Translator: Nabi

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Chapter 13

The next day. As soon as the day dawned, Min-ha headed to the East Annex under the guidance of Ella.

At first, the East Annex, which was opposite to the North Annex, was magnificent and luxurious. As for architecture, it seemed obvious that even she, an outsider, could notice that they had made several modifications to it, but it was not done to keep the original shape as much as possible, which looked completely different from the North Annex.

Min-ha glanced around the lavish annex that could only be seen in a novel or comic book, as she followed Ella’s guidance through the grand stairs into the lobby.

There, she made eye contact with an old woman who was standing in a certain spot, staring at her. As if she had been waiting, as she met eyes with Min-ha, she went straight to her side and said,

“You are here.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Ella, did you come along, too?”

“Yes, Mrs. Pompa.”

“Then, you can go back and Madam will follow me.”

The tone of the old woman, Mrs. Pompa, who told me to follow her straight away without a special greeting, was cold.

Still, Min-ha followed her with a nervous face, thinking that she looked just like a strict mother-in-law. She, of course, didn’t forget to softly say goodbye to Ella, who was getting farther away. Mrs. Pompa’s expression wrinkled at the sight, but Min-ha didn’t notice.

She must have followed for a couple of minutes or so before Mrs. Pompa stopped in front of a large, tightly closed door.

Min-ha, who followed her and stopped her steps, asked cautiously.

“…Well, where are we?”

However, Mrs. Pompa did not answer her question. Instead of answering her, she swung the closed door wide open and went inside. At her appearance, Min-ha quickly followed her inside and exclaimed admiration for the scenery that filled her sight.

“…Wow.”

It was a library surrounded by bookshelves and books that were so high that no matter how many times you looked up, you could not see the end.

In the two-story interior, dozens or hundreds of bookcases made of dark red cherry wood filled the round space, and one wall had a large window penetrating the two floors, illuminating the interior.

Min-ha was amazed as she peered at the library surrounded by countless books.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Pompa, who had been observing Min-ha with cold eyes, suddenly held out gray gloves and a large box in front of her. She then spoke in a cold tone to Min-ha as she picked up the box.

“First, Madam should take out the books here one by one and wipe the dust off. Of course, you must not damage the book in the process.”

“…Yes?”

“After that, you need to put this charcoal between the bookshelves. Do you understand? One for each shelf.”

“Charcoal?”

“And then, you can just wipe the empty bookshelf and put the books back in order.”

“…All these things?”

“Yes.”

‘No way.’

There are so many books and bookshelves that she can’t even comprehend it, let alone doing it all by herself.

‘I don’t think I can do it all in one day…’

Min-ha gazed at Mrs. Pompa with her earnest eyes, thinking that maybe she was wrong. However, Mrs. Pompa pretended she didn’t notice the gaze, and she continued to speak in a perfunctory tone.

“For lunch, you can eat what Mrs. Wanda brings at noon. And, when the sun goes down, you can finish work.”

“Oh, I didn’t have to do it all within today?”

“Is that possible?”

“…Phew, that’s a relief. I got it.”

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to intend to trouble her. Now, feeling relieved, Min-ha grabbed the box and walked up the spiral staircase leading upstairs.

At that, the eyes of Mrs. Pompa, who had been very hard on her, widened. Then, she muttered inaudibly to her.

“I thought she was going to scream that she can’t…”

“What? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing. Well, I shall leave now.”

“Yes, thank you!”

Min-ha shook her head slightly to greet her and waved her hand to Mrs. Pompa as she walked out of the library.

Then, she climbed her ladder upstairs to the bookshelf in the corner upstairs. Because dust settles from top to bottom. So, it was from her calculation that she would have to clean from the top and work her way down.

Although Min-ha, who climbed up to the top of the bookshelf, coughed out as if she had a fit of dust filling her nose as soon as she breathed in.

“Wow, cough! …Cough! The dust!”

Min-ha detracted the thoughts she had just a while ago. This must be deliberate and half intentional—

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like it had been untouched for a long time like the Northern Annex, but the amount of dust coming out of the old book was beyond her imagination.

Covering her mouth with one hand, Min-ha managed to pull out a book, gently wiping it off with a dry towel. As the dust disappeared, a thick book with a silver foil cover revealed its luxurious appearance.

“Oh..”

Min-ha stared at the book with pride for a moment before brushing off the dust from the spot where it was placed and putting the book back on the bookshelf again.

How long did she continue dusting her body like that, while dusting off books and wiping the bookshelf?

“….”

A little while ago, between the slightly opened library doors, there was a child watching Min-ha with his head sticking out as she was concentrating on her cleaning.

Noah, who was less than half the size of a large library door, hugged a lion and a rabbit doll in both arms, and glanced up at her with his big green eyes.

Squeak—

All of a sudden, without realizing it, the slightly opened door was pushed and there was a fairly loud noise. At the same time, Noah was startled and quickly fell from the side of the door.

“…Huh?”

Min-ha, who had been cleaning numerous books and bookshelves the whole time, finally lifted her head and turned to where the sound was heard. There, she saw the little Young Master, who was leaning against the door, was seen rushing out.

She tilted her head and smiled softly.

Then, she set the dry rag beside her so that her sneaking footsteps could not be heard as she went down to the first floor, where she stood behind the slightly opened door.

“Woah!”

At that, Min-ha let out a short shout out at Noah Persen, who was standing outside the door. Because of that, startled, Noah turned his head toward her hurriedly and soon smiled mischievously as he made eye contact with her smiling.

But, for a moment, Noah swiftly covered his face with the doll he was holding in his arms with a sullen face. Min-ha smiled even more at her cute appearance then crouched down in front of Noah.

Making eye contact with him, she said, “Hey Noah, how are you?”

“…Good morning, sister-in-law.”

“Are you bored and come to play? How did you know I was here?”

“…I asked the maids.”

“Really? I see. By the way, why are you covering your face?”

When she asked with a smile at Noah, who was covering his doll against his face like a mask, the child answered with a sullen voice.

“…My brother told me not to play with sister-in-law.”

At Noah’s answer, Min-ha wrinkled her expression slightly.

‘No, this man is really…. There is a degree to which it was shameful—’ However, when she saw Noah gazing at her face, she immediately relaxed her expression and spoke in a friendly voice.

“I see. Noah is a good boy who listens to his brother.”

“…Still, I want to play with my sister-in-law.”

“Oh, really? Thank you!”

“But, but… My brother tells me not to play with sister-in-law, and he keeps saying sister-in-law bad. I want to play with my sister-in-law now…”

Min-ha had to forcefully lower the corner of her mouth, which was constantly rising, at the sight of Noah who continued his words while hesitating. The boy was talking seriously in his own way, so she thought it would hurt his heart if she burst out laughing here.

So, desperately biting her mouth and holding back her laughter, she took a long deep breath and rubbed her dusty hands against her skirt. Before stroking Noah’s head with her cleaned hand.

She opened her mouth again.

“It’s all right, if Noah wants to play with me, you can come anytime. You’ll have to wait while I’m working or doing something, but if that’s okay with you, you’re always welcome. I will be waiting.”

“Really?”

“Nonetheless, you have to talk to your brother before you come. He would be worried if you disappeared without a word again like last time.”

“Although if I told him I am going to play with my sister-in-law, he would be angry…”

At Min-ha’s words that she can come at any time, Noah raised his head with a twinkle in his eyes, yet at the next words, she became pale again and bowed his head.

Seeing that, she said reassuringly.

“Don’t worry. Leave the matter for me to get scolded, so Noah can come to play anytime.”

“Really…?”

“Of course! If he’s angry with you, say that I made you do it. ‘My sister-in-law threatened me to come over to play, so I had no choice!’ like that…”

“…Can I do that?”

“Well, what can he do? Don’t tell me he’s going to kick me out of the house or hold grudges like a child? Even if that’s the case, you can come to me!”

Min-ha said, disheveling Noah’s soft hair as she told him to believe in himself.

At that moment, Noah lowered the two dolls that covered his little face and made eye contact with her. Then, he smiled bashfully and stretched out his arms as if asking for a hug.

Seeing this, Min-ha wiped her hands on her dusty body to give him a hug.

“‘Don’t tell me he’s going to kick me out?’ …That’s an interesting story.”

Suddenly, as the warm air was blowing between Noah and Min-ha, the low-pitched voice spoke to her in a sarcastic tone above her head.

Even though she wanted to pretend to ignore it, the voice was rather familiar.

Min-ha thought to herself that this was a disaster inside as she slowly raised her head like a tin doll with less oil.

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