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

<Episode 191>

 

How to Raise Eggs.

 

I pondered in my mind, visualizing the round and smooth oval shape of an egg… No, a bird’s egg, as I eagerly rolled my eyes.

 

‘Raising eggs, caring for bird eggs, proper nurturing methods for hawks…’

 

Never before had I looked at a list of books so urgently and seriously as I did today.

However, despite gathering and checking every book available from the Weatherwoods family, such as 『The Great Dictionary of Birds』, 『The Evolution of Livestock』,『Mystical Ecosystems of the Northern Continent』finding the desired information proved difficult.

 

In a way, it was to be expected.

What kind of stupid author in the world would attempt to raise a hawk, native to the northern continent, in the midst of a city on the Empire? Especially in its fresh egg state!

 

Thinking about it made me unnecessarily anxious again. Is this how a mother feels when she leaves her precious child in a log cabin and goes to the village to earn a living?

 

I threw away the books spread out before me and returned to the bedroom.

The plush and thick bedding was protruding in the center, perfectly suited for the season. Approaching the bed cautiously, I lifted the blanket and discovered a delicate presence nestled inside.

 

A bird’s egg.

 

This egg was found within that egg.

…To add an explanation to this purely factual statement, the first “egg” refers to the egg currently tightly wrapped in the blanket, while the second “egg” refers to Dian Cecht’s relic, the eyeball.

 

I had always believed that the purpose of the eyeball, which was no different from a siege weapon, was simply to protect the Weatherwoods family… But the actual item that grew and guarded the legacy was none other than this tiny creature sleeping inside the eyeball!

 

“Sigh. I’m worried, really worried.”

 

I worried if it would grow well.

On the day I returned to my original place after a long journey.

 

Having barely regained my senses, I was lying still in the Weatherwoods mansion’s bedroom. As soon as I regained my long-forgotten sense of reality, one of Dian’s legacies, which happened to be the eyes, shattered.

Inside the broken half of the shell, there was a single white letter and a small egg. The description written in the letter was very simple and brief.

 

『Do you remember Ash, the gray hawk with a wounded wing?

 

This egg is a distant descendant of Ash.

Gray hawks lay two eggs during their breeding season, and the other egg will be raised into a magnificent adult bird and sent off to the Northern Deus Mountains.

 

I entrust this egg to you.

 

Since it is an egg that died once on a winter day, once born, the hatchling will be quite fragile. Please take good care of it.』

 

“…Ha.”

 

Was this also one of the things Dian left for me?

 

‘I can tell he was restless and wanted to give me just one more thing if he could.’

 

But the truth was that I’d never even raised a rat. As I hesitated with worries for no reason and lifted the blanket again, I heard a sharp reprimand from the maid from behind my head.

 

“Please stop doing that, master. No matter how it looks like an egg, it’s still a living creature. Wouldn’t it feel better if it’s left alone to sleep well so he can grow up nicely?”

 

Was that so? I understood the convincing logic and obediently put down the blanket.

 

Next, just as I was about to straighten my knees and get up from the bed.

At that moment, all the information flooding into me, including my vision and sound, became distorted, causing severe dizziness.

 

“…Ah.”

“Master! Are you okay?”

 

The Head Maid, who had rushed over anxiously, supported me as I stumbled. Although I shook my head, saying I was okay, the maid swiftly supported my body and laid me on the bed as if she couldn’t hear me. 

 

It was an act that did not give any consideration to the egg sleeping inside the blanket.

 

“No! My egg!”

 

Only after confirming that the shell was intact could I finally lay down comfortably.

 

“Please… treat the egg with care…”

“I understand, so please stop mumbling and rest!”

 

It was later revealed that, due to the activation of Dian’s relics, I lost consciousness for a full two weeks.

 

As a result, the head maid developed health concerns for her master.

But far from showing any sweat over the matter, she approached me with a bored expression, taking care of me by wiping my body with warm water and cloth. It was a bit sad to witness.

 

‘There’s no need to worry so much.’

 

Of course, this was nothing more than a mild side effect.

I completely surpassed the four walls.

 

As a result, my body and soul, having entered the realm of the divine, were rapidly being reconstructed day by day. And occasionally, when I closed my eyes and focused… I could feel a thrilling, unfamiliar sensation.

 

Knowing that I was still akin to a fledgling chick, I was making every effort to be cautious until my physical and spiritual selves were fully restored.

Perhaps that’s why, when power was released without warning like this, I welcomed it rather than feeling uncomfortable. It was a moment when I could vividly ‘sense’ the level I had surpassed.

 

Today was no different.

 

Thump, thump, thump.

As my heartbeat accelerated, I felt my sixth sense, which had been closed off, expanding at a rapid pace.

 

My grasp extended beyond the Penrotta Empire, crossing the Northern Deus Mountains and reaching the Northern Continent Union. Among the faint energies scattered throughout the continent, a particularly distinct energy caught my eye.

 

A power that even my new keen senses couldn’t easily reach.

It was the power of the Lord Calepa, the power of Rue.

 

‘Hmm, as expected…’

 

Even though we had reached a similar realm of enlightenment, demigods, the difference was significant.

 

No, perhaps it was because we had reached the same realm that the difference was so palpable.

 

It felt like I was standing at the starting line, ready to walk the same path as Rue… but considering the long gap of time that existed between us, it wasn’t surprising.

 

Rue.

Just thinking of the face of that most lovely person made my mouth bitter.

 

In truth, I haven’t been able to find Rue.

 

Or more accurately, I haven’t made the effort to find him. It was since I heard the news that for some reason, Rue regained his balance with his human side and woke up.

 

Perhaps it would’ve been difficult to make this decision if I hadn’t come face to face with him in the past.

 

I have one wish.

I want to become someone that Rue can lean on.

 

But I had a lot of unfinished matters waiting for me. Natasha, the royal family, Weatherwoods… I wanted to stand confidently in front of Rue after fulfilling all the given obligations and responsibilities, and tell him proudly.

 

I am no longer fragile.

As an equal being to you, I can be with you forever.

 

Since my goal was to meet Rue within a week, I had to finish up my tasks to the best of my abilities in the remaining two days.

 

“Oh, Head Maid. There’s something I want you to help me with…”

 

Just as the head maid, who was diligently cleaning around my neck, raised her head.

A loud cry erupted from outside.

 

“Viscount Weatherwoods, present yourself immediately under the Emperor’s command!”

 

At the same time, our eyes went out of the window.

 

* * *

Bernard was in agony.

 

The temperature of agony was cold. The sky was hazy due to a heavy snowfall that covered the region for the first time in nearly ten years, and the news that had just arrived across the sky only added to his agony, so there was no choice but to be cold.

 

As he silently stared at the torn envelope, he soon began to move his steps.

 

‘It feels like I’ve returned to the days in the palace.’

 

Twenty years ago, Bernard, born as the eldest son of the Neresiquin family in the Kingdom of Lachvelspa, a member state of the Northern Continental Union, was appointed as the royal court’s chief advisor, succeeding his father.

 

One of the main duties of the chief advisor was to understand the king’s mind and cater to his whims.

 

At that time, the king he served was a renowned saint in the history of the Lachvelspa monarchy, a brilliant strategist with exceptional talent. Bernard enjoyed the best treatment he could as the chief advisor and then returned to Rogue.

 

The time spent with King Lachvelspa provided Bernard with impressive inspiration and enlightenment as he crossed three walls and grew into a capable individual.

 

However, if someone were to ask him, “If you could go back to your youth, would you become the chief advisor to King Lachvelspa once again?” Bernard would promptly respond, without delay, as follows:

 

‘Absolutely not, never!’

 

Based on what he’d come to realize over the decades, talent and character generally exhibit an inverse relationship.

 

Furthermore, regardless of the field, prodigies who’d reached the pinnacle often displayed sensitive reactions in corners that were difficult to understand.

 

King Lachvelspa was a prime example of this, and as the chief advisor, Bernard might have enjoyed physical luxury, but could not enjoy a drop of mental luxury.

 

Even his mentor and ruler, Lord Calepa, was no exception.

 

Undoubtedly, Lord Calepa’s talent as a warrior (although it was difficult to clearly express it as such, but whatever) was great enough for him to become a demigod in his early twenties…

 

Clank.

 

‘Ah.’

 

Bernard, awakened from his agony, hesitated and stepped back.

The door, which he’d been silently staring at, opened on its own. No, doors don’t just open on their own. Lord Calepa had opened the door himself with magic.

 

“Do I need to wait longer?”

“…No.”

 

Lord Calepa, perched on the foundation, was clearly busy. He didn’t even bother to turn his head as he skimmed through books and documents that smelled old, and this situation had been going on for four days.

 

Bernard cautiously approached, sensing his mood, and unfolded a letter on the foundation.

Then, the letter, which stood up by itself, split into two moving paper dolls. The paper doll on the right spoke to the paper doll on the left.

 

– Viscount Weatherwoods, you must immediately receive the Emperor’s command!

Lord Calepa’s gaze turned towards the foundation.

 

– Viscount Weatherwoods, kneel.

The paper doll on the left replied.

– I don’t want to.

 

If Bernard were 70 years younger, this would have been an intriguing and enjoyable play to watch. However, after witnessing the direct and intuitive paper doll play three times in the past four days, he had lost interest.

 

But Lord Calepa was different.

With an extremely serious expression, he focused on the insignificant paper doll play and occasionally let out a chuckle.

 

Judging by the good atmosphere, today’s paper doll play seemed to be ending smoothly…

 

– We hereby announce the betrothal decree of Daisy Weatherwoods, the head of the Weatherwoods family, and Jurian Berkeley-Grayton, the head of the Berkeley-Gratten family!

 

Bang!

 

Lord Calepa slammed his fist onto the foundation.

With his ruthless and violent action, the mere scrap of paper was crushed without a trace.

---

LMAOOO

It looks like Rue is about to provide the Penrotta empire with democracy, america style.

Thank you so much Mr. Slowly for the ko-fis!