“Uh… So, you’re saying your father is on his way here right now?”
“Yeah, well… it kind of turned out that way.”
I ended up clutching my head with both hands.
“No! It’ll be fine! My dad seems like that, but he’s actually quite open-minded!”
No matter how open-minded a parent is, if they see their child being hired as a maid by their friend, they’re not likely to take it well.
Actually, being open-minded might make it even worse.
You know, like how more progressive people tend to be stricter about wealthy individuals.
Especially when they see a friend, who should be considered equal, being employed as a servant.
Even parents who aren’t particularly progressive wouldn’t view such a relationship as equal.
No, more than that, when I mentioned getting ‘permission’, I meant for her to go home and ask in person, not to just call and say, ‘I’m going to work here!’
Besides, getting parental consent isn’t something you can handle over the phone.
“…”
I quietly sorted through my thoughts.
…Still, I don’t think this is a complete disaster.
I didn’t really expect So-hee’s father to approve, but if, by any chance, we do get his permission, it might not be a bad idea to let her work here.
Well… of course, expecting her to handle things at Yang Hye-in’s level would be unreasonable.
If it really becomes a problem, I can always hire more staff.
Besides, the Chairwoman’s side would eventually send someone to replace Yang Hye-in, so it wouldn’t matter if So-hee remained just as my personal maid.
Even though she’s still a teenager, So-hee was a heroine in the original game who showed tremendous drive.
On top of that, with the heroine’s special plot armor, she even managed to rescue Ha-neul from despair.
There’s no harm in accepting her help.
She could be a great asset if the real Ye Sara ever returns in the future.
As I was thinking that, it suddenly occurred to me that I was still wearing my pajamas.
I sat up from the bed and said,
“…First, let’s change clothes. We can’t meet your father dressed like this.”
“Oh, great! Leave it to me!”
So-hee rolled up her sleeves.
Uh, no, I was planning to change myself.
Also, you’re not officially hired yet.
And you’re still wearing those tracksuits.
*
In the end, I only had one outfit to wear.
The only decent outdoor clothes I had were the set I bought when I went shopping with Ha-neul.
Everything else was either dresses too fancy to wear casually or thin outfits meant for indoor wear.
The problem was that I couldn’t find that one set of everyday clothes.
The jeans and jacket were still there, but the black t-shirt was missing.
Come to think of it, Ha-neul was wearing it the last time she visited this mansion.
It seems she wasn’t just talking about underwear when she said she’d wash and return it.
Now that I think about it, I think she also took one of my school uniforms.
“Hmm? What’s wrong? Do you have something to say?”
When I glanced up, So-hee tilted her head and asked.
“Nothing.”
I shook my head.
Well, she said she’d return it after washing, so she’ll probably bring it back eventually.
I once had a friend who visited my dorm during college and left wearing my padded jacket because it was cold.
She didn’t return it until about a week later.
So-hee is probably the same.
So, in the end, the only thing I could wear was my school uniform.
The design wasn’t bad, but it was a bit depressing to have nothing to wear but my uniform on the weekend.
While rummaging through my wardrobe, So-hee made a similar comment.
“Master, you should go shopping for more clothes when you have time.”
She said it jokingly, but honestly, it made me cringe a bit.
I didn’t say it out loud, though.
When Yang Hye-in called me ‘miss’, I didn’t think much of it.
I guess a person’s usual demeanor makes a big difference.
Well, Yang Hye-in had such a professional vibe in even the smallest actions that it never felt awkward when she addressed me that way.
Now that I think about it, if So-hee starts working as a maid…
Who would she get trained by?
Even though I hired her, it’s unlikely she’ll get along with the other staff.
The staff were hired for my household, so things like meals and heating would be provided for her without me saying anything, but…
Whether they would extend that to So-hee, who’s here as an ‘additional’ resident, is another matter.
…Should I call Yang Hye-in back?
Well, I’ll think about that later.
After all, it’s not certain that So-hee will be working here.
While I was mulling over these thoughts, So-hee’s phone rang.
It buzzed quietly, as if she had it on vibrate.
“Oh, it’s my dad.”
So-hee immediately answered the call.
“Yeah, Dad. Huh? You’re already here?”
“…”
I stared at So-hee as she talked on the phone.
Now that I think about it, So-hee’s family was portrayed as quite harmonious in the game.
I can’t be sure since I haven’t played all the character routes, but in If You Wish, the families of characters who were less wealthy generally seemed happier.
I don’t know if that was the creator’s intention, a bias, or just a trope.
Yoon Da-ho’s family isn’t exactly harmonious, and after experiencing it firsthand, Ye Sara’s family is far from happy too.
On the other hand, So-hee’s family and Ha-neul’s family are almost perfect examples of the ‘not wealthy but happy’ trope.
I suppose if there were no such settings, there wouldn’t be much conflict in the game.
“Huh… But you can’t get in through the entrance?”
“…”
I let out a small sigh and stood up.
Seeing my movement, So-hee quickly caught on and said,
“Oh, I’ll come out right away!”
She hurriedly hung up the phone after saying that.
After ending the call, So-hee’s eyes darted around nervously, trembling slightly.
“…What’s wrong?”
“Well, it’s just that… my dad seems a little angry.”
When I looked up at her, confused, So-hee avoided my gaze and answered hesitantly.
Well, of course, he’s angry.
It’s one thing for his daughter to say she’ll work as a maid, but the attitude of the guards at the entrance of this house would be infuriating to anyone from the outside.
They come across as a bit condescending, as if they look down on people.
Working for a wealthy family doesn’t make them rich, so why act like that?
Then again, when I think about it, Yang Hye-in said she was paid 500 million won a year…
So maybe the others are similarly well-paid.
If they’re strutting around with seven-figure salaries, it does seem more understandable.
Still, it’s annoying.
I looked up at So-hee again.
Come to think of it, wasn’t the fact that she got in here a result of the guards being negligent?
They only guard the front gate and don’t seem to patrol the grounds.
…No way.
Could the ladder still be left against the back wall?
It seems the staff have become lazy since Ye Sara has been inactive.
Thanks to that, So-hee was able to sneak in safely, but…
Now that I have a good reason, I might as well give them a thorough scolding.
*
Fortunately, So-hee’s father wasn’t screaming and arguing with the guards.
But his face was flushed with anger, and if we had been even a little later, he probably would have started shouting.
“Dad!”
As So-hee called out to her father, everyone at the front gate turned to look in our direction.
The two guards standing with her father seemed more surprised than anyone else.
Someone they didn’t remember letting in was now confidently walking out with me.
I glanced at both of their faces.
They quickly averted their eyes.
It was obvious from their expressions that they were flustered.
“Looks like you’re all working very comfortably these days. Even when a guest arrives, you don’t bother to inform me. Was it too much trouble to report it?”
Now that I think about it, if it weren’t for Yang Hye-in, I wouldn’t have known Ha-neul had arrived at the front gate either.
At my words, the guards’ eyes trembled slightly.
“W-we were…”
“Did I ever tell you to ‘let no one in’? I don’t recall giving such an order.”
Of course, I hadn’t.
Ye Sara rarely spoke to the staff in this house.
Even if she did, it would have only been to communicate with Yang Hye-in.
“We were following the Chairwoman’s—”
“But this mansion belongs to ‘me’, doesn’t it?”
As one of the guards tried to mention Choi Na-kyung’s orders, I immediately cut him off.
“The only reason you’re here is that I allow your presence. If I tell you to leave, you’ll be dismissed immediately. Are you sure you want to keep ignoring me?”
That’s right.
Choi Na-kyung may have hired them.
But this house belongs to Ye Sara.
It’s because Ye Sara tacitly allows them to stay that they’re here at all.
If I say ‘I don’t want them here’, they’ll have to leave immediately.
It would literally be trespassing at that point.
Even if I tolerate Choi Na-kyung coming here because I have matters to handle, I don’t care what happens to the staff.
It’s not like I’ve grown fond of them.
“And, why don’t you head over to the back of the mansion right now? There’s probably a ladder leaning against the wall.
It’s lucky the person who climbed over it is someone I know. But what if it had been someone with bad intentions?”
They were even able to walk right up to my door.
When I think about it, it’s quite chilling.
If it had been a robber, I would’ve essentially opened the door for them.
Choi Na-kyung may have instructed them to ignore me, but she didn’t tell them to put my safety at risk.
In fact, if something happened to the person she loathes so much, she’d go mad in the worst way possible.
Choi Na-kyung probably thought her plan to confine Ye Sara was flawless, but there were too many loopholes.
She paid the staff generously to keep them quiet, and it was convincing enough.
She also placed a decent number of people around.
However, in a place like this, where the owner has given up everything and workers are earning millions of won just by performing repetitive tasks every day, there’s no reason for them to do their jobs properly.
Of course, in a place like this, it’s harder for thieves to break in…
But this is the result, after all.
“If you’re going to use the Chairwoman’s name, shouldn’t you report ‘everything’ that happened today?”
As I said this with a bright smile, the two guards turned pale.
Yeah, this seems like a good idea.
Instead of bribing them with money, I’ll catch them on every little mistake.
That way, they won’t be able to quit, nor will they be able to go against me.
It’ll make things much easier going forward.
As I came to this conclusion, I enjoyed the sight of the two guards squirming nervously in front of a girl much smaller than themselves.