I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 3

Seo Rin didn’t think much of it. There were always people who couldn’t make it to interview locations due to circumstances.

“Examinees, please wait here for a moment.”

As the staff went inside, the examinees couldn’t contain their excitement and whispered among themselves.

“It feels like a dream. To be selected as the first manager at the Yeokwon Inn created by The State.”

“Get a grip, the exam is just beginning!”

“Wasn’t the clerk who handed out the exam tickets earlier so handsome? I really hope I get to work with him!”

Among them was a child with eyes tightly shut, clutching prayer beads and chanting Buddhist prayers.

“Namu Amitabha… Namu Amitabha…”

Hearing the examinees’ words, Seo Rin could understand their feelings better than anyone. It reminded her of her own desperate self when she used to go to hotel interviews.

But here, there was another examinee who couldn’t hide his anticipation.

“…After passing, I’ll save half my sal-salary for trading cap-capital and make pretty accessories to open a shop in Gaekyeong… rake in money… bring th-those people to their knees…”

Gap-i also seemed to be dreaming of a rosy future while hoping for success.

“…Gap-i?”

“…Overwhelm the Song Dynasty craft-craftsmen’s skills and make them look at me with re-respect…”

Seeing the desperate examinees like this, Seo Rin’s mindset also changed.

‘Even if this is a dream, let me do my best! Seriously!’

Just then, the clerks who had briefly stepped away returned.

“We will now begin the second-stage exam, the interview. Five people at a time in line order will come forward and demonstrate their abilities to the examiners.”

At the clerk’s call, the examinees in the front order went to the interview location first.

Seo Rin stood on her tiptoes and tried to peek inside, but it was hard to see through the screening cloth.

It would be helpful to hear the interview content in advance, but perhaps due to the distance, she couldn’t hear well.

Then Gap-i cautiously called out to Seo Rin.

“Um, th-there, Seo Rin.”

“Yeah?”

“The cl-clothes you’re wearing now, how about ch-changing them?”

“Ah…”

Seo Rin looked down at her outfit. She was still wearing the clothes she had put on at the stable earlier.

‘Anyone can see my current outfit is pretty messy. I’m wearing dress pants on the bottom with some men’s hanbok thrown over the top.’

“I have sp-spare clothes I brought, w-would you like to wear them?”

Gap-i pulled out a clean set of clothes from his bundle.

“Th-there’s a hidden spot back there, qu-quickly go change.”

“Thank you.”

Seo Rin didn’t refuse and took the clothes Gap-i offered.

Even if it’s a dream, an interview is still an interview! Wouldn’t it be sad to fail (again) due to poor attire!

While Gap-i kept watch, Seo Rin quickly changed clothes in a corner under the wall and retied her hair. She also took out her makeup tools from her bag and touched up her makeup simply.

As Seo Rin was about to put the makeup tools back, she discovered something inside her bag and hesitated before slipping it into her sleeve.

Their turn came quickly.

“Numbers 11 through 15, enter.”

As Seo Rin climbed the stairs and stood on the platform, she felt a pleasant tension. Thinking it was a dream, she didn’t feel nervous at all.

Seo Rin, who was habitually thinking of expected questions and answers, was surprised when she looked at Gap-i. Her face had turned pale and she was trembling.

‘Oh my, look at that.’

Seo Rin quietly took Gap-i’s hand. To Gap-i, who looked at her in surprise, Seo Rin mouthed the words.

‘Don’t be nervous. You can do it.’

Gap-i seemed to understand and smiled quietly, then nodded her head.

Seo Rin glanced at the judges’ seats. As befitting a national hotel interview panel, people in magnificent attire were seated there.

From officials who clearly looked high-ranking to a picturesquely handsome man… Huh?

‘…Wow, incredible.’

The picturesquely handsome man that Seo Rin had spotted stood up from his seat.

The examinees who looked at the man forgot about the test and poured out admiration.

“Wow!!”

“Kyaa!!”

“…Examinees, be quiet.”

A tired-looking man standing on one side of the interview room gave a warning calmly, as if this was a familiar occurrence.

The examinees immediately shut their mouths, but their gazes remained fixed on that handsome man.

Seo Rin once again realized that she was truly inside a dream.

‘Otherwise, how could someone with such insane looks, as if all my ideal types were combined into one, exist in reality?’

Long hair the color of deep ink combed down without a strand out of place, straight eyebrows, and deep, cold eyes that seemed to hold midwinter frost.

A sharply refined jawline and below it, a straight and smooth nose bridge that stood proudly, perfectly harmonizing with neatly closed lips. And that sharply refined jawline.

The cold-looking expressionless face revealed within such balance rather intensely captured one’s gaze.

It was a coolly refined beauty, like a person drawn in ink painting from an ice sculpture.

‘Is this what they call a cold handsome man?’

While everyone was staring in fascination, the man with insane looks opened his mouth.

“First, congratulations on passing your written examination.”

A refined voice that seemed to carry coldness, matching his outstanding appearance. The examinees who heard his voice looked like they might faint again.

All the examinees on the platform looked at that man with enchanted faces, concentrating intently.

“…”

‘Huh?’

But, that man.

It seems like he keeps looking at me…?

* * *

Lee Eun Cheon discovered a familiar face among the examinees and stopped his gaze.

Yesterday, Eun Cheon had visited the Imperial Palace for an urgent matter and was returning to Hyeeumwon before dawn.

Since it was early dawn and there was no stable keeper, he went directly into the stable leading his horse, when he saw someone sleeping on a pile of straw with their whole body soaked.

“A servant who followed the judges…”

Whether looking at the strange clothing or the state of sleeping in a corner of the stable, it seemed certain they served a heartless master.

‘Sleeping like that will surely cause harm to the body.’

Euncheon approached closer to wake him up.

But then.

“…A woman?”

The servant was not a man. He had been mistaken because of her clothing.

The delicate facial features visible between her folded arms were unmistakably those of a woman.

She seemed to have come from a distant province to take the clerk examination, but unable to afford lodging due to her poor circumstances, had secretly slept in the stable last night.

‘No matter how dire her situation, how could a woman sleep alone in such a place!’

Due to supporting the clerk selection process, quite a few outsiders including examiners had entered the area.

In such circumstances, a woman sleeping alone in this remote place could face all sorts of dangerous situations.

But then.

“…Sob, Mom… Dad…”

He paused.

Euncheon stopped in his tracks. The woman was sobbing in her sleep.

“…Why, why did you leave me alone. I’m so struggling…”

Euncheon momentarily saw someone else’s image overlapping with the sight of the woman crying with her shoulders trembling delicately.

“…”

He abandoned his intention to wake her, and carefully approached to remove his windbreaker coat and cover her with it.

“Mmm…”

The woman trembled slightly in her sleep. As Euncheon tried to adjust the clothing better, the woman’s hand suddenly grabbed his hand.

“!”

“…Don’t, don’t go. Don’t leave me alone…”

Euncheon paused for a moment, but it was just sleep talking.

He could have pulled away, but the woman’s small, soft hand seemed to hold onto something she desperately didn’t want to lose, and he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

“…”

Euncheon was lost in thought for a moment, then bent his knees and lowered his body. Then he whispered softly in the woman’s ear.

“…Don’t worry. I won’t leave you alone.”

Footnotes

1) Yeokwon Inn : Lodging facilities established by The State

2) Noksa : During the Goryeo period, a low-ranking administrative position in various government offices responsible for record-keeping duties.

3) Geuchi: A third-person pronoun used to refer to ‘that person’ in a derogatory manner.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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