Troll

‌⁠♡⁩ TL: Khadija SK

 

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Even from afar, the mansion looked absurdly splendid, but upon entering the main building, it appeared even more magnificent. The wallpaper, curtains, chandeliers, and even the furniture scattered throughout were closer to art pieces than mere decor.

 

Despite the enormous amount of money poured into the house, it didn’t feel garish.

 

The chairman of the Aylesford family may have raised his grandson as a scoundrel, but he didn’t lack an eye for aesthetics. Otherwise, the interior design firm managing the mansion must have extraordinary talent.

 

Jin-ah wiped her eyes with a tissue and picked up the teacup before her.

 

The delicate aroma filled the room, and the beautiful color of the tea was mesmerizing. Taking a sip, the fragrance that had enveloped the room seemed to explode in her mouth, followed by the distinct bitterness of black tea. The finish was clean and crisp, leaving no doubt it was the finest tea.

 

The power of luxury was profound. Just one sip calmed her nerves significantly. Jin-ah discreetly flipped over the saucer of the teacup.

 

Engraved on it were the marks of a renowned porcelain brand alongside the Aylesford family crest. As expected, a house like this used custom-made, limited-edition items.

 

Clink_

 

Placing the teacup back down, Jin-ah pressed her throbbing temples, still aching from all the crying.

 

‘I must be crazy for following that man.’

 

Her face flushed as she recalled what had just happened. It was a mix of embarrassment and shame.

 

When she saw his smile as he licked his hand, she genuinely thought he was insane. But the next moment, as if it were a lie, his smile disappeared.

 

Ian wore a suitably embarrassed expression befitting the situation, making Jin-ah question whether her dislike for him had made her see things.

 

The expression she had seen was gone, leaving the truth uncertain.

 

“Ah, why do I have to deal with something like this in my life… Just let go!”

 

Frustration surged like a wave. She resented Ian as though he had personally taken something precious from her.

 

She knew this resentment was irrational, but the thought of losing what she had barely managed to secure left her unable to think rationally.

 

The sorrow accumulated since the end of the year finally broke the dam, spilling out as tears. In truth, she hated herself for creating such a pitiful scene even more than she hated Ian.

 

Lost in her grief, she forgot who was next to her and sobbed uncontrollably, tears and snot streaming down her face. When she finally collected herself, she realized Ian was still holding her wrist.

 

He had led her to his car, saying they should at least go inside.

 

“I was just kicked out of there, you know? They said I’m a dangerous person who might harm you,” she said, looking at the security guards who were watching her and Ian.

 

Their tense faces were starkly different from when they had looked at her earlier, as if urging her to leave. Jin-ah let out a bitter laugh.

 

At that moment, something heavy draped over her shoulders—it was Ian’s coat. It carried a scent like a dense forest. What was this smell? She vaguely recalled it from not long ago.

 

“Let’s go inside and talk for a moment,” Ian said, still holding her wrist as he guided her to the car.

 

Jin-ah had no energy left to resist, so she followed. Once inside, the driver hurriedly drove toward the mansion.

 

The gate, which had been so strict about identification and queues, opened effortlessly this time. The car didn’t take the path for carts but instead the central road, stopping directly in front of the mansion.

 

When Ian got out with Jin-ah, the secretary who had come to open the door looked momentarily startled but quickly regained composure and opened the door as if nothing had happened.

 

“Escort the guest to the drawing room,” Ian commanded before disappearing somewhere.

 

***

 

“Ha…”

 

Jin-ah took another sip of tea and bit into one of the cookies.

 

She had wanted more of them during the test but didn’t expect to get them like this.

 

As if reading her mind, the staff had prepared an ample amount of cookies. Trying a bit of everything, she finished her tea and began organizing her things.

 

The idea of throwing away the envelope the secretary had given her was gone. Instead, she resolved to use it to the fullest. She even regretted not demanding more as she stood up.

 

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

 

Before she could return to her seat, the door opened, and Ian entered. Seeing her standing, he gestured toward the sofa, signaling her to sit.

 

His courteous demeanor made her change her mind about leaving, and she turned back to her seat.

 

Once they were both seated, Ian spoke.

 

“I’ve looked into what happened. First of all… I apologize.”

 

In truth, today’s events weren’t his fault. He had not been involved in what transpired until she was already leaving the mansion.

 

“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize for this,” she said.

 

Her words implied there were other things for which he was responsible. Perhaps understanding her meaning, Ian gave a faint, bitter smile.

 

“And here is the contract you didn’t have the chance to complete. You may still be upset, but if you’re willing to work here, would you sign it?”

 

Ian presented the contract the secretary had snatched away earlier.

 

Jin-ah, taken aback, accepted the contract. The creases she had made while carefully reviewing it earlier were still there.

 

Reading through it from start to finish, she found nothing had changed. Everything was as initially promised.

 

Narrowing her eyes, she questioned Ian.

 

“What are you thinking?”

 

“I’m thinking of hiring you,” he replied nonchalantly.

 

“Why?”

 

Jin-ah’s question was loaded. There was no apparent reason for the family to rehire her.

 

Aylesford’s offer was unbelievably good, attracting numerous applicants. There were bound to be others who could pass the test. After all, Jin-ah wasn’t the only one with a refined palate.

 

“If you’re doing this out of pity because I seem pathetic, I’d rather decline. It’s not like this is the only place in the world where I can get a job,” she said, her pride flaring.

 

In truth, there wasn’t another job offer as good as this one. Probably not even in the future. Yet here she was, refusing the offer out of spite.

 

Pride, which she thought had been completely sold off, seems to still exist after all.

 

“That’s not the case. I’m genuinely in trouble because there’s no one who can make food worth eating.”

 

“If the chairman has suddenly become so picky about his food, wouldn’t it be better to visit a hospital than to look for a new chef?”

 

Her words were half sarcastic and half sincere advice. Jin-ah knew the chairman of Aylesford was over eighty years old.

 

If such an elderly man was suddenly holding tests to find a new chef and couldn’t eat properly, it might indicate a brain issue.

 

“My grandfather is in good health. The one struggling is me,” Ian replied.

 

Jin-ah recalled the incident at the hotel. Ian had sent his steak back twice. At the time, she thought he was just being fussy, but perhaps he was genuinely sensitive.

 

“I haven’t eaten at home much lately. I’ve been visiting renowned restaurants in London, but I’m still rarely satisfied.”

 

“…If someone who can’t be satisfied at such prestigious places enjoyed my cooking, that would be surprising.”

 

Although her tone deliberately sounded servile, Ian’s expression didn’t change.

 

“I was satisfied. That day’s meal was truly delicious.”

 

All she had done was lightly grill the steak that had been prepared. If it tasted good, it was likely due to the excellent quality of the meat Aylesford had provided rather than her own skills.

 

Jin-ah looked at the contract again.

 

She couldn’t fully accept the kindness Ian was showing. A suspicion lingered that this might be some sort of absurd joke.

 

Perhaps he wanted to crush what little pride she had left, turning it to dust.

 

Hadn’t she already realized on the first day they met that Ian wasn’t a good person? Although he now behaved as if he’d turned over a new leaf, it was hard to shake the feeling that this attitude was a lie.

 

“I heard someone got fired just two days after signing the contract. Wouldn’t it only take me a day?”

 

“…If you doubt my sincerity.”

 

Ian took the contract, picked up a pen, and wrote something in the special conditions section on the last page.

 

“How about this condition?”

 

Jin-ah accepted the contract again and read the newly added clause.

 

“You’ll pay the annual salary in advance?”

 

“Yes. Even if you decide to quit midway, I won’t ask for it back.”

 

The contract had already been perfect for Jin-ah. Now, it was utterly beyond belief.

 

Without hesitation, she picked up the pen Ian had set down, quickly signed her name, and handed the contract back to him.

 

“I’ve signed it. Now fulfill your promise.”

 

Her stance was one of defiance, as if daring him to act.

 

***

 

Ian left the drawing room, holding the coat he had draped over Jin-ah. Once in the hallway, he buried his face in it.

 

Like a dog sniffing out a buried bone, he inhaled deeply, his voice grumbling with displeasure.

 

“It’s faded.”

 

That night, he had licked it thoroughly—her hair, face, neck, and chest. If he’d had more time, he would have explored even further, but regretfully, he’d had to stop.

 

Even so, he had left his scent all over her, yet it had nearly disappeared.

 

He had already been planning to go find her again soon, but she had come to him on her own.

 

It amused him how she was satisfied simply by adding a few numbers to a piece of paper. By signing, she had promised to stay within his grasp without him needing to chase her.

 

“A good development.”

 

This mansion, surrounded by high walls and dense forests, provided a perfect hiding place from the gaze of other humans.

 

As a predator, he could feast on her delectable presence as much as he wished.

 

Ian extended his tongue and licked his hand.

 

Before entering, he licked the spot where Jin-ah’s tears had fallen, savoring it like a child enjoying candy.

 

And then, he licked again.

 

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Hello everyone ^⁠_⁠^

First of all, I want to apologize for the delays in updates recently. The truth is, I’ve been having some difficulties accessing the raws, as they’re only available on the official site. This has made the process a bit slower than I’d like, but I promise I’ll do my best to keep things moving (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding—it really means the world to me ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡

As we step into the new year, I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! May 2025 bring you happiness, health, and countless beautiful moments. Thank you for sticking with me and this story—I’m so grateful to have awesome readers like you (⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥

Take care, and see you soon with the next update!