Surviving As An Obsessive Servant

I wondered if I was just seeing things because I was so tired.If not, maybe I missed Young Master so much that I couldn’t tell the difference between reality and illusion.But no matter how many times I looked, it didn’t disappear. In fact, it became even clearer.“That carriage… Why is it here?”Just then, the carriage door opened. Inside, Young Master was watching me.I quickly checked my appearance. Thankfully, my thick coat hid my silhouette. I was also wearing a shirt and pants underneath.Unlike me, who froze in shock as if I had seen a ghost, Young Master was completely calm.“Hello, Lobel. It’s been a while. I came here to expand the business… and I just happened to run into you.”“……”“Get in.”Worried that someone might see me, I hurried into the carriage.But now that I was inside… I found it hard to even meet Young Master’s eyes.‘…What should I do?’Even on the first day, it wasn’t this hard to face him.I must have surprised him by suddenly quitting. Was he going to question me about it?Nervously, I clenched my hands into fists on my lap.Inside the closed carriage, Young Master’s voice echoed.“I heard you quit while exchanging letters with the family about other matters.”So, he already knew everything.That meant he had also found out about the lie I told the butler—that we had already talked about it.It wouldn’t be strange if he started questioning or blaming me right now.I braced myself, but he said something unexpected.“So, what brings you here?”For someone who had heard about my resignation, his reaction was surprisingly calm.But… thinking about his usual attitude, it made some sense.I was his first attendant, and we had always been close. Maybe he was just being generous.Most importantly, he wasn’t asking why I quit.Judging by his expression, he didn’t seem that curious about it. He really just wanted to check in on me.That was a relief… but for some reason, I felt complicated.Still, I hid my emotions and answered quietly.“I came because of a distant relative. One of my far-off relatives used to live here, and I was curious about them. Since I earned a lot of money, I thought I’d stop by, buy some things, and then go back home.”Young Master listened to my story without interrupting.Once I finished, he finally spoke.“I heard this city is going through a lot of trouble. Your relative runs a business too, right? Are they okay?”I nodded seriously, and he said he was relieved.Then, silence filled the carriage.After a while, as if lost in thought, Young Master finally spoke again.“Lobel. I might be away for quite a long time.”This was news to me.Had something happened while I was gone? Was he being sent to another country for business?“So, I’ll give you plenty of time off, but… would you consider staying instead of quitting?”I stared at him, confused. Then, he gave me a faint smile and added,“You can decide later. There’s no rush.” 
****   Young Master came here because of the movements of the Denkart Trading Company.While passing through this area, he heard from other merchants about our city’s crisis.He decided it was worth investing in and planned to absorb most of the local trading companies to expand his own.Among them was our family’s long-standing trading company.Just when we were on the verge of collapse, we were given a second chance.Unintentionally, Young Master had saved not only me but also our business.“This is a miracle!”Thanks to him, my parents, who had been in despair, looked much brighter.As I watched them rejoice, I felt relieved.Aside from the company’s situation, my secret was still safe.If Young Master had found out I was a woman, he wouldn’t have offered me more time to reconsider my resignation.‘…I should’ve refused.’I sighed deeply, remembering that moment.Back then, I couldn’t bring myself to say no immediately. I had to tell him I’d think about it.His voice had sounded strangely… desperate, shaking my resolve.“Well then, Lobelia, we’ll head to the bank now!”“Yes, have a safe trip.”After seeing off my parents, who were meeting with the trading company’s representative, I stood alone, looking around the empty house.Maybe it was because of my time in Denkart.This house had never felt small before, but now it somehow did.And it felt lonely, too. Memories of the past flashed before my eyes one by one.Young Master, who once avoided even looking at me.Young Master, who spoke awkwardly, like a child learning to talk.Young Master, who blushed after getting caught trying to hide his failed test paper.And then, Young Master, who eventually started smiling at me with bright, beautiful eyes…“…Huh? Did you forget something?”I heard my parents returning and called out to them.But instead of answering, they just looked at me strangely as I got up from the sofa.That’s when I noticed the golden sunset glowing behind them.“Why are you sitting here like this? Have you been sleeping here the whole time?”I blinked my heavy eyelids and suddenly realized—Time had passed much more than I thought.“Ah… Yeah. I must’ve dozed off for a bit.”I answered awkwardly, and they chuckled.Still, they looked much better than when they had left.“Looks like the meeting went well.”“That Denkart family… I’d only heard of them, but I never imagined they’d be such outstanding nobles.”“Their trading representative was incredibly thorough. And they truly took our situation into account.”I listened quietly, then nodded with a small smile.“Yes, they’re amazing. Especially that Young Master—he’s kind, considerate… and a truly remarkable person. He’ll become even greater.”“You’re right. He’s younger than you, yet so impressive. I heard he even won the hunting competition?”But then, my mother’s face darkened.“Still, being brave is one thing, but he’s going too far… I don’t understand why young people these days take such reckless risks.”“…Reckless risks?”“Oh, dear. Can you believe it? He’s planning to go to the northern stronghold.”What I heard next completely shattered my expectations.“That place is crawling with barbarians, and there are still deadly traps left behind. Even people in perfect condition end up seriously injured there…”“Wait, wait! Hold on a second.”I grabbed my mother’s arms, cutting her off, and asked urgently,After looking into it, Edric confirmed that the Duke hadn’t directly caused the downfall of Lobel’s trading company.However, if he refused the Duke’s proposal to take on a mission in the North, the consequences were obvious.The Duke was a man who manipulated everything to his liking. If Edric didn’t comply, an even greater crisis would surely befall Lobel’s trading company.The Duke claimed this was a fair deal—one that benefited both sides.He told Edric to make his decision and report back. But in reality, it was more of an order than a choice.Even though Edric saw through the Duke’s schemes, he still accepted the terms without hesitation.“I will go.”Even when faced with a future where he might die, Edric had no regrets. No fear.Instead, he felt relieved.He was grateful that he could finally repay Lobel—the one who had given him a reason to live and helped him walk on his own two feet again.‘The reason you pretended to be a man to become my attendant… I’ll hear it from you when I return.’The Duke seemed to know the truth, yet he turned a blind eye. Maybe it was because of Lobel’s outstanding skills.Anyone with common sense and a good eye—let alone a calculating man like the Duke—would have wanted Lobel under their command.Perhaps, if Edric asked the Duke now, he could get an answer.But he held back.He wanted to return safely and hear it from Lobel’s own lips.He would return alive.But one thing still bothered him.As if he had sensed Edric’s hesitation, the Duke spoke first.“There is a trading company in Velikan owned by your former attendant’s ‘relative.’ I understand that, as your first attendant, they must be important to you. Even after you leave, I will ensure that the trading companies in that city remain stable.”Even with the Duke’s seemingly generous words, Edric wasn’t reassured.The Duke had known about Velikan’s crisis long before Edric did and had ignored it. If it no longer served his interests, he could just as easily turn his back on it again.With a cold voice, Edric warned,“If you try anything while I’m gone… I won’t stand by and watch. I’ll destroy Denkart completely.”“You misunderstand.”The Duke smirked.“That wasn’t a threat. If anything, it was an offer that interests me.”At first, Edric thought he was being mocked, and his eyes narrowed.But in the Duke’s gaze, there was a flicker of something genuine.“They call Denkart’s Black Chains the Emperor’s greatest blessing. Yet, not a single family head has ever agreed to it.”