The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 130

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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 130

It was definitely a small voice meant only for me to hear.

Even so, the veterans’ gazes became even sharper. Having honed their five senses through rolling around in wars, they would have easily overheard it.

I consciously avoided looking back at Raphael.

Instead, I looked for the Swordmaster. Despite having sent me an attendant, he wasn’t even turning his head this way.

Ding.

“The 10 minutes are up.”

Whether by chance or necessity, the attendant stepped back before I could give an answer.

Only then did the Swordmaster look at me.

Meeting my eyes immediately without a moment’s hesitation, he was demanding an answer with an extremely confident face. As if he wasn’t even considering the possibility that I might refuse.

‘Don’t tell me he wants to be on the same team as me?’

An intention that wasn’t welcome at all…

…or was it?

‘No, that might be too narrow-minded a judgment. The Swordmaster is likely the one who fed me Dian Cecht’s heart. Moreover, he’s connected not only to the Royal Court and Natasha but also to Garoshi… it would be better to get along moderately.’

Also, I was certain that he was thinking exactly the same thing.

If it was the Swordmaster, I was more than confident. The one at a disadvantage would be me.

The moment one side develops a desire for something from the other, the balance of the relationship crumbles.

The Swordmaster was the type of person who could thoroughly exploit such advantages. So it seemed better to maintain an appropriate distance.

Having made up my mind, instead of moving my lips, I picked up my napkin and showed the gray pattern.

The Swordmaster gave a light nod and turned his head back toward the dais. How arbitrary of him.

Raphael asked me.

“Have you ever had a separate conversation with Duke Jilhark?”

I answered with as nonchalant a face as possible.

“I heard he’s practically Andert’s mentor. Am I mistaken?”

“No. You’re correct. But I didn’t think Duke Jilhark would be interested in my sister’s pattern.”

“He must be curious about my hunting skills. Or he might be interested in me as a person.”

I smiled while meeting Raphael’s eyes.

“You’re the same way, aren’t you?”

“…”

“Just the fact that I’m Andert’s sister makes everyone show interest in me as a person. Just in case you’re wondering, I’m not trying to mock your goodwill. It’s just not surprising that the Swordmaster would acknowledge me.”

So just let it slide.

I felt sorry for Raphael, but I had no intention of devoting my body and soul to the resistance.

Just as they had their own purposes, I had my own purposes. Right now, we simply happened to have the Royal Court as a common target in that process.

We were no longer on the same team.

Since we were walking different paths, there was no need to share all circumstances and secrets. Even if that felt a little lonely, it was an emotion I had to let flow naturally.

Raphael’s ruby-red eyes slowly dimmed. He parted his lips slowly with a gaze that made his inner thoughts hard to read.

“It’s not because you’re Andert’s sister that you maintain this attitude.”

“…Then?”

Raphael, who had been staring intently into my eyes, turned his face away without answering.

While I watched him with an uncomfortable feeling, the first course was served.

‘Romaine salad and some strange fish dish with carrots… or something like that.’

The attendant gave some explanation, but I didn’t listen carefully. And for good reason—the portion was far too small.

‘I’m someone who eats twice as much as an average adult male.’

I knew there would be several more courses to come. Even so, I felt all the strength drain from my body.

This was all the Head Maid’s fault. Going on about the fit of clothes and whatnot, making me come here without even eating lunch.

No sooner had I stuffed the salad into my mouth than the head attendant reappeared.

“We will now begin team selection.”

What? This was happening while we ate? Some people might choke at this rate.

“Team selection is by nomination, with nomination rights going in order of last year’s hunting competition results. A total of 50 teams will compete in the hunting competition, combining the 44 teams decided at the banquet and 6 teams composed of foreign invited guests.”

After the chandelier lights were completely extinguished, candles on the dining tables were lit.

However, not all candles were lit. Only the candles placed in front of some attendees, including Raphael and Count Rosebel, were lit.

Seeing 22 candles lit on this side’s table and 22 candles on the opposite table, it seemed only the candles of the 44 people with ‘partner nomination rights’ were lit.

“Coincidentally, last year’s hunting competition ended in a tie. Duke Jilhark Berkleygrayten and Duke Raphael Jenail. Which of you will yield the order?”

Those two had tied for first place in last year’s hunting competition. That was quite surprising information.

‘They participate more actively than I thought.’

Well, in competitions like this, it was important to see what attitude the real power holders took.

Moreover, there was no way the Swordmaster, who was the Emperor’s sword, and Raphael, who was disgusted by slacking off, would participate half-heartedly.

Therefore, I looked at Raphael, not the Swordmaster.

Why? Because I naturally assumed he would yield the order.

However, contrary to expectations, Raphael remained quiet.

Perhaps everyone was thinking similarly, as they turned their heads here and there to look this way. Count Rosebel called to Raphael with rarely seen confused eyes.

“Your Grace.”

However, Raphael only silently swirled his wine glass slowly, and the answer came not from this Grace but from that Grace over there.

“I’ll yield.”

It was a leisurely attitude.

The head attendant stared with unwavering eyes at Raphael’s candle, brightly lit in the darkness.

“Duke Jilhark Berkleygrayten has yielded the order. Duke Raphael Jenail. With whom will you form a team?”

The answer was unhesitating.

“Daisy Weatherwax.”

It was the name everyone had expected, so there was little commotion. Only a few more eyes stealing glances at my face.

The problem would be what came next.

“The first team has been decided. Second team, Duke Jilhark Berkleygrayten. With whom will you form a team?”

“Daisy Weatherwax.”

So, the Swordmaster quite boldly spoke my name.

“…”

For the first time, a bewildered emotion appeared on the face of the head attendant, who had been consistently stoic.

But no matter how bewildered the head attendant felt, it wouldn’t be as bewildered as I was.

Right, who could be more bewildered than me?

Would anyone?

I glared at the Swordmaster’s face beyond the darkness, shining brightly like the moon reflected in candlelight.

‘What is he trying to pull now.’

That face fixed solely on the head attendant couldn’t be more irritating. Why wasn’t he looking at me while calling my name?

‘Ha. To think I’d harbor such irreverent thoughts about my sword instructor.’

This disloyal disciple will just continue living disloyally.

The head attendant, who quickly regained his composure, gave the Swordmaster a warning.

“Since you yielded the order, you must choose a different partner.”

However, the Swordmaster’s response was boldly defiant.

“I said I’d yield the order, but I never said I’d yield my partner.”

Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the banquet hall became instantly tumultuous.

The excitement of Duke Kalpenweber sitting across from us reached all the way here. That face that looked like he was dying of amusement—I felt like I was dying of displeasure.

‘I thought some people might choke. Turns out that would be me.’

To avoid choking, I carefully returned the carrot I had speared with my fork back onto the plate.

This had gotten a bit uncomfortable.

Raphael, who had been staring intently at the Swordmaster for a while, suggested to the head attendant.

“This isn’t something that requires deep consideration. Just let the person in question choose their partner.”

The head attendant looked at the Swordmaster with a half-resigned face.

“I agree.”

The Swordmaster accepted Raphael’s proposal without hesitation. At that, the head attendant’s eyes turned to me.

“That seems to be the wisest course of action. Baroness Daisy Weatherwax, with whom will you form a team?”

I see.

So it’s finally my turn.

‘…I suppose this could be called fate.’

The destiny for my partner and me to form a team.

I suspected that the two dukes who had nominated me were confident I would choose one of them. Of course, neither side’s confidence was without basis.

Sorry to Raphael and the Swordmaster, but.

I’m going my own way.

“Liwein Wokhood.”

“….”

“….”

“…Yes?”

I braced myself for the world’s shock and boldly called out my partner’s name.

“To let you know you didn’t mishear, I’ll say it again. Liwein Wokhood.”

And I recalled the conversation I had with the Weatherwax Baroness who had visited Weatherwax Manor a few days ago.

“So what you want, my lady, isn’t a marriage between Lord Liwein and me, but….”

“Yes, the buzz that the Weatherwax Baroness possesses.”

“Buzz?”

“I want to raise Liwein’s value through the Weatherwax Baroness.”

Buzz.

The reason the Weatherwax Baroness wanted to use me.

“You just need to give me a simple signal. If you’re designated as the hunter for the first hunt, please empty your glass after finishing the wine. Conversely, if you’re designated as the hunter for the second hunt, leave the wine glass full. If you just follow this signal, I’ll take care of Liwein myself.”

“What if we don’t end up on the same team?”

“You don’t need to worry about that, Baroness. There are plenty of backup plans.”

The signal to send when possessing the gray pattern was precisely a glass still filled with wine.

With this, the deal between the Weatherwax Baroness and me was made.

I stared at Liwein, who was frozen pale beyond the brightly lit winner’s candle, just as Raphael and the Swordmaster were doing.

Stop panicking and accept it gracefully, Liwein.

“Hmm. Then what benefit can I gain by selling buzz to that side?”

Since the winner of the Hunting Competition will be this Daisy Weatherwax Baroness.

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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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