You’re In A Supporting Role Anyway, So Just Love Me. - Ch. 7

“Who are you?”

An old man with a dirty appearance trudged into the barn. Every time he walked, the mud made a squishing sound under his boots, which were pulled up high. His hair was white and tufted, but his face didn’t look as old as his hair suggested, making it difficult to guess his age.

“Hello, I’m Joe. I’ll be taking care of the stable from today onwards.”

“Oh really? That’s great. I’m Rick, the gardener. Just call me Rick.”

…If Rick’s asking me to call him by his name, then what do other people call him?

“It’s a big deal, sending a skinny guy like you to take care of the barn: Tilly must have been really short-handed. Anyway, let’s start with food.”

“Wow, really? I was really hungry.”

“Not you. I’m talking about horses. You need to take care of everything. You won’t even get the value of a horse’s tail if you try to sell yourself.”

“…Yes.”

In a sour tone, Rick roughly taught me about the work in the stable. In fact, he taught me quite meticulously while pretending to be mean. He said that the person who originally worked ran away, so he had been feeding the horses while doing gardening work for the past month. But he was so busy that he only had time to feed the animals.

“So! First of all, you have to take care of their meals! Whether you start with cleaning or brushing, it doesn’t matter. Because you have to do both every day. Understand?”

“Yes…”

Rick raised his voice and taught me enthusiastically. He said he was going to give me a few pointers, but it seemed like a lie. This old man was dedicated.

“Are you listening to me? These horses also have names, so you have to memorize them correctly. How would you feel if someone called you by the wrong name?”

There are already a lot of people who call me Ging Ging-Ja and Joe…

I diligently memorized the names of the horses he taught me. He also said to go to the cafeteria located at the dormitory where the servants stayed whenever it was time to eat, as the stable keeper has to stay here alone because the horses might suddenly make noise or cause a disturbance, especially at dawn. Rick comforted me about being lonely, but I thought differently.

I can finally escape from this chest-tight bandage.

“It’s already evening; let’s go eat. How else would you have strength when you’re so skinny?”

With a slap on the shoulder, Rick pushed me out of the stable. Despite his harsh tone, his eyes were full of concern.

But if you hit it one more time, this novel genre will turn into a thriller, old man.

It was already night when I came out after eating millet corn porridge and a steamed potato that were served for dinner. As I looked up at the black sky full of sparkling stars, I thought of Kyle. I read his stories every day at this time.

Hmm, since I’ve come this far, should I try sending a letter?

Sexy, cutie, and pretty Kyle, hello. This is Ging Gingja. My name is Kim Geumja, but since you probably can’t pronounce it, just think of me as Ginggingja. Can you hear my voice, Kyle? You are a God-made masterpiece. I came to the stable. I’m sorry for continuously giving you embarrassing compliments, but I don’t know what else to say. You can totally win over the empire with just your body ratio, Kyle. Oops, sorry for using informal language. It’s just a habit. I’ve been silently liking Kyle for too long. If you want to see me, please come to the stable. I won’t send any more telepathic messages since you must be tired. I wouldn’t mind dying while clinging to Kyle’s arm muscles. Goodbye. Have sweet dreams.

I lay down on the uncomfortable bed.

Life is never easy. Sigh…

I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. It was already morning when I finally woke up to the sound of horses neighing and whining, but it was already morning.

“Good morning! Ben, Melinda, Lindsey, Martin, Dieppe!”

Still, I opened the stable door wide and started the day.

Since it’s a job I’ve taken on, I should work hard and not be lazy! I need to show the perseverance of a Korean.

                                                     *****

And so, a month passed by.

Kyle and Benji…never came.

Is this how the novel ends? Well, the story of the prince visiting the stable keeper… It does sound ridiculous.

This is the end of the Kingmaker spinoff. Readers, thank you to all for your love and support.

Since I worked, lost in unnecessary thoughts, it was lunch before I knew it.

“Rick! Let’s go eat!”

“Ugh! You’re annoying! I thought you would quit soon.”

“Of course not!”

“At least your shoulders have broadened since I last saw you!”

“Hahaha!”

Every time I went to the dormitory, I saw my reflection in the window, and I felt that I had grown taller and stronger than before.

“Yo, Joe!”

“Max, hello. Earlier, you said you wouldn’t just stand by if Selma got caught doing something.”

“Joe! And you said you had a fight with Rick yesterday, yet you still came to eat with him today.”

“Well, I mean, Rick is the only friend I have where I work in the corner of this palace. He doesn’t have any other friends either.”

“Pick someone else, you brat! I’m not here just to hang out with you!”

“Rick, you should be more grateful for having a young friend like me!”

We all gathered around the long table and ate, laughing together. The problem was that it was becoming more and more rewarding and enjoyable, even though it was hard. Can I really adapt to this life so easily?

Besides, no one suspects me of being a woman. It’s ridiculous.

As I scooped up the rice, I suddenly noticed the firmness of my forearm muscles. It’s understandable, considering how hard I work.

I grumbled and messaged Kyle out of habit. At first, I messaged him every day, but on days when the work at the stable was tough, I fell asleep before I could think of anything. Today’s message was my first in three days.

Hello, Kyle, who is probably still devastatingly handsome today. Come see me. I know you’re really busy, but I miss you so much. Or send Benji over. I’m simply bored.

Give me the full-color 144-page Fantastic Kyle photobook! Kyle needs to come see me since I can’t leave my post. If Kyle plays the bad prince, he’ll get in trouble, and that’ll be the end of it, but if I leave my post, I’ll get fired. That’s the difference between a laborer and a powerful elite. Kyle, my human drug, I miss you.

I was slowly adapting to the mundane routine of being a stablekeeper.

                                              *******

Pffft.

While drinking black tea, Kyle suddenly choked on it and covered his mouth with a handkerchief, coughing for a while.

“Your Highness, are you okay?” The maid next to him asked, but Kyle, whose face had turned red, couldn’t easily open his mouth.

It was something new every day, and he listened to everything as the warm praise continued to come. Kyle just waved his hands and pushed the maids back. He knew it was unlikely, but he was afraid that the sound that only he could hear in his head would leak out.

I’m crying because I miss Kyle. But thinking about Kyle makes me laugh again. Yo, Chequirout, crying and laughing, I’m a clown. Come on.

It’s like she’s crazy. Even though he never saw it, he could clearly picture the woman with a long cane and a pointed hat shaking her head. Yet the voice was so clear. Kyle shook his head from side to side as if to shake off a bug and stared at somewhere on the far left where the stable would be. The voice that had been quiet for a moment rang out again.

Oh, Kyle, your blonde hair is the best. Marry me. You are blonde, and I have silver hair. Then maybe our baby will have bronze hair.

E/N: ngl i chuckled a lil

Kyle’s forehead frowned as he swallowed the black tea with a gentle smile. She was talking non-stop. Was she going to stage a protest for not seeing him for a month?

Kyle couldn’t understand what was going on inside Ging Ging-ja’s mind, so he secretly watched her while keeping her inside the palace. He expected that she would either run away from exhaustion or come up with a new plot if he left her alone.

He had ordered Benji to keep an eye on her without meeting her directly.

Ultimately, he gained nothing.

Now, after a month has passed, Ging Ging-ja has fully adapted to her new life as a stablekeeper under the name Joe, according to the morning report.

The report stated:

• Changed the water in the pail and fed the horses with hay and grass after waking up.

• Sang while cleaning the place.

• Got angry at the black horse for being picky with food and grabbed its face. It’s not confirmed if she’s actually talking to animals based on the way she expressed anger toward them.

• Fought with the gardener Rick while heading to breakfast together. When Rick hit her head, she kicked his groin and ran away. She runs fast and seems to have a short temper.

• Came back after breakfast and made a soft bed for the horses with new hay.

• Went to the backyard of the imperial palace to get hay with a cart.

• Carried the cart full of hay with ease. She has strong muscles.

• Helped to pull up a carriage stuck in the mud at Madame Tilly’s request, together with other laborers.

‘… She pulled up a carriage?’

An empty smile spread across Kyle’s lips. Joe’s daily life seemed to be quite full. He understood Joe’s bold request, asking him to come visit as they were busy.

It was also written that Joe brushed the horses, took them to the nearby field to feed on raw grass, and fed them hay.

There was no suspicious activity.

‘Was she really not a spy…?’

The person who was put in charge of surveillance didn’t even know that Joe was a woman. Yet, despite the day-long surveillance, she was thorough enough not to get caught as a woman.

…It occurred to him that she might be a surprisingly skilled assassin.

While he was contemplating this, Joe’s nonsense continued.

An interview with Kyle, the handsome prince whose life was tied to the stable keeper.

Joe: Hi, I’m the stable keeper. No one can pull off blonde hair like you, except for you and corn.

What is she even talking about? Most of all, he couldn’t understand why she was talking to herself like this.

‘How can you talk endlessly like this without taking a break? And it’s all about me, too?’

When it got to the point where he couldn’t even properly enjoy a cup of tea, Kyle finally couldn’t bear it and picked up a pen, writing whatever came to mind on a blank piece of paper. He then handed it to the servant standing next to him.

“Take this to Joe in the stables. If you tell him it’s from me, he’ll probably read it right away.”

“Yes, Your Highness Kyle.”

The servant quickly opened the terrace door and ran to the stables. What urgent matter could there be for His Highness the Prince to personally write a letter?

The horses began to kick the dirt out of place, perhaps because they had heard the urgent footsteps of the servant.

“Melinda! I just laid down some soft hay for you. This ill-tempered horse is just too much!”

When the servant walked inside the stables, he saw a young boy trying to calm the horse down. The stable was much cleaner than it was the last time he visited.

“Joe?”

When he called his name, the thin boy who was calming the horse turned around and smiled broadly. The sun shone in, illuminating his fair skin and silver hair. He was a stunningly beautiful boy.

“Yes! I’m Joe. Hello.”

He looked friendly with an impressive smile. The tied-back silver hair, which was cut randomly, strangely complemented the mischievous but neat look in his eyes.

Si-jong Pell wondered, ‘Why did His Highness write a letter to this boy?’ but he didn’t dwell on it for long. He believed that he should not question his master’s actions.

“His Highness Kyle wrote this letter in his own handwriting. Please read it,” Si-jong Pell said.

“His Highness Kyle? Finally!” Joe exclaimed as he took the letter and unfolded it. It was a proud and satisfying feeling to be entrusted with such an important task, but the problem came afterward.

Joe folded the paper back up with a stiff face.

“Sir, thank you for bringing the letter to me, but I don’t know how to read it.”

“……Oh dear..”

“I don’t have anyone to ask for help, can you read the letter for me?”

It was heartbreaking to see him speak so calmly about not knowing how to read. Joe had clearly been through difficult times. He was around the same age as Si-jong Pell’s son, who was at home. Joe’s willingness to work joyfully despite his difficulties surprised Si-jong Pell.

Si-jong Pell put a hand to his chest and nodded as he unfolded Kyle’s letter.

“Listen, dear, I’ll read the letter for you, but don’t tell anyone else. I shouldn’t meddle with a letter from the royal family.”

“I won’t cause you any trouble, mister.”

He was a really cute boy. So, His Highness Kyle must also find this child endearing to personally give him a letter.

Pell read the first line with a proud smile on his face, then continued reading.

“Joe, I understand your feelings for me, but please stop now. It’s starting to affect my daily life. I beg of you.”

Pell couldn’t bring himself to read the rest of the sentence.

“What is it, mister? What’s written after that?”

Joe looked at Pell with shining eyes.

…. What a pitiful little thing.