"I'm going crazy. This is really crazy."
"If you have time to mutter like that, then cut it quickly."
".... I was given orders by His Highness to handle you carefully because I still don't know your true identity. I should just find you a job."
"That's why I'm doing this---to get a job! At this rate, the day will pass by. Just cut it to the point where I look like a long-haired man---not too much, just enough to cover the shoulders."
As I ran my fingers through the long hair, it flowed down smoothly without a single tangle.
I must have put a lot of effort into treatment in this world.
I was disappointed, but there was nothing I could do. If there was a reason for me to be here, it would probably be because of Kyle. If my biggest regret from my previous life was Kyle, then what I should do now is wish for his happiness.
And anyway, it's not like I'm becoming a real man; I'm just pretending to be one!
Determined, I made up my mind and shouted, 'Hmm!' As I confidently turned around, Benji, who was standing behind me, flinched and trembled.
"Do I really have to cut it? I've never cut anyone's hair before."
"Benji! ... Sir! How long will you keep dragging this on? Then lend me the knife; I'll try to cut it."
As I reached out towards the short sword sticking out of his right hip, Benji immediately pushed me away with his arm and took a step back.
"A knight does not lend his sword recklessly."
...Then just cut it for me.
After much struggle, Benji finally succeeded in grabbing hold of my silver hair. My hair was completely caught in his rough palm.
"....It's like the Milky Way."
"What?"
"...Never mind. It's just like something; it feels like it's flowing, like a river..."
What is he muttering about when he's got something to do?
"Benji, we don't have much time. If you match the length you cut earlier, it should be okay to go slightly past my shoulders. And instead of cutting it all at once, I divided my hair into three sections and cut each one to match the length. It's okay if it's a little uneven. It'll look more like a commoner's that way."
"That's quite demanding."
"Well, deceiving someone isn't an easy task, is it? Alright, I'm ready!"
I closed my eyes tightly.
'Snip, snip' The sound of his blade cutting through my hair made my shoulders instinctively shrink. I heard Benji's irregular breathing above my head. He inhaled a little, cut his breath whenever he made a cut, and then exhaled with a sigh.
I also held my breath and exhaled with a sigh after him. I thought I would be okay, but cold sweat ran down my spine.
"Lower your shoulders; I can't see the length like this."
Benji tapped my shoulder with his long fingers like he was playing the piano.
"Kkak!"
There was a time when I was called "Kkamak bird" in Deungchon-dong. Whenever someone touched me, I would jump and make a "kkak!" sound out of surprise. I was very tense, so I was taken aback when Benji touched me without permission.
T/N: The Kkamak bird is real, y'all, look that bad boy up.
E/N: omg
With a "kkak!" sound, I reflexively shook my shoulder, and my hair, which was being gradually cut, was chopped off so fast it made no sound.
There was a deafening silence between Benji, who was holding onto a chunk of my hair, and me, who was looking helplessly at his hand.
I cautiously raised my hand and felt my shoulder. The hair on my left side neatly covered my shoulder blade, but the hair on my right side was cut right under my ear and jawline.
Benji dropped the shiny silver hair he had been holding onto.
I silently observed the hair drifting to the ground as it danced in the air before abruptly coming to my senses and shouting at him.
"...Benji!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But you moved so suddenly-"
"Ah, Benji! You scared me by touching me!"
"...Did you get hurt anywhere?"
"...No, I'm fine... It's just a shame."
I was angry, but there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't attach the cut hair back.
"Just make the hair even."
I turned around again, feeling dissatisfied, like many unhappy customers who visit the hair salon.
"You're not crying, are you?"
"What's there to cry about? It's okay; hair grows back quickly."
"But you were crying earlier."
"Earlier...! I just wanted to do a good job, but you kept waving your sword around and calling me a witch and a sorcerer. That scared me, so I started crying. When you see someone you like, you think of all kinds of things. I like... Prince Ky... ahem, I mean His Highness. That's why."
"Well, that's understandable. But not everyone thinks insidiously when they see someone they like."
"Benji, you're really quick to label someone a pervert! It wasn't even a bad thought. I just thought he was really cool, that's all."
"You've been calling me Benji since earlier."
"Uh... oops."
I pursed my lips, and Benji chuckled from above my head. He chuckled again. Was I being funny?
"I'm sorry I messed up your hair, so let's just move on; but don't do it in front of others. It's not good for a commoner to casually call a noble's name in front of others. You're going to work in the palace, so you have to be careful."
"Well, that's true. I'll be careful."
As our brief conversation came to an end, Benji stepped back and said, "It's done." I only spoke a couple of sentences, but unlike before, it seemed to go by fast.
Did he deliberately try to relax me? ... Nah, probably not.
There was no mirror in the room, so I couldn't see my face. I could tell the length accentuated my jawline by touching it, but it was frustrating not being able to see it myself.
Turning to Benji, I looked at him straight on.
"How do I look, Benji?"
"Um, pretty good..."
"Come to think of it, Benji's eye color and hair color are the same."
"Oh, yeah..."
"How pretty."
"Uh...you too..."
"Right? I thought so too. I've never heard anyone say I'm not good-looking no matter where I go. Of course, I didn't let those who talk nonsense live it down. With a face like this, I knew short hair would suit me well."
As I rambled, I shook off my short hair, and Benji's face turned red as he stared at me. Was he running hot?
After changing into the clothes he gave me and stepping out, Benji, who was waiting in the hallway, looked at me with surprised eyes.
I ripped the hem of my navy dress and wrapped it around my chest, then putting on a top to look like a moderately lean man.
"How do I look now?"
"...Still the same."
"Benji, are you still feeling hot? Your face is really red."
"...Let's go quickly. I'll introduce you to Tilly as Josephine's twin brother."
"Okay."
Tilly seemed busy and absentmindedly glanced over the new clothes before shaking her head with an annoyed aura emanating from her smiling face.
"So, what's your name?"
Oh, damn. I have to come up with a guy's name this time.
My creativity came to an end earlier. As I struggled to come up with something, Benji spoke up beside me.
"Joe."
"What?"
"Hmm?"
When Tilly and I both looked at Benji, he shrugged his shoulders and looked down at me. Following his gaze, Tilly's face also turned back towards me.
Ah, my name, that's right.
"Yes, yes! It's Joe, Joe! Hahaha. It seems like my parents were too lazy to come up with separate names for my older sister and me. That's how commoners are, you know. Hahaha."
"Hmm...."
Tilly pursed her lips, then raised her eyebrows and smiled. It seemed like everything was going smoothly.
"All right, Joe! From today onwards, you're in charge of the stable."
"Yes, I'll do my best; wait. What?"
"The stable. The guy who used to do it must have had a hard time and ran away. He had no perseverance. Anyway, I hope Joe can take care of it today. You won't run away like that guy before, will you? There's a small cabin next to the stable where you can sleep. You'll have it all to yourself, so it's really nice. You should treat the horses with respect because they're all His Highness, Lord Kyle's. If they're sick or anything, tell me. Of course, you'll have to take care of things like the horses not eating or being difficult. I'm also busy, so I hope Joe can be faithful in his role as a stable manager. Got it?"
"Ah...the stable. Haha, okay. I really like horses. Hahaha."
I thought I would only be sweeping and polishing wagons, but now I'm managing the horses.
As the maids and servants passed by, they greeted Benji and blushed. Tilly grabbed my wrist tightly.
"Oh my, I'm not sure if a guy with such thin wrists can do the job. Hey! Everyone, at least say hello before you leave! This is Joe; he just started working today!"
".... Hello, I'm Joe!"
As the servants carried a load of laundry and said, "Joe, can you give us a hand?".
I got up to offer my assistance, but Tilly dragged me back.
"We haven't even finished talking to Mr. Benji yet. Where are you going? Since you're a commoner, I'll talk comfortably. Benji, where the hell did you get this kid? I think I liked Josephine better; she looked smarter when I saw her earlier."
"......Oh, this pair of siblings, they're a bit different, but they have the same circumstances."
"Well, as long as they work well, it doesn't matter."
Tilly disappeared into a corner, and Benji and I followed behind her.
"Hey, if you don't like the name Jo-"
"No, it's fine. Please call me Joe outside of here, Benji. I don't want the names Kim Geum-ja and Josephine to draw suspicion."
"Okay, got it. I'll leave now, but if you need anything, come to the Knights division or the assistant's office in the palace."
"I understand."
The stable, the stable..
I was caught off guard by the unexpected job assignment, so I couldn't respond politely to Benji's words.
"After taking me halfway through, Benji went back to Kyle's side. I can't stay away from the Crown Prince's side for too long, huh?
In my head, all I could think was 'Stable?', 'I'm the stablekeeper?'
Stable. That's not cool...
As we reached a corner of Kyle's estate, the smell of animal waste hit my nose. It was clear that the stablekeeper had run away and that the place was not properly maintained.
Opening the stable door, I could see rows of horses trapped inside.
White, black, brown... horses, horses, horses...
"Hello, horses... From now on, I'll be in charge of your food and cleaning. Hahaha."
With a bitter laugh, my life as a stablekeeper began.
"Now, let's start by cleaning up this damn horse dung! The smell is really getting to me!"
I stuffed the handkerchief that Kyle gave me into my nostrils. I wanted to use it for something more precious, but I couldn't untie the cloth around my chest, and there was no way I was using the piled-up straw as a filter.
If I stuffed it too far, my nose would start bleeding. It's enough that I have a nosebleed whenever I think about Kyle.
I need to quickly clean up the manure and hurry to bed as it's already getting dark outside. I pulled my sleeves up and took the large shovel.
That's when a long shadow appeared behind me.
