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

<Episode 120>

 

I looked at Rowayne again, and his expression seemed a bit strange. It seemed like he was both displeased and embarrassed.

 

“Judging by his reaction, it’s clear.”

“Miss Jean…”

“I told you, it’s not Miss Jean, but Viscount Weatherwoods’ Aide. Don’t make me repeat myself. And if you truly admire Sir Andert, acknowledge your mistake and explain it clearly. If you don’t want to embarrass Sir Andert, that is.”

 

“…”

 

What was wrong with Rowayne again? Why did he have such a convinced look on his face?

Before the conversation among the swordsmen took a stranger turn, I decided to turn away.

 

“Say goodbye to Raphael for me, Sir Rowayne. Tell him his sister was busy and had to return to Weatherwoods.”

 

For the first time, Rowayne looked surprised like an ordinary person.

 

“Viscount Weatherwoods, what do you mean…”

“See you next time.”

 

Realizing that sneaking out while wandering near the castle would be difficult, we confidently walked out through the main gate.

 

Fortunately, no one, including the guards, tried to stop us. Raphael probably hadn’t expected me to defy his request within an hour.

 

Taking advantage of his carelessness, we were able to smoothly escape from Holland Luz. We had to endure sitting on regular seats in the train for hours, but we didn’t mind.

 

Normally, Jean would say, ‘It’s unlike the prickly and self-important Viscount Weatherwoods to be not sitting in the VIP section,’ but she chose not to nag, being flexible for once.

 

* * *

 

“Are you back, Viscount?”

“Master, you’re back?”

“Mhm.”

 

I looked at the employees lined up in front of the main entrance with strange sentiment.

 

‘Is this the everyday life of an upper-class family?’

 

Were nobles naturally interested in such things? It was definitely a culture unfamiliar to me, who used to walk around the barracks in muddied shoes.

 

The maid took my coat and hat from me and cautiously asked, 

“How did you work at the Zenail Duchy go?”

“I have a few things to discuss with the maid and Grandpa Malcolm regarding that. Come to my room after your work is done.”

“Yes, my lord.”

 

Much of the Weatherwoods mansion had changed just in the few days I was away.

The ivy that clung to the walls had mysteriously disappeared, and the old windows and doors had been replaced with new ones.

 

There was glossy new furniture, and the interior somehow had a pleasant fragrance.

The narrow corridors were adorned with small and elegant decorations.

 

Silverware filled one side of the dining room.

And above all else…

 

“I have decided to order new curtains for this winter. As expected of the season, they will be in shades of soft wine red.”

 

“Hmm. I don’t agree with that, Mr. Danahan. Wine red gives off an old vibe. As young as the master is, I believe the interior must hold some vitality while still being sophisticated. How about a calm dark green?”

 

They were having a very important conversation. It was a very dedicated attitude.

However, now I was not just a maid, but Viscount Weatherwoods. I could not easily interrupt their conversation and ruin the atmosphere.

 

Because that’s what being the ‘master’ meant.

After the sun had set,

 

The slightly-tense maid, and the kind-looking Malcolm came to my room.

 

“I heard you have something to ask of us.”

“Yes, quite a lot. First, the current situation of Princess Natasha, then the connection between the resurrection experiments led by the Penrotta Royal Family and information about Mephisto’s Heart. Oh, and there’s something about Berithlet being under the control of the Imperial Family. We need to look into that… Also, there seems to be a need to grasp the overall amount of secrets about Rogue the Imperial family knows. It seems like the royal family has crystallized Mephisto’s Heart, which must be a technology leaked from Rogue’s archives.”

 

“….”

 

“Lastly, I will summarize the matters and information I need to be aware of in preparation for the Hunting Festival. I will be working closely with the Zenails for the time being, in exchange for getting Dian Cecht’s cage…”

 

While the maid tried to concentrate on my words with a slightly dazed expression, Malcolm diligently took notes in a small notebook he’d brought out from his pocket.

 

“Natasha. I can’t believe she’s doing dangerous experiments like resurrection. unbelievable.”

 

I briefly answered his sighs.

“It’s information directly from Raphael’s mouth, so there’s no doubt about it.”

“…Is that so? I understand. I will organize the matters you mentioned and submit them by tomorrow morning. And wait a moment.”

 

The maid rummaged through her pocket and handed me three elegantly written letters at a glance. The sender of the first letter I saw was a name I didn’t recognize.

 

“What is this?”

 

“Not long after you returned, Master, we were contacted by three aristocratic families, all of which hold titles, including the Werkhord family.”

 

Werkhord was Rowayne’s family.

 

“What kind of contact?”

“They requested a visit, saying they have something to discuss regarding marriage.”

“…Marriage?”

 

Hold on?

marriage?

 

I looked at the maid without being able to open the letter. Her green eyes sparkled uncomfortably in the darkness.

 

* * *

 

Marriage.

 

What is marriage?

 

It is a pledge of eternal love and trust between two people.

It is publicly declaring that they are ready to become parents.

It is a promise of political and economic cooperation, mutual support and prosperity.

 

In noble families, marriage usually emphasized the third aspect. 

It is used as a means to protect power and wealth.

 

“I won’t do it.”

 

“Why not?”

 

The maid’s eyes sharpened. She intercepted me before I could make an excuse.

“You are no longer acting as Gray Weatherwoods, Viscount. You have pledged to live the rest of your life as Daisy Weatherwoods, the head of the Weatherwoods family – Viscount Weatherwoods. And marriage is the duty of the head. You can simply choose whether or not to do it out of personal preference.”

 

“I’m not saying I won’t do it at all. I just need some time.”

 

“Do you think I’m a fool? I’ve known you for several months already. Every time you make that unique, stubborn, and closed-off expression, you never bend your will. I will say it again, marriage is a duty that the head of the Weatherwoods family must carry…”

 

Oh, really. My ears are about to burst.

Later, I spoke to the young doctor who arrived unannounced 30 minutes ago and was waiting for his turn.

 

“Doctor.”

“Y-Yes?”

“You can go now. Tell Raphael I have done the examination and it was sufficient.”

This doctor, like Desherro, was under Raphael’s command.

 

Of course, the main difference was the level of Raphael’s insistence on his concerns about my health, which outweighed Desherro’s will when faced with me… But whatever the true reason may be, from my perspective, it was no different from a command.

 

Those eyes that scrutinized me were not something I was happy with.

The doctor swallowed a dry gulp and bravely spoke up.

 

“But Viscount, I haven’t properly examined you yet. His Grace, the Duke of Zenail, must know about your condition…”

 

“Tell him there is nothing wrong with my health. Since he already knows that, the doctor won’t suffer any consequences. Tell him that Lord Weatherwoods very reluctantly took the examination… it would be better to convey it like that.”

 

“Oh, no, I can’t.”

“You can’t?”

 

Swoosh. When Jean drew the sword that always hung at her waist, the morning sunlight reflected off the blade, emitting a bright white light.

 

“And yet you know how to give such an answer?”

“…….”

“You don’t?”

 

The pale doctor fumbled with his belongings for a while, and then shouted, throwing a piece of paper at me.

 

“H-His Grace has asked me to deliver this letter to you, Viscount. Then, I shall take my leave!”

 

A letter again? What kind?

 

I accepted the paper and stared at the disappearing figure in bewilderment. As I opened the letter, a very familiar handwriting greeted me.

 

『If my sister is reading this, she must have already scared away the Doctor I sent.

 

I understand your intentions well. It means that you only treat me as a brother in words, and you find my concerns and attention very bothersome.

 

Andert once said it too. Siblings are beings who antagonize and provoke each other. Although I’m not confident about antagonizing or provoking my sister, it seems there is no way to avoid some conflict.

 

Do as you please, sister, and I will as well.

 

From Raphael.』

 

The content was so narrow-minded and petty that it was hard to believe.

‘So you’re subtly trying to prick my conscience because I refused the examination, huh?’

 

The only difference was the manner, but the actions were just the same as before. No, if you’re that worried, just tell me where the last relic of Dian Cecht is.

 

“May I ask what is written?”

The Head Maid, who’d been grinding me about the marriage problem all this time, asked cautiously. I answered vaguely.

 

“It’s just whining, about how worried he is and how I must understand his concerns.”

“Whining? It seems you’ve gotten closer. Is it perhaps that, you, Viscount, told him your true identi…”

“No, I didn’t say it. He knows me as Andert’s sister.”

 

The maid asked with a face filled with even deeper doubt.

 

“Are you saying that it’s been less than a week since your last communication with each other, and the Duke of Zenail personally sent correspondence along with a skilled young doctor from Holland Luz? This is too excessive… It seems like a lot of… interest.”

 

“He said Andert’s sister was his sister too. He must feel some sort of responsibility towards me.”

 

“Of course, but… you’d better be careful. The social world has lots of eyes, and even trivial things get greatly inflated.”

 

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The head maid is finally splurging and loosening her iron gripping stinginess! I never thought the day would come!