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

<Episode 82>

 

“Rue.”

“…yes?”

“Mr. Rue is playing tricks. Otherwise, there is no way the Serenier family would send someone to pick us up on the pretext of a Viscountess that doesn’t even exist.”

“Does that mean Mr. Rue is Count Serenier?”

 

Wasn’t that unlikely? Rue was a Calepa, not a Count.

 

‘If he’s the Calepa, it must be easy for him to control high-ranking aristocrats in the Northern Continent, right?’

 

It didn’t matter if the direction deviated a little as long as we could arrive at the final destination.

My first goal was to meet someone influential connected to Rogue.

 

Count Serenier was also a noble, so if I used him well, it would work out somehow.

“It will take about 30 minutes to reach Serenier Castle. Well then, have a comfortable journey.”

 

We divided into two carriages and headed towards Serenier.

The scenery of the city passing by quickly was exotic yet familiar.

 

The sporadic structures we saw were similar in shape to the temples where Mephisto’s army had hidden, but they were much cleaner and well-maintained.

 

‘So this is how it feels to travel abroad.’

I turned my head slightly and noticed that Jean and Andert were also captivated by the view outside the window.

 

In that calm landscape, this moment suddenly felt like a dream.

My presumed-dead younger brother returning to life, gaining a disciple obsessed with swords… These were all images I couldn’t have dared to imagine during the magical war.

 

But this was not a dream; it was reality.

Perhaps it was a reality that was even a bit too much for me to handle.

 

“We have arrived.”

The carriage came to a smooth stop.

As I stepped onto the ground, I couldn’t help but let out a pure exclamation.

 

‘Why is it so big?’

I had only seen such perfectly maintained and spacious castles in the Imperial Palace.

 

The unique dome-shaped roofs of the northern continent added an exotic and traditional charm, and the color of the exterior was so vibrant that it almost dazzled the eyes, exuding a sense of antiquity.

 

“The servants will handle the luggage. Please follow me; the Count is eager to meet you.”

 

Yeager, who had been observing a canal with an intrigued gaze, asked Mont. 

“Mr. Mont, who is Count Serenier? I only know that Serenier is a prestigious family in Astrosa’s history.” 

 

Mont turned his head in the direction he was walking, but the reply came from a different direction.

“Handsome.”

 

Everyone’s gaze turned to one place.

Across the Serenier estate’s pathway, there was a small boat floating on a massive canal that connected the castle and gardens.

 

“And talented too.”

Underneath a sparkling golden sunshade, a gentleman with fair skin looked at us and smiled.

A beautiful young man who seemed to be in his mid-thirties at most introduced himself, revealing his neat white teeth.

 

“Welcome to Serenier, young friends. I am Count Alpen Serenier, the most handsome man in the North. There are more of you than I expected.”

 

As I looked into the man’s dazzling golden eyes, a spark of doubt ignited in my mind.

Could it be? That couldn’t possibly be Rue himself, right?

 

The Count’s strong impression was overshadowed by how he disappeared almost immediately after the greeting, promising to meet later, like a fleeting wind.

 

‘I can tell he has a free-spirited personality just by looking at him.’

This won’t be an easy task.

After stepping into our impressive surroundings, we had to climb up the stairs.

 

“First, let me guide you to the bedrooms. Just follow the servants in front of you.”

At this moment, the spark of doubt within me grew even stronger.

“Am I the only one on the first floor?”

 

While everyone else was guided to the corner room on the second floor, I was the only one guided to the first floor.

 

Usually, the first floor only consists of the master bedroom for the owner couple. It shouldn’t be any different in Astrosa.

 

“Well, am I the only one on the first floor?”

Pretending not to hear me, Mont walked ahead of me, but I couldn’t help but voice my doubts. Mont awkwardly chuckled and replied.

 

“It was the Count’s orders. Rest assured, there are nice rooms on the first floor.”

“Then give me the room farthest from the Count.”

“I apologize. On the first floor, there is only the Count’s bedroom and the spare bedroom across it.”

“I don’t want to sleep facing the Count.”

“I apologize.”

 

In the end, I was trapped in the room opposite the Count’s bedroom. It was absurd.

‘Why on earth? Did the Count receive an order to keep an eye on me from Rue?’

 

And then, as soon as I sat down, after being led by the party members who descended from the second floor, I was forcibly moved to the reception room.

 

We were greeted by pastries that looked sweet at a glance at the reception-room table.

 

“The Count looks so young. I was really surprised when I saw him in the garden. What do you think?”

 

Just as Yeager, who was leisurely enjoying himself, said something embarrassing, Count Serenier walked steadily into the reception room we were gathered in.

 

“Did it really surprise you that much?”

Yeager, who was startled, awkwardly smiled.

“Ha ha, my lord.”

“I lost my parents at the young age of twelve. It was a tragic accident. It’s been so long now that I can’t even remember their faces.”

“I see. It’s truly impressive that you’ve taken on the responsibilities of an estate since childhood.”

 

Yeager, skillfully wiping away a bead of sweat, glanced at me and changed the subject.

 

“So, Viscountess Weatherwoods… Is she… related to you as a sibling of the lord? Considering your ages, it seems plausible.”

Don’t bring up that topic.

“Viscountess Weatherwoods?”

 

Count Serenier, who was casually scanning the room, stopped his gaze on me. Then, he responded in a very nonchalant tone.

 

“Oh, that girl is my daughter.”

 

I was slightly surprised.

That girl. That was an cold way to refer to one’s daughter.

 

“…Your daughter?”

“I had a child at a young age. This year, I’m around thirty-five, so she must have been born when I was fifteen. Ah! Don’t worry, Yeageri. My wife at the time was over twenty. There were no complications during childbirth.”

“Well then, rejoice, my lord. Miss Daisy, Viscount Weatherwoods’ maid, has brought a letter from your daughter. Here, please take it and read it. Miss Daisy?”

 

God, I said don’t bring that topic up.

Unable to react, I just stood there, and Yeager’s eyes filled with embarrassment.

He whispered to me as he approached discreetly.

 

“Miss Daisy? The letter…”

Do you really think I have it?

Feeling burdened by the continued attention, I searched for a suitable excuse and declined.

 

“I’ll deliver it later.”

 

Count Serenier, who had been staring at me intently, swept up his short silver hair and smiled.

“My, Miss Daisy. You must speak respectfully to your seniors.”

 

Although I had no plan to tell him anything, I obediently complied.

“I will pass on the message later.”

“Good, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

 

With a refreshing smile, he looked around at us and spoke.

 

“It’s truly a pleasure to meet you all, but it seems our friends need some time to recover from the trip. Don’t worry, I won’t bother you today. Feel free to explore the city or the castle as you please. Just make sure not to get lost.”

 

After Count Serenier left, each of us were left to relax in our own way.

Yeager and Jean, along with Desherro, decided to explore the castle, while Andert seemed unsure of what to do. As for me, I returned to my bedroom and contemplated a new plan.

 

How should I behave in front of Count Serenier?

‘Should I write a fake letter right now?’

 

But I was just a maid.

Who knew whether Morian Serenier’s identity was real or not?

 

‘I’m a maid who has come to deliver a letter from a faraway land on the command of my mistress. If things go wrong, I can also pretend to be a victim, can’t I?’

While imagining such things, I asked for paper and a pen from Mont and sat down at the desk.

 

However, I soon realized that forging a letter using the Serenier family’s stationary would be a foolish thing to do and fell into a nap.

 

When I opened my eyes again, it was late at night, and raindrops were falling lightly outside the window.

 

When I dazedly looked at the clock, the hour hand had just passed the number 9.

On the table, a simple meal had been neatly prepared, but I couldn’t remember when it was set up. Perhaps I slept for too long after coming such a long way.

 

As I sipped on fruit juice, a small note caught my eye, tucked under the silverware.

 

‘What is this?’

 

『Dear Miss Daisy,

It seems you’ve fallen into a deep sleep, so I’m leaving you this note instead. 

The Count wishes to meet with you. Please go to his office if you read this note. If the office is empty, then check the library. If the library is empty, then the courtyard. If the courtyard is empty, then the garden. If the garden is empty, then check if the boat is floating in the canal…』

 

They might as well just tell me to search the entire castle.

In the end, I gave up on writing the letter, stuffed a piece of bread into my mouth, and wandered around the castle.

 

Drip, drip.

The rainy Serenier Castle had a charming atmosphere.

I searched tirelessly from the Count’s bedroom to the study, and ended up stepping into the atrium as well.

 

He was there. In the courtyard.

Sitting beneath the hexagonal roof, silently gazing down into the water, he exuded an eerie stillness. Almost as if he were dead.

 

“…Hmm.”

The weather was gloomy, and the dim visibility made his presence even more peculiar.

With the intention of not disturbing his ghost-like slumber, I approached stealthily.

 

Just before I entered the courtyard.

“Our Miss Daisy must have an exceptional talent for hiding her presence.”

 

The man chuckled without turning his head.

 

He wasn’t a ghost, but a person. I let out a sigh of relief.

‘I didn’t expect him to sense my presence.’

 

This man was no ordinary individual either.

Count Serenier casually rested his arm behind his back and lightly tapped his chin.

 

“How is Astrosa?”

 

It was a straightforward question, and I gave an equally straightforward answer.

 

“It seems like a wonderful country.”

“Is that so? You’ve only been sleeping for the past seven hours since arriving at my castle. It must’ve made quite the good impression in your dreams.”

 

Was he being sarcastic?

“Well then, hand me my daughter’s letter. I’m curious to know what the lovely Morian has written.”

 

I stared at the large hand he extended towards me.

I couldn’t help but think that it was a really pretty hand.

It was rare for a man to have such hands. 

 

There was only one man I knew who had hands as beautiful as this. 

 

Count Serenier chuckled as if finding it amusing. 

“Do you like my hand that much? Feel free to admire it to your heart’s content.”