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

<Episode 151>

 

I didn’t know where Rue was leading us to.

I looked at my mud-covered toe and replied,

 

“I didn’t kill him. Although we ended up looking similar.”

 

I didn’t add that I’d almost died, since Rue would be worried.

 

“That is not a satisfactory answer.”

“So what if it’s not satisfactory? Boys grow up fighting and beating each other.”

 

I’d lived a third of my life as a man, so let’s just say I was a man for some part of it.

 

“Friends?”

Rue snorted as if it was ridiculous.

 

“Are you really friends?”

“Yes, we’re friends, so he mustn’t die. It will break my heart.”

 

“What’s lost can be recreated.”

“That’s not how that works.”

 

At this point, Rue seemed to genuinely find Raphael disdainful.

I pondered on what words could reassure him and then tried my luck by gently patting my exposed shoulders.

 

“These wounds, you know. I wasn’t very happy to see them again.”

 

“But?”

 

“But it seems like they helped ease Raphael’s anger a little. I feel uncomfortable though, since it seems like I was forgiven by using a shady method.”

 

Rue stopped in the courtyard, located to the west of the banquet hall. When I’d been walking alone, the wind felt somewhat sharp, but with Rue by my side, it felt refreshing like a mountain breeze that cooled my sweat.

 

 

“Listen to me, Daisy.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You have not sinned.”

 

Rue said so firmly as he grasped my tattered clothes.

 

“It’s not because you’re a sinner that you feel guilty towards him. It’s because you’re kind and upright. If he demands any more duties and responsibilities from you-”

 

“You’ll kill him?”

 

“Our Miss Daisy is such a fast learner. I wonder if I’ll be able to put it into practice.”

“You know how to comfort someone so warmly, so why do you always insist on killing Raphael instead of taking it easy on him?”

 

Rue replied with a face that seemed to ask if it wasn’t already obvious.

 

“Because he’s causing you to suffer.”

It was a remark he said very casually, so I wondered why the inside of my chest felt heavy, like a rock had been placed on my heart.

 

Then there was the sound of a presence nearby.

 

In the path leading from the banquet hall to the courtyard, a small shadow stood still. As the shadow took a step closer, the face that had been hidden under the falling white moonlight was revealed.

 

“Oh Goodness, Viscount. You were here. I’ve been looking for you for a long time, you look… did a devil appear again without my knowledge?”

 

“Mrs. Werkhord.”

 

Viscountess Werkhord approached with a bright smile, not even sparing a glance to Count Serenier and spoke.

 

“Here, it’s the handkerchief you dropped at the banquet hall. I recognized it right away since it’s something I gave to you. Don’t lose it from now on.”

 

I quickly grabbed her as she tried to step back inside and asked,

“By any chance, is the true owner of the handkerchief staying at the palace?”

 

 

The Viscountess paused for a moment and then gave me an unwavering smile.

“I apologize, Viscount Weatherwoods. With my foolish mind, I can’t seem to understand what you’re saying. Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

 

Was it difficult to say it?

 

After staring at her figure disappearing into the shadows, I unfolded the white handkerchief given to me.

 

『Watch out for the food at the dinner with the Emperor.』

 

Rue checked the contents and raised his chin, speaking in an intrigued tone.

 

“Has Miss Daisy’s little brother transformed into a mouse hiding in the palace? It looks like the Emperor of Penrotta is planning to poison you.”

 

“Or it could be someone other than the Emperor.”

 

Natasha, for example.

“When U received the invitation to dine with the Emperor alongside the Triple Golden Statues, all the nobles seemed quite surprised.”

 

If the winner of the hunting festival was given the opportunity to dine with the Emperor every year, they wouldn’t have shown such a reaction.

 

‘The unusual reward is being given most probably because I am the winner.’

 

Natasha is a person who carefully considers every decision with cruciality.

She may be waiting for the moment when I am isolated alone in the Imperial Palace and unable to get anyone’s help when she strikes, including Raphael. It was a behavior typical of Natasha.

 

“Shall we go back now? There’s no longer a need to stay here.”

“That’s good to hear.”

 

Without delay, we returned to the Weatherwoods Townhouse.

It was 1 AM on a chilly winter morning. The hunting festival had come to an end.

 

* * *

The time I had until the glorious dinner with Emperor Ashernik was one week.

Immediately after the banquet ended, the first thing I did was examine Dian Cecht’s relics.

 

“Is this Dian Cecht’s seal?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“It’s… quite worn out, isn’t it?”

 

I carefully examined the heavy signet ring taken out of the old wooden box.

This item was Dian Cecht’s seal, which had been kept within Calepa until now.

 

It was worn out. Definitely worn out. Half of the seal, which should have been finely engraved, was shaved off, and the remaining half was crushed. I tried to see what shape would appear after dipping it in melted wax and pressing it, but I couldn’t find anything useful.

 

“…It doesn’t say ‘Ash,’ does it?”

 

“Not at all. It’s closer to a picture.”

 

Alright, that was out.

Next, I unfolded Dian Cecht’s diary. I opened it with great enthusiasm, but..

 

“Rue.”

 

It was all in a foreign language, so I couldn’t interpret it at all. Rue, who was across the round table, smiled faintly and took the diary back.

 

“There’s no way you can read Astrozan. It’s okay, you’re cute even if you’re ignorant.”

“Isn’t there a translation function on the earrings you gave me?”

“They’re just for hearing.”

 

Rue’s long fingers slowly flipped through the diary, which had turned yellow from age. He said he’d already read it once shortly after he picked it up from the Willow Grove forest.

 

“Here.”

The fluttering papers suddenly stopped.

 

“What? Is there something important written there?”

“<The day has finally come.>”

 

The day?

 

I quieted my breaths and focused all my attention on hearing. Perhaps this was the key to my unanswered questions…

 

“<Penny gave birth. There were 8 puppies in total, 4 females and 4 males. Ah, I’m so proud of that rascal!>.”

 

…Is this a joke?

When I made a disappointed expression, Rue threw the diary onto the table.

 

“Don’t be disappointed. Dian Cecht was always a fool. Ash is mentioned twice in the diary, but it seems to refer to a Hawk he raised. <Ash is so fast>, <I miss Ash..> It doesn’t seem to have any special hidden meaning.”

 

“Does Rue remember the Hawk Dian Cecht used to raise?”

 

“Vaguely.”

 

“Was there anything special about it?”

 

“There was something special.”

 

His golden eyes flashed with a serious glint as he looked back on his memory.

 

“It was ugly.”

 

Ah, that’s truly special.

 

I carefully scanned the scattered items in the bedroom.

 

Dian Cecht’s Seal.

 

Dian Cecht’s Diary.

 

Dian Cecht’s Cage.

 

Dian Cecht’s Eyes.

 

‘…Come to think of it, it’s only this eyeball that seems out of place.’

 

Except for the eyeballs, all relics, including Dian Cecht’s hand mirror, which was owned by the Swordmaster, had something in common.

 

They were all objects used in everyday life.

 

I placed my hand on the egg, feeling its warm energy and the pulsation of life. Even if you carefully checked its smooth shell in its entirety, there was no trace of “Ash.” I double-checked the magical incantation in it through Rue, but it was the same.

 

“Why is the trigger phrase for the magic ‘<Don’t die, Ash>’?”

Rue responded to my muttering with an insincere voice.

 

“He must have wanted to save his dying hawk.”

“I don’t think that’s it.”

 

Rue asked, tracing the faded tag inside the bird’s cage.

 

“Why? Just because the handwriting on this leather is similar to yours?”

“…..”

 

“Daisy, I admit that this handwriting is identical to yours. However, drawing a conclusion based on just this one thing seems nothing more than baseless speculation.”

Speculation. Yes, I admit that. Claiming a past connection based on just handwriting was, even in my own opinion, close to baseless.

 

Rue’s eyes, looking at me, seemed to be saying ‘So tell me the real reason.’ They seemed rather soft and calm instead of forceful.

 

“Hmm. You’re quite stubborn this time, aren’t you? Well, if you don’t want to speak, you can keep your mouth shut. I guess it’s not the right time yet…”

 

“Ash.”

 

Ah, I didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to reveal it.

But the one in front of me was Rue. No one else but my wizard.

 

“That’s my old name. Ash. Ash Fager…”

 

Tap, tap. Rue’s hand, which was poking at the tag, stopped. At the same time, Rue’s face, which had been staring at me, seemed to become completely blank. It was a reaction that I hadn’t expected at all.

 

‘When I look at that expression, it feels worth it to say it.’

 

If not now, when would Rue show me such a face?

I took out a memo pad and a pen from the drawer and wrote down the name ‘Ash.’

 

“There’s probably no one in the world who has written my name more than me. See? Usually, when you write the very last letter, the tip curves to the left. But when I write it, it curves to the right. Because I’m left-handed.”

 

So, the handwriting of ‘Ash’ in the label belonged to me. That was for certain.

 

I looked at Rue triumphantly, but he was just staring at the word, Ash, that I’d written down. He did so for several seconds.

 

“What are you doing?”

When I nudged him when I thought he might’ve dozed off with his eyes open, Rue looked up.

 

“It’s pretty.”

“What?”

“Your name. It’s pretty. To the point I want to keep it hidden only in my head forever.”