DrinkyL C12

Chapter 12

 

There were a few small obstacles on the way to work, but after that, Seolgu’s first day proceeded without a hitch.

“Now, this is your uniform, Baek Seolgu-ssi. And here is your locker. You can set your own password, so just make sure you don’t forget it. Once you’ve changed, I’ll tell you what you need to do today.”

The manager, Assistant Manager Yoon, who had looked surprised to see Seolgu arrive a full hour and a half earlier than his scheduled time, was actually pleased—saying that his punctuality gave them plenty of time for explanations, and even praised him for his diligence.

To be praised for simply showing up to work—what a novel experience! Seolgu trembled all over from the fresh shock.

Before explaining the details of his duties as “gardener,” the manager, having learned that this was Seolgu’s first job in society, assigned him to a place where the work was simple, fundamental, and would rarely require direct contact with guests.

That task turned out to be caring for the plants on the deluxe room floors—wiping the leaves lining the hallways and checking for pests. It was uncomplicated work that required no special skills.

“Hhmm, hmm~.”

Humming a little tune only he could hear, Seolgu carefully polished each leaf with full sincerity.

It wasn’t nearly as daunting as he had feared; he didn’t have to manage every plant in the building. He realized he had been worrying for nothing.

Compared to picking stones out of hard ground all day while preparing fields back home, gently wiping leaves in a warm, indoor environment felt like a feast of ease. He almost felt guilty for being assigned something so simple.

Even commuting to the hotel each day brought him joy. He didn’t yet have anyone he could call a friend, but everyone who passed by greeted him warmly with a smile. Each time, his toes tingled with delight, and he had to suppress a giggle.

“I love this so much.”

That was what Seolgu whispered to himself every night before falling asleep after returning from work at the hotel.

“Baek Seolgu-ssi, could you come here for a moment?”

“Yes!”

At Assistant Manager Yoon’s call, Seolgu hurried over. The man looked at him with an apologetic expression before explaining the situation.

“The hotel’s anniversary celebration is tomorrow, but one of the staff scheduled to work that day has been hospitalized with the flu. So, I was wondering—could you stay and work late tomorrow? It’s not difficult work; you’ll just help move the plants after the event ends.”

“Yes! I can do it!”

“Oh, thank you! I’ll make sure you’re paid extra for the overtime.”

Overtime pay? Seolgu didn’t know what that was, but it sounded like he’d be given something extra.

He nodded eagerly. Since he didn’t have much to do back at the officetel anyway, working longer hours was preferable.

Now that he thought about it—when would Ban Dayeong call for him again?

He had been taking his iron supplements diligently twice a day, eating three meals regularly, and sleeping well.

Thanks to that, he felt better every day. At this rate, even if Ban Dayeong were to drink his blood daily, Seolgu felt he could stay alert and unfazed.

The only pity was that he had no way to reach out to Dayeong first.

“Sigh.”

How nice it would be if, when he returned to the officetel tonight, Ban Dayeong happened to be there again. Once more, he had so many things to thank him for—but no one to say them to.

As Seolgu sighed, wondering if Ban Dayeong had already forgotten about him, the vampire was, in fact, receiving detailed reports of Seolgu’s every move each day.

“Baek Seolgu-ssi clocked in at seven and left at six-thirty. Today he managed the thirteenth floor and chose a Korean lunch.”

Listening to Secretary Yang’s report, Ban Dayeong nodded. Perhaps the work suited him—no one had told him to, yet he came early and stayed late of his own accord.

And despite working so hard, there had been no report of him collapsing or falling ill; it seemed he was maintaining his health rather well.

“You’ll be able to see him again at the anniversary ceremony tomorrow.”

“Wait, isn’t the ceremony scheduled after his shift ends?”

“The schedule indicates that Baek Seolgu-ssi is assigned to work overtime until the end of the ceremony.”

“Is that so?”

As the image of that innocent, rather foolish-looking face surfaced in his mind, so did the memory of that exquisite taste—the most intoxicating blood he had ever tasted. Unknowingly, Ban Dayeong swallowed hungrily.

Lately, even the blood packs hadn’t been enough to sate his appetite. That one taste—the first and only time in his life he had known such rapture—haunted him endlessly.

He’d been resisting, knowing that touching it again might make it impossible to stop. But patience was not a virtue Ban Dayeong practiced when it came to what he wanted.

“In that case, I suppose I’ll have to see him.”

A smile curved across his lips, and between them glimmered the slow gleam of a tongue brushing over sharp fangs.

Seolgu’s eyes widened.

They had said there would be a company anniversary, but he hadn’t imagined such a grand scale. The hall overflowed with flowers and trees—hundreds of times more abundant than any he had tended before.

As people worked through the night to prepare the main hall, Seolgu, who had come early, busied himself carrying supplies and assisting where he could.

Wanting the decorative plants to shine even more brightly for the celebration, he secretly cast a little magic on them when no one was looking.

Each time his spells rippled through the leaves, a soft gloss spread over them, and the blossoms unfurled with greater brilliance.

“Hehe.”

Satisfied, Seolgu smiled. The staff, unaware he was an elf, remained oblivious, and he treaded carefully so as not to be discovered.

Soon, distinguished guests from every corner arrived—eminent figures from the VAN Group and representatives of many races, all dressed with dazzling splendor, mingling across the grand hall.

Watching them from afar—bright and graceful as jeweled peacocks—Seolgu clapped quietly to himself. Though he wasn’t among them, simply seeing such beauty and elegance warmed his heart.

After the light meal, the official ceremony began, with congratulatory speeches and performances marking the anniversary.

And at the very end, he appeared on stage.

A man who shone more brilliantly than anything else gathered in that splendid place.

“Ban Dayeong—no, Baek Seolgu-ssiBan Dayeong.”

Seolgu murmured blankly, completely forgetting he was supposed to be working. The pot of Cymbidium golden-lipped orchids in his hands wavered precariously.

As Ban Dayeong continued his speech with his usual cool expression, his gaze suddenly turned toward where Seolgu stood.

In that instant, as their eyes met, Seolgu let out an involuntary “Hik!” and dropped the flowerpot.

Thankfully, the carpet muffled the sound, but the pot had split in two, scattering the rare orchid and its soil across the floor.

“Hiccup!”

Startled by the sudden accident, Seolgu began to hiccup uncontrollably. Hic, hic—the tight pressure rose painfully in his chest.

Thumping at his sternum with his fist, he quickly knelt and reached out with bare hands to gather the fallen soil and plant, too frantic to fetch his tools.

The nearby staff silently screamed in horror at what he’d done, and he could feel their eyes converging on him. His face burned hot.

His eyes stung. Anxiety surged—would they all resent him for this? The thought made him desperate to fix things as quickly as possible.

Seolgu swept his palms over the carpeted floor, ignoring the sharp sting each time grit scraped his skin.

At least the spotlight remained fixed on the stage, leaving the area where he worked safely dim. The guests, absorbed in the scene above, noticed nothing of what transpired in the shadows below.

When at last he had salvaged nearly everything, Seolgu let out a breath of relief. If he could replace the pot and use a bit of magic, even the damaged orchid might survive.

Gathering the remnants carefully into the hem of his shirt, he crab-walked toward the staff passageway.

“Haah…”

By the time he made it to the corridor without attracting any guest’s attention, a huge sigh escaped him. His hiccups had finally stopped, and the ache in his chest was gone.

He braced himself for a scolding from Assistant Manager Yoon—he had noticed that Yoon was among those who had seen the accident. As that thought crossed his mind, another sigh slipped from his lips.

“Baek Seolgu-ssi.”

“Huh…?”

A voice that should not have sounded from the staff passage called out to him. Stiffly, Seolgu turned his head in the direction of the voice.

There stood Ban Dayeong, wearing the same cool, composed expression he’d had while delivering his speech moments earlier.

He couldn’t believe it—the man who just moments ago had stood at the very center of everything shining in the hall was now right before his eyes.

“B–Ban Dayeong… sir?”

“What’s so surprising?”

“Uh…”

If asked why he looked so startled, it was, of course, because he had just made an enormous blunder. The madly pounding of his heart had nothing to do with panic—or so he told himself.

Unable to answer, Seolgu only tightened his grip on the hem of his shirt, clutching the broken flower and soil as if it were a lifeline.