Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 185

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

185. A Master’s Grace is Like the Heavens

Remove Ralph from the party and bring in Hana.

Serena was greatly surprised that Olive would suggest removing not the Imperial bastard she disliked, but the friendly young knight.

The princess was careful not to show her emotions outwardly.

“Not Count Alpha?”

The guide widened her eyes as if asking what she was talking about and shrugged her shoulders.

“Of course the black knight should stay. He’s stronger and has more monster combat experience too.”

‘Indeed. Ability and efficiency over friendship and emotions.’

Perhaps it was because she had been exploring labyrinths where one wrong step could cost you your head.

Olive’s criteria for choosing companions was ability over friendship.

“Previously when talking with Ying on the 3rd layer, didn’t you say that with a high grade, up to 10 people would be fine? Must we replace rather than add?”

Olive tilted her head as if hearing this for the first time.

“Did I say that?”

‘Oops.’

Serena weakly inhaled. Everything had become as if it never happened, but she remembered it as labyrinth information and made a mistake.

‘I’ll make more and more mistakes going forward. Let me insist.’

“You said it was labyrinth common sense. You told me it was basic knowledge that labyrinth difficulty increases when people gather.”

“Did I? I chatter so much I’m not sure if I said it or not.”

Fortunately, Olive had been talking throughout the labyrinth exploration to keep the party’s ears from getting bored, so she didn’t remember everything she had said. Since Serena said so, she accepted it as such.

“10 people is fine for briefly gathering. A 10-person labyrinth conquest party would be suicide. With veterans like me or Zero, an 8-person party might be okay, but the current party is a bit…”

Unless everyone was a 5-star veteran, increasing party members would bring more harm than good.

Olive emphasized this point and shrugged her shoulders.

“So. What does the princess think?”

“Hmm.”

Serena couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated.

‘I hate to admit it, but Olive’s proposal is right.’

On the 8th layer where monsters disguised as ordinary books, Hana’s ability was like a cheat key.

‘Ralph has been on the conquest team since the 1st floor. He must have accumulated a lot of fatigue, so maybe it’s okay to skip just this layer’s conquest?’

Seeing that reasons why Ralph could leave the party came to mind before reasons why Ralph should stay, Serena’s heart was already half swayed by the guide’s proposal.

What bothered her wasn’t Ralph, but Hana.

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous for Hana to go around the 8th layer?”

Hana certainly had monster detection abilities, but she was an ordinary(?) girl who had never fought monsters.

Even with experience running away from wooden dolls on the 7th layer, running from humanoid monsters and facing non-humanoid monsters were worlds apart.

If Hana’s potential was cup ramen, far from pouring hot water, she had just sprinkled the powder soup. Bringing Hana to the 8th layer was like chewing cup ramen without even adding cold water.

Thinking this way, her half-swayed heart completely turned against it.

‘No, it won’t do after all.’

“I’m against it. Giving Count Ralph a vacation this time is good, but it’s too dangerous for Hana.”

“She’s good at running away.”

“That was just avoiding people and wooden dolls. Maybe if Hana gains more experience, but not now.”

“Then what will you do, Princess?”

“We proceed as is. Didn’t Count Ralph say so? Count Ralph and Count Alpha.”

Serena deliberately emphasized Ralph’s name when calling it.

“Will protect the count and me. I believe in that. The count and I will also strive to stay alert and react swiftly.”

Olive pouted as if displeased with Serena’s decision, then nodded.

“If the princess says so, I understand.”

Olive was confident that Hana would take care of her own life, but ultimately Serena was the leader of Heuji’s conquest team.

In Heuji’s labyrinth, one must never go against Princess Heuji’s mood.

“Then conversation over!”

The princess and guide rejoined the party they had distanced themselves from.

For some unknown reason, Ying put her index finger to her gracefully lined lips.

“Shh.”

“Why? Trying to eavesdrop on our conversation?”

“Stairs.”

The guide’s eyes, which had been joking, sharpened. Olive put her index finger to her lips like Ying and focused her senses on the surrounding sounds.

Not knowing what it was but breathing softly and perking up her ears, Serena caught a specific sound.

Thud thud.

It was the sound of someone coming down the stairs.

‘It’s not just one person!’

Not one person, but several people were walking down the stairs to the 8th layer.

Olive, Ying, and Count Alpha signaled Serena and Count Randy to hide behind the sofa, then hid themselves in the blind spot next to the stairs.

The guide drew her dagger and played with it in her hand, while the archer quietly loaded a bolt with her characteristic strength.

The Imperial knight gripped the handle of his fearsome double-edged axe tightly.

It seemed they planned to thrust daggers, arrows, and axes at whoever came down.

Serena hid behind the sofa and prayed to all the great beings residing in heaven.

‘Please, anyone but His Highness the Crown Prince!’

The moment she met Crown Prince Kipan, the princess’s already rock-bottom quality of life and satisfaction would drill through the ground.

Serena clasped her hands together in her heart and prayed again and again.

‘Please, anyone but father!’

Had the princess’s earnest prayers reached the hearts of the great beings residing in heaven?

Finally, the one who had completely descended the stairs stepped onto the 8th layer floor covered with plush carpet.

Luxurious leather boots without a speck of dust and clothes with graceful lines carefully sewn stitch by stitch by an artisan.

Brilliant platinum hair befitting the luxurious attire and a beautiful face that would instantly captivate any beholder.

The platinum hair reaching his chest was lightly tied and draped forward.

An eyepatch and mysterious orange eyes that added contrasting charm to what could have been a delicate impression.

A strong person who could leisurely stroll through the dangerous and mysterious labyrinth like a garden walk without worrying about his hair tie coming loose.

Duke Oren ignored the daggers, bolts, and axes aimed at him from both sides and smiled with his eyes at his cousin behind the sofa.

“Hello, Serena.”

At the tone of the older cousin who found his younger cousin adorable to death, the princess complained of breathing difficulties and was disgusted.

‘I said I didn’t want father, so brother came instead!’

Was it a mistake not to consider the possibility of Richard since there were multiple footsteps? Or divine mischief?

“Perfect timing. I have someone to introduce, so won’t you come out now?”

‘Ugh. It’s that crazy bastard. Get a grip, Serena. Realistically, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs, but praying to god wouldn’t change the person.’

She had just briefly escaped reality because she hated Crown Prince Kipan so much.

“It would be awkward for Heuji’s most noble woman to greet from behind a sofa.”

Richard walked toward the sofa gracefully but quickly, like approaching a woman he fancied at a ball to ask for a dance.

“D-don’t come closer!”

Ralph tremblingly drew his sword and thrust it forward, but Richard ignored the young knight as if he were invisible.

“It’s someone you know. You’ll be pleased.”

“Someone I know?”

“I brought a companion too.”

‘So that’s why there were multiple footsteps.’

As Serena inwardly grimaced, Richard’s orange eyes lost focus.

“I’m confused whether I told you. I definitely said it, but it might become as if it never happened. I might have said it but you didn’t hear, or you heard it but I might never have said it.”

The party’s attention focused on the rambling Richard.

Despite being a madman who had assassinated the monarch of a nation and his own grandfather in the royal palace, Duke Oren possessed irresistible charm.

In his presence, words failed and one became absorbed in his every move.

“Oops.”

Olive belatedly came to her senses, feeling the presence that had approached close by.

Unlike Richard who had come down alone, several people had stepped onto the 8th layer carpet.

First was a man with long carrot-colored hair braided into a single plait. He was small in stature, only slightly larger than Olive.

“My lord! I’m the guide, so why do you keep going ahead!”

The braided man extended his hand to support the figure following him down the stairs.

“Hah, hah. Thank you. Ugh.”

The one who came down after was a middle-aged woman with bronze hair partially streaked with white.

Her neatly pinned-up hair had come loose, covering her forehead and nape, and her breathing was rough.

Already thin in build, her face was gaunt with sunken cheeks below her cheekbones, making her look sickly, and her labored breathing made her appear like a patient about to collapse.

Serena shot up the moment she saw the middle-aged woman. Her single orange eye widened as if it might tear.

“Countess Nex?”

“Cough cough. Pr-Princess? You’re safe!”

The middle-aged woman, Countess Nex, who had been covering her mouth with a handkerchief while coughing and retching, looked up at Serena.

Tears welled up in Countess Nex’s eyes, but she couldn’t rush to Serena and remained wary of Duke Oren.

“You’re safe! What a relief!”

Countess Nex couldn’t move due to her wariness of Richard and only wiped her tears with her handkerchief.

‘Countess Nex suddenly appearing here?’

Before the flustered Serena could regain her composure from seeing a familiar face as Richard had mentioned, another person appeared.

Clank clank.

The one who came down the stairs with the distinctive friction sound of metal armor was someone Serena knew.

Not just knew, but knew quite well.

The plate armor he wore was standard issue from the Heuji Royal Knights, so that was understandable.

The distinguishing feature of this newly appeared knight was that he had unforgettable pink hair.

That’s right. Pink hair.

Serena’s remaining eye widened so much it seemed like it might pop out.

“Sir Shullen? Are you really Sir Shullen?”

Stollen Baker. The son of Count Baker, beloved brother of Miss Muffin Baker, and escort knight to Crown Prince Seraph—Stollen Baker looked at the princess, became flustered, then turned his head away.

Seeing this, Serena’s brain cells began working harder than usual.

‘Richard and Shullen? They could travel together since the labyrinth is dangerous. I’d get scolded a bit, but it’s something that could be explained away. But he’s avoiding my gaze? Why?’

Serena wasn’t particularly bright, but when it came to negative assumptions, she displayed remarkable creativity and quick thinking.

The princess’s mind deduced the truth faster than ever before.

‘Shullen was originally Seraph’s escort. If he was on duty when Grandfather died, he would have been by Seraph’s side. Then he would know that Richard killed Grandfather.’

Her wide eyes gradually narrowed.

‘He can’t look at me because he feels guilty about traveling with Richard? That can’t be it. He could just say it was unavoidable due to the labyrinth’s dangers or that Richard forced him to follow through threats.’

Then there was only one conclusion.

‘This bastard. Did he betray me and Seraph to side with Richard?’

Her mind, excited from running negative thoughts for the first time in a while, reached the worst possible assumption.

Serena hoped her thoughts were wrong as she asked the pink-haired knight.

“Sir Shullen. Is what I’m thinking correct?”

“…”

The knight avoided the princess’s gaze and remained silent. Serena ground her teeth.

“Why won’t you speak! I asked if you’ve truly betrayed your family, your house, your lord, and even your country to side with that traitorous patricide!”

The traitor’s face contorted before he shouted back.

“His Grace the Duke is Heuji’s true ruler!”

Serena barely endured the urge to clutch the back of her neck, unable to bear her rising blood pressure.

“How can you call that words! How much did Seraph cherish you!”

“His Grace the Duke cherishes Lady Serena and Lord Seraph! He has no intention of harming either of you!”

Serena could no longer contain herself and pointed at Richard in fury.

“You believe the words of that cunning patricide? I’d sooner believe His Highness the Crown Prince would quit his medication! Are you saying this knowing that patricide murdered His Majesty the King?”

“What? Duke Oren murdered His Majesty the King?”

Shullen just squeezed his eyes shut. Rather, it was Countess Nex who was shocked, hearing this for the first time.

“Your young sibling is risking her life to help Seraph, yet you side with this wicked traitorous patricide! Richard! You’ve found yourself a companion quite fitting, haven’t you?”

Count Baker was a representative member of the pro-Seraph faction.

Having betrayed his family and house, Shullen must have been prepared for the insults that would come his way.

Serena changed direction and cursed Richard instead.

“A sword perfectly suited to a patricide like you!”

“His Grace the Duke is innocent!”

“Innocent when he killed Grandfather?”

Richard ignored the traitorous knight’s words and only responded to Serena’s.

“He’s not my companion.”

“Then what? Your doormat? You’re not going to tell me he’s your knight, are you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Richard tilted his head as if genuinely puzzled, then pointed to Countess Nex who was muttering ‘His, His Majesty has passed away?’

“My companion here is Countess Nex. Those two are merely following me of their own accord.”

The words that came from Richard’s mouth were always unpredictable, and this statement was no exception.

“My lord? Is that why you kept ignoring us and going ahead?”

“Your Grace? Do you not trust my loyalty? I truly follow Your Grace with all my heart.”

The braided man was shocked, and Shullen’s complexion turned pale.

‘Serves them right.’

As Serena inwardly gloated, mana stirred nearby.

Serena was sensitive to mana and close enough to barely detect it, but it was so subtle that no one else would notice.

The one manipulating the mana was Countess Nex, who was being held by Richard.

Countess Nex finished her incantation by only moving her lips without making a sound, then suddenly raised her head and shouted.

“Lady Serena! Run away!”

Countess Nex, who was both a royal mage of Heuji and the princess’s magic tutor, held fire in her right hand and aimed it at Duke Oren’s face.

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