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

<Episode 118>

 

“I will hand over this cage to you two days after the hunting season ends. Please consider my not handing it over immediately as my own guarantee.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“On that day, I will also inform you of the whereabouts of another relic. My sister may already know, but it is not as far away as you might think.”

 

So generous?

 

“And also, I will have one more request for my sister.”

 

A request? My heart was somewhat relieved since he was being a little too nice.

‘But it’s not a favor without a price.’

 

It’s better this way now.

A relationship based on calculations.

 

Raphael naturally led me up a flight of stairs. I thought he would guide me to the room where the interrogation took place yesterday, but the place we arrived at clearly looked like Raphael’s office.

 

“<Berithlet> is an organization that both exists and doesn’t exist. Very few people know that it is closely associated with the royal family, and those who’ve tried to dig deeper into it have disappeared without a trace.”

 

“……”

 

“They claim that they have no ulterior motives in their resurrection research. They say their only goal is to ‘revive those who were sacrificed without getting a chance to be rewarded.’ But if they were so confident in their beliefs, they wouldn’t have conducted their research hiding underground like little rats.”

 

Raphael passed by the bookshelves that filled one side of the wall and stopped in front of the leftmost shelf. As he pulled forward a book titled <Understanding Faith>, a noise came from the wall inside the bookshelf.

 

Creak.

 

Along with a concise mechanical sound, the bookshelf slowly slid into the wall. Then, a hidden secret passage appeared.

 

Tension filled the air between Raffaello and me. No, this was the tension only I felt towards him.

 

Where was Raphael trying to lead me?

 

“Do you know? Emperor Ashernik doesn’t have many days left. Although the Imperial palace keeps it hushed, they estimate he has about five years at most.”

 

Five years of life.

As I stepped into the dark passage, the bookshelf gradually returned to its original position. Now, darkness engulfed us from all sides.

 

“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“…Vaguely.”

 

The Emperor’s resurrection must be another purpose of the resurrection research.

 

We descended the stairs and silently walked through the seemingly endless corridor. At one point, I heard the sound of a doorknob turning nearby. Eventually, a gentle light poured through the slightly opened door.

 

They were on the other side of the open door.

Count Rosebell, Marquis Calpen, and Count Rogenhoff. 

And there, looking strangely elegant and familiar, were some young nobles with an awkward air about them. They were all…

 

‘Comrades who fought together in the Magic War.’

 

Raphael, standing in front of them, turned to look at me.

 

“Viscount Weatherwoods. We have organized a corps to counter the Imperial Family.”

 

I silently stared at what Raphael called ‘corps’.

 

“The purpose of this gathering is simple. We will protect the remains of the fallen warriors in the Magic War and dedicate our lives to safeguarding the Penrotta Empire that they sacrificed their lives to protect.”

 

Their eyes did not hold resolute determination or conviction. Instead, such an atmosphere created an impression opposite to fostering unity within this gathering.

 

For them, the significance of the corps’ existence was not significant at all.

It was simply natural.

 

Because it was natural, it was firm and solid. That was the true foundation that held this corps together.

 

“Even if it’s for the sake of your departed brother… I hope you will join us in our cause, Viscount Weatherwoods.”

 

However, regardless of that fact, from my perspective, it was a situation that only made me sigh.

 

‘There’s no way out of this.’

 

Is this their way of keeping me trapped? To prevent me from entertaining futile thoughts, to keep me completely on their side.

 

But there was no other way.

‘If I can meet Natasha.’

If I could hear her story, which I did not know.

 

…If I could gather all of Dian Cecht’s relics and live a full life. I would willingly board the same boat as them.

 

Count Rosebell demanded of me.

 

“Viscount Weatherwoods, swear in blood.”

Blood oath. Yes, it was probably an essential element of the corps.

 

‘Well, if I have to, I can do it.’

 

Although I felt a little uneasy. Didn’t I vomit blood and faint after making an oath two times? If the same thing happened again this time, Rue would be really worried.

 

However, if I refused to make the oath, Raphael’s trust in me would plummet…. and he might try to take away Dian Cecht’s cage.

 

‘…Well. I can’t help it.’

 

I would just have to hold on with grit.

 

There were no traces of the previous oath, so I extended out my relatively clean wrist. I was displeased with how thin and unimpressive it looked despite my consistent training.

A golden energy enveloped the room.

 

“Here, the twelve gathered in the Zenail duchy are about to take the blood oath.”

 

A cold sweat ran down my back due to anxiety. In such a situation, I had to quickly wrap it up.

 

“I, Daisy Weatherwoods… Ugh.”

 

However, a weak body could not keep up with a strong spirit.

As if waiting, the moment I opened my mouth, I grimaced forward, as if about to vomit.

 

“Oh no.”

“Viscount Weatherwoods!”

 

Perhaps because I had already shed blood once, the elderly men immediately rushed towards me, some in front and some behind.

 

“Please, Viscount. Are you okay? Are you conscious?”

“Don’t touch her. I fear you might harm the Viscount with your ignorance and strength.”

“Oh my. Are you saying you’re afraid that the woman who pinned down Sir Rowayne against the wall might get hurt?”

 

“You’re being noisy. Is Sir Senyard here? As a woman, you should help the Viscount.”

“Yes.”

 

Their sounds were murmured, as if submerged in water.

 

‘Haah.’

 

Good, I’d hung on. I didn’t faint or bleed, was the answer grit afterall?

 

However, while I tried to maintain my dignity as a warrior, my physical condition did not hold up. My head was so dizzy that I couldn’t move my legs.

 

I pretended nothing had happened and apologized.

 

“Sorry, but can we postpone the oath for later? I’m not feeling well today.”

“Fine, just stop here and go back to your bedroom immediately. Sir Senyard? Escort Viscount Weatherwoods to her bedroom…”

 

Before Count Rosebell could finish speaking, my body floated into the air. Thanks to that, I felt even more dizzy, and had to hold on to my head.

 

“I apologize. I was too hasty.”

 

Following a soft whisper, my vision darkened.

My body floated in a damp and dark space for a long time. When I faintly opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the sharp jawline of Raphael, who was holding me tightly.

 

What should I say? Instead of relief, I felt a slight sense of shame.

Being with Raphael brought about conflicting emotions.

 

A longing for the past. And a bitterness and shame towards myself who’d become so infinitely weak…

 

I didn’t feel happy about the fact that I was being protected by no one but him.

 

We used to stand side by side.

 

“Put me down, Raphael. I’ll walk from here.”

“It’s not possible.”

“We’re on the same floor as the bedroom anyway. I can just go around that corner.”

“It’s too much for your body.”

 

Too much? I knew that. Yet, the reason I wanted to walk on my own feet, despite knowing this, was simple.

I didn’t want to give Raphael the impression of weakness anymore, but more than anything, I didn’t want to show this sight to Rue.

 

If you asked me why… well, I just didn’t want to.

 

“I’m an unmarried woman. If you’re not going to take responsibility for me for life, put me down.”

 

The warning seemed to have worked properly, seeing that Raphael stopped in his tracks.

I didn’t miss the opportunity and descended to the ground. Thanks to the short rest, I regained the strength to stand up on my own, away from Raphael’s embrace.

 

‘…It would be easier to walk without these shoes.’

Ah, these damn shoes. They were getting in the way of my pretending to be fine.

With a short sigh, I glanced up at Raphael and asked.

 

“Pretend you didn’t see this.”

And immediately, I bent down and took off both my shoes. Holding the shoes in my hands, I smiled at Raphael, who was looking at me with a strange expression.

 

“Well then, I’ll take my leave for today.”

“Sister, wait.”

 

It was an ordinary call.

Raphael casually knelt down in front of me, placing one knee on the ground. He untied his tie and wrapped it around my left foot.

 

Startled, I tried to pull my foot away, but Raphael’s hand didn’t budge. He loosely tied the knot to cover the sole of my foot, then reached inside his jacket and pulled out a white handkerchief that looked new. It was for wrapping my right foot.

 

While I was unable to utter a word, Raphael stood up.

 

“Please return them later.”

 

His pleading face was not that of my familiar, long-time partner, but that of a man I had to look up to with my chin raised.

 

Of Duke Raphael Zenail.

---

 

Daisy’s grief over her weakened body is so real. We used to stand side by side. God, that must hurt.

so yeah uh who needed piled up chapters anyway.

the next few chapters are going to be delicious so I’m going to let you guys have these for now hehe