<Episode 79>
While I packed a simple suitcase, the bandit maid and servants crossed over from Rue’s mansion. Seeing that the maid was smiling with satisfaction, it looked like they did a great job at their interviews.
“We’re going now.”
“Have a safe trip, Miss Daisy and Jean. Please return quietly without any incident, safely and with Mr. Rue. When did you say you’d be back?”
“After ten days.”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
After picking up her luggage, Jean whispered softly.
“Senior, I understand that the round trip alone takes 90 hours. Can we find Mr. Rue within four days?”
“We have to find him. Otherwise we won’t be able to keep our promise with Raphae- I mean, Duke Zenail. The interrogation visit is scheduled soon.”
Ah, the life of a maid was busy with no time to rest.
I urged the bandit maid.
“Take care of the Weatherwoods, bandit.”
“Of course, boss maid!”
The sturdy bandit maid tapped his chest reliably and warned Jean with a playful wink.
“And you over there, butler. I won’t lose to you either.”
Bang. The door slammed shut, and Jean, with a half-dazed look, turned to me for an explanation.
She seemed quite surprised.
“I guess they see you as a rival.”
“Why…?”
“Maybe because you’re in similar situations.”
We headed straight to the Midwinterre Airfield.
As we disembarked at the sparsely populated airfield, a man dressed entirely in black approached us from behind, as if it were natural.
It was Andert.
“Our airfield… Airfield D, right?”
Still, it felt unfamiliar, even though it wasn’t my first time here.
As we passed Airfield C, a familiar face appeared.
Like someone going away for a vacation, a blond man with stylish black sunglasses waved his hand vigorously towards me.
“Miss Daisy! Long time no see! Hahaha, how have you been? You look better than before. How are the Viscount and Viscountess doing?”
Perhaps it was because he had a cheerful personality, but he was never awkward any time I saw him.
“They’re both healthy. The master is too busy, so I’m moving in his place. He told me to convey his gratitude for you. In the meantime, I’ll be relying on you.”
“Please take care of me as well, Miss Daisy. This person seems to be your companion…. Hm, if my eyes aren’t deceiving me, isn’t this…”
Yeager, who lowered his sunglasses just below his nose, looked at Jean and me with an incredulous gaze.
“Jean… You’re not Miss Jean Berkeley-Gratten, are you?”
“That’s right, she’s my coworker. Jean? This is Mr. Yeager Panula, who will guide us to the Northern Continental Union.”
“Coworker…?”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Panula. We’ve met before, I’m glad you remember me. I’m Jean, the butler of the Weatherwoods family. I’ll do my best not to be a burden.”
“Butler…?”
Although initially deeply confused, Yeager quickly regained his composure.
Perhaps it was because he was the son of a newspaper president, but he was quick to grasp situations.
Well, the world was full of news, most likely more surprising than the fact that Jean Berkeley Gratten had transitioned into being a butler at the Weatherwoods.
With a small, fake cough, he gave a slightly awkward smile this time.
“Ahem. But as I mentioned before… I have an unexpected companion.”
It wasn’t surprising news since I’d already heard it.
No, it rather intensified my curiosity.
Who could it be?
The next person to appear was someone whose intentions could be understood even if they were buried in the ground 10 feet deep.
“Good morning, Miss Daisy Fager, Miss Jean. We may have met at the Noble Council meeting, but I’m not sure if you remember me. I’m Viscount Desherro Contana.”
He was Raphael’s long-time aide and my colleague.
For a moment, I wondered if it was a dream. But I quickly understood the significance of Desherro’s presence.
Raphael must have sent him!’
There was no other reason for the cunning Desherro to be here.
I squinted my eyes and examined his face. Desherro, a master at hiding emotions, seemed as tired as usual.
“I will be accompanying you on this trip. I hope it will be an enjoyable journey.”
I shook hands with Desherro, feeling a sense of unease.
In a low voice, the ever-suspicious Yeogosi whispered in my ear.
“I don’t know how, but it seems that news of me accompanying Mrs. Daisy on behalf of the Viscountess has reached the ears of Duke Raphael. I hadn’t informed anyone of this, so haha, uh…”
With a clear gaze that indicated he had heard everything, Desherro wore his perpetually weary smile.
“Duke Raphael knows everything that happens in the world.”
“So, you’ve come to spy on me now. Is that it? A Viscount?”
“In times of prosperity, titles hold no meaning, Miss Fager.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true.”
Seeing him like this made me feel a little sorry for him.
To think he still has to roll around in the field after becoming a Viscount.
‘He’s here to keep a close eye on me.’
But if he thought my cool would be swayed by that, he was mistaken.
I, Daisy, the maid, could walk my path without revealing my identity.
In the meantime, I introduced the two big pieces of luggage I brought with me to Desherro.
“I hope you take care of them as well, Viscount Desherro.”
Desherro, who had been suspiciously eyeing Andert since earlier, let out a sight with a rare surprised look in his eyes.
“Gavroche? Is that you, Gavroche? How did you end up here?”
“I’ll introduce them again. This one is my coworker, the butler. And this one is my little brother.”
Perhaps embarrassed by my introduction, Andert clenched his teeth.
“Just ignore her bullshit. We ended up traveling together by chance, Viscount Desherro. I’ll be quiet, so you don’t need to bother yourself with me.”
“…Miss Fager, did you form a sisterly bond with Gavroche?”
“No, just siblings.”
Andert clenched his teeth again.
“No, we didn’t.”
Well, that was somewhat correct. We didn’t form some brotherly, sisterly bond. We were just siblings.
I subtly pointed to the airship to hint to Desherro to hurry up and get on the ship.
“Nice to meet you, Viscount Desherro. Please call me Daisy from now on. Shall we board now?”
With a firm shake of his hand, I headed to the airship.
‘Five people in a party. It’s a stable number.’
I felt somewhat relieved, thinking about the old days.
It was a perfect day for an airship to take off.
I couldn’t help but wonder, what was Rue doing over there, having left me behind?
* * *
Somewhere in the Northern Continental Union.
The man, Bernard, was walking hastily.
As soon as he heard the news, he’d flown from the kingdom of Astrosa to Calepa, the holy sanctuary, fortress and main church of Rogue.
During that time, the sun had set and risen again, but Bernard couldn’t blink for a moment. The ‘culprit’ of the news was always unpredictable, regardless of the timing.
Really, as always!
“Calepa.”
The people guarding the outside of the sanctuary kneeled in fear as they recognized Bernard’s face. However, Bernard had no time to respond to their greetings. He squeezed through the slowly opening door and half-walked and half-ran.
“Calepa.”
“Calepa.”
The Yettes permitted to live in the outskirts of the fortress kneeled in fear as they faced him.
A calm silence fell wherever Bernard went. Because of these people, who politely bowed their heads as if praying to a god, another path was created.
A sanctuary with a dome-shaped roof, with white walls rising here and there. A river spreading like blood vessels between them. Large birch leaves swaying in the southern wind and sand rolling on the ground…
The harmony of white and blue signaled the peace of the outside of the fortress.
How could it be so quiet when the main culprit in that news had come back?
‘You’ve climbed over the wall without a sound again.’
He was so familiar with this now that his tongue didn’t even dry up like before.
After passing through the outside, Bernard entered the lowest peak among the surrounding peaks. As he stepped into the cool cave, a long vine reaching towards the sky appeared.
Without resting, Bernard walked up the stairs formed by the thick vines. Even after passing through the light that illuminated the darkness, it was the same when he reached the top of the peak.
The stairs extended towards the sky.
The spiral staircase formed by two giant vines existed to reach only one place.
This place, which would look like a giant tree covered by clouds from a distance, was The Land of God.
Calepa.
A sanctuary that would never again exist on this land.
As Bernard reached the end of the stairs, a massive door appeared in front of him. As if allowing his visit, the door slowly opened with a heavy sound.
A man with silver hair, so beautiful that it could make one’s eyes dazzle, stood in the middle of this paradise.
“Urd.”
Bernard approached the man, Urd, with light steps.
Although Bernard couldn’t hide his joy, Urd’s gaze behind the glasses remained cold.
“Lord Calepa didn’t even call you, but you’ve come crawling in.”
He gave a slight smile and walked ahead without paying much attention.
Bernard was taken aback.
“How can you speak like that without hearing what I have to say?”
“You, who only fights outside and doesn’t take care of the sanctuary, don’t deserve any kind words.”
“It’s your role to take care of the sanctuary.”
“It’s your duty, too.”
Urd was right.
The three leaders of Rogue, the Calepas, had the duty of managing the sanctuary, Calepa. However, the other two had been outside for a long time, so Urd had been enduring that role alone.
“…Hasn’t there been any news from Skuld?”
The three Calepas of Rogue.
Secretary Urd.
Commander Bernard.
Leader Skuld.
And the great demi-god who watched over them, the Lord Calepa.
Among them, Skuld left for the southern continent to find Dian Cecht’s artefacts about four years ago.
By now, they should have heard that he has recovered at least a couple of them, but it was strange that it was so quiet.
“You know as much as I do.”
It meant that there still wasn’t any news today.
“Well, that’s fine. But why did Lord Calepa suddenly return? I was certain we wouldn’t see him for another few years.”
“Don’t get excited like a child. Have we ever dared to question his will? If you’re curious, shut up and follow along.”
looks like we get to know what the hell Rue has been upto!
btw, just to clarify, in asian cultures, calling someone sister or brother doesn’t pertain to them being your actual biological sibling, which is why despite’s demand for Andert to call her sister, no one is making that connection yet. their only physical resemblance might be the hair colour and the eyes.
Thank you for the chapter!
Daisy, your party is far from stable but a potential comedy gold mine! Also, I get a feeling that missing Skuld may have something to do with MC’s resurrection.