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

<Episode 162>

 

Shaaah~

 

The sea breeze of Queen’s Island blew.

The wind, a perfect blend of the salty taste of seawater and the refreshing feeling of the ocean, was the greatest medium that brought back memories of Queen Island.

 

Rue sat on the steep cliff, leaning against a small tombstone, gazing out at the sea.

His flowing garments and slightly longer hair, covering the back of his neck, reminded me of the Rue from 14 years ago. Unlike Rue, I was dressed in ordinary women’s clothing that I usually wore at the Weatherwoods.

 

This was a lucid dream.

From the moment I opened my eyes until I fell asleep, I had been thinking about Rue all day, and now, in my dream…

 

“Huh?”

 

What’s this?

I was definitely standing on the beach. Why did I suddenly move up to the cliff? As I looked around in confusion, I caught sight of the back of Rue’s head.

 

“Is this really a lucid dream?”

 

Everything feels so vivid and clear to be a dream. It was the first time in my life that I had a ‘dream’ like this.

 

What if Rue’s consciousness had come into my dream?

 

“…by chance, is it really you, Rue?”

 

He turned his head towards me for the first time. His gaze, soaked in boredom, had a completely different atmosphere from the Rue I knew.

 

“Do you even need an explanation? To be precise, I am the power that lies within you.”

The power that lies within me, Rue’s power.

 

‘Is he talking about the power that turned back time?’

That meant it was Rue after all.

 

“Rue!”

 

Oh my goodness, he really was here!

 

I hugged Rue with open arms. His solid body remained firm without budging, but no matter how long I waited, I couldn’t feel the warmth of his embrace.

 

Slowly, I released the hug.

Rue still had that gaze, like he was at a stranger.

 

‘…It feels strangely dry. Is it because he’s Rue’s power?’

 

Rue and Rue’s power.

I vaguely understood the difference between the two. But perhaps it was because the ‘power’ in front of me had Rue’s face? It was difficult to accept his cold attitude. Sitting beside him, gazing at the distant horizon, I quietly asked the questions that had been on my mind.

 

“Is Rue’s consciousness awake?”

 

“Half of it is unconscious, and the other half is not.”

 

“Can I truly not stop him from becoming a complete god?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Did I really die in the underground laboratory?”

 

“No matter how godly he may be, he cannot bring the dead back to life.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“I’m sorry that things turned out this way because of me, Rue. I think I understand why you always call me fragile now.”

 

Rue turned his head and replied with a slightly clearer tone than before.

“There’s no need to apologize. I don’t resent you. Becoming a god has been my destiny for a long time.”

 

Was that something that could be said because the Rue in front of me wasn’t Rue himself but rather the personification of his power?

 

‘But Rue told me before that he would never see me get old without him.’

 

Rue’s power was the power of a God. It could be seen as pure reason, excluding all emotions and human thoughts.

From that perspective, the presence in front of me was no different from Rue’s reason.

 

“Did you come to my dream to comfort me?”

 

“No, it’s because of a promise I made to myself.”

 

“You and Rue? What promise did you make?”

 

“It was a promise he prepared in case of an emergency. From this moment on, you and I will have a total of three opportunities to practice.”

 

“What kind of practice?”

 

“Practice to say goodbye.”

 

The dreadful words choked my throat. Rue, who had no idea what was going on inside me, spoke with confident words.

 

“I am free now, Ash Fager.”

I wanted to retort, asking him not to call me by that name. But my lips wouldn’t move.

 

What kind of practice?

Practice to say goodbye?

 

“I’m just following the path I’ve postponed for a long time. By saving you, I have released the biggest shackles that bound me…”

“Sorry, Rue. I don’t intend to practice anything like that with you.”

 

Rue looked at me silently. His irritatingly indifferent gaze ignited the anger that had been simmering within me.

 

“And one more thing, I’m sorry, but you will continue to be stuck with me forever, for life, forever! Bound by the shackles that hold you. Understand?”

 

“That’s impossible.”

 

“Stop saying nonsense. Didn’t you say there were three chances left? Watch carefully from now on. I’ll make sure that spouting such embarrassing nonsense in front of me becomes a lifelong shame for you!”

 

I stood up abruptly, turned my back on him, and walked towards the direction of the tomb.

What? Practice goodbyes? Breaking up? Was that really what he was saying to me right now? 

We should get married first to get divorced, and start dating after a confession of love to break up! At most, we’ve barely just confirmed the fact that we both like each other…

 

After fussing for a while, I shouted at the calm and clueless Rue. 

 

“What are you doing? I’m a busy person, so don’t delay and wake me up quickly!”

 

With the crashing waves pouring over the cliff as my last sight, my vision flickered into darkness.

 

After I woke up from my lucid dreams, I gave morning greetings to the sleeping Rue and returned to the Weatherwoods Mansion using the golden key (which originally belonged to Rue) I borrowed from Skuld.

 

The sun was already high in the sky. The sunlight poured through the clear, cloudless sky. Standing at the end of my path, staring blankly at me, was Jean.

 

“Viscount… Andert… No, Sir Fager… Count Vladiev?”

She was mumbling something to herself and lowered her head when I approached.

Feeling the nervousness in the air, I deliberately spoke in a softer tone.

 

“Jean, how are you feeling? Are you okay?”

“…Yes, I’m perfectly fine.”

 

Fortunately, Jean didn’t seem to be as far gone as the maid.

“Then, please bring the Head Maid and Malcolm to my room right away. And Jean, you come to my room, too. I have something to discuss about our future plans.”

 

“Our plans? What do you mean?”

Jean’s eyes trembled as she looked up at me.

 

“Yeah. From today onwards, I have to become the hottest celebrity in the Empire.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I understand. Please wait a moment.”

 

Jean, with stiff movements like a wooden doll, bowed her head and started descending the stairs with a creaking sound.

 

‘I don’t understand. The kernel is the same, only the shell has changed. Why are they all acting so unfamiliar?’

 

Tsk. It’s uncomfortable.

As I was about to return to my room, Jean shouted loudly from behind, “Um, excuse me!” 

She wiped the cold sweat off her palm as she spoke.

 

“And when I bring the head maid and Malcolm.. Please give me your autograph!”

 

And then she ran away.

The next day.

 

The Empire of Penrotta began buzzing with the presence of the return of a masked hero.

* * *

 

『The returned Masked Hero, who is he?』

 

This newspaper headline.

Not bad.

 

『…This man, who is currently residing as a guest at the Weatherwoods Residence has referred to himself as the ‘returned hero.’ As explicitly implied, he bears a striking resemblance to ‘that person,’ as all the invited guests invited to see him have testified. He skillfully handled the journalists, answering difficult questions with light humor and captivating the atmosphere of the reception room. When asked about the sudden revelation of his appearance, the man carefully chose his words and replied, ‘I have a friend who I hope would come looking for me after hearing news of my survival’…』

 

‘Journalists can be really mean. Fueling readers to anticipate who that person is by intentionally not stating my identity.’

 

I threw the newspaper onto the table and checked the headlines of the remaining daily newspapers. On the front pages of all five newspapers, there was a man wearing the same mask and attire.

 

It was me.

“Shouldn’t a clown hide? It seems like I’ve revealed too much. Don’t you think so too?”

 

I waited for a response, but the office remained silent.

Well, anyways.

 

“How about it, Desherro? Does it look fine?”

In response to my question, Desherro meticulously examined my face in the black and white photo, even wearing glasses to add to the effect.

 

“Hmm. The mask design is excellent. If it had covered your forehead, it would have been even more difficult to guess your identity. By revealing this much, it creates an appropriate level of tension…”

 

“Are you crazy?”

Desherro’s evaluation was abruptly interrupted by a sharp retort.

 

As I turned my head, I saw Raphael, who had been engrossed in his work at the desk in his office, standing up and approaching me. His eyes were filled with a hostile glare, as if he was ready to throw a punch.

 

“After disappearing in the blink of an eye to Midwinterre, and then coming back in that state? Moreover…”

 

Raphael shook the newspaper that I’d thrown on the table.

 

“Causing such a commotion?”

“I thought you told me to come find you if anything happens?”

“And I warned you to never appear in front of me again.”

 

“That’s funny coming from the guy that suddenly appeared in the Imperial castle and even accompanied me to the underground lab. Does that warning only apply when it’s convenient?”

 

“…Ha.”

 

Taking a deep breath as if suppressing something, Raphael closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, his voice becoming somewhat calmer as he asked me.

 

“How’s your body?”

 

“It’s bad.”

“How much?”

“Pretty.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, tell me properly.”

“…yeah, well. It couldn’t be any worse than this. Is that enough?”

 

Raphael’s expression darkened.  It wasn’t an expression I didn’t want to see.

 

‘I can’t believe that at this age, I keep hammering nails into my friend’s chest.’

 

But there was no other choice. Let’s recall what I’ve done to him so far. Lying, using him, rejecting him… At least when it came to Raphael, I didn’t want to act shamelessly anymore.

 

“What are you up to now? The final relic that Duke Jurian possesses?”

“Add Natasha to that equation. Oh, by the way, this is the first family I’m visiting. I think I’ll go to Rosebell tomorrow, then Berkeley-Gratten next.”

 

“Berkeley-Gratten?”

Staring at the blazing embers of the roaring fireplace, I replied.

 

“I’m going to have a little duel with the swordmaster. Might as well wager my life on it while I’m at it.”

---

Lmaoo Daisy walking into Raphael’s office casually and arguing with him is so best friends of them.