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

<Episode 92>

 

Desherro released his tight grip on my hand and spread it open.

 

“Your hand is soft, Miss Daisy.”

 

“…”

 

“It does have a slight callus, but it’s not the callus of a swordsman. It could be considered a trace of household chores. Yet, you wielded a sword. And not just any sword, but a transformed one that skillfully burned Lord Medeis’ hair to ashes. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice something like that?”

 

“…”

 

“How can someone with such an inexperienced body wield a sword like that? There is only one answer. It’s because your soul possesses a high caliber. Your soul is that of an exceptional swordsman. That’s why I,”

 

I wondered when it started.

“I thought that there must be traces of the same oath in the same position as Andert Fager.”

 

I’d half given up.

It wasn’t just giving up. I was focused on every word Desherro uttered.

Was it to find some sort of evidence to refute him? I wasn’t sure.

 

I was simply curious.

I wondered where Desherro had found the resemblance in me. Why he was so sure it was me.

 

“I’ll ask once again. Are you Andert Fager?”

 

Did he have to look at me with such sad eyes?

I let out a sigh that I had been holding.

 

I was standing at a crossroad right now. There were two paths.

Should I willingly admit my true identity? Or should I get angry and stubbornly insist that he was speaking nonsense?

 

A few days ago, the old me would have chosen the latter without hesitation. After all, I had made up my mind and left Queen Island. I vowed never to get involved with them again.

 

But now, things were different.

 

“Cruel Andert. You cold bastard. Let’s come back here together when the war is over. You can do that, right? We can, right…?”

 

Natasha’s expression.

“You look like a guy who wants to die on the battlefield.”

Raphael’s voice.

 

“He had the right to enjoy peace. He had the right to look up at the sky after the war clouds had cleared. He had an obligation to live the rest of life revered as a hero, being praised and admired.”

 

And Desherro, your persistence.

 

‘You keep making me think unnecessary thoughts.’

Yes, it made me think that maybe it was okay.

So there was only one thing I could be sure of right now.

That I couldn’t find an answer with the conflict in me.

 

“…It’s a shame, Desherro. You’re still so clever.”

 

So, there was no need to hesitate anymore.

 

Shiing.

I drew the pearl sword.

 

As a faint whirlpool swirled, the white canopy and curtains swayed. I stared fiercely into his eyes as I raised the sword and warned.

 

“It would have been better if you had kept pretending not to know. But if you insist on hearing my answer, then there’s nothing I can do. Blame your keen eye.”

 

There was no need for a farewell. I swung the sword down as it was…

 

 

“…Just kidding.”

Sigh.

“How did this happen?”

I glanced at the half-distracted Desherro, who was lost in his thoughts, and tucked the pearl sword back into my earring.

While I nervously fiddled with my hair, a stray strand got caught between my hairpin and wrapped around my finger.

 

It was awkward, but it was only natural.

Because the current me had hair neatly tied the way a maid’s was, not the short hair from my time as Andert.

 

“This…”

 

 You’re as troublesome as a rat, Desherro.

I reprimanded Desherro with a voice full of resentment.

 

“Are you a pervert? What were you scrutinizing so hard for? I was wondering what you were thinking, chasing me to the Northern Continent…”

 

In an instant, a warmth enveloped me.

“You were alive.”

The owner of the warmth was Desherro.

He embraced my shoulders, and his body heat wrapped around me from head to toe.

 

Even though I had the strength to resist, I couldn’t make a single move.

 

“You were really alive. I had a feeling, but even seeing it with my own eyes, I can’t believe it…”

His words trailed off, filled with emotion and fuzziness.

 

“If you do this, I can’t be angry anymore.”

I awkwardly patted his trembling back.

Desherro, who had been holding me tightly like a parent who found their lost child, finally let go after a while.

 

“Andert.”

Then, with a mix of excitement, joy, confusion, and relief, he shook me with a ridiculous expression on his face.

 

“Tell me. How are you alive? Where have you been all this time? What is this appearance? Even Raphael wouldn’t recognize you like this. Why have you become a woman?”

 

Well, there’s no need to hide it anymore since my true identity has been revealed.

 

“I didn’t become a woman.”

 

“….”

 

“I was originally a woman.”

 

A heavy silence fell, as if the world had come to a halt.

 

Desherro, who had been staring at my face blankly, slowly, very slowly, let go of me.

Then, with a worried expression on his face that seemed like it was saying, ‘Have you gone crazy in the meantime?’ he opened his mouth, staring deeply into my eyes.

 

“Seriously, what happened?”

 

To be honest, I felt a deep sense of relief at Desherro’s calm question.

Yes, I was relieved.

‘Is he not resentful?’

 

Even if he resented me, was he at least willing to listen to my story?

I deceived you all. Was it okay for me to talk about my circumstances?

 

As I looked into his serious black eyes, my heart started to flutter. I tried to answer as casually as possible.

 

“Andert is my younger brother’s name. He served in the military and died during Mephisto’s attack. I used magic to borrow Andert’s face and became Andert himself to seek revenge against his enemies… It’s a common situation.”

 

“Common? No! It’s definitely not a common situation. Then, the sister that Andert mentioned…?”

 

“It was me.”

 

Desherro’s mouth hung open in a foolish expression. It was rare to see Desherro like this.

Just as I was thinking that I should savor this sight, the hand that was holding my shoulder was swiftly withdrawn.

 

“Sorry, I didn’t know and just grabbed your sleeve recklessly…”

Desherro apologized somewhat incoherently for his behavior.

 

“No need to apologize. Should I show you the other one too?”

“No! That’s not necessary, please don’t do that. You shouldn’t act like that! Especially in front of me, a man!”

 

Looking at his stern face as he tried to warn me, my insides… my insides…

“Don’t act like my father, it gives me the chills.”

“What are you saying? You’re always so…!”

 

With a disgusted expression on his face, he asked me.

“In that case, Andert, no, Miss Daisy. No, what is your name?”

“I’m just Daisy. I will continue to be Daisy in the future. So, call me Daisy.”

 

Desherro, who had been tapping his forehead for a while, looked at me with a strangely fixed gaze.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“What? Living as Daisy Fager? Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine. There are even some good sides to it.”

“…I see.”

 

His hand, which had naturally been reaching out towards my forearm, stopped in mid-air.

He soon lowered both of his hands, as if nothing had happened, but I knew.

I knew that Desherro was making an effort not to touch me as much as possible.

 

I consciously noticed his restraint from habitually tapping my shoulder or lightly touching me.

 

‘Since he knows I’m not a man, he must be trying to be considerate.’

I felt a little bitter at that.

 

“There are many questions I want to ask you… but there’s one thing I want to say the most.”

 

“Just don’t swear at me.”

 

“I’m glad you’re alive.”

In contrast to my playful words, a serious voice reached my ears.

His lips twitched as if he chewing on his words as he let out a small sigh.

 

“I’m really, really so glad.”

“…Yeah, it’s a relief. In many ways, I was a talented individual who would have been a shame to lose so young, right?”

 

Did my joke ease the tension a bit?

With a faint smile, Desherro whispered in a lighter voice.

 

“I have so many questions I want to ask… Were you hiding all this time? I heard you appeared on Queen Island. Did you really endure living on that desolate land?”

 

No. I was dead.

 

“To put it simply, it’s complicated. There’s no part that I can be completely sure of. I’m still searching for various pieces of information.”

 

After a slight pause, I urged him.

 

“Don’t tell Raphael.”

 

His mouth closed.

His black eyes, revealing a complex state of mind, scrutinized my face.

 

The black eyes, revealing a complex state of mind, scrutinized my face.

 

After several seconds of opening and closing his lips as if trying to say something, Desherro finally spoke.

 

“Is it because you’re a woman?”

He hit the nail on the head.

“That’s one of the reasons. But I don’t want to bother him by showing up out of nowhere after 4 years.”

“But Raphael, no, His Grace, only because of such a reason…”

“I know.”

 

There was no need to convince me. Because I knew it now too.

Raphael was not someone who would be disappointed in me just because of my gender.

The past I saw in the Willow Grove forest in Westwinterre instilled that conviction in me.

These guys weren’t going to criticize me for hiding such a significant secret.

Instead, they would probably welcome me back. Just like Desherro, who was in front of me.

 

“I know… I’m not saying to pretend you don’t know at all. How can I ask that knowing your relationship with Raphael?”

 

“Really?”

 

“If Raphael asks about me, just casually mention that I’m not Andert himself but his sister. I’ll take care of the rest.”

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Next few chapters will be advance chapters! they’ll be locked for a few dayss ^^

 

Thank you again A-San for the ko-fi!

and I cried, again.