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

<Episode 31> 

This was the first time I’d heard of the duel between the two successors, but the surrounding circumstances seemed to be easily understandable. 

The duties and rights of the Guardian families were famously known in the Magic Alliance. 

The Duke’s family, Berkeley. 

‘Guardians of the empire, protectors of the royal family of Penrotta.’  

Their power comes from their duty and sacrifice for the kingdom.  

Only the strongest in the empire could become the head of the Berkley Gratten’s family – and thus, the doors to the family were open to anyone with strength.  

Age, gender and origin were not considered in this at all. 

Anyone with extraordinary talent in military strength could aim to become the successor of the Duchy. The successor had to be recognized by the emperor, just like their predecessors, so for generations, the Berkeley-Gratten family was called the emperor’s sword. 

This was also the reason why the aristocratic society, who valued tradition and dignity above all, respected and recognized them. 

“The current Grand Duke is a sword master. Is there really anyone who could truly succeed such a man?”  

I slung my arms around the shoulders of the newspaper son, casually asking him, 

“So – is the duel over when one of them dies?”  

“Who fights so barbarically in this day and age? Have you been stuck in the countryside for 4 years? It seems like you have a hard time reading the news.” 

There was a faint expression of doubt in the two young men’s eyes. 

I used the ultimate lie to fool the two quick-witted upperclassmen. 

“My friend, so you understand! Actually, I’d been sick for a long time, and spent most of my days in bed, struggling between life and death, so I’m not up-to-date with a lot of things. Haha, maybe I should have just stayed at home…isn’t that so?” 

The effect was immediate. 

“Oh goodness, such a sad situation…”  

“Ha? I didn’t know you were sick! All right, I’m in a pleasant mood. Ask me anything you’re curious about. I’ll answer as long as I don’t lose any money. By the way, my intel usually requires a very expensive price.” 

That was a very sweet favor. 

The moment I was about to ask, ‘then, do you think Dian Cecht’s relics all truly exist?’  

From the center of the deck, a powerful wave came out and hit our bodies. 

“Oh, my!” 

I grasped the arms of two men who were about to be thrown in the air like dust and identified the source of the sudden gust of wind.  

It seemed that in the meantime, the duel had started. 

“Did you say that her name was Jean?”  

It was clear that the wave had come from the sword of the woman with the flowing silver hair. Faint energy still laid scattered on the thin edge of the blade.  

That level of swordsmanship was truly impressive. 

‘At that age? You’re a genius. Definitely a genius.’  

Fortunately, the deck was equipped with a transparent partition wall just in case.  

The son of the newspaper owner shuddered when he saw people being flicked in the air and then sliding down the invisible wall in the air. 

“Oh no. You saved me from almost getting trauma. Thank you for your help.”  

“My God, you managed that so well there. My body still feels numb…but, how did you do that?” 

I roughly answered his question filled with slight awe. 

“With grit.” 

It is said that the two most interesting things to watch in the world are fires and fights. I turned my focus to the duel, ignoring the chaos of the bystanders. 

In fact, there was nothing to focus on. The momentum was so one-sided. 

Not even seven blows had been exchanged, but Oster, fifth-in-line to the Duke, had already been backed into a corner. 

“My, oh my.” 

I concentrated my whole mind on Jean’s sword. 

“I thought I was just hearing things earlier.” 

If I wasn’t mistaken, there was some sort of sound coming from her sword. 

It wasn’t an illusion. The sword seemed to be crying out. 

– [I’ll end you the next time you come near. I’m not going to go easy, so come on!]  

But how could a sword speak?  

And also, unlike Jean’s rather noisy sword, there was no voice coming from Oster’s sword.  

No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t hear any resonance. I could vaguely figure out the reason. 

‘Oster has not yet reached the point at which he can carry along his will to his sword.’  

The difference between the two swords surprised me. 

‘But the Duke, Berkeley Gratten, had surely said something about this to me.’ 

Sir Andert, don’t put your ego on the sword. Leave the sword alone. It’s a sword, not a person. Remember, you must wield the sword, not let the sword wield you. 

Weren’t those who were putting their egos on their swords achieving better results? 

But what mattered to me at that moment wasn’t the relation between a sword’s given ego and achievements. 

I could read the emotions of the sword. 

How was that possible? 

‘…the state of mind and body.’  

Was that a turning point after all? 

This amazing insight seemed to be a new ability that I’d gained a few days ago when I went past the first wall of having total control over body and mind. 

Thanks to that, I suddenly became curious. 

‘Would my sword resonate as well?’  

If it did, how would it sound? 

While I was contemplating this, Oster fell and the tip of Jean’s sword aimed for right below his chin.  

As soon as the winner was decided, the son of the newspaper president clicked his tongue. 

“Until two years ago, the level of those two didn’t seem to be much different. When did the gap between them become so big?”  

“The opponent is Jean Berkeley Gratten, after all. It is more than possible.”  

“The outcome of this week’s duel is clear. Since the first-in-line heir did not participate this time, it’s Jean Berkeley’s win.” 

Apparently, the duel for the Berkeley Gratten family continued throughout the noble council meetings. 

‘Is it some kind of annual event?’ 

There were many things to see around here, and just as I was about to get up with something stupid forming in my mind. 

The two men’s chatter, which had been continuing nonstop, came to a sudden end.  

And before I knew it, there was a knight in front of me who’d dragged their still hot-from-the-fight up.  

“Excuse me, I think we’re meeting for the first time.”  

It was Jean Berkeley. 

“I’m Jean Berkeley Gratten. If you don’t mind, could you spare me a moment?” 

Faced with Jean’s eyes that were seething with unhidden triumph, I remembered a conversation I had with the assassin-butler in a secret meeting two days ago. 

“Did you say you were going to attend the noble council meeting? If that’s so, I have a favor to ask.”  

“What is it?” 

“I request for you to dispose of a certain person among the members of the aristocratic society who board the ship.” 

The butler assassin took out a black-and-white photo and some thin sheet of paper from the envelope he’d brought and showed it to me. 

“The target is Jean Berkeley Gratten. One of the successors to the Berkeley Gratten family, and a patron the assassin guild called <Clone>.” 

I took the picture from his hand. 

The woman in the picture looked at best in her mid to late twenties. Her clear features and sharp eyes instantly gave the impression that she wasn’t an easy person. 

A successor to the duke’s family. 

The assassin-butler, whose main goal was to survive, wouldn’t have thought to touch such a person carelessly. 

That meant… 

“Did you happen to work for this woman?” 

The assassin-butler’s eyes grew cold. 

“Yes, the real owner of the assassination guild <Clone> is this woman. When Jean Berkeley Gratten dies, Clone collapses. Then the envoy who is aiming to kill me disappears as well.” 

“It’s not hard to kill, but if a member of aristocratic society dies in a space as isolated as a flying ship, it is bound to get troublesome.” 

“Don’t worry about that. Because what I want is not the death of Jean Berkeley Gratten. I just hope her right to succeed is revoked.” 

The deprivation of succession in the Berkeley Gratten family means a complete alienation from the family. 

“Clone, to be precise, is a secret guild owned by the Berkeley Gratten family, not an individual. If Jean’s succession is revoked and she loses her position, then it will be a considerable amount of time before a new master is appointed to the guild and a new system is established. That gap will be an opportunity for me.” 

“…how do I do that?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“Are you kidding me?” 

“Didn’t you leave me by myself to organize this pub, too? I just trust you, too. If this plan succeeds, the trust between us will be further strengthened. Furthermore, I am not just asking this out of the blue.”  

The butler assassin then waved a bait in front of me that I couldn’t refuse. 

“I’ve got some useful intel. If you come back successfully, I will give you the clues and information I learned about Dian Cecht’s relics and their creator.” 

This was my first meeting with Jean. 

In a word, Jean was someone who was highly questionable. 

“This woman is the owner of <Clone>?” 

Jean Berkeley Gratten. 

I never sent her any signs to follow, but she instinctively came up to me to possibly feel me out. 

I’d seen people like this woman a few times on the battlefield. 

A demon in swordsmanship. 

Jean seemed to be much like a vessel who is possessed by her sword, lives by it, and dies by it. 

She did not seem to be the type of person who would run a guild that did dirty and crafty work everyday. 

‘I’m sure that’s what the duke must’ve seen as well. Then why did he leave the guild to her out of all his many successors?’ 

Well, whatever the inside story was, the answer I was going to give her was already decided. 

“Oh my, I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’ll be easy. You see, I’m already married, Haha. I hope you find another good match, Miss Jean Berkeley Gratten.”  

“…a good match? Wait, that’s not what I meant… 

“Oh, my God! Is it already this late? I’m late for my appointment, so I’ll take my leave first.” 

I said a quick goodbye to the son of the bank owner and the son of the newspaper president and returned to the cabin. 

This outing was worth it, since I got to confirm who Jean was. 

‘I’ll meet her again when I have a plan.’ 

Then for the rest of the day, I stayed in the cabin and enjoyed playing cards with Rue. 

Time had passed safely and calmly at least until the second day. 

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