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

<Episode 90>

 

My mouth fell open in surprise.

This astonishment wasn’t discomfort. It wasn’t shame or humiliation, nor was it the joy of facing a photograph of myself from four years ago.

 

I simply…

 

“Oh, here it is. Come this way, I’ll show you my masterpiece.”

Startled, I raised my head, shaking my shoulders.

 

Count Serenier, who had moved forward without me noticing, was gazing at one of the frames on the wall.

 

“Now that I see it, you were quite young. How old were you? Nineteen? Twenty?”

No answer came.

 

In some ways, Desherro’s face looked more shocked than mine.

His expression, unexpectedly speechless, seemed confused as if he had encountered an unforeseen, enormous secret.

 

At first, slowly, and then with noticeably quick steps, he arrived in front of Count Serenier and asked.

 

“Count Serenier, may I ask where you obtained these photographs?”

“Huh? I got them from the Allied forces.”

“That can’t be true. I was with the main characters in these photographs, closest to them. I have never seen a soldier carrying a camera.”

 

It was a valid question.

In a war where you didn’t know if you’re going to live until tomorrow, what crazy soldier carried a camera?

Of course, there were occasionally times some individuals did carry a camera, claiming them to be precious belongings.

However, the film itself was consumable, and as the war progressed, all that remained were broken cameras that couldn’t fulfill their purpose.

 

‘They could never capture such dynamic compositions and realistic landscapes.’

 

So, from Desherro’s perspective, the photographs exhibited in this gallery were inevitably unsettling in many ways.

 

Moreover, the war was long and brutal.

 

Amidst it all, our appearance, which was no different than it was at the heart of the frontlines, was captured so closely and vividly.

That meant there was a high chance that the Allied forces key operation and secrets had leaked without the knowledge of the higher-ups.

 

Count Serenier’s meaningful smile only intensified those suspicions.

“Do you really think so, Viscount Desherro? Can you assert that there wasn’t a single soldier capable of leaving behind such magnificent works?”

 

“Yes. I can say that.”

 

“Is that so? Well, you might be surprised to hear this. I, too, participated in the war. Together with you.”

 

Surprised, I hurriedly turned towards them.

‘Rue fought in war?’

 

Did he magically change his appearance and enter the war?

It was hard to deny because he was capable enough to do so.

Desherro, who didn’t know that, asked back in disbelief.

“Are you being sincere…?”

 

“Why would I bother lying to you? It’s not particularly enjoyable.”

“Which unit were you in? And why hide your identity…?”

 

“It’s not like only the Allied forces participated in that war, right? Some of Rogue’s magicians, after gaining permission from the Emperor of Penrotta, concealed their identities and joined the Union’s fight. You, as someone connected to the military high command, must already know this fact.”

 

The golden eyes stared at Desherro and asked dryly,

“But more importantly, Viscount Desherro, it seems like you know who this particular piece of artwork is for. Who do you think it is?”

 

Desherro’s answer was resolute.

“Andert Fager.”

 

And the saliva in my mouth began to dry up like the desert.

“You seem to be familiar with him, Count… did you know Andert?”

“Well, of course. Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t know Andert Fager? Isn’t he a hero?”

 

His voice, somewhat shy and full of longing, echoed through the vast ceiling.

“I’m a pretty die-hard fan myself, if you haven’t noticed.”

 

He was looking right at me.

Ever since I entered the gallery, his gaze had been at Desherro’s face the whole time. And now, it was finally turned towards me.

 

Beyond faint memories, a ticklish voice emerged, poking at my heart like bubbles.

 

“Stop evading my question like a snail. Who are you? Why are you here?”

“I’m your fan.”

 

At that moment, there were no more bubbles.

 

Instead, it felt like sand was being poured open into my throat.

The sand that tumbled inside me piled up in my heart, filling it up quickly until it threatened to overflow.

 

“What is this?”

“That’s Andert Fager’s coffin.”

“A coffin? Could it be…!”

“Oh? Are you asking if the corpse of the hero is inside? No, it’s empty. I couldn’t even erect a gravestone.”

 

Desherro’s large hand brushed against the black coffin placed in the center of the gallery.

Not a speck of ordinary dust could be seen on the coffin. It gleamed as if it had been moved here just yesterday.

 

“I realized it too late. That I didn’t know his real name.”

Now I couldn’t help but be certain.

Count Serenier. Rue. He’d been watching me all this time.

 

‘…all this time.’

 

Over the last ten years, continuously.

 

To remember me as I lived as a different existence.

To bury me next to Andert’s grave.

To fulfill the promise made on that day, to be buried next to the tomb.

 

‘…Ah.’

I didn’t want him to catch a glimpse of my contorted expression, so I turned away from him.

 

The world before me was filled with moments of Andert Fager.

This spacious place was filled with my presence, the way Rue looked at me.

 

The emotions I felt in that fleeting realization… They were too immense to be put into words, like a massive current that turned into a tidal wave and swallowed me.

 

I couldn’t shake it off anymore.

 

‘Haah.’

 

It had to be Rue.

Really, of all people, it was Rue.

 

“What do you mean by real name?”

“Do you not know? Well, I guess not. Besides me, there is someone else in this world who knows… but there are only a few at best. It’s not strange for you to not know.”

 

I stood in front of the closest photograph.

A foolish face eating military rations was visible. It looked like he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep, with dark circles under his eyes.

 

Yet, he was smiling.

Perhaps to his friends, who might have been at a spot the photograph didn’t capture.

 

“It seems the Count knew Andert well.”

“Not as much as you, in the end. You were comrades for ten years.”

 

The conversation paused for a moment.

Then for some reason, Desherro’s expression turned bitter.

 

“I have one question. Are these relics and gravestones… the things prepared for Andert? Did he ask you to do this?”

 

“Why do you think that?”

“Because he always waited for death.”

 

That was an unexpected answer.

Is that how you thought of me?

But don’t all soldiers wait for their death? How was I any different…?

 

‘Ah, I see.’

“You seem like a guy who wants to die on the battlefield. Or maybe just go somewhere far away.”

“Marry me. I’ll take care of you… I’ll take really good care of you. I’ll treat you so well that you won’t want to leave.”

 

So that’s why they said those words.

“Why don’t you ask me why I thought that way about Andert?”

 

Count Serenier kindly responded to Desherro’s question.

 

“Death is the settlement for all those who enjoy life. We are all moving towards death. So waiting for death is nothing special.”

 

“You seem quite cynical. But I don’t think like you, Count. Waiting for death and moving towards death. Then where is the meaning of living?”

 

As if on the verge of tears, Desherro’s voice suddenly dropped to the ground.

 

“Andert wasn’t someone who would die like that.”

 

“….”

 

“He had the right to enjoy peace. He had the right to look up at the sky cleared of war clouds. He was obliged to live the rest of his life revered as a hero, receiving praises. But in the end…”

 

“…”

“It’s useless for him to receive a title for leaving a mark on history only after closing his eyes for eternity. Once you die, everything becomes meaningless.”

 

A title?

 

‘I received a title?’

 

My eyes widened at the news I’d heard for the first time.

But the surprise lasted only a brief moment.

 

Andert Fager died a long time ago. Now, such things were meaningless.

 

“I’m sorry. I was too sentimental.”

 

“No need to apologize.”

 

“It seems like I got too excited after seeing an old friend after a long time. Thank you for showing me around, Count. May I explore this place alone for a moment?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Afterward, we spent our time in our respective positions.

 

Viscount Desherro spent nearly an hour exploring the gallery. Then, he made a sudden request.

 

“There’s a photo that caught my eye. Would you mind giving it to me?”

“To you? Well, that’s quite an unexpected request.”

 

The photo he chose depicted three men against a summer backdrop.

 

The refreshing image was of me and Raphael, both shirtless, and Desherro sitting on the ground, trying to beat the heat.

 

After much consideration, Count Serenier accepted Desherro’s request. It seemed like he accepted because it was none other than Desherro who made the request.

 

That evening.

We entered the Astrosa Palace.

---

 

Oh my god. Rue is the best ml imo. 

Get yourself a man who stays by your side for 14 years just to keep his promise to bury you by your brother’s side.

I might’ve sobbed while translating this.

This chapter was so beautiful and heart-wrenching.

Don’t worry, I’m back to the normal translating schedule noww (I translated upto chap 100)

btw, I’ll try out the  advance premium chapters system (moondust) with the next chapters maybe!

As always, you can thank me with a ko-fi if you want ~