The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 118

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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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Chapter 118

“I’ll hand over this cage to you two days after the hunting festival ends. The reason I’m not giving it to you immediately is my own form of insurance.”

“I understand.”

“On that day, I’ll also tell you where another one of the heirlooms is located. I’m not sure if you know about it. It’s not as far away as you might think.”

How generous?

“And I, too, must make one more request of you, sister.”

A request. While thinking he was being cheeky, I felt a little relieved.

‘At least it wasn’t kindness without a price.’

Now this was actually better.

A relationship built on calculations.

Raphael led me up the main palace stairs. I thought he might guide me to that room where yesterday’s interrogation (written as interrogation, read as mayhem) took place, but we arrived at what was clearly Raphael’s office.

“【Berid Ret】 is an organization that exists yet doesn’t exist. Only a very few know the fact that it’s closely connected to the Royal Court, and those who tried to dig even a little deeper disappeared without a trace.”

“…”

“They claim there are no other uncomfortable intentions in their resurrection research. They say their only goal is ‘reviving those who were sacrificed without sin.’ Well, if they were so righteous, they wouldn’t have hidden underground like rats to conduct their research.”

Raphael passed by the bookshelf that filled one side of the wall and stopped in front of the leftmost bookcase. When he pulled forward 【Understanding of Faith】 from among the books lined up side by side, a noise came from the wall inside the bookcase.

Click.

With a concise mechanical sound, the bookcase slowly slid inward into the wall. Then a hidden secret passage appeared.

Tension hung between Raphael and me. No, this was tension I was feeling unilaterally toward him.

Where was Raphael trying to lead me?

“Do you know this? Emperor Ashneike doesn’t have much time left to live. The Royal Court is keeping it quiet, but they estimate he has about 5 years at most.”

A lifespan of 5 years.

As I stepped into the pitch-black passage, the bookcase also slowly returned to its position. Now all sides were consumed by darkness.

“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“…Vaguely.”

Another purpose of the resurrection research must include the Emperor’s resurrection.

We went down stairs and also walked silently through endlessly connected passages. At some point, I heard the sound of a door handle turning nearby. Soon, calm lamplight poured through the crack of a slightly opened door.

They were beyond the open door.

Count Rosebel, Duke Kalpenweber, Count Raghwirten. And young nobles with awkwardly elegant appearances and very familiar faces. These were all…

‘Comrades who fought together in the Mage War.’

Raphael, standing in front of them, looked back at me.

“Weatherwax Baroness. We have organized a secret society to oppose the Royal Court.”

I silently stared at the ‘secret society’ Raphael mentioned.

“The purpose of this gathering is simple. To protect the corpses of Mage War casualties and defend the Pen Rota Empire we risked our lives to protect.”

Their eyes showed no resolute will or conviction. But rather than raising doubts about this gathering’s unity, such an atmosphere gave the completely opposite impression.

For them, the secret society’s reason for existence wasn’t significant.

It was simply natural.

Because it was natural, it was solid and firm. That was the true root that bound this secret society together.

“For the sake of your departed siblings as well… we hope you’ll join our cause, Weatherwax Baroness.”

But regardless of that fact, from my position, it was a situation that only made me sigh.

‘This… there’s no way out.’

So they’re going to make me unable to move like this. To prevent me from harboring vain thoughts, making me completely one of them.

But there was no other path.

‘If I can meet Natasha.’

If I can hear her story that I don’t know.

…If I can gather all of Dian Ket’s heirlooms and live my complete life. I could willingly board the same ship as them.

Count Rosebel demanded of me.

“Weatherwax Baroness, a blood oath.”

A blood oath. Yes, it is an essential element of a secret society.

‘Well, I can do it if I have to.’

I’m a little anxious. Didn’t I already cough up blood and faint twice during previous oaths? If the same thing happens this time, Lu will be greatly worried.

But if I refuse the oath, Raphael’s trust will plummet… he might try to take back Dian Ket’s cage after giving it to me.

‘…Hmm. Can’t be helped.’

I’ll endure with grit.

Since no traces of previous oaths remained, I extended one relatively clean wrist. Despite training fairly consistently, its pitifully thin appearance was bothersome.

Golden sacred energy enveloped the room.

“Here, the 12 people gathered in Jenail will share a blood oath.”

Cold sweat ran down my back from anxiety. At times like this, I need to finish quickly.

“I, Daisy Weatherwax… ugh.”

But a weakened body has trouble following a strong spirit.

As soon as I opened my mouth, I dry-heaved as if it had been waiting and collapsed forward.

“Oh no.”

“Weatherwax Baroness!”

Perhaps because I had a history of coughing up blood once before, the veterans who immediately got up rushed toward me one after another.

“I say, Baroness. Are you alright? Are you conscious?”

“Don’t you touch her. I’m afraid the Baroness might get hurt from your ignorant brute strength.”

“Hah. Are you saying you’re worried about the woman who slammed Lord Liwein into a wall getting hurt?”

“Quiet. Is Count Senyal here? Since you’re a woman, please help support the Baroness.”

“Yes.”

Muffled sounds continued as if underwater.

‘Phew.’

Good, I endured it. I didn’t cough up blood or faint. Is grit really the answer?

However, while I preserved my pride as a warrior, my physical condition wasn’t preserved. My head was so dizzy I couldn’t move my legs.

I asked for understanding while pretending to be fine.

“Sorry, but could we postpone the oath for later? I’m feeling a bit unwell today.”

“That’s enough, stop talking there and return to your bedroom immediately. Count Senyal? Please escort Weatherwax Baroness to her bedroom…”

Before Count Rosebel could finish speaking, my body floated up into the air. Thanks to that, I had to grab my forehead while feeling extreme dizziness.

“I apologize. I was too hasty.”

Following a small whisper, my vision darkened.

My body floated through the humid, dark space for a very long time. When I faintly opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Raphael’s sharp jawline as he held me.

How should I put it. Rather than relief, I felt a faint sense of self-loathing.

Being with Raphael gives me conflicted emotions.

Longing for the old days. And bitterness, shame toward my endlessly weakened self…

The fact that I had to become someone protected by him, of all people, didn’t seem entirely pleasant.

Because we once stood side by side.

“Put me down, Raphael. I’ll walk from here.”

“That won’t do.”

“It’s the same floor anyway. I just need to turn around that corner.”

“It’s too much for your body.”

Too much? I know that too. Even knowing that, the reason I want to walk with my own feet is simple.

While I didn’t want to give Raphael a more frail impression, more than anything, I didn’t want to show Lu this appearance.

If you ask why… well. I just wanted to.

“I’m not even married yet. Put me down unless you’re going to take responsibility for my life.”

Seeing Raphael stop walking abruptly, this warning seemed to have worked properly.

I didn’t miss that brief gap and got down to the floor. Thanks to the short rest, I had regained enough strength to get up on my own after escaping from Raphael’s arms.

‘…It would be easier to walk if only I didn’t have these shoes.’

Ah, these damn shoes. I’m trying to pretend I’m fine, but they’re just getting in the way.

With a short sigh, I glanced up at Raphael and asked.

“Pretend you didn’t see this.”

Then I immediately bent down and took off both shoes. After gripping the shoes in both hands, I smiled brightly at Raphael, who was looking at me with strange eyes.

“Well then, I’ll excuse myself for today.”

“Sister, wait a moment.”

It was nothing particularly special.

Raphael casually knelt down on one knee in front of me. Then he loosened the tie he was wearing and wrapped it around my left foot.

I tried to pull my foot away in embarrassment, but Raphael’s hands didn’t budge. After roughly tying a knot to cover my sole, he pulled out what appeared to be a new white handkerchief from inside his jacket. It was to wrap around my right foot.

While I couldn’t say a word, Raphael stood up.

“Please return them later.”

His face as he made this request was not that of my long-time partner whom I knew, but of a man I had to lift my chin to look up at.

He was Duke Raphael Jenail.

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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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