"So he is your nephew, Chef Nam?" asked the housekeeper, the next morning.

Head Chef Nam has brought Dol Mok to the housekeeper as soon as the sun shone its first rays.

The housekeeper, a short man with a potbelly, scratched his head and observed the newcomer.

The lad seemed weak. He was quite thin and had a little feminine look. If not for his mustache, he would assume him as maybe a eunuch.

"Listen, lad, you will work here on probation for a week, if your performance will be satisfactory you will be a permanent servant of this residence."

Dol Mok bend to show his gratitude quickly and said, "Thank you, Master."

"Aigoo... Dol Moki, let's go and have some breakfast in the servants' hall."

Dol Mok accompanied the two elder servants from last night to a small hall.

It was more like a verandah. The thatched roof was supported by six wooden pillars.

There were two long tables which were low enough so the servants could sit on the floor while eating.

The table to the right was for male servants and the left one was for females.

The moment Dol Mok entered, there were buzzing sounds as the young maids started pointing at him and whisper in each other's ears.

"Aiyaa! Look at his dark eyes..." a young maid said dreamily.

"I am still marveling at his soft hands..." chimed another.

"Is he a prince from somewhere? How white is his skin!" a maid with twin braids exclaimed putting a hand on her heart.

Dol Mok sat among the other male members and greeted them in a short and respectful manner.

He does not want to mingle with them, but his ears were pricked for any piece of information he might get, and soon enough, as he was eating his porridge, he heard a whispered conversation at his back.

"Hea, did you hear about the Young master's bride?" the girl with twin braids spoke in a low tone to the girl on her left wearing a pale dress and apron. She was a kitchen maid and always love to gossip.

"Mi Cha, I heard that she is as delicate as a rose. No one has ever heard her raising her voice even on a servant. Alas! She will be marrying Young Master."

"Tch..Tch..poor soul. Young master is like a devil who might eat alive such a dainty creature."

"No joke! Remember last month, how he almost murdered No La, the poor girl has just spilled some tea on his drawings. She still trembled in fear hearing the young master's name."

"And don't forget how he smashed the food tray..."

"Enough! Get back to work now," scolded an older housemaid as she stood up from her place.

The young maids cowered and ran to their posts.

Dol Mok felt his temper rising.

So this Lord is a devil. Hmm... Too bad he will be facing Grim Reaper soon.

Dol Mok was sent to be an errand boy for now. He was called for help from anywhere.

First, he helped in unloading heavy piles of groceries from a cart.

Then he was called to help in fixing the decoration on the roof. They were hanging Chinese Lanterns for the welcome of the bridal party.

There was only a single day left and the whole household was buried in chores to their necks.

It was almost dusk when Dol Mok with some other young guys was getting the large mason jars of kimchi from the cellar. He was covered in dirt and sweat.

As he placed the last jar on the kitchen shelf.

The in-charge looked at them and said, "That's all now, go lads and take a shower before supper or your stinky bodies will ruin our appetite." 

The other two boys snickered and the taller one grabbed Dol Mok's collar.

"Come, we will show you the way."

Dol Mok was frozen on the spot since he heard the word "SHOWER", he tried to free himself without causing too much attention, but the taller guy laughed as he told the others,
"Our Dol Moki seems a bit shy."

They all grinned and walked towards the servants' bathing area. Dol Mok had no other choice but to follow them.

His eyes were constantly moving from here to there in search of an escape route.

The bathing area was covered with a low wall, there was no roof but simply a boundary that marks the area.

The male servants got buckets of water and usually bathed in the same space. There wasn't any partition or doors but a small open area where they all bathed.

The moment they reached the place, Dol Mok hastily grabbed the wooden bucket and said, "Senior Mu Xu, I will bring water for you."

The taller guy, Mu Xu nodded as he got busied in stripping and cleaning himself.

Dol Mok, on the other hand, dashed to the old tree and in a quick movement flew to the branches scattered up to the rooftop.

By no means "he" was going to bathe with men.