Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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104. Prince Willow Became a Companion (1)

“Philia. How many days have passed?”

To die or to live. That is the question.

Serena thought of the famous line from a play’s protagonist as she asked her maid.

Philia dabbed at her pearl-like tears with a handkerchief as she answered.

“Nine whole days have passed. Since it’s evening now, it might as well be ten days.”

‘Within the expected range.’

She had been worried about how many days had passed since they unexpectedly conquered up to the 5th floor, but it was roughly similar to the date Serena had calculated.

‘I don’t have to die.’

Serena let out a sigh of relief and embraced Philia.

Holding her soft friend in her arms made her feel as proud as if she owned the whole world.

“Do you think this will make my anger go away? Not a chance!”

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry.”

The maid didn’t know that her response had extended her master’s life and continued to be angry.

Seeing this, Count Randy was frightened.

“Gasp, even though Lady Serena hugged you, you’re still angry! You must be really upset, my lady!”

“Of course! Do you know how worried I was? If it was going to take this long, you should have stopped the conquest midway and come back!”

Philia hugged Serena back and earnestly expressed her anger.

Her expression was gradually softening, and it was clear she had already forgiven her and was just pretending to be angry while planning to hold her master.

Serena generously forgave her.

“Nine days have passed?”

“Were we there that long? I thought we stayed for about five days.”

Ying spoke briefly.

“Twisted.”

Time was twisted. Olive understood the archer’s words and twisted her own curly hair.

“That’s right. Since we passed the 10th floor, it seems things are starting to get seriously twisted.”

Prince Willow, seeing Philia for the first time, was overwhelmed by the beauty of Heuji Jeolmi and forgot his words before finally managing to speak.

“Is that dazzlingly beautiful lady Mark’s wife?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And Lady Serena’s maid? I never saw her once during my stay in Huji.”

Of course not. To prevent people like Prince Willow from being mesmerized by Philia’s beauty, she had been on forced vacation and stayed home the entire time.

“She surpasses even Lady Popo, who is praised as the Empire’s greatest beauty. How has such a beauty not become famous until now?”

Although the Kingdom of Heuji was a closed nation due to its geography, Philia’s beauty should have spread widely across the entire continent, piercing through mountains and seas.

Count Randy answered Prince Willow’s question.

“Lady Serena blocked the rumors in advance, saying that if too many rumors spread, life would become difficult.”

Crown Prince Kipan was a drug addict who preferred drugs over women, but in other nations, powerful figures old enough to be her parents would have pestered her to become their mistress with such beauty.

Serena had early on sensed her friend’s beauty and the misfortune that would stem from it, and regulated any rumors about Philia’s appearance.

Thanks to this, Philia lived a remarkably peaceful life compared to her beauty.

Moreover, she had a capable husband whom even the Empire’s emperor couldn’t steal away, so her future life would also be peaceful.

To the Count Randy couple, Serena was a lifesaver.

The more Count Randy reflected on it, the more deeply he felt the princess’s grace and pledged his loyalty.

‘Lady Serena, loyalty, loyalty!’

“Lady Serena is a very wise person. And to be able to use teleportation magic circles in the labyrinth…”

The son of the first lord to whom Count Randy had pledged loyalty reconsidered the princess’s value and became serious.

Prince Willow reflected on his past attempt to draw a line with the princess too quickly.

Pretty, wise, and able to use teleportation magic circles in the labyrinth.

The third condition was so overwhelming that even if she were ugly and stupid, and the Kingdom of Heuji fell, she would be worth actively pursuing for a political marriage.

‘Fortunately, the mistake was only once. I can make up for it from now on.’

Since Prince Willow had saved the Grand Princess from danger, minor verbal mistakes could be treated as if they never happened.

‘Indeed, people should help each other and live together.’

The prince watched the two beauties comforting each other with a pleased heart.

He insisted that his gaze constantly drifting toward Countess Randy was an unavoidable law of nature.

“Everyone! You’re back! I was so worried!”

“Aunt was so worried. Oh?”

The door to the leader’s chamber was open, so the commotion must have reached the lobby.

Hearing the noise, Lavenda and Grey entered the leader’s chamber.

They were surprised to see a new person added to the assault team they had been eagerly waiting for.

“You came with someone we haven’t seen before. It’s not Prince Seraph. Not a priest either.”

The Mysterious Stranger had never seen Seraph but had heard some rumors and knew he had platinum hair.

He also knew from what he heard from the assault team that all the priests were women.

One thing was certain. The man’s status was noble.

His handsome and upright appearance and everything he wore were all extraordinary.

The man’s status was more exceptional than his possessions.

“Lavenda. This is Prince Willow of the Empire.”

Lavenda smiled kindly while thinking.

‘Another person to serve.’

Then, Grey, who was next to Lavenda, raised both arms and ran to the man.

“Will!”

“Grey!”

You’re safe! Yo!”

“You’re the one I’m glad is safe!”

Prince Willow was so happy to see Grey that he knelt down to welcome the child.

Grey launched a full-body tackle at the prince, just like he had done to Count Randy.

“Ugh!”

“I was so worried! Yo!”

Grey pretended to complain while punching Prince Willow’s solar plexus with his fist.

“Young master, why are you suddenly copying my speech pattern?”

Whether Olive expressed her doubt or not, Grey embraced the prince’s neck, who had knelt to match his eye level, and whispered earnestly in his ear.

Small hands pinched the prince’s ear and pulled at his black hair.

“Is it okay for him to do that?”

Lavenda asked Serena in confusion at the servant’s outrageous behavior.

Serena wasn’t surprised because she roughly guessed Grey’s identity.

“It’s fine.”

“My guess is that Grey is Duke Pein’s late-born illegitimate child. So they’re uncle and nephew. Shouldn’t it be fine?”

The maid embracing her master spoke as if her own conclusion was the truth.

The Mysterious Stranger seemed to find the countess’s words plausible and didn’t express doubt.

Without blood relation, he couldn’t understand the rudeness Grey was committing.

‘Strange rumors spread because of things like this. I wonder if he intends to hide it or not.’

Olive was laughing as if she found it interesting.

Ralph was visibly thinking that the prince was being lenient because Grey was young.

Count Randy physically blocked the prince and Grey, awkwardly laughing, “Grey must have been very worried about His Highness the Prince. Haha.”

“Philia, Miss Lavenda. If you’ve heard anything about Grey and the prince, you must never speak of it, no matter what.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Serena ordered them not to breathe a word about any related rumors for the mental health of the two who had Duke Pein’s blood flowing through them.

***

Prince Willow was so surprised upon seeing the lobby that he couldn’t speak.

Bread and fruit hung from the bread trees and fruit trees, the campfire burned warmly, and hot steam rose from behind the partition.

What about the alchemist’s workshop that didn’t belong in the labyrinth?

Willow couldn’t understand how a workshop could possibly exist in the labyrinth lobby.

The most striking sight was the graves at the edge of the lobby. There was even a tombstone erected at the grave in the very center.

The prince’s face grew serious as he read the name and dates of birth and death written on the tombstone.

“This is, surely not.”

“There were sacrifices.”

“May I take a moment to pray for the deceased’s soul?”

Prince Willow politely asked for the party’s understanding. Lavenda and Ralph brightened upon hearing the prince’s words.

“Of course.”

“Grandmother Krom would like that too.”

“Mark. Won’t you share some of the flowers you gathered?”

“What the count gathered are poisonous plants, so they’re dangerous. Isn’t that right?”

Count Randy had collected various poisonous plants on the 5th floor.

But what the count took out of his subspace bag wasn’t poisonous plants, but gorgeous and beautiful flowers that had no medicinal effects or poison.

“Count? You were constantly worrying about what to throw away due to lack of subspace bag capacity, but you kept a bouquet? Is that it?”

Even if he had to remove magic stones from his bag, he couldn’t throw away the bouquet to offer to his beloved wife.

Olive was shocked after glimpsing the count’s true feelings.

“His wife is scary because she’s too pretty, and the husband is scary because he loves his wife too much! What I’ve been doing all this time wasn’t real love!”

Winds of the Wilderness was on the verge of denying all the romance she’d experienced so far.

The guide, who felt cosmic horror once again, wrapped her arms around herself and trembled.

Count Randy plucked a few small flowers from the gorgeous bouquet and handed them to the prince.

Then he arranged the disheveled bouquet and offered it to his beloved wife.

“My beloved wife. I picked these one by one while thinking of you.”

“Do you think I’ll forgive you with something like this?”

“I’m not offering this to appease your anger. I’m giving it to you because I must.”

Count Randy’s pure and devoted heart softened Philia’s heart.

Philia received the bouquet and smelled its fragrance.

“It smells really wonderful!”

“I’m happy that you’re pleased.”

“Mark! I missed you! I was so scared!”

“I’m sorry! I won’t make the same mistake as today ever again!”

On one side of the lobby, the count couple was making a scene, while on the other side, people mourned the deceased.

Prince Willow had never even met Krom, yet he seriously placed flowers before the tombstone and observed a moment of silence.

Lavenda and Ralph also stood behind the prince and prayed for Krom’s soul.

‘Krom.’

Serena felt bitter thinking about the old woman who was fine in every way except for her poor career choice as a drug dealer.

No matter how much they prayed for her soul, the old woman’s spirit was trapped in the prison called the labyrinth.

Unless someone conquered the labyrinth, she couldn’t escape from it.

‘Lavenda too.’

Though Serena’s regression had made it never happen, Lavenda’s body had also been buried next to Krom’s grave.

People think only one of the ten graves has an owner.

To Serena, it felt like two were filled.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

The prince, who finished his silent prayer first, stepped back and bumped into Lavenda.

The prince gently apologized to Lavenda.

Color returned to Lavenda’s face, which had been slightly sad about gaining another master.

It was because things became much easier when the master she had to serve was a good person.

Serena clicked her tongue inwardly while watching the scene.

‘I wanted to bring in a friend for Lavenda.’

She had hoped that a commoner woman of similar age whom Lavenda could rely on would become a new companion. It would be best if she was from Vieta.

‘He’s the complete opposite.’

Prince Willow was the complete opposite of the type of person Serena had wanted.

He was male, younger than Lavenda, and even royalty. It was amazing how she could meet someone so opposite no matter how they met.

‘He’s not a bad person, but he’s still a prince. He just added another master for Lavenda.’

Serena sighed inwardly while watching Lavenda bow her head with a grateful expression to the prince.

‘And he’s another foreigner.’

This was Heuji’s Labyrinth, so why was the proportion of foreigners so high?

Was it because they were a non-labyrinth-owning country, so they picked people from labyrinth-owning countries first?

Next time she’d pick fellow countrymen.

The princess made this resolution while watching the prince go to see the initiation for the person added to the lobby and the rock blocking the exit.

Might the prince be different somehow?

People had secretly hoped, but they gave up when they saw Prince Willow return with a bitter expression.

“We got our hopes up for nothing. I’m tired, so I’ll wash up and sleep. Ugh~ I’m exhausted!”

Grey caught the guide who was stretching her shoulders and neck while extending her arms, and looked up at her with sparkling eyes.

“Before that, I want to know why you were so late! I’m so curious!”

Olive, who had committed a sin, couldn’t answer immediately and smiled awkwardly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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