34. Struggle.

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agnes, who was meeting with Im Ha-yan who had come all the way to Germany, frowned at the report that had just come in.

It was the kind of report that would make her hate the woman in front of her endlessly.

 

 

“…Anyway, such things are the responsibility of the executive branch under our Secretariat. If the Minister-nim allows it, I will take appropriate action right away.”

“Allow? It doesn’t seem like the people you brought have any intention of doing that, though?”

 

The report that the Kaku who had been taken to the Intelligence Agency’s residence had been robbed.

In fact, it was more like the maids belonging to the Intelligence Agency simply opened the door for them, rather than a robbery.

 

 

Of course, Agnes wasn’t stupid, and she had realized early on that Im Ha-yan was a decoy, so she had prepared to some extent.

She had placed her own direct maids in the residence, while also sending a few members of the Noblesse who were not maids.

 

 

However, it was not enough to stop Im Ha-yan and the maids who had flown in with full authority from Im Seo-hyun.

 

 

“Um, Minister-nim…. I’m sorry, but the 『Chief of the Secretariat』-nim’s will is firm. She is so concerned about this matter that she has delegated full authority to me.”

“…”

 

 

Agnes’s face contorted.

 

Whether the Chief of the Secretariat was concerned or not, they had clearly ignored the jurisdiction of the Intelligence Agency, barged in, and even robbed them.

Her feelings were already shitty because they were enemies, but this incident was like pouring oil on it and kindly fanning the flames.

 

 

Of course, if you think about it, Agnes started it. In the first place, she could have simply brushed it off with something like, ‘You made a mistake,’ but she deliberately provoked her emotions with sarcasm. But even just ending it with that level of sarcasm towards the enemy who kidnapped and defiled her daughter was an incredible act of restraint.

 

 

 

 

Anyway, Agnes had the Kaku taken away from her right then and there, and the maids stationed in the Intelligence Agency were not of much help.

Because as long as they were maids, they could not escape the influence of the Imperial Palace Secretariat.

 

 

It was truly a loophole in the harem palace’s immature distribution of power.

 

 

“Why did you divide the departments if you’re going to do it like this?”

 

 

Agnes, who had been suppressing her anger for a long time after Im Ha-yan left.

Frankly, she didn’t care what happened to the Kaku, but if she just stayed still, Henrietta would be classified as a subject of education through the education deliberation, and perhaps Agnes herself might even have to receive education.

 

 

A terrible situation brought about by a single choice.

 

 

In the midst of this, she suddenly brought out the ingenious plan she had thought of last night again.

 

 

A woman she really didn’t want to live under the same sky with. But realizing that there was no other way, she finally picked up the phone.

 

 

 

 

 

The connection with Isonia was not immediate.

It was only after going through several people that she was barely connected, and even then, she didn’t get much time.

 

-Unexpected. I’m getting a call from the person I thought would be the last to contact me.

 

 

Her surprised face seemed to be visible over the phone.

 

 

“…I have something to say.”

-…I can’t quite grasp it. Isabella-ssi has something to say to me.

“Isonia-ssi, you want to be the first of the three wives, don’t you?”

-…What are you talking about all of a sudden?

“I’ll help you, however insignificant it may be.”

-?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day.

The Kaku were transported to Gangnam via a flight that lasted over 10 hours.

There were no major incidents, but there was a conflict between the group.

Haruna, unable to bear her anger and despair, used her relatively free feet to assault Aoki.

 

 

Although Agnes had postponed the disposal in case, Haruna and the other women had their clothes stripped off and photos taken of each part of their bodies, and they were forcibly ‘registered’. They had not worn maid uniforms or been directly appointed by Yu-eun, but they had effectively become maids.

 

 

So they had no choice but to despair.

 

Of course, if you only look at the situation they are in, the men would be more bleak. They were destined to have their stats sucked dry like livestock and then be disposed of carelessly.

Moreover, they were now in Im Seo-hyun’s hands. There was a high possibility that they would be subjected to all sorts of cruel torture before being statified.

 

 

 

Anyway, they were safely (?) dragged to the education area in the basement of the Imperial Palace, where they met a dozen or so maids holding knives or scissors.

 

“Are those them?”

“Tsk tsk tsk. To choose something like this out of all the suicide methods.”

 

 

They pitied them, even though they were Yu-eun’s loyal receivers.

Of course, they had no intention of being lenient.

 

 

“We’re just going to lightly touch them up before the Chief of the Secretariat-nim arrives. Don’t kill them.”

“Yes.”

 

 

They slowly approached the group, who were trembling with fear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the time the Kaku were receiving light (?) torture from the maids, Im Seo-hyun received an unexpected summons.

It was from Isonia, the 『Minister of Justice』 of the Harem Palace and one of the Madam Anbangs.

 

 

No matter how much Im Seo-hyun was seen as the real power of the palace, she had no choice but to be polite to the wives, including Isonia, as she was to Yu-eun.

 

 

She asked for Yu-eun’s understanding, who was busy suppressing a new woman, and headed to the Ministry of Justice where Isonia was.

After all, it was just moving within the same building.

 

 

 

 

Im Seo-hyun, who arrived at Isonia’s office in just 5 minutes, conveyed the message to Sonia’s secretary.

Soon, the door opened, revealing Sonia writing something on a blank piece of paper.

 

“Come in.”

 

 

She smiled when she saw Im Seo-hyun’s face and stood up from her seat.

Then, she gestured to a seat and placed herself on the sofa opposite it.

 

Im Seo-hyun and Isonia faced each other across a square glass table.

Seo-hyun did not dare to make eye contact with Sonia and slightly lowered her head.

 

 

“You summoned me?”

“I called you because I have something to talk about.”

“Yes.”

 

Sonia did not speak until her secretary brought out a simple tea, and only after she left did she begin.

 

 

“I hear Seo-hyun-ssi is very strong these days?”

“Yes?”

“Especially within the palace. I hear you’re being treated as the de facto number two.”

“…That’s not true. I am just the Master-nim’s loyal maid.”

“Well, I don’t know if you really think so, but it’s nice to hear. But I’m a little uneasy.”

“Uneasy…about what?”

 

 

Sonia leaned completely against the back of the sofa and tilted her head slightly.

She was still smiling, but the atmosphere was somehow chilly.

 

 

“Well, I’m just wondering if I have anything to be held accountable for. What if something like an education deliberation comes up?”

 

Seo-hyun was startled.

 

 

“Education deliberation? What are you talking about….”

“Even though I used an item, I’m over 50 years old. The education they do in the Secretariat, the rumors I hear aren’t very good. I can’t handle something like that~.”

“Ah…education is for the maids. The education deliberation is the same. There’s absolutely no way Madam will be subject to that.”

 

 

Seo-hyun hurriedly replied without even having time to figure out what was going on, but Sonia’s expression did not improve.

 

 

“But I heard you formed an education deliberation council for Henrietta? I know Seo-hyun-ssi directly ordered it.”

“Henrietta is-,”

“I don’t know what she thinks, but whether it’s nominal or not, Henrietta is our husband’s ‘Bin’. A wife. So it’s scary. The Chief of the Secretariat-nim, who is said to make even birds fall from the sky, is even pointing a knife at our ‘family’.”

“…Um…regarding Henrietta, the Master-nim-,”

“Seo-hyun-ssi, are you talking back to me right now?”

“…No.”

 

 

Seo-hyun pursed her lips with an expression that she had a lot to say, but bit down hard.

Frankly, she was quite wronged, but what could she do? As a maid, she couldn’t stand up to Isonia, who was Yu-eun’s wife.

 

 

“I personally think highly of Seo-hyun-ssi. You’re affable, you handle work well, and you’re pretty.”

“Thank you.”

“But I hope you don’t cross the line.”

“..Yes….”

 

Seo-hyun answered weakly.

Sonia finally smiled at her and picked up her teacup.

 

 

“Then it seems like you understand, so release the education deliberation case today. She’s a Bin, so we can’t let her pride be hurt, right?”

 

She took a sip of tea with a clear expression.

But Seo-hyun’s answer was not heard.

 

 

“?”

 

Seo-hyun was hesitating now.

 

 

First of all, Henrietta was only a ‘Bin’ in name only, no matter who looked at her, and was just a slightly successful maid, and the treatment she received from Yu-eun was terrible. And her attitude towards Yu-eun was also terrible, so if you apply the standards, she was clearly a subject of education. She just hadn’t bothered to touch her because of that damn ‘name’….

 

Moreover, Henrietta was not only a subject of education, but also the daughter of Agnes, who had scratched Seo-hyun’s nerves raw. It wasn’t just scratching her nerves, but she had given Seo-hyun, who considered Yu-eun everything, the absurd insult of doing her job carelessly. Before pride, it was too unfair to just back down after hearing a denial of her very life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, that was just her situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tak.

 

 

 

Sonia, who roughly put down her teacup, glared at Seo-hyun.

 

“Seo-hyun-ssi, why aren’t you answering?”

“Ah…I’m sorry.”

“Why are you doing this? You’re the one who always emphasizes facial expression management and answering. Looking at you now, it doesn’t seem like you’re managing your facial expression properly either.”

“…I’m sorry.”

 

She hurriedly corrected her expression, realizing that she had touched Sonia’s reverse scale because of her unnecessary hesitation, but it was already too late.

Sonia was looking at her with an endlessly cold face.

 

 

 

She even changed her posture and stared at Seo-hyun quietly.

 

 

 

“I’m a little embarrassed…. Seo-hyun-ssi, did what I said make you feel that bad?”