The Maid Who Became a Knight - Chapter 116

Chapter 116

Side Story 1-4

Jason struggled a little. It was his first time meeting a woman outside since he had first seen Leasis.

What kind of clothes should I wear to meet her? Jason agonized over it in his room in the dormitory. However, he had to dress up to some extent to be polite to Owen, who had the courage to ask him out.

Changing into his neatest suit, Jason wore a watch and thought of Owen. Their first encounter may have been when they had been on the same mission to go to the former Commander’s mansion, or perhaps even before that.

Owen was shy and vulnerable, unlike Leasis. She did not get along well with the knights, and she endured the bad work. And from some point on, when he ran into her, he could not even see her face properly.

But she really did her job sincerely. Whenever he passed by and looked at her by chance, she was never doing anything else. She was always seriously mopping and sweeping with a broom.

She looked a little proud of it. Even if all the maids were complaining, she was still working for the Imperial Elite Knights.

In fact, he had not expected Owen to last this long. Of course, Leasis had helped a lot, but she seemed to have a strong mind.

‘She’s a good person. Anyway, I’ll have to refuse so I don’t hurt her.’

Jason let out a long sigh.

Jason had reserved a famous restaurant in the capital. Owen, who arrived first, fiddled with her long hair. It had felt very awkward to untie her hair that she had always tied up.

She was wearing a normal dress, not a maid’s dress, with small shoes. She had received everything from Leasis as a birthday present.

Owen smiled bitterly and fiddled with the hem of her dress. Leasis was such a good person that even when she tried to be jealous, she felt sorry for it.

‘It’s all because of me…’

Her nose was sour. Owen wiped her tears with her hands and entered the restaurant. The employees waiting at the entrance glanced at Owen, who looked like a commoner.

This was an expensive restaurant where only nobles could come. The entry was not forbidden to commoners, but the price of the food was too much for them.

Owen was a little nervous under all their eyes. She spoke to an employee approaching her with an annoyed face.

[… I have a reservation.]

[Under which name is it?]

[Jason Ron Sebnert.]

The employee’s eyes widened at the name. He showed her to the reservation table on the second floor with great nervousness.

The second floor was already crowded with colorful customers. Everyone but Owen was a noble. Discouraged, Owen walked as carefully as she could.

[Now, this way.)

[Yes.]

Owen sat in a fluffy chair and silently admired her surroundings. The material was so good that she did not want to move. She pricked her fingers on the cushion of the chair for a while.

Her nervous brown eyes scanned the table. The prepared tableware was neatly arranged with red scented candles.

Embroidery was engraved on the white tablecloth in a round shape, following the latest trend. Owen turned her eyes away as she touched the embroidery with her fingers.

She had a seat with a good view. It was the first time she could see the capital like this, so Owen opened her mouth in admiration.

Clatter!

A sudden sound surprised Owen and she turned her head. Then she saw a female employee picking up a broken plate on the floor.

The nobles around her glanced at the employee and clicked their tongues. They even said that she was a commoner who was interfering with their precious meal time.

Owen had also done some chores at a restaurant before working for the Knights, including serving and washing dishes. She looked at the scene pitifully and agonized.

‘What should I do? Can I help her?’

But Owen stopped herself. She could not intervene for no reason, and it would only worsen the woman’s situation.

Then, a man who appeared to be the butler approached and scolded the employee. He slapped her when the surrounding nobles complained.

Slap!

The female employee lost her balance, stumbled and collapsed on the floor. Broken glass got stuck in her legs exposed under her skirt that came down to her knees.

Owen unwittingly jumped up and approached the employee.

[Are you all right?]

[Sorry. I’m sorry.]

The employee did not notice whether Owen was a commoner or a noble lady. She bowed her head as if she were just a sinner and apologized again.

The butler looked down at Owen as if she were the same. He was very unhappy that such a shabby-looking woman was in the restaurant.

Owen carefully pulled out the glass pieces, recalling how Jason had done it before. But the butler spoke in an unpleasant voice.

[What are you doing?]

[If it’s not treated quickly, she might get a scar. She needs medecine and a bandage.]

[Who are you to interrupt?]

There was someone like Ashley outside of the Imperial Palace. Owen looked at the butler who could not understand and helped the employee.

But then, a nobleman who was watching from afar shouted.

[Butler. Is Paul Arane’s level hitting the bottom? How did that commoner woman come in?]

[I’m sorry)

Apologizing, the butler looked down at Owen with cool eyes. He had to kick out the employee who took her reservation. Isn’t that woman out of place right now?

The butler ordered Owen to go out. Then Owen asked angrily.

[Why would I?]

[Your lowly clothes don’t fit in here. Know your place and leave.]

There was such a place! She could not stand the restaurant Jason had reserved. Owen tried to argue a little bit more. Then, someone came up and blocked Owen’s way.

The strong shoulders belonged to Jason. He had run hurriedly, his breath was rough and his head stiff.

The butler facing Jason opened his eyes wide. Could it be that the guest for whom the Young Master made a reservation was that commoner woman?

[What are you doing?]

[Y-Young Master…)

Young Master? Owen stared blankly at Jason and the butler. Unlike usual, Jason’s face was stiff.

He had already started to hear the fuss from the moment he climbed the stairs on the first floor. He had clearly heard the sound of the plate breaking and even the quarrel. No matter what position the butler had, Jason could not tolerate treating employees and customers recklessly.

And Owen was a customer he had brought himself. Jason spoke in a very harsh voice.

[Apologize formally to this lady right now.]

[Well, I didn’t know she was the one the Young Master had brought here…]

Can’t you apologize right now?]

[I’ve been disrespectful… I’m sorry.]

At Jason’s command, the butler bowed his head with a sullen look. Even the nobles who were close to him could no longer speak and pretended to eat.

Embarrassed, Owen said it was fine and raised the butler. She only asked him to take care of the female employee properly.

[Do as Miss Owen says.]

[Yes, Young Master.]

The butler hurriedly raised himself up, supported the employee and went down with her. The ending was very quiet compared to the earlier commotion. Owen was a little embarrassed and scratched her face.

Jason took Owen to her seat. As the two sat down, the staff began to bring food.

Most of the dishes were new to Owen, and she did not even know how to eat them. Out of consideration for Owen, Jason cut his steak and started to eat first.

After seeing how he was holding his fork and knife, Owen began to eat. Looking at her, Jason became a little bit frustrated.

Owen was weak, unlike Leasis. Leasis would have opposed the butler’s words just now, and if he had tried to chase her away, she would have subdued him by force.

But it was clear that Owen would just be beaten. Even though she knew she would be hit, she still took action. While thinking about it, he kept drinking cold water.

Quick-witted, Owen slowed down eating. She glanced at Jason and open her mouth in admiration.

The blond handsome man under a small light was really cool. She had always seen him wearing a uniform, but he looked more attractive like this.

Owen slowly lowered her fork, with her heart pounding. Jason, who kept looking sideways at her, asked.

[Is the food taste not right?]

[No, it’s all right.]

But she was bothered by the butler’s attitude from earlier. Besides, he had used the title of Young Master. When Owen kept on wondering, Jason said calmly.

[This restaurant belongs to my family.]

[Oh…]

That’s why the butler reacted like this. Owen nodded, understanding quickly.

Meanwhile, Jason was also puzzled himself. The fact that this restaurant was run by his family was a secret unknown to the knights.

The people who knew were annoying, always asking to eat together, and he did not want to be treated differently because of this. For similar reasons, his parents did not usually tell their acquaintances about the restaurant.

But it was not difficult to say it to Owen.

‘A woman I can trust… Is that it?’

Surprised by his own answer, Jason shut his mouth. Owen, who had hesitated in the meantime, took something out.

[This…]

What Owen took out was the ring Jason had asked her to throw away. Owen looked upset at the ring on the table.

The ring Jason had abandoned, asking to throw it away. But she could not do it, thinking about Jason’s heart when he had prepared it.

[I couldn’t throw it away.]

Jason slowly shook his head after understanding her mind. He did not need it any more because he had already closed his heart.

[You can throw it away, or you can sell it. It’s a ring that doesn’t mean anything to me now.]

[So you’re saying I can keep it?]

The sudden question surprised Jason a little bit. She asked quite desperately and enthusiastically.

[Please answer me. Can I keep it?]

[Yes. That’s right.]

After that, a suffocating silence came between the two. Jason continued to clear his throat, and Owen noticed it. She was now expecting Jason’s words.

But she did not want to hear them. Owen was not as good a woman as Leasis, but she was proud to like Jason more than anyone else.

And there was another thing that Leasis did not have. Owen had been more interested in Jason than anyone else. She knew immediately if something was Jason’s favorite.

[Jason-nim. Let’s have a beer together next time.]

[A beer?]

[Yes. With some chicken.]

Jason agonized over her words. They might mean something different for her than just a light drink. He did not want to give her false hope and make it difficult.

But Owen jumped out of her seat without even waiting for his answer. She then pulled his hand.

“Anyway. I kept trying to meet Jason-nim like that.”

“Wow. Owen, you’re amazing!”

Owen smiled shyly at Leasis, who was admiring her. Well, in fact, the two had supported each other.

Without Leasis, Owen would not have been able to endure her job as a maid for the Imperial Elite Knights. Also, Owen and Jason would not have been sent on the Ramashter mission, nor would they have talked together. Owen was truly grateful to Leasis.

In fact, Owen cleverly subtracted the whole story about Leasis. It was because she would have been sorry if she had discovered the past. Owen naturally changed the subject.

“By the way, everyone is curious about the children of Unnie and the Count-nim.”

“Uh?”

“There are already rumors in the Imperial Palace. I’m sure they will be great swordsmanship geniuses.”

Swordsmanship geniuses. It would be hard to equal Hizen. Leasis smiled while thinking about it.

“I just want them to be healthy.”

But their level of health will be different from the average person. Owen smiled as well.