighed and turned to the source of the disturbance.

“Young Master Taehyuk, why are you here?”

At her question, the cross-dressing young master replied with a smile, as if she’d been waiting.

“As Yeon said, where I am is my choice. Is there anywhere in the Baek Clan I can’t go?”

Song Hwa narrowed her eyes and shot back.

“You can’t enter the Young Master’s office, at least.”

“Hm, true, not right now. Great Uncle isn’t fond of me.”

“!”

Oh… she’s throwing punches.

“Not right now” implies things could change later, doesn’t it?

Knowing a bit about the Baek Clan’s internal power struggle, this was a fascinating exchange.

Her words clearly got under Song Hwa’s skin, as her gaze slowly hardened.

“…I’m not sure how to take that comment, Young Master.”

The young master raised her hands playfully, as if surrendering.

“Oh, my apologies. Great Uncle does have many loyal followers…”

She said it with a smug tone, glancing at me.

…What’re you looking at, punk?

I’m not loyal to him—I’m loyal to his money. She’s got the wrong idea.

But I didn’t feel the need to correct her, so I ignored her gaze and looked away.

“I’m really just here to observe. It’s rare for an outsider to learn our clan’s martial arts. Isn’t it natural to be curious?”

“We have no obligation to entertain your curiosity.”

Song Hwa kept pressing, refusing to back down.

I don’t know why they had so much to say, but their standoff lasted nearly half an hour.

…Ugh, they’re gonna keep this up all day.

“Hey.”

“…?”

Unable to stand it, I spoke up, and all eyes turned to me.

They looked shocked, like a piece of furniture had suddenly started talking.

I sighed and said.

“I don’t care, just… can we start already?”

They’re not kids—how long are they gonna bicker?

I just want to learn martial arts already…