The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 119
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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 119
That unfamiliar gap planted no small sense of distance in me. Was that why? I simply nodded silently and turned my back.
However, right after turning the corner and escaping Raphael’s gaze. The layers of accumulated tension released, and strength left my legs.
Fortunately, my collapsing knees didn’t touch the ground. Gentle hands lifted my body with surprising lightness.
I wasn’t startled.
“Shh. It’s okay, relax your body and breathe slowly. You can do it, right?”
He was the only existence I could lean my head against with peace of mind.
I continued breathing slowly while feeling the cold sweat flowing down the back of my neck.
My body was in the worst state due to the aftermath of the oath. I had no strength in my limbs, making even nodding my head difficult.
“…What a very cute gift I’ve received.”
As soon as the bitter sneer was heard, the sensation pressing against both my feet disappeared.
When I lifted my head with difficulty, Raphael’s tie and handkerchief that had floated into the air were being crumpled into Lu’s grasp.
“Lu.”
“I know, Daisy. These must be things that need to be returned. Don’t worry. Morian Sereniye will return them to their owner in your place. After washing them very cleanly.”
Lu, who kissed my forehead, whispered affectionately.
“Refrain from actions that harm your health for a while. If I have to step in like this, it’ll cause you trouble, won’t it?”
“…Yes, thank you.”
Looking at his blue hair, I realized something anew.
‘Moving in Morian’s form instead of his true appearance… was to avoid causing me trouble.’
I had thought it was simply due to Lu’s perverted interest. Feeling unnecessarily sorry, I stayed more quietly in his embrace and spoke to him.
“The Pen Rota Imperial House is conducting resurrection experiments. It seems they’ve been at it for quite a while.”
Lu’s eyebrows twisted nicely.
“That’s… yes, so that’s what it was. Quite surprising.”
“Are they using heart crystals?”
“Probably. I can roughly guess. There’s a high probability they got their hands on Mephistopheles’ heart.”
…Huh?
Mephistopheles’ heart? That Mephistopheles from the Mage War?
It was a truly surprising hypothesis, but I was too exhausted to be shocked. Well, not having the energy to be shocked is quite a novel experience itself.
“If it’s a heart, could it possibly be made from heart crystals?”
“Our clever Daisy. The heart used in experiments can only be in crystal form. Rogue technology must have leaked out. It’s old technology, so it’s about time for it to spread externally.”
Was it because of Lu’s characteristic way of speaking without any sense of crisis? Whatever Rogue technology had leaked didn’t feel like such an urgent situation.
After arriving at the bedroom, Lu sat me in a chair and began removing my hairpins one by one.
“Your guess was correct. Raphael possesses Dian Ket’s cage. I’m planning to receive it as compensation for cooperating with him.”
“If it’s cooperation, it must be related to those resurrection experiments.”
“Yes. My old friend is… involved.”
“Old friend?”
“Princess Natasha.”
“Ah, right. I remember.”
Considerate Lu. Only when helping me undress does he change to Morian’s appearance.
Moreover, he responded wholeheartedly to my slowly continuing story. As if he would stay by my side now and continue to do so forever…
I lay comfortably in bed, led by Lu’s hand. As soon as I rested my head on the pillow, drowsiness that rarely came poured over me.
“There’s a lot to organize, Lu. Let’s return to Weatherwax tomorrow. I need to prepare for the hunting festival too…”
When I pulled his hand and rubbed my nose against it, I heard a pleasant laugh.
“There’s no need to rush, my lady. There’s plenty of time. Now close your eyes and rest comfortably.”
I fell asleep peacefully, feeling Lu’s warmth stroking my cheek.
* * *
Early the next morning.
I expressed my intention to return home to Raphael.
“That’s not allowed.”
And was immediately refused.
“Why?”
“Have you already forgotten what you said about Andert’s sister also being my sister? I’ve personally caught your collapsing body with my own hands twice now. And yet you think I could send you back as soon as the sun rises?”
“I think there’s some misunderstanding, but staying here won’t cure my condition either.”
“At least you won’t collapse on the road to Midwintry. I don’t know how much confidence you have in your own health, but while you’re staying at Jenail Castle, I’d like you to follow my suggestions.”
“That’s why I won’t stay…”
“I won’t accept objections. Please consider staying comfortably until the hunting festival for the time being. A doctor will visit before lunch, so keep that in mind.”
Raphael literally left only those words and disappeared completely. This was an order, essentially no different from coercion. Actually, it wasn’t such an unfamiliar sight.
‘He used to act arbitrarily sometimes before too.’
When I came back with one arm dangling, and right after barely escaping complete assimilation, and after jumping into a group of Black Knights alone with just the Swordmaster…
I have no mind to scold him. I know it’s coercion born from worry.
‘In that respect, he’s the same now as he was then.’
Not just Raphael, but me too.
‘Then there’s no choice. I’ll sneak out.’
I’m grateful for the concern, but I’m a very busy person.
I need to take care of my own life, take care of my family, check on Natasha separately, and anyway, even five bodies wouldn’t be enough.
“Jin, pack our things as soon as we return to the bedroom. We’re going to slip out quietly.”
“Pardon? But Lu, no, Lord Morian hasn’t returned yet…”
“Don’t worry about that. He’ll actually be pleased.”
Lu seems to have some reluctance about this castle. He’ll probably follow along on his own.
Perhaps having gained another enlightenment from training with the Jenail Knights, Jin’s actions in packing and jumping down from the window were very, very agile.
However, while smoothly trying to escape Jenail Castle, there was someone I happened to encounter behind the manor.
Liwein.
Upon discovering me, he maintained his characteristic expressionless face before slowly bowing his head. It was a very docile attitude, unlike the impudent behavior he showed on the first day.
‘Come to think of it… Liwein wasn’t a member of the suicide squad.’
Surprising. Someone who was part of the war faction, beneficiary faction, vice-captain of the Jenail Knights, and even directly interrogated me wasn’t included in the suicide squad.
“Sir Liwein, come here for a moment.”
After hesitating, he soon complied with my request with a nonchalant expression.
“I have something to ask.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“Do you still think I’m Andert Pager?”
Liwein straightened his back further and bowed his head once more.
“…I apologize, my lady. If you permit it, I would like to apologize for my reckless behavior that day.”
“It’s fine. I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. I was curious about the reason for questioning me like that. Besides, it was an impromptu question, not something prepared.”
Of course, Raphael had given me a rough explanation. Something about having excellent ability to detect magical energy… But it was somewhat difficult to fully understand.
After a moment of silence, Liwein slowly parted his lips.
“When I was merely a novice knight, I once saw Lord Andert Pager from a distance. I remember it being about 6 years ago. At that time, I belonged to the Berkley Greytown Knights and traveled back and forth across battlefields as a temporary messenger for His Grace the Duke.”
He belonged to the Berkley Greytown Knights?
‘But now he’s the vice-captain of the Jenail Knights?’
I knew that personnel mixing between the two groups was virtually nonexistent. It was quite a unique form of promotion.
“…I cannot go into detail, but my detection ability is one acquired through surgical procedures. Working as a temporary messenger during the Mage War was also right after completing the procedure. To me, with my narrow view of the world, the aura emanating from heroes traversing the battlefield was very intense and impressive.”
Surgical procedures.
It was a vague expression, but I understood immediately.
‘He was a test subject for biological magic surgical procedures.’
But he underwent procedures during the Mage War?
‘Something’s strange. I don’t remember ever receiving reports about such experiments at that time.’
That meant it was individual-level procedures, not state-level ones.
Seeing how openly he revealed this, it probably wasn’t illegal, and the fact that someone from the Berkley Greytown Knights became a test subject meant.
‘The Swordmaster… initiated it?’
The Swordmaster and biological magic procedures. They don’t match at all.
Moreover, procedures basically involved side effects. For the Swordmaster, who prioritized the basic mindset and attitude of an inspector above all, to directly perform procedures on his own knights… as someone who prided myself on knowing the Swordmaster fairly well, it wasn’t easily acceptable.
“Among them, Sir Andert Pager’s aura remains particularly vivid in my mind. It seemed to be because it was the most mysterious and complex aura among all the auras I’ve felt. Moreover, since I’ve never seen a case where two or more people possessed the same aura… I made a thoughtless mistake. I apologize once again.”
The reason for the misunderstanding is quite plausible.
‘Even so, how could someone who’s a vice-captain of the knights make such a mistake?’
What’s with this guy. Are you a nepotism hire? As I glared at him with suspicious eyes, Jin unexpectedly stepped forward to defend Liwein.
“It seems Sir Liwein was quite a big fan of the young master’s… no, Sir Andert Pager’s. It’s quite a common type among young knights like myself.”
…Is that so?
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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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