6. Hard Slap

While stroking her stomach, Amber leaned back on the couch. Her pale face was no longer excited, while her dim eyes looked so desperate.

"It's been a few hours, but why hasn't the effect worn off yet?" the woman muttered before closing her eyes in nausea. Unfortunately, the image of the failed soup flashed even more vividly.

"Tsk, it just makes me dizzier," she grumbled, massaging her temples.

"Why are you dizzy? Is it because of your mud soup?”

Hearing Mr. Cold's voice, Amber suddenly straightened up and opened her eyes. With a straight face, she replied, “Yes, but not because of the taste. The potato-tomato soup was very good. It's just, I can't eat too much."

Raising an eyebrow, the man who came from the kitchen nodded his head. "Then hurry up and do the next task!"

“Next task? I've tidied up your kitchen and the bone collection. I've also removed all the dust from this space. Can't you give me a break?" the woman protested as she could no longer be patient. The cottage owner's demands were too much for her.

“You have agreed to be a servant in my house. That means, you must obey all my orders. Now," Mr. Cold turned the key and pushed one of the doors, "clean this bedroom."

After rolling her eyes, Amber forced herself to get up from the couch. “A cannibal like you has a bedroom? Is there a luxurious bed inside?” she asked half mockingly.

As soon as she saw the room, the woman's mouth opened wide. There was indeed a bed there. However, the expanse of multi-scented clothes made it unfit for sleeping. Not to mention the mountain of dust and cobwebs that clumped in every corner of the ceiling. Just watching it, Amber had started to sneeze.

"Are you sure this is a bedroom? Even the horse stables are much cleaner than this,” the woman cried, covering her nose with her arm.

“Your job is to clean it, not give any comment. Now, start moving. I'll be back in a few hours."

Without the slightest bit of pity, Mr. Cold left from there. He didn't care about the disgusted look on Amber's face. The man was actually happy if he managed to make the woman miserable.

"How can there be such a human on this earth?" Amber grumbled as she shook off the dust that blocked her view. “Cold, rude, inhuman, and now … so gross. Ugh!”

A second later, the woman began to observe the room. Beside the bed, there are cupboard, table, and chair in it. All the furniture was covered in dust and clothes that hadn't been washed for who knew how long.

“Did the Crazy Bear just throw away all the clothes he wore? Then why does he have a wardrobe?” Amber grumbled as she walked towards the cleanest of all the furniture.

As soon as she pulled the door, the woman's eyebrows arched high. Unexpectedly, the clothes inside were neatly arranged and smelled good.

"What's wrong with that man? Does he have mental problems? Why are only these clothes he takes good care of?” Amber muttered while observing.

A moment later, the woman's gaze fell on the red box at the bottom of the wardrobe. Curious, she opened it. When a white knit sweater was revealed, Amber was immediately taken aback.

"Wow, how beautiful it is," the woman sighed with sparkling eyes. Her dizziness and nausea instantly disappeared, replaced by admiration. Carefully, she stretched the clothes in front of her body.

"This must belong to that Crazy Bear," Amber concluded when she saw the hem of the sweater almost touched her knees. "Why are clothes as good as this kept in a box?"

After thinking for a moment, the woman began to untie the blanket around her body. "He won't mind if I borrow." Without the slightest bit of hesitation, Amber was wearing the white sweater she found.

***

“Your time is up. Come out!”

Hearing that firm voice, Amber turned towards the door. While wiping her nose with the back of her hand, she left the clothes arranged on the bed.

"But I'm not done yet. There are still table and chair that I haven't cleaned," the woman explained as she stepped out.

Seeing what Amber was wearing, Mr. Cold was wide-eyed. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the woman's arm. "Why are you wearing this sweater?"

Receiving such a harsh treatment, Amber furrowed in displeasure. “I found it in the wardrobe. Rather than being kept in a box, wouldn't it be better for me to use it?”

“How dare you touch my stuff? Quickly take it off!”

Amber immediately frowned. While removing the man's hand from her arm, she said, “Okay! There's no need to shout like that."

“Take it off!”

Before the woman had time to go back into the room, Mr. Cold had already pulled the sweater up. Not wanting her body to be seen, Amber resisted. "Wait a minute! I can do it myself!”

“Get it off your dirty body!”

"Wait!"

With all her strength, Amber kept the knitted shirt attached to her body. However, Mister Cold was merciless. He kept on jerking so that the woman had a hard time.

"Let me do it in the room!" Amber shrieked in between the roaring breaths.

Instead of stopping, the man went wild. Losing patience, Amber finally gave a hard slap. In an instant, Mister Cold froze with fiery red eyes.

"I know you didn't like me from the start. But can't you be a little more polite? I am a woman. You can't tug on my clothes like that!" Amber shouted hoarsely. Her throat was clogged with petrified irritation.

“The rude one isn’t me, but you! You said this is your clothes? Obviously, this sweater is mine. The house you stepped on is also mine. You should know your position and thank me, not mess my cottage."

Instantly, tears rolled down the woman's cheeks. Annoyance in her heart was no longer contained. "Correct your words! I'm not messing, but cleaning. Did you forget, you were the one who told me to do it?”

“But I didn't tell you to open the wardrobe, let alone put on my clothes! You know what? Letting you in was a mistake. You should just freeze out there."

While clenching her fists, Amber returned the cold stare of the man. “You think I like being here? I have to. This shabby cottage is my only hope for survival. And if you don't like my presence, why didn't you let me go this morning?"

“Is your brain in trouble? I never lock the door. You can go out at any time, and I won't stop you," Mr. Cold shook his head with the same gaze.

“You want me to go out with this blanket? You think I'm crazy?" Along with the thunderous breath, Amber poked the man's shoulder with her pointed index finger. "If you were expecting me to go, you shouldn't have hidden my clothes."

The corners of Mr. Cold's lips spontaneously twitched. “You are not a queen. I've been kind enough to hang your coat outside. Do you expect me to pick it up and dress you? Can't you do it yourself?”

After a snort of annoyance, Amber walked to the window near the couch. Once she pulled the curtains aside, she found her coat hanging on the clothesline.

"Tsk, why didn't I look outside this morning?" the woman regretted before turning around and going to get the clothes.

Even though there was no wind, the cold night still penetrated to the bones. It didn't take long for Amber to start shivering. Anger that boiled her blood was not enough to warm her body. While grumbling, the woman gathered her clothes.

“Is God punishing me now? Is that why He sent me here? To meet someone far crueler than me? No! There must be someone else who can help me around here. I must get out of that cursed cottage tonight.”