The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 129

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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 129

Especially Count Raghwirten.

Every time I turn my head, our eyes meet, and he has an expression like his lips are extremely itchy.

‘He must want to ask me all sorts of things about Andert.’

We couldn’t have a proper conversation even once at Jenail Castle because of the interrogation and the secret society.

This was the same for other secret society members including Count Rosebel. Seeing how they were all subtly holding back their words, I thought it might become quite bothersome after the banquet ended.

And…

‘The Swordmaster.’

The table to the left across from where we were seated.

Among those seated at that table, I could see a man who displayed a particularly firm presence.

His dark red hair was subtle like a rose blooming under moonlight, and his vivid green eyes were so calm they seemed settled like sediment.

Duke Jilhark Berkleygrayten.

Just like Raphael’s surroundings, the Swordmaster’s vicinity was also bustling with people.

However, while those approaching Raphael were diverse regardless of gender or age, over there it was mainly composed of noble gentlemen and ladies with serious expressions.

Those who had just come of age or appeared to be around that age were only watching while slightly craning their necks.

‘So this is the atmosphere of the Empire’s greatest banquet.’

If nothing else, it was certain that people’s senses were on high alert.

Whether they were leisurely wetting their throats, straightening their backs in tension, or gathering in small groups to exchange greetings, I could feel that everyone was pretending not to while surveying their surroundings.

‘I can understand why Natasha found it difficult.’

She said the army was more comfortable than banquets.

With her personality that only feels satisfied when she can do what she wants, this uncomfortable atmosphere must have been hard to endure.

“Are you nervous?”

At Raphael’s question, I roughly shook my head.

“If you sit there with such a bored expression, you’ll stand out. I don’t think that’s what you want.”

“…Really?”

I pulled up my drooping shoulders a bit more cheerfully and looked around with sparkling eyes.

Raphael, who glanced over my face like that, let out a small laugh. I couldn’t tell if it was mockery or not.

Even though he had been greeting his fourteenth gentleman just moments before, he didn’t forget about my existence and spoke to me from time to time.

I knew he had a high sense of responsibility, but… honestly, I didn’t expect him to take care of me this meticulously.

‘Well, just by occupying the seat next to him, I’m receiving more attention than necessary. He should at least do this much for me.’

Fortunately, Raphael didn’t introduce me to those who came looking for him.

Even when someone approached while blatantly staring at my profile and demanding an introduction, he skillfully changed the subject more often than not.

Thanks to this, I could escape from the hell of having to remember the faces and names of people I’d exchanged names with.

‘But is it right to consider this fortunate?’

When you think about it, isn’t this essentially blocking any opportunity to make connections?

Since I inherited the Weatherwax family, I can’t just stay on a remote island. After the banquet ends, it seems I’ll have to go around various places by myself.

At some point, those who had been freely moving around the banquet hall began returning to their seats one by one. Eventually, after everyone had taken their respective seats.

A bell rang.

Ding.

Servants who appeared silently poured wine into glass cups.

Then a white-haired old man appeared on the platform.

“That’s Count Daniel Milford, the head chamberlain.”

Raphael whispered.

It was a name I already knew from what the Head Maid had told me, but I nodded to show my gratitude anyway.

“I will now explain the hunting competition regulations.”

Explaining regulations as soon as he appeared? Truly befitting a head chamberlain.

“The competition will proceed in teams of two. Hunting will be conducted once per day, for a total of two rounds, and basic partners will not change.”

The royal hunting competition is treated as the greatest protocol in the Empire’s social circles.

I recalled the information the Head Maid had told me last night.

“The order of deciding hunting partners can be called the highlight of the ‘Glorious Harvest Banquet.’ It’s implicitly considered bad manners to decide partners before the hunting festival. As an exception, those participating in the hunting festival for the first time that year can notify the head chamberlain of their predetermined partner in advance. Other than that, partners are decided spontaneously on the spot or as if by fate.”

‘The partner Raphael mentioned at Jenail Castle must be referring to this.’

However, the partners in the hunting festival hosted by the royal court seemed a bit different from the usual concept of partners.

Usually, deciding partners in hunting festivals serves as a safety measure for emergencies, but in this hunting festival, two people formed one team with distributed roles.

“One team consists of one hunter and one assistant. The total score is calculated by combining the hunter’s ‘hunting’ score and the assistant’s ‘assistance’ score, and since each role is restricted through magical devices, please note that changing roles is absolutely impossible.”

The head chamberlain introduced them while holding a black bracelet in one hand and a white bracelet in the other. The black one was the hunter’s bracelet, and the white one was the assistant’s bracelet.

“The roles of hunter and assistant in the first hunt will be reversed in the second hunt. Only then is the exchange of bracelets between partners allowed. Additionally, you will be given a total of two opportunities to change partners per hunt.”

The head chamberlain raised his index and middle fingers and waved them a couple of times.

“The method is simple. The hunter from the higher-scoring team can exchange their assistant with the assistant from a lower-scoring team. At this time, the hunter and assistant from the lower-scoring team have no choice. Priority is given in order of total scores.”

The hall stirred.

Most of those attending the hunting competition showed slightly excited expressions with their respective anxieties and expectations.

“What you must keep in mind is that even if the assistant changes, the team doesn’t change. Therefore, the hunter can interfere with the changed assistant’s ‘assistance’ score to sabotage other teams, and likewise, the changed assistant can also interfere with the hunter’s ‘hunting’ score. The second day’s hunt begins again with the original team composition.”

The head chamberlain explained ‘partner changing’ during the hunting competition as being for strategic purposes.

However, according to the Head Maid’s additional comment, this ‘partner changing’ wasn’t simply for hunting strategy.

“Being able to move alone together without receiving anyone’s glares and with the emperor’s official approval is a very attractive thing. It’s especially so for unmarried men and women. Not only that, but it can also be used for political discussions, threatening opponents, or mocking them. So you must choose your first partner to be as capable as possible. Otherwise, you’ll be manipulated like a tool that others use and discard.”

I had noticed men and women subtly exchanging glances. It was probably for reasons like this.

“Those attending the banquet, please check the back of the napkin placed in front of you.”

Following the head chamberlain’s words, I flipped over the napkin.

On the back of the white cloth was an embossed royal emblem, and the color of my emblem was…

“Those who received black emblems must fulfill the role of hunter on the first day and assistant on the second day. Conversely, those who received gray emblems must fulfill the role of assistant on the first day and hunter on the second day. Emblems can only be exchanged for the next 10 minutes.”

The color of my emblem was gray.

‘Hmm.’

Glancing over, I saw that the color of Raphael’s emblem was black.

Was this natural? Since I attended as Raphael’s partner, our colors couldn’t be the same.

The attendees who confirmed their emblem colors chatted among themselves, comparing each other’s colors. The ones receiving the most attention were undoubtedly Raphael and the Swordmaster.

Even though Raphael had brought me along as his partner, questions from ladies who reached him through various intermediaries never ceased.

“Duke Jenail, Lady Rosetto has inquired about the color of the emblem you received.”

“Duke Jenail, Lady Edwina has inquired about the color of the emblem you received.”

“Duke Jenail, Count Griouk has inquired about the color of the emblem you received.”

Just from checking the emblem once, thirteen servants came to Raphael with messages and waited for answers.

‘Is this what life is like for a capable, handsome unmarried man?’

He’s certainly getting his money’s worth for suffering in the war. Though the person in question doesn’t seem particularly pleased.

As I was quietly watching this scene, Raphael, who had been repeating “Tell them it’s black” for a while, whispered so only I could hear.

“Your partner for your first hunting festival has been decided as me, so you don’t need to worry.”

Was he bothered because I kept staring? I should look less from now on.

“If possible, make my emblem black. I’m quite confident when it comes to hunting.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. It seems the head chamberlain distributed them arbitrarily, but if you want, we can exchange.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be the hunter starting from the second day.”

Just then.

For the first time, a servant walked toward my back, which had been quiet the whole time. The gazes of the veterans sitting around us turned toward that servant.

Even though he might have trembled under those fierce stares, the servant approached with a resolute face and bowed his head near my ear.

“Weatherwax Baroness.”

The name that followed was sufficient to support the servant’s boldness.

“Duke Berkley Greytown has inquired about the color of the emblem you received.”

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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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