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

<Episode 119>

 

That unfamiliar gap created a considerable sense of distance within me. Was it because of that? Without saying a word, I just turned my head and walked away.

 

Just after turning a corner, after escaping Raphael’s gaze, layers of tension unraveled, and my legs lost their strength.

 

Fortunately, my collapsed knees didn’t hit the ground. It was because a gentle touch unexpectedly lifted my body with ease.

My mind had retained its balance, and I wasn’t startled.

 

“Take it easy. It’s okay, relax your body and breathe slowly. You can do it, right?”

 

He was the only one I could lean my head on at ease.

Feeling the cold sweat trickling down the back of my neck, I took slow breaths.

 

Due to the aftermath of the oath, my body was in the worst condition. I couldn’t even nod my head because there was no strength in my limbs.

 

“…You seem to have received some very cute gifts.”

 

While I heard the sarcastic taunt, the binding feeling on both my feet disappeared.

As I raised my head with difficulty, Raphael’s tie and handkerchief, which were floating in the air, soon crumpled in Rue’s grasp.

 

“Rue.”

“I know, Daisy. It needs to be returned. There’s nothing to worry about. Morian Serenier will give them back to their owner on your behalf. After thoroughly washing it.”

 

Rue kissed my forehead and whispered affectionately.

 

“For the time being, refrain from doing anything that will harm your health. If I step forward like this, won’t you be in trouble?”

“…Yes, thank you.”

 

As I gazed at his blue hair, I realized something new.

‘…He’s staying here in the form of Morian Serenier and not his original appearance to avoid causing me trouble.’

 

I thought it was merely due to Rue’s perverted interests. Feeling guilty for no reason, I snuggled closer to him and spoke.

 

“I heard the Penrotta Royal Family is conducting resurrection experiments. It seems like it’s been going on for quite some time.”

 

Rue’s eyebrows twisted in a way that looked good.

 

“That…so that’s what it was. That’s quite astonishing, isn’t it?”

“Are they using Heart Crystals, perhaps?”

“Most likely. I can roughly guess. There’s a high probability they’ve obtained Mephisto’s heart.”

 

…Huh?

Mephisto’s heart? The Mephisto from the magic war?

 

It was an incredibly astonishing hypothesis, but I was too exhausted to be surprised. Well, it was surprising in itself that I wasn’t surprised. 

 

“If it’s a heart, could they make it into a heart crystal?”

“Look how smart our Daisy is. The hearts used in the experiments can only be in the form of crystals. The technology of Rogue must have leaked. Well, it was an old technique, so it’s about time it spread outside.”

 

Was it because of Rue’s characteristic calm tone? Rogue’s technology leaking didn’t feel like a very urgent situation.

After arriving in the bedroom, Rue sat me down on a chair and started removing each hairpin from my hair.

 

“Your guess was correct. Raphael owns Dian Cecht’s cage. I’m supposed to receive it as a reward for cooperating with him.”

“If it’s cooperation, it must be related to the resurrection experiments.”

“Yes. It’s connected to my old friend…”

“Old friend?”

“Princess Natasha.”

“Ah, right. I remember her.”

 

Attentive Rue. When he helped me undress, he changed his appearance to Morian’s, even if only for that moment.

Moreover, he responded wholeheartedly to my slow, drawn-out story. As if he would continue to stay by my side, both now and in the future…

 

I let myself be led by Rue and comfortably laid down on the bed. When I rested my head on the pillow, a drowsiness that didn’t come often overtook me.

 

“I have a lot of things to organize, Rue. Let’s return to Weatherwoods tomorrow. We need to prepare for the hunti…”

 

I pulled his hand, lightly tapping my nose, and a pleasant laughter reached my ears.

 

“No need to rush, my Viscount. We have plenty of time. Now, close your eyes and rest.”

 

I peacefully fell asleep, feeling the warmth of Rue’s hand brushing my cheek.

 

* * *

 

Early in the next morning.

I told Raphael I was going home.

 

“That’s not possible.”

And I was immediately rejected.

 

“Why?”

 

“Have you already forgotten that Andert’s sister is also my sister? I have personally caught your collapsing body in my hands not once, but twice. Yet, you think I can just send you away as soon as the sun rises?”

 

“I feel like there’s a misunderstanding here, staying here won’t improve my condition either.”

 

“At least you won’t collapse on the road leading to Midwinterre. I don’t know how much confidence my sister has in her health, but I hope you will follow my suggestion while staying in Zenail Castle.”

 

“So I won’t stay…”

“I won’t accept any objections. Consider resting comfortably for a while and even staying until the hunting festival. The doctor will visit before noon, so please keep that in mind.”

 

Raphael disappeared without saying anything else. That was nothing short of an order, coercion. In reality, it wasn’t such a strange sight.

 

‘Sometimes he had to have his way.’

When I returned with one of my arms barely hanging on to my body, after I’d just escaped from the clutches of complete assimilation, and when I leaped into a pack of demons with my sword alone…

 

I had no intention of reprimanding him. I knew that his coercion stemmed from concern.

 

‘In that sense, he’s still the same as before.’

 

Not just Raphael, but me as well.

 

‘Well, then there’s no choice. I’ll sneak out.’

 

I appreciated the concern, but I was a very busy person.

 

I have to take care of my own life, my family, and check on Natasha separately. Even if I had five bodies, it would still not be enough.

 

“Jean, pack your things as soon as we return to the bedroom. We’ll quietly slip away.”

 

“Yes? But, Rue, I mean, Lady Morian hasn’t returned yet…”

“Don’t worry about that. He might even be happy.”

Rue seemed to have a slight apprehension towards this castle. He would probably follow along on his own.

 

Perhaps she’d gained some more insight during her training with the Zenail knights, for Jean’s actions as she grabbed our belongings and leaped out of the window were very agile.

 

However, while we were smoothly trying to leave Zenail, we unexpectedly met someone behind the castle.

 

Rowayne.

 

Upon spotting me, he maintained his characteristic expressionless face and slowly lowered his head. Unlike the defensive attitude he displayed on the first day, he was very docile.

 

‘Come to think of it… Rowayne wasn’t a member of the corps.’

 

It was surprising. 

To think that someone who was involved in the Rebel Faction, the Beneficiary Faction, and even interrogated me personally was not part of the Corps.

 

“Sir Rowayne, come here for a moment.”

 

He hesitated for a moment but soon followed my request with a nonchalant expression.

 

“I have something I want to ask.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Do you still think I’m Andert Fager?”

Rowayne straightened his back and once again lowered his head.

 

“…I apologize, Viscount. If you permit, I would like to apologize for my reckless behavior that day.”

 

“It’s fine. I don’t mean to make things difficult. I was just curious about the reason behind your question. Besides, it seems it was an impromptu question, not something prepared.”

 

Of course, Raphael had roughly explained the circumstances. He had mentioned that Rowayne had exceptional sensing abilities… But it was difficult to fully comprehend.

 

After a moment of silence, Rowayne slowly parted his lips.

 

“When I was just a rookie knight, I had the opportunity to see Sir Andert Fager from afar. I remember it was about six years ago. At that time, I was a member of the Berkeley-Gratten Knights and served as a messenger for the Duke.”

 

He was a member of the Berkeley-Gratten Knights?

‘But now he’s the Vice Commander of the Zenail Knights?’

 

It was almost unheard of for personnel from two different organizations to mix. It was rather unique.

 

“…I can’t go into detail, but my sensing ability is an acquired skill. It was right after a ritual was completed that I started working as a messenger in the war. For me, who had a limited view of the world, the aura emitted by the heroes on the battlefield was incredibly intense and left a strong impression on me.”

 

Ritual.

It was a vague expression, but I immediately understood.

 

‘So, he was an experimental subject for biological magical experiments.’

 

But it was during the time of the magical war?

‘That’s strange. I don’t recall ever receiving any reports about such experiments.’

 

In other words, it was an individual-level ritual, not a national-level one.

From the way he confidently revealed it, it didn’t seem illegal. And it was none other than a member of the Berkeley-Gratten knight who’d become the subject of the experiment.

 

‘Could it have been… led by the swordmaster?’

 

The swordmaster and bio-magical rituals. They didn’t match at all.

 

Moreover, rituals inherently came with side effects. For the swordmaster, who prioritized the mindset and attitude of a swordsman above all else, to personally perform the ritual on one of his own knights… As someone who prided myself on knowing quite a bit about the swordmaster, it wasn’t something I could easily accept.

 

“Among them, the energy of Sir Andert Fager has remained especially vivid in my mind. It was the most mysterious and complex energy I’d ever felt, which is why I misunderstood. Moreover, I have never encountered two or more individuals with the same energy before… I made a mistake without any countermeasures. I apologize once again.”

 

The reason for the misunderstanding seemed quite plausible.

 

‘Even so, making such a mistake on such an important matter as the vice-captain of the Zenail knights?’

 

What was wrong with this punk? Was he an airhead? I looked at him suspiciously, and for some reason, Jean came forward and defended Rowayne.

 

“It seems Sir Rowayne is quite a big fan of the Viscou- I mean, Sir Andert Fager. It’s quite common in young knights like us.”

 

…Is that so?

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ahh soft Rue and Daisy moments mm