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

<Episode 155>

 

I immediately quelled the questions that threatened to dominate my mind.

This was a meeting with none other than the emperor himself. I could potentially gain crucial clues through this opportunity. I didn’t want to waste any time on other thoughts, at least until during this meeting.

 

The dining table stretched impressively long. On both ends of the table, extending from the entrance of the small dining room to the inner wall, there were only two seats prepared.

 

“Today’s guest has arrived.”

 

The emperor, who was sitting alone at the opposite end, spoke to me familiarly. I couldn’t properly see his face because I was bowing my head in greeting, but his complexion, which I glimpsed briefly, wasn’t very good.

 

“Thank you for inviting me, Your Majesty. It is an honor for my family.”

“Enough with the boring pleasantries. Just sit.”

 

A servant silently approached and pulled out a chair for me. As I sat in the designated seat, I felt even further away from the emperor.

 

‘If an ordinary person were to sit here, his expression would barely be visible, wouldn’t it?’

After pouring water into the glasses, the servant whispered so quietly that only I could hear.

 

“When you’re thirsty, drink from the glass on the far left, and when you want to rinse your mouth, drink from the one next to it.”

 

What’s the difference between the two?

 

‘Is this Imperial etiquette?’

 

I heard that Imperial etiquette was quite different from noble etiquette. The maid had offered to personally teach me Imperial etiquette, but I declined her offer. If I was asked ‘who taught this to you?’ It’d be troublesome.

 

The first dish was steamed fish with an unknown green mousse on top. The servant standing next to me explained the dish, but I couldn’t hear them.

 

‘Just take one bite. If you must, take two bites.’

 

I delicately placed an appropriate amount of mousse on the white fish and slowly chewed and swallowed it. The taste… was remarkably stable.

 

This was my response to Andert’s warning.

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

 

It was a kind warning, but from my perspective, it was difficult to follow. How could I ignore the food in a one-on-one meeting with the emperor?

 

Fortunately, I was an enlightened being with a steel buff, who’d crossed two walls. I could recover from the right amount of poison on my own. The fact that I had to enjoy seemingly delicious food only in small bites felt even more cruel.

 

“Did you receive the prize of the hunting championship well?”

 

After the meal began, the emperor spoke for the first time.

 

“Yes.”

In response, I placed the golden statues I had separately prepared on the dining table.

 

“Master, it would be better to take these with you to the dinner.”

“Why bother?”

“Leaving a special mark like that means that much thought went into the gift. By taking them with you, you can directly ask him about the meaning of the sentence and maybe get a hint.”

 

“Here, I brought all three statues.”

“Hmm? Why did you bring them?”

“I wanted to ask Your Majesty about the meaning behind the pendant.”

 

The emperor seemed taken aback. After a moment, he set down his utensils and, through the servant, handed me the necklace he was wearing.

 

“This is the real pendant. It is a treasure of the royal family that protects against evil spirits… or more precisely, protects against dark forces.”

 

Is this the real pendant of the royal family?

But this is…

 

‘It’s a heart crystal.’

 

I was not mistaken. Usually, a pendant is a large spherical shape, but the royal pendant was similar in size to a pearl. Moreover, it was even split in half.

 

“Was it originally broken?”

“It was accidentally broken. The other half is with the Crown Prince, and a portion of the half I have is encased in this plating.”

 

It was surprising enough that the treasure passed down through generations of the royal family was broken, but to think that a part of that treasure was included in the statue given to me.

 

“It’s regrettable that the value of the treasure has diminished, but it was an unavoidable choice. I cannot just live for myself, ignoring the future of the empire.”

 

It was a remark that held some meaning.

 

“Does it really have an effect?”

“If it didn’t, I would have been put in a coffin long ago.”

 

His words meant that there was a presence of dark forces within the palace. There was a source that immediately came to mind.

 

The Heart of Mephisto.

 

“Dictatorship, immorality, unjust power… They are the three evils that a ruler must keep away from. The Three Pendants are treasures that protect the ruler from these three evils and instill in them a sense of urgency to keep them at bay. This is emphasized in Imperial studies.”

 

“Interesting.”

 

“It may be interesting, but true enlightenment cannot be obtained through lessons or books. It can only be gained through experience. One must walk the path of dictatorship to guard against dictatorship, walk the path of immorality to guard against immorality, and acquire unjust force to guard against its power.”

 

The emperor swallowed some water with a somewhat tired face.

 

“The realization you gain at the end is kind of like a last reward. No, it would be more accurate to call it a punishment. It makes you realize that even regret is too late.”

 

“……”

 

“Did I say something too difficult to understand?”

 

“No, they were some very profound words. By any chance, has Your Majesty crossed the wall?”

“The wall? Are you referring to the state of mind and body unity? I know that’s a thing that only warriors can attain, is it not?”

 

That wasn’t true. The most crucial factor in crossing the wall wasn’t the physical body but the soul. Wasn’t Dian Cecht, who’d reached the level of Demi-god, closer to a healer than a warrior?

 

“If Your Majesty were a warrior, you would most definitely have been close to the level of a demi-god.”

 

For the first time, the emperor smiled. It was a dry smile that made my mouth feel parched.

 

“You are buttering me up. Cough, cough… but listening to you makes me curious. If one becomes a God, would they never die?”

 

“I don’t know for sure, but I have heard that they don’t die and ascend to the world of gods.”

 

“It sounds like a dream.”

 

After that, a long silence fell. The emperor opened his lips again when the third dish was being prepared.

 

“You’re eating little, Viscount Weatherwoods.”

“Perhaps due to nervousness, I don’t have much appetite.”

“Are you afraid of indigestion?”

“To some extent, yes.”

 

“That’s too bad. In that case, let me get straight to the point. Is Andert Fager alive?”

 

The question was so asked so suddenly that I couldn’t answer immediately.

 

But although sudden, it was a moment I’d been waiting for since Andert was mentioned in my last meeting with the Emperor. That’s why I had to be careful. Because the Emperor was the gateway to meeting Natasha.

 

“No.”

 

As soon as I denied it, a servant approached from behind and placed a box on the table. It emitted an unusual energy.

 

‘A magical tool.’

 

What kind of magical tool?

“It’s important, so please answer the next question with only the truth. Andert Fager, who appeared 14 years ago and commanded the southern forces of the Allied Army during the magic war for 10 years before perishing on Queen Island. The one whom you, Princess Natasha, Raphael Zenail as well as Jurian Berkeley-Gratten knew. Can you contact that person depending on the situation?”

 

The moment I heard that question, I was sure.

 

‘It’s a magical artifact that distinguishes truth from lie.’

It was a rare item that could hardly be obtained even with money if not for power at the Imperial level.

 

It was suspicious.

It wasn’t the magical artifact that was suspicious, but the Emperor’s question. It was unnecessarily lengthy, elaborate and delicate, as if he was setting a trap. I carefully reviewed each of the Emperor’s lines.

 

If he’d casually just asked, ‘Is Andert alive?’ I would confidently answer, “No.” Because that’s how I truly felt. It was a logic similar to how I defined myself as Daisy Fager when making a magic oath.

 

‘But the Emperor’s question is ambiguous.’

 

His definition of Andert Fager was clear and, above all, he asked whether ‘communication was possible.’ If I were to answer no to that, would the magic tool prove it to be false?

 

“He’s alive. So… Andert Fager is alive.”

 

…Ah.

 

Damn it. I swallowed a sigh.

‘It was a psychological battle, was it?’

 

He deliberately placed a strange magic tool in front of me and asked even stranger questions to unsettle me.

 

What a damn trick. 

Was I the one being played? This cunning person used my hesitation as bait to draw out the answer!

 

This was the futile life of an ignorant person who’d only lived as a swordsman. I thought that as long as I had strength, I wouldn’t fall for scams…

 

The Emperor gently closed his eyes and fell into deep contemplation.

It was too late to deny it. From the moment I’d fallen for the trap, there was no place for me to retreat to.

 

Now that it was like this, I could only move forward.

“Yes, Your Majesty. My younger brother is alive and wishes to meet Princess Natasha.”

 

Soon, the Emperor’s tightly closed eyes opened.

 

With a casual gesture, a servant prepared a neat piece of paper and a fountain pen in front of me. They were clearly tools for writing a letter.

 

“What is this?”

“Summon Count Andert Fager, no, Count Vladiev, to the palace immediately. I’ll grant him the reunion he desires with Princess Natasha, as he wishes.”

---

 

LMAOOO

Also I’m not going to lie Daisy practically going ‘bet’ at the emperor’s philosophical discussion is very Daisy fager of her