EP.6 Writing-1
by Shini
Text-1
Several more days passed like that.
Inho tried hard to adapt to his daily life, but unlike other times, he couldn’t adjust well.
First of all, his old body was the problem.
He got tired easily even with the slightest movement, and his joints ached, making him quickly give up on doing anything.
So, he spent more time sitting still or lying down, and naturally, time stretched out, making each day feel long.
Next was Emma’s behavior.
From the beginning, Inho had assumed that Emma would be overly attached to him, and judging from her actions, he knew that his guess was correct.
However, contrary to his worries, Emma was quiet, docile, and didn’t particularly cling to him throughout the day.
After possessing this dimension, his life was organized into the following pattern.
When he woke up in the morning, Emma would come into the room and draw the curtains.
Then, she would hand him a glass of water at a suitable temperature and a small steel basin filled with water for washing his face.
Having already drunk a cup of water, Inho washed his face with a slightly clearer mind and then brushed his teeth.
After brushing his teeth, it was time to change clothes.
She would hand Inho, still in his pajamas, the clothes he would wear that day and then leave the room again.
Originally, she would have helped him change, but it was the result of Inho’s firm refusal.
Once he put on comfortable clothes for indoors, it could be said that the day at the mansion had begun.
After eating a breakfast that was easy to digest, he would take a short walk in the garden.
Then, Emma would leave Inho’s side to do her morning chores, and Inho would sit in the study and scribble various things on a blank manuscript.
Inho filled the pages with a fairly comfortable mind, probably because no one could understand the characters he was using.
Just as he couldn’t understand the characters of this world, fortunately, no one could understand the Korean he used.
As he was mindlessly scribbling, it would soon be afternoon.
In the afternoon, Emma would knock on the door and announce that it was lunchtime.
‘Master, it’s lunchtime.’
Like a pastel-painted spring landscape, Emma faced him with a subtle smile.
After eating lunch, it was teatime.
They would brew tea with tea leaves brought from the market and chat.
Emma, who had been out, would chatter about the scenery of the market, the scenery of the streets, or gossip about someone at the Hardware store who had been caught cheating and was severely humiliated.
Inho would sip his tea and quietly listen to her stories, and sometimes he would tell his own stories.
Inho found it comfortable that Emma treated him like a dementia patient.
This was because even if he talked about the place where he used to live, she would just accept it without much thought.
Unless a guest came, Emma said that there was some time left between teatime and dinner.
Originally, she would rest in her room, but recently, she spent time with Inho.
This was because Inho had asked her to read the novel he had written in the past.
This was because the news of his suspension from the weekly magazine had been announced, and several media companies had requested interviews with him.
Since he had said he would do the interview when he was in his right mind, Inho thought he should at least have some knowledge of the novel.
And he was also curious about what kind of writing the original owner of the body he occupied had done.
“You didn’t have to bother with the interview.”
Emma said that when he asked her to read the novel.
“They said they’d pay me if I do the interview.”
“We have enough money now.”
“Really? I heard the servants left because you couldn’t pay them.”
“There’s enough for you to use alone, Master.”
Emma closed the book with a thud and picked up the next volume, saying.
“Come to think of it, Emma, how much did you get paid each month?”
Inho asked, wondering if Emma took care of it herself or if he gave it to her formally.
“I don’t receive a salary, Master.”
And the answer that came back was a bit shocking.
“What do you mean? How can you work and not get paid?”
Inho’s voice was filled with bewilderment.
“I think I’m sufficiently compensated just by living in this mansion and being able to eat with you, Master.”
Emma’s words were not flattery, but a voice that came from the heart.
“No, still….”
“Don’t worry about me, Master. I haven’t received a salary for years with you, and it would feel awkward to receive it now.”
“Then, I’ll have to give you a generous severance package.”
When Emma politely refused with a smile, Inho scratched his cheek as if he was disappointed.
With those words, Emma stared intently at Inho.
“…What do you mean?”
Emma asked back in a voice that didn’t convey even a single grain of emotion, like land parched in a drought.
“Ah….”
As Inho rolled his eyes, realizing that he had made a big mistake with Emma’s reaction, Emma came in.
“Master, do you not need me anymore?”
“No, that’s….”
“Did I make some kind of mistake? Surely, you’re not saying that because I had a brief conversation with that Hans guy, are you?”
“Emma, calm down.”
“No, I can’t calm down. Retirement? I’m not going to leave you, Master, so how can I retire?”
“Oh dear, I misspoke. It’s not like I’m firing you or anything.”
Inho grabbed Emma’s shoulders.
Inho thought he was holding her quite firmly, but his grip strength was lacking.
“Then what do you mean?”
Emma looked up at him, as if she wasn’t relieved by Inho’s words.
“Well, I mean, just… later, when a lot of time has passed and I die, then I’ll have to give you a severance package… that’s what I mean.”
As Inho spoke with an awkward smile, Emma nodded as if she understood.
She flipped through the next volume and said.
“I understand what you mean, Master. But even if you give me a severance package, I won’t be able to use it.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I wonder… why? Would it be okay if the reason is… because I’m your maid?”
From Emma’s mysterious appearance, Inho felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
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