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

<Episode 116>

 

And pretending not to hear anything, she turned her face away and looked out the window on the side, as if looking at something far away. She really knew how to appear cool-headed.

 

I dragged Jean, who had a face like she was a shrimp stuck between whales, through the training grounds of the Zenail knights.

 

Jean, who took my parasol and opened it, cautiously asked.

“Viscount.”

“What?”

“What do you mean you have 10 years left to live?”

“…Well, it’s just as you hear.”

 

That guy, Desherro. Why did he blurt it out so confidently in front of Jean? Just because they’re my close aides doesn’t mean they know all my secrets.

 

After a moment of silence, Jean asked in a noticeably hardened voice, “Is treatment difficult?”

“I’m looking for a solution, and it’s not easy. But having 10 years is quite generous.”

 

It was indeed very generous compared to the lifespan of a year.

At that moment, Jean scolded me with a furious voice.

 

“Why would you say such a thing?”

 

“…What?”

 

“I know very well how challenging the times you’ve been through were. They’re experiences that I could never dare to think to understand. But that doesn’t mean living a life with a deadline isn’t a big deal. Isn’t this a situation where all the so-called experts of the Empire should stick together and try to treat your disease? My lady, you have every right to feel wronged by fate.”

 

“…..”

“…..”

 

“Well, yes. I was thoughtless. I’m sorry.”

But is this really something I should be apologizing for…?

Was it because I was walking around the main headquarters of the knights with Jean? The knights glanced at us from time to time.

 

Ignoring them, we arrived at the indoor training ground, where luckily a swordsmanship duel was taking place. We found seats in the farthest corner of the training ground, using the excuse of avoiding the autumn sunlight, and watched the duel.

 

“Their skills are much more impressive than I expected, aren’t they?”

 

I glanced at Jean, slightly surprised. Her eyes were burning with excitement.

 

“Do you want to join in too?”

“What? No, I am here to assist the Viscount…”

“Enough with the assistant talk. If you’ve received teachings from someone as skilled as a Calepa, then you should also show the results. Hey!”

 

I raised my hand and shouted loudly, drawing the attention of the knights towards me.

 

“My aide wants to have a match with you all. Is there anyone brave enough to duel with the Empire’s finest swordsmanship prodigy?”

 

“My lord…”

 

Jean glared at me with eyes full of embarrassment. Hang in there, Jean. look, those guys were talking amongst themselves just now, and now they have the chance to approach you, right?

 

Swordsmen are all the same kind of fools. What kind of idiot would miss out on the chance to cross swords with you…

 

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone vomit a handful of blood and then walk around fine the next day.”

 

I slowly lowered my arm and turned my head.

I wondered who it was that dared to speak so confidently.

 

“Your excellency Zenail.”

I tensed up and pushed Jean a little on the back, towards the knights.

 

“They’re looking for you. Go. Be careful not to get hurt.”

“…Yes.”

 

Jean glanced at me with a worried expression but walked confidently. She was unexpectedly cute.

 

Once she left, Raphael smoothly took the seat next to me. Among the knights wearing lightweight training attire, Raphael was the only one impeccably dressed in a formal uniform.

 

‘That habit of yours remains the same, whether it’s now or in the past.’

 

No matter when or where, he always wore a perfect uniform.

Was that why? Just sitting side by side brought forward a sense of nostalgia.

 

“You truly are forward.”

With a casual retort, Raphael’s gaze firmly fixed on my face. I shrugged my shoulders and added an afterword.

 

“What? You said Andert’s sister was your sister too. I don’t talk respectfully to my younger brother. Or would you like me to become a stranger again?”

 

For a moment, he remained silent, then turned his head towards the training grounds with a brief response.

 

“You can’t be a stranger again.”

This was my tactic when dealing with Raphael.

I could proudly say I knew Raphael more than anyone else.

 

Raphael was fundamentally dismissive of others in nature. There was no more inefficient behavior than trying to approach him while pretending to be friendly and familiar.

 

‘So even if we’re bound by an unavoidable relationship, if I maintain an attitude that makes him uncomfortable, he will maintain a suitable boundary himself.’

 

Personally, I found this approach more comfortable. It’s less awkward.

 

“I guess siblings aren’t siblings for nothing.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you think it means?”

 

…did it mean we had similar personalities?

That couldn’t be true. I was being more feisty than my days as Andert on purpose.

 

“It seems you’re contemplating something strange. I must be good at changing the subject.”

Raphael, who revealed an unexpected response, took off his uniform coat and draped it over my shoulders. It was a very strange gesture.

 

Hey, I’m Andert.

 

“No need…”

 

“I would prefer to send you straight back to the bedroom, but I’m holding back. You’re not the type to obediently go back.”

 

Hmm. You’ve figured out a lot in just two days, my friend.

 

“The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with your body. It was a difficult statement to understand when being considering things rationally. But If you want me to pretend not to know, I will.”

 

I responded with silence, affirming. Fortunately, he understood my wishes accurately and refrained from commenting on it further.

 

“Alright then… What were you going to say yesterday before it was interrupted?”

 

The oath to maintain secrecy had already been made.

Considering his cautious nature, it would likely be a significantly important information.

 

“Let’s move to a different location for now. There are many eyes here.”

 

I followed Raphael’s escort and stepped out of the training building.

However, for some reason, with each step I took, dozens of pairs of eyes followed me.

 

‘I feel like a bear trapped in a zoo right now.’

I wasn’t receiving such attention even when I was walking with Jean. That means…

 

“Raphael, may I ask an impolite question?”

 

He nodded, glancing at my face as if it was strange for me to call him by his name.

 

“Please go ahead.”

“Do you happen to be seeing some girl as your lover?”

“No, there’s no such thing.”

 

Ah, what a cold response.

 

‘So that’s why everyone is so interested.’

 

Well, even someone like me would be intrigued if I saw a superior who showed interest in a strange woman, despite not being interested in the opposite sex… It’s only natural to become curious.

 

This is so awkward, it’s driving me crazy.

I took off the uniform coat that was draped over my shoulders and handed it back to Raphael.

“I appreciate your gesture, but I feel like I should return this. The surrounding glances are stinging.”

 

“Well, that works out perfectly. Then let’s move together to my sister’s bedroom.”

 

Wait, that doesn’t work out at all, does it? If he goes there, he’s bound to run into Rue. Just imagining the three of us in one room made me feel suffocated.

 

I decided to surrender to Raphael’s threat.

Just as I was about to drape his coat over my shoulders again, Desherro approached from a distance.

 

“Your Highness, a letter has just arrived.”

“Didn’t I ask you to avoid me as much as possible when Lord Weatherwoods is present?”

“I apologize, but it’s a letter you’d been waiting for, so I had no choice.”

 

Raphael immediately tore open the letter handed to him by Desherro. After quickly reading its contents, he gave instructions to Desherro.

 

“Well, that works out perfectly. Let them know that I will attend with my sister.”

 

“…Sister?”

 

“Viscount Weatherwoods.”

Desherro looked at me with a deeply disturbed expression.

 

‘Why are you looking at me like that? Do you not like me being called sister by him? Well I feel the same way!’

 

But why is he deciding by himself whether we’d attend someplace together or not? When I demanded an explanation with my eyes, Raphael handed me the paper he was holding.

The paper turned out to be an invitation.

 

‘Moreover, this seal is…’

The Royal Seal.

 

『To the Honorable Head of the Zenail Family,

 

You are cordially invited to the upcoming Hunting Festival, to be held in fifteen days from the date of this letter.

 

Please grace us with your presence and become the finest hunter of the year.

Illuminate the Festival with your light. 』

 

The Hunting Festival.

 

‘Right, it’s autumn now.’

 

According to the Head maid, the current social circles of the Penrotta Empire had five major celebrations.

 

New Year’s Day, Foundation Day, Full Moon Festival, Peace Festival, and Hunting Festival. Among these, New Year’s Day and Full Moon Festival are operated mainly by the Holy Church, while the remaining holidays are celebrated as festivals under the leadership of the royal family. 

 

‘Since the Weatherwoods family has just resumed social activities after four years, we must participate in the Hunting Festival this year.’

 

Well, that’s a different matter. 

 

“I have no intention to attend it together with you. Why are you deciding it without my consent?”

 

Raphael, who returned the letter to Desherro, turned away.

And he brought up a story that never in my wildest dreams could have imagined.

 

“There is someone in the Empire who seeks Andert’s body.”

 

For a moment, I thought my ears were hearing wrong.

That was because the content of that statement was not only surprising but also extremely absurd.

 

“My brother’s body? For what purpose?”

“For resurrection.”

“……”

“Andert isn’t the only one. The bodies of some of the soldiers who participated in the Magic War have already fallen into their hands.”

 

Raphael, who was walking ahead of me, looked back at me with determined eyes.

“So, sister, please be the bait that will lead them to us.”

---

Jean is lovely, honestly.

Daisy has every right to be upset, and she just puts it down because she’s not used to expecting a lot.