The Peaceful Life of a Maid Who Hides Her Power and Enjoys It

<Episode 107>

 

“It seems being from the royal family helps sometimes. Plus, thanks to Mr. Malcolm’s help, our financial situation has improved significantly. For the time being, we plan to focus on acquiring multiple sets of autumn and winter clothing to maintain your dignity, as well as renovating the mansion.”

 

Despite pretending otherwise, the head maid seemed quite excited.

Hiring new staff and buying exquisite furniture meant she anticipated a promising future, but above all, her eyes sparkled when it came to dressing me up, as if she’d found the freshest ingredients at the market.

 

 

“By the way, when will Mr. Rue return?”

“…someday?”

 

“To refurbish the mansion, we’ll need a cook and a gardener with us. Other households may assign their maids or servants to do the tasks, but we are a distinguished noble family after all.”

 

Just a few days ago, we used to share all the work together.

Finally, the maid, or my now lady-in-waiting, placed a bonnet with a small veil on my head and smiled with satisfaction.

 

‘She’ll definitely kick him out if he doesn’t come back soon.’

 

Truthfully, it was questionable whether Rue would continue to work as an employee at the Weatherwoods when he returned. Wasn’t he a Calepa?

 

When I stepped out of the room after the preparations were finished, I found Malcolm, dressed nicely, on the first floor for some reason.

 

“Oh, my. I almost didn’t recognize you. Something seems to be…different? You look truly beautiful, My Lord. No one would think that you were a maid, no, a soldier… a hero.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders lightly and walked out of the front door.

Passing through the main gate, just before getting on the carriage, I turned my head slightly and looked at the small white flower blooming gracefully inside the flower bed.

 

While I was away on the journey, the daisy flowers I had planted had quietly bloomed.

‘…Rue said he would reveal his true identity by the time those flowers fully bloomed.’

If I only looked at the results, it wasn’t a lie. I found out his identity in Rogue during that time.

 

The maid and Malcolm, who followed closely behind, saw me off.

 

“Have a safe journey, master.”

 

“Goodbye, Viscount Weatherwoods.”

 

After nodding lightly, I received Jean’s escort and climbed into the carriage.

I was Daisy, Viscount Weatherwoods.

 

From today onwards, my days as a maid had come to an end.

 

The extra funds given to me for this journey were more than enough, to the point they could be called overflowing. Because the Head Maid valued the dignity of nobility, we were taking the train instead of an airship, so as to not look like we were in a hurry.

 

‘I’ve had enough of airships for now.’

 

The train car I boarded was a luxury compartment that required paying seven times the price of a regular train seat.

 

“Hello, Viscount Weatherwoods. I am Roud Meden, the captain of this train. It is an honor to have you on board. There’s crew members on standby specifically for you, so if there’s any inconvenience, big or small, please let us know immediately…”

 

Was it because they informed him that it was a space for none other than the Viscount Weatherwoods to rest? After the captain personally came out and introduced himself, giving a brief speech, he left.

 

I spent the whole time without even making eye contact with the captain, just listening.

 

Thud.

 

And just as the door to the compartment closed, I let out a sigh and slumped onto the seat, throwing away my bonnet.

 

“Phew.”

 

Jean, who followed behind for my sake, neatly spread out the crumpled lace on my bonnet and asked,

 

“Are you alright? We only just left Midwinterre, you mustn’t be so tired already.”

“I know.”

“You shouldn’t answer so obediently like that, Viscount. Have you forgotten the head maid’s advice?”

 

I slid my gloves off and glanced at Jean.

“Do we really have to be so meticulous even when we’re alone?”

“A person should be the same inside and out. If you act so carelessly, you’ll definitely find yourself in an awkward situation.”

 

“Enough. Don’t be presumptuous.”

“That was excellent.”

Jean obnoxiously raised her thumb and picked up the newspaper in the compartment.

 

This was all because of the Head Maid.

In fact, during the meeting last night regarding the journey to Zenail, I cleanly explained the situation I was in.

 

“So you won’t completely hide your identity, but introduce yourself as the sister of Andert. It’s not a bad plan from our family’s perspective. However, it’s best to be well-prepared before you go. Duke Zenail is said to have a frighteningly good sixth sense, so it’s best to block any routes that might arouse suspicion.”

 

The result that came out of that discussion was the introduction of a ‘self-important and prickly’ Viscount Daisy Weatherwoods.

 

The intention was to become a difficult person to deal with and prevent any deep conversations from happening.

 

When asked if it was necessary to go that far, the maid responded with a confused question,

 

“By the way, wasn’t the hero Andert known for his cheerfulness? Our current Miss Daisy is so… unique. Or rather, you have a distinct personality. Which is your true character?”

 

‘Which side is my true character?’

 

I’d never really thought about that.

During my time as Andert Fager, I tried to act like my younger brother.

 

Small habits, thoughts, personalities… gradually over time, they merged with my original character, and that’s how the hero Andert Fager, as he was known now, was born.

 

‘On the other hand, it feels like I’m slightly letting loose now.’

 

But I had a deadline and limited time now, didn’t I? To a certain extent, I couldn’t help but have the mindset of ‘do as much as you can.’

 

“Why don’t you get some sleep? Viscount.”

Jean, who was reading the newspaper, discreetly suggested when she saw my absent-minded expression.

 

“You received lessons on meal manners and etiquette from Head Maid all night. It would be good for you to close your eyes for a moment.”

 

“…Aide, are my eyes very cloudy?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Good. It will make me appear even more stupid.”

 

“Oh, that’s true.”

 

From the moment Jean offered to be my aide, she began to take a great interest in social circles and noble society.

She stepped down from her position as a butler and spent her free time, after she completed her sword training for the day, studying society and current affairs.

 

While she washed the dishes, she read the <Book of Etiquette> she obtained from a bookstore, and while watering the garden, she acquired information about noble society from the maid.

 

Of course, I asked Jean if it was necessary for her to go that far. Her response was:

 

“The thing I’m best at is wielding a sword. But that’s not a skill that’s very helpful to you, isn’t it, Miss Daisy? I know that I can’t just keep receiving without giving anything in return, and I want to be of help to you as well, Viscount. And the social circles of the Penrotta… they’re quite interesting.”

 

Of course, they would be interesting. It’s where the most stimulating scandals in the world happened and were discussed.

 

“They say someone will come today to take over my position as a butler… Do you know who it is, Viscount Daisy?”

 

“Yeah.”

“The assassin-butler.”

“…assassin?”

 

Not only the assassin-butler.

It wasn’t just him.

 

 

Lenya, who used to be Grandpa Malcom’s’ maid, and the bandit maid who worked for us on a temporary basis, were now fully and officially employed as maids of the Weatherwoods family. The servants who used to work under the command of the assassin-butler had also been transferred to the Weatherwoods family.

 

‘A maid who is actually a princess, an elder who was a spy for Rogue, Jean, who was the former successor of a duke’s family, a butler from an assassin’s background, and other fierce individuals…’

 

As I recalled each face, a sigh involuntarily escaped me.

Is this… not a little dangerous?

 

Was I really capable of becoming the master of a household like this?

I don’t think nobles are usually supposed to run such an unpredictable household.

 

“Lately, this knight has been attracting attention. The power struggle between the Imperial faction and the Zenail faction seems to be intensifying. Recently, one of the noble families from the Zenail faction had most of their estate confiscated due to a violation of military law…”

 

I absentmindedly stared out the window, listening to Jean’s story with one ear and letting it slip away with the other.

 

I wanted to fall asleep for even a moment, but it wasn’t easy. Could it be because Rue wasn’t there…

 

After those long, exhausting eight hours passed, we arrived in the grand city of Holland Luz, where the Zenail Ducal family established their stronghold.

 

* * *

 

Holland Luz.

 

This city, known as the cradle of culture and pleasure, was the closest major city to the Imperial Capital of Ragel. Its history, intertwined with deep exchanges with the northern continental nations, had shaped the Holland Luz of today, located adjacent to the relatively gentle northern Deus Mountains.

 

Perhaps because of this, there were corners of Holland Luz that strangely reminded me of the landscapes of Astrosa, from its historical sites to the atmosphere of the nearby square.

 

However, my first impression of Holland Luz was this:

 

‘It’s a city that doesn’t suit Raphael one bit.’

 

To think he became the kind of aristocrat who ruled over such a big city like this with that personality of his. Indeed, one never knows what fate has in store.

 

“We have arrived in Holland Luz. Please enjoy your trip, Viscount Weatherwoods.”

 

Ignoring the greetings of the crew, I stepped out of the station and saw a magnificent carriage waiting just outside the stairs.

 

And in front of that carriage stood a familiar face, silently waiting.

 

“Hello, Mr. Desherro.”

 

Judging by how he was here, it seemed he’d left Astrosa to come here immediately after I left for Rogue.

 

“…Miss Daisy?”

 

Desherro, who scanned the surroundings with surprised eyes, quickly approached me and whispered.

 

“Why did you come personally? Viscount Weatherwoods was scheduled to visit in person, wasn’t he?”

 

The words were spit out of his mouth so quickly it was like he had a motor in it.

 

I replied to Duke Raphael’s aide as the ‘Self-important and Prickly Viscount Weatherwoods’ perfectly.

 

“Nothing you should know about. Shut up and take me to Zenail.”

“…”

 

Desherro’s expression hardened.

When I looked at Jean, she flashed me a satisfied smile with sparkling eyes.

 

It unexpectedly felt pretty gratifying to have someone cheer for me.

Intense fatigue seemed to weigh upon Desherro’s eyes as he silently stared at

the two of us.

 

Sighing for the umpteenth time since our reunion, he rubbed his forehead.

“What on earth are you up to this time…?”

 

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Lmao she’s basically being asked to act like Trash