“We must avoid catching the eyes of the Shin family as much as possible.”

The image of the butterfly with the pin through it that she had seen on the second floor crossed her mind in a dizzying spiral along with her aunt’s words.

Her heart pounded as she sensed the danger gleaming in the dark eyes that stared at her expressionlessly.

‘I have to get out of this situation.’

Making a quick decision, Ji Hyun bowed her head deeply.

“I’m s-sorry.”

It was humiliating but that didn’t matter. Ever since agreeing to work at this house, she had abandoned her pride. She just hoped this moment would pass quickly. Perhaps appeased by her swift apology, the boy’s well-polished loafers slowly eased their pressure.

Ji Hyun quickly retrieved the stone but didn’t dare to stand up just yet. The hand that had been stepped on throbbed as if burned, and cold sweat broke out, but she remained still.

She had a strong, ominous feeling that for some reason, she shouldn’t show her face to the boy in front of her.

The boy let out a scoff but fortunately didn’t say anything else.

After fixing his gaze on Ji Hyun for a while, he finally turned to face the mansion fully. Only then could she let out a sigh of relief.

“A toast to me for enduring another tough day!”

Hyun Sook, whom Ji Hyun met at the annex dining table as the sun set, poured her a cup of cider and took a cool swig of beer herself.

“Ah, this is the taste. Me, surviving amidst the suffocating tyranny – I’m really amazing.”

A smile rose to Ji Hyun’s lips as she watched the good-natured Hyun Sook. It was the first smile she cracked all day. After taking a sip of cider and setting it down, Hyun Sook asked her,

“How was work?”

Did she mean picking out the stones in the garden?

“It was alright. Not as hard as I thought, and…”

“That’s a relief.”

Hyun Sook tore into a grilled squid body with her mouth.

“Even if it’s just chores, work is work. It must’ve been unfamiliar to you, so good job enduring.”

Her warm comfort blurred the cold gaze of the boy that had been haunting Ji Hyun’s mind all day.

“Didn’t run into anyone?”

“Ah, about that…”

Just as Ji Hyun opened her mouth to say she had met Seung Ho, Manager Kim appeared in the kitchen. She hurriedly scanned the surroundings before resting her eyes on Ji Hyun.

“Ji Hyun, you were here? Let’s go quickly. He’s looking for you.”

“What? Who?”

“Huh? But Ji Hyun is done with work for the day, no?”

Hyun Sook frowned, displeased at being asked to run errands outside work hours, but Manager Kim continued, unfazed.

“Young Master Seung Ho said he’s looking for the person he met in the garden today. That’s you, right?”

So that boy was indeed the second son, Shin Seung Ho. Ji Hyun faltered at Manager Kim’s question.

“Yes, I think so, but…”

“Hurry and go.”

‘Why is he looking for me? Could it be because of what happened earlier?’

Bewildered, Ji Hyun looked to Hyun Sook, her face pale, but she just nodded as if it couldn’t be helped and gestured for her to go.

“If it’s Young Master Seung Ho, it should be fine. Don’t worry too much.”

Manager Kim’s pace quickened as she led Ji Hyun past the annex towards the main house. She too was flustered as this was the first time something like this happened since becoming a manager.

“To think Young Master Seung Ho is looking for a staff member, really strange things do happen.”

“Umm, did I do something wrong?”

Ji Hyun asked carefully as she diligently kept up.

“Well, I’m not sure either. He’s not the type to harass someone for no reason, so don’t be too concerned.”

According to Manager Kim, Seung Ho was the same age as Ji Hyun. The main house, where live-in help rotated, was incomparably larger than the annex. Ji Hyun followed the manager up to the second floor.

As soon as they ascended to the second floor living room, the first thing that caught her eye was the view of the autumn mountains dyed in brilliant red and yellow foliage through the large glass windows. Before she could appreciate the scenery she was seeing for the first time, the manager hurried her along.

“This area is a space used only by the eldest and second young masters. Normally, you’re not allowed up here.”

Perhaps because they walked quickly or because she was nervous, but despite not moving much, she was already out of breath. The manager stopped at a corner after passing a long hallway and took a deep breath.

Knock knock knock.

“Young Master, it’s Manager Kim.”

“Yes.”

At the answer from inside, the manager turned the doorknob and entreated Ji Hyun in a low voice,

“Keep your eyes forward and stay alert.”

The room they entered, pushed by reluctant footsteps, was wider than several of the annex rooms combined.

Expensive-looking paintings undoubtedly hung on the walls, and the other walls were densely packed not with a TV but with reference books and other books.

And there he stood in front of the large window overlooking the garden. The boy who had nonchalantly stepped on her hand holding the stone…

Manager Kim’s expression upon seeing Seung Ho was completely different from when she was with Ji Hyun earlier. Instead of the grumpy look with deep creases between her brows, the manager smiled affably as she introduced Ji Hyun.

“Young Master Seung Ho, I’ve brought her. Her name is Choi Ji Hyun and she’s a part-timer who started not long ago.”

Hearing her name, Ji Hyun flinched and shrank behind Manager Kim. The moment she saw him, her trampled hand throbbed again. Peeking out from behind the manager’s back, Seung Ho’s features were as refined and delicate as if painted with a brush.

Jet-black hair like ink wash, neat brows above deep lake-like eyes, a sharp nose bridge. And red lips curved slightly as if in mockery.

Unfortunately, Manager Kim failed to notice the faint derision coloring his face.

“But why did you call for this child…?”

Seung Ho tilted his head slightly, casually slipping his hands into his pockets as if it was no big deal.

“Ah, I have a request. It’s nothing much… Anyway, good work Manager.”

It was a polite yet firm statement telling her not to ask questions and leave.

Understanding the implication, Manager Kim signaled to Ji Hyun to do well and quickly disappeared from the room. Now only Seung Ho and Ji Hyun remained.

A suffocating silence flowed between the two facing each other. Not knowing where to rest her gaze, Ji Hyun fidgeted and broke the silence first.

“…Um, about the task you have…”

“Choi Ji Hyun.”

“Yes?”

Ji Hyun trembled at the way he called her name as if imprinting it.

Despite being the same age as Ji Hyun, Seung Ho had the appearance of a young boy yet simultaneously exuded an undeniable charisma. Leaning against the window with arms crossed, he seemed much more at ease.

“I’d like you to find something for me…”

Ji Hyun nodded, knowing she was in a thoroughly subordinate position even though work hours had ended as Hyun Sook said.

Seung Ho smiled faintly, eyes gleaming.

“That white stone you were holding earlier. Find that for me.”

“The… stone?”

Dumbfounded by the absurd order she never expected, Ji Hyun blankly stared at Seung Ho. But he was serious.

“Yeah. The one that rolled under my foot.”

His words carried another meaning.

The stone she had grasped even as her hand was stepped on.

Where and how was she supposed to find that? Well, it would be in the garden. Or she could pick a similar one…

In a panic, Ji Hyun was about to turn around when Seung Ho continued as if reading her mind.

“Ah, and you can’t just bring any stone. It has to be that exact one.”

Nodding dazedly as she left the room, Ji Hyun asked herself once more,

‘Auntie, you said the second son was better.’

The sun was already setting, casting deep shadows across the garden.

Ji Hyun’s heart raced at the thought that the stone he mentioned would be even harder to find once complete darkness fell. Hurrying down to the garden, she picked up a few pretty stones and showed them to Seung Ho. They were all rejected.

“This isn’t it.”

“This one is too big.”

“This stone has a pointy corner. The one I’m looking for was round. You should know well, right?”

His face practically danced with glee, as if enjoying a fun game, as he firmly rejected the stones Ji Hyun brought.

In the meantime, the sun had completely set. Even with the garden lights on, it was difficult to discern the stone he wanted.

“Um, it’s pitch black outside, can’t I look for it tomorrow?”

She spoke, suppressing the urge to throw the last stone she brought at him, but to no avail.

Glancing out at the darkened exterior, Seung Ho replied as usual without even looking at the stone Ji Hyun held.

“Go to the person in the first floor kitchen and ask for a lantern.”

Ji Hyun stared at him blankly as if she had been slapped. She finally realized. Shin Seung Ho had not called her to find the stone.

He was merely tormenting someone for his own amusement. Feeling dejected, Ji Hyun descended the stairs with heavy, powerless steps.

What did she do to offend Shin Seung Ho, the relatively harmless one among the Shin family, to suffer like this?

A deep sigh escaped as the gloomy garden mirrored her emotions, but she began sifting through the white stones with a lantern in hand.

“Here it is.”

The voice with which she sought Seung Ho again was not the initial, cowed one. Rather, it was a firm tone that made no attempt to hide her anger.

Seung Ho’s gaze slowly shifted to Ji Hyun from the book he was reading. She must have searched very determinedly, overturning the garden soil, as a few blades of grass clung to her light brown hair and her fingers were covered in dirt.

“You look a mess.”

Seung Ho slightly furrowed his brow and returned to his book. He didn’t even check the stone sitting on Ji Hyun’s outstretched palm.

Tok. Ji Hyun set the stone down on his desk. Then bowed her head.

“I’ve done my part, so I’ll be going now.”

“……”

Her legs wobbled from crouching so long while searching for the stone, but she gritted her teeth and endured.

Seung Ho, who had repeatedly rejected her, also only stared at the stone she brought without any particular remark. Sensing her chance, Ji Hyun politely bowed and quickly left the room.

It truly had been a long, long first day.

After a month passed, Ji Hyun became accustomed to the work at the mansion thanks to her quick learning skills.

Her tasks were limited to helping the housekeeper with shopping, cleaning the cage of the parakeet Lady Shin raised, and weeding the garden, but in an environment where it was hard to find help, Ji Hyun was acknowledged for sufficiently handling her share.

Hyun Sook embodied the most ideal adult figure Ji Hyun had ever met. Unlike Ji Hyun’s parents who didn’t even keep their promise to return soon, Hyun Sook stayed by her side and took meticulous care of her.

It was all thanks to Hyun Sook that warmth returned to Ji Hyun’s face which had lost its smile as if forgetting how.

As usual, Hyun Sook handed Ji Hyun a large paper bag when she returned after finishing work.

“What’s this?”

“Open it yourself and see.”

Ji Hyun’s eyes grew wide as she checked the contents.