Chapter 8: I’ll show you a taste of power.

Looking at Seoran sprawled on the floor, the group of maids snickered and mocked her.

Bullying a child didn’t bring much guilt.

Though they were acting under orders, deep down, they were jealous of Seoran, who seemed to do nothing but loaf around by Baek Yeon’s side.

In short, they seized the opportunity to cause trouble.

Soon, the child on the floor slowly got up.

Normally, a kid her age would be bawling the moment they fell.

But this one wasn’t crying.

“Ugh, why would I bother talking more with people whose parents are out of town? Just go.”

Instead, she brushed off her clothes with one hand and spoke to the maids as if annoyed.

“…?”

The maids exchanged confused glances.

Her street-rat tone aside, what was that about their parents being out of town?

It was incomprehensible, but it strangely stung.

Moreover, their goal—crushing the kid’s spirit—seemed to have failed.

They didn’t want to resort to this, but no choice.

“This brat still hasn’t learned her lesson!”

It was her fault for acting so nonchalant after falling.

One of the maids, convincing herself, raised her hand high.

But.

“Go ahead, hit me. Really?”

The child thrust her cheek forward with a wicked grin.

It was a face so mischievous it was hard to believe it belonged to a kid.

“Let’s see what the Young Lady says when she hears I got hit. I’m curious myself.”

“You…!”

Clearly provoked, the maid’s face flushed red, and she was about to swing for real…

Thwack!

“Stop it, Myeong.”

Another maid behind her grabbed her wrist.

She looked like the leader of the group.

But it wasn’t to protect Seoran.

“Kid, you seem awfully smug for clinging to a rotting rope… Get a grip.”

“Hm.”

“Hold onto a rope that’s about to snap, and you’ll struggle to survive too.”

It was to deliver an even harsher threat.

But such threats had no chance of working on Seoran, who wasn’t really a child.

“That’s my business, so why don’t you all hurry up and find your missing parents? They must be waiting.”

Seoran scratched her ear and waved them off.

“This wench!”

“Myeong, just do it now…!”

“Enough. Let’s go.”

The maid called Hong dismissed the others’ complaints with a single word and left one final remark.

“…Be careful, kid. A lot of people are watching you.”

‘There’s no easy place anywhere…’

Ugh.

As the maids walked away, I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.

I wasn’t exactly scared.

‘If you’re gonna fight, throw punches, not petty threats with your mouth.’

I wasn’t afraid of retaliation from such cowards.

The problem… was the unknown figures behind them.

Well, that’s that.

‘Hm, it hurts even though I braced my fall.’

I gently rubbed my arm.

It throbbed, and I was sure it’d bruise blue by tomorrow.

Acting like nothing happened, I headed to the kitchen and picked up some snacks from the cooks.

On my way back to the pavilion where Baek Yeon was waiting…

‘They weren’t from Baekryu Hall.’

My face was blank, but my mind was racing.

Those maids who tripped me.

I’d never seen them before, and their clothes were a different color, so they were clearly someone else’s servants.

So why would they pick a fight with me, a total stranger?

Their words gave me a hint.

“They said I talk too much…”

The only time I ran my mouth since coming to the Baek Clan was on my first day, when I told the Young Master what Baek Yeon had said.

I’d been glued to Baek Yeon’s side since, so I didn’t know how the Young Master handled it…

But those maids who tripped me were definitely connected to whoever got in trouble because of my words.

This wasn’t a simple matter.

Everyone with a functioning brain knows I can speak directly to the Young Master and that Baek Yeon, his only daughter, has my back.

Yet they still picked a fight with me?

Knowing I’m a blabbermouth who’d snitch if anything happened?

“This only makes sense if someone behind them isn’t scared of the Young Master…”

I thought they were just maids carelessly calling Baek Yeon gross, but maybe… that’s not the whole story.

Still, they’re kind of harsh.

‘What about me is worth bullying?’

Maybe in my past life, but targeting a kid like this? They’re clearly rotten, evil bastards.

Looks like I need to pay my employer a visit soon.

‘I memorized their faces.’

I’ll show you the taste of power, you bastards.

Not my power, of course…

“Why are you so late when you said you’d be quick? Your feet are too slow!”

Spotting me, Baek Yeon immediately screeched in a whiny tone.

For the record, that means she was waiting for me.

After a week, I’d learned to filter her words.

If she’d said it a bit cuter, it’d be even more adorable, but this level of grumbling? I can laugh it off thanks to my salary.

Plus…

“I had a small errand.”

“…Hmph.”

When I smiled lightly, Baek Yeon shut her mouth and turned away.

For some reason, she’s weak to my smiling face, so she’s honestly pretty easy to handle.

“Never mind that, come here quick!”

As soon as I set the snacks on the pavilion table, she grabbed my arm.

But.

“Ugh.”

I couldn’t help but wince and let out a small groan.

She’d grabbed the exact spot where I’d hit the ground earlier.

Baek Yeon’s eyes widened, and she mumbled softly.

“…What’s wrong? Did it hurt?”

“Oh, it’s just where I fell earlier.”

I said it to reassure her, but her eyes only grew wider.

“You fell? Why?”

“Well…”

I rolled my eyes, thinking of what to say.

And quickly decided.

“My legs just gave out for a moment.”

No need to tell a kid about all that.

“…Wait, Ran.”

Song Hwa, sensing I was brushing it off, called my name.

She seemed to suspect something.

‘Keep it quiet.’

I shot her a look to silence her.

Why bring it up in front of a kid?

It’d be better to talk to the Young Master privately—why worry Baek Yeon unnecessarily?

Luckily, Baek Yeon was too focused on examining my arm to notice my exchange with Song Hwa.

With a dissatisfied expression, she gently rubbed the spot she’d grabbed.

“You’re too tiny and frail. What if you get scratched up when you’re mine?”

…?

Her concern seems a bit off…

There were a lot of issues with that statement, and I opened my mouth to correct her…

“Oh, right!”

Before I could, Baek Yeon shouted, making me shut my mouth.

“Let’s learn martial arts!”

…What?

“M-Martial arts?”

I asked, flustered.

Unfazed, she grabbed my hand tightly, eyes sparkling.

“If you learn martial arts, you’ll get stronger. And then you can protect me too.”

“…Who’d teach me?”

“Hm… Song Hwa?”

…That’s not something you can just decide.

Song Hwa, caught off guard by the sudden suggestion, started glancing nervously at Baek Yeon.

‘She doesn’t get it…’

I’m an outsider in the Baek Clan.

Clans are very insular, and the Baek Clan is one of the eight most prestigious families in the world.

They wouldn’t teach martial arts to a mere maid like me.

But Baek Yeon, perhaps kept distant from clan affairs due to her frail health, seemed unaware of this basic fact.

“I don’t want you leaving my side, but I’ll allow two hours a day!”

“Um…”

I was wondering how to explain this when.

“Young Lady.”

Song Hwa, with perfect timing, cut in.

“…What?”

Baek Yeon immediately glared at her sharply.

She’s gentle with me… but still pretty harsh with others.

“The air’s getting chilly, so you should head inside. It’s also time for your medicine.”

“Ugh… I don’t want to.”

Grumbling, Baek Yeon still obediently stood up.

“Let’s go, Seoran.”

“Wait, Young Lady.”

“…What now?”

Her face, already irritated from being called twice, turned menacing.

But Song Hwa, used to this, casually waved into the air.

Whoosh!

“!”

Five masked warriors appeared behind her instantly.

For a moment, I thought they were assassins.

“They’ll escort you for now. I need to take Ran to see the Young Master.”

From Song Hwa’s words… thankfully, they weren’t.

They must be hidden escorts.

‘Those guys don’t look ordinary…’

To summon such people with a gesture.

I thought Song Hwa was just a regular Baek Clan warrior because of her youth… but she’s clearly higher-ranking than I thought.

‘That means she’s strong.’

I started getting curious about what level of martial artist she was.

Anyway.

Baek Yeon frowned deeply at Song Hwa’s words.

“…You’re taking Seoran? If it’s to see Father, I can go too.”

“Hm, it seems the Young Master wants to speak with Ran alone about something confidential.”

Baek Yeon muttered, lips pouting in dissatisfaction.

“Huh? What’d you say, Young Lady?”

“Hmph, never mind.”

Her voice was too soft to hear clearly, so I asked again, but she didn’t repeat herself.

“Come back quick. If you make me wait too long, I’ll get mad.”

“Yep.”

She left with the other escorts without further fuss.

Thankfully, she didn’t press more when it was about the Young Master’s orders.

“Phew…”

“Ha…”

As Baek Yeon left, Song Hwa and I sighed in relief simultaneously.

“Song Hwa.”

“Yes?”

I immediately snitched.

“On my way, some people tripped me and mocked me.”

“As I thought. Do you remember the color of their clothes?”

“I remember their faces clearly. They were all in light blue.”

“Ha…”

At my answer, Song Hwa sighed and shook her head.

She seemed to have an idea.

Of course… I had a hunch too.

“How’s the Baek Clan’s family tree?”

This is definitely a power struggle within the clan.