The One and Only Sami Chapter 3

Sami would officially become an adult in twelve days, celebrating his twentieth birthday.

Yet, for some reason, he just wouldn’t grow. He was still as small as Hibi, a maid who was three years his junior.

Even though he did more work than those who had been adults for years. Despite being an experienced servant on the cusp of twenty, Sami was still treated like a mere errand boy—someone to change the oil in the lamps and be rewarded with a piece of candy.

It was likely because of his build and his features. Even Antar would pat his head as if he were a little brother.

Though he never showed it, one of the reasons Sami worked so busily and diligently was that he didn’t want to be seen as a child.

“As Salif’s son, I must follow in my father’s footsteps and become a scribe. If all goes well, I’ll be working under the noble Harut.”

Antar readjusted the heavy stack of books tucked under his arm. A bitter, resigned smile touched his lips.

“I’ve heard that Lord Harut is incredibly beautiful but arrogant. They say his body is like a tiger’s, his gaze like a jackal’s, and his tongue is stained with venom like a scorpion’s.”

“Oh… but you have a temperament as calm as water, sir. I’m sure you’ll be to his liking.”

“I appreciate you saying so, Sami.”

The sound of movement echoed from afar. Looking back, a broad-shouldered, sturdy worker was heading toward the storehouse at the far end of the corridor, carrying a heavy load of fireworks on his back.

Behind the worker’s heavy footsteps came the dignified voice of Harna, the Chief Steward. While her exact words were muffled, neither of them was a stranger to Harna’s strict personality. If anything, they knew it all too well—to a tiring degree.

“Well then… don’t push yourself too hard, Sami.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

Sami replied gently to his master’s concern, but being naturally industrious, it was certain he would spend the day rushing inside and outside the manor to get his work done. Knowing this, Antar simply lowered his brows and gave a helpless smile.

“You have to promise to listen to me, okay?”

At Antar’s words, Sami bowed his head deeply.

Without needing to say who would go first, the two began their respective tasks. Sami sprinkled water on the marble floor to clean it, while Antar gathered his scrolls and walked toward the study. Even as they parted, the master and servant didn’t forget to exchange a quiet, friendly glance.

The blazing sun continued to scorch the courtyard. In the middle of noon, a heat-stricken rooster let out a pointless crow and flapped its wings, and a drenched dog lapped up water from its bowl with a wet, rhythmic sound.

Sami stopped mopping and looked up at the sky again.

The sky was a clear turquoise, as if trying to match the vivid orange of the bright sunlight. Sami gazed up, blinking, before letting his shoulders relax slightly.

“Ah…”

For a moment, he felt a small pang of regret.

In stories, they said jewels emitted a brilliant radiance. But Sami had never seen any colors other than the cheap stained glass or turquoise found in the market.

Sami suddenly reached his hand out into the empty air. As he stretched his fingers as if to dip them into the deep blue sky, a palm-sized shadow was cast over his face.

“If only…”

If only he knew more things.

Then he might have been able to pick the name of a gemstone that perfectly matched the color of the sky right now.

⚜️

By the time he finished scrubbing the floors, it was already lunchtime.

Sami took his meal—a bowl of boiled mashed beans and steamed wheat, along with a chilled milk tea—and headed to the roof of the manor’s annex.

To reach the very top, he had to climb a ladder. Without a second thought, Sami gripped the rungs with his lunch basket held firmly in his mouth. With every steady step upward, the wind ruffled his bangs.

Reaching the top, Sami used his shoulder to push open a round window. Sitting on the protruding frame, he could see the midday city at a single glance.

“Phew…”

The breeze blowing through the window was so cool that a short sigh of admiration escaped him involuntarily.

Sami sat with his legs spread wide, as if riding a flying carpet, and placed the meal basket on his lap. He tossed a handful of steamed wheat into his mouth and chewed. The non-sticky grains crunched between his molars, releasing a savory flavor.

Sami chewed the wheat thoroughly while taking in the view outside.

‘The market is huge today.’

The southern market was a major trading hub, so it always had the most to see. Even from a distance, the horses and camels in the marketplace were clearly visible. Sami watched as the Bactrian camels of the desert tribes moved slowly through the streets.

His heart fluttered at the sight of people in multi-colored clothes bustling through the square. By the time he swallowed another handful of wheat, his conversation with Antar came back to him.

‘Oh, I heard a rumor recently that Djinn are swarming. They say thieves have appeared here and there, stealing Marut’s power…’

Sami didn’t know much, but he did know the basics of how to drive away ill-natured spirits.

The elders and older servants in this manor were all well-versed in superstition. Even the younger servants were bound to learn how to ward off evil spells just by watching.

Djinn hated gold, strong scents, the warmth of a fire, and mystical inscriptions.

“I wonder if there’s any good frankincense?”

He happened to have a bit of money left over from the tips he received for helping the laborers. It was enough to buy about a handful of frankincense.

He thought it would be nice to leave some on Master Antar’s desk for him to burn, and he could split a small piece with Hibi.

“Sami! Are you up there again?”

The Chief Steward’s booming voice echoed from below.

“Madame Harna!”

“You’ll fall! Come down this instant!”

“Aw…”

Sami gave a cheeky grin, unlike his usual timid and gentle self. He was about to boast that this was his nest, when—

“It’s clear you haven’t heard the story of the Sufi who fell from the sky, crushed his skull, and had his eyeballs pop out and dangle.”

“…I’m coming down.”

The Chief Steward was a strict housekeeper, but she was also a formidable storyteller. Fearing how vividly she might describe the poor Sufi’s skull shattering, Sami hurriedly gulped down the rest of his milk tea and scrambled down the ladder.

⚜️

“Sami,”

“Yes, Madame Harna.”

Sami had just finished gathering the dried bedding with the maid Hibi. As soon as he heard the Chief Steward’s voice from afar, he answered immediately.

He ran so fast that the heels of his leather sandals flapped. The backs of Sami’s heels were a soft pink, like the paws of a young puppy.

Every time he ran down the arched corridors, the fading sunset light lingered on his billowing trousers. The white pillars standing at intervals along the hallway sparkled as if they were made of piled salt.

Jumping over the lengthening shadows, he reached the Chief Steward, who looked at him with a stern expression.

“Did you finish mopping the corridors?”

“Yes. This hallway, the drawing room, the room with the bull’s head, and the three rooms with rugs—I did them all.”

“And the bedding?”

“Hibi and I stripped the covers and gave them to Sister Hesha and Aunt Zarta. I just gathered the dry laundry and folded it. It just needs to be put in the wardrobe, but Hibi is taking care of that.”

“I see you also restocked the grain and eggs in the storehouse.”

“Yes, the floor is getting warm now, so I placed the eggs on the marble.”

“And I believe you tended the garden as well.”

“Mister Chapa said he’s checking the water for the fountain tomorrow, so I pulled the weeds. You mentioned before that if the weeds get the new water, the flowers will wilt for the rest of the year.”

“Well done.”

Sami, who had been answering briskly, cheered internally. If he heard a “Well done” from the Chief Steward, it meant his work for the day was a success.

“Change the lamps for the Mistress and the Master tonight, and then just focus on your writing and arithmetic studies. You may rest until the sun goes down.”

Sami’s eyes sparkled. The Chief Steward’s eyebrows twitched, perhaps sensing something from the way Sami licked his lips and rubbed his feet against the floor. Even though the lower half of her face was covered by a veil, her gaze was as sharp as a needle, and no one could escape it.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Well, I think the southern market is open today.”

Before he could even finish his sentence, the Chief Steward nodded.

“Go ahead. I’ll let the Mistress know.”

“Thank you so much!”

“This is pocket money for working hard for the past ten days.”

With a stiff but generous gesture, the Chief Steward handed Sami a small pouch of coins.

He couldn’t open it right in front of her, so he turned away and peeked inside—it was enough to buy more than a handful of frankincense. He could even afford a little scented oil to mix into Master Antar’s lamp.

“Madame Harna!”

“No need for thanks. You already said it. It’s beneath a servant of Mister Salif to bow so frantically.”

“Yes, ma’am! I’m off now!”

Sami gave a quick bow and ran out.

If he was very careful, it was enough money to buy snacks for two weeks. But he felt that burning incense to ward off bad Djinn in Master Antar’s study and giving a piece of frankincense to the people he liked would make him feel much better than two weeks’ worth of snacks.