The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 135

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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 135

The Emperor resided in the very depths of the Imperial Palace.

The space where he lived was quiet as if silence were the law, and so dazzlingly splendid it hurt the eyes.

Creak.

As soon as the door opened, what greeted me was a magnificent ceiling painting that filled the space above my head. As if the bedroom existed for the sake of that ceiling painting, the interior arrangement was extremely simple.

Even so, the reason an exclamation of “indeed” was swallowed was because of the worth of years that the bedroom furniture held.

“Come closer.”

It was a voice like an aged, withered tree.

Soon the chamberlain walked out from the front. Following imperial etiquette, he led me forward as I quietly kept my head bowed.

“Raise your head, Baroness Weatherwax.”

The Emperor I faced for the first time in 14 years appeared as a patient lying in bed.

The sharp, cold eyes I had seen in paintings were nowhere to be found, and his face, black as if poisoned, showed no signs of life.

This was the man who had secretly stolen Mephistopheles’ heart from the Magic Alliance and led the resurrection experiments.

The one who ascended to the throne backed by the Silence Faction.

Emperor Ashneike.

But the Emperor I actually faced was truly frail.

‘Is he prolonging his life while waiting for meaningful results from the resurrection experiments?’

It was unexpected. Because it was hard to find such desire in his unfocused pupils.

The Emperor called me in a weak voice.

“Baroness.”

“Yes.”

“You’re much younger than I expected.”

“Yes.”

“I heard you’re the sister of the national hero Andert Pager.”

“That’s correct. I am his older sister.”

“Hard to believe. How old are you this year, Baroness?”

I answered by adding the 14 years that had passed to my age before meeting Lu.

“Thirty-two.”

“Still hard to believe. But looking at your eyes, I can tell it’s not a lie. At least your eyes show the depth of experience.”

I was a little surprised since it was the first time I’d heard such words.

“And your eyes are so clear.”

I had considered him somewhat of an enemy, so it felt strange to receive only human compliments from our first meeting.

“Your Majesty’s eyes are also clear.”

“What? Ha… Hahaha! Cough, cough.”

The chamberlain standing behind the bed glared at me. It seemed like a look telling me not to trouble the Emperor with unnecessary words, but that wasn’t my intention.

“A renowned physician advised me. The root of all illness is worry and anxiety.”

“I agree with that assessment.”

“I didn’t summon you for any grand matter. Weatherwax is one of the few prestigious families with a history alongside the Empire. Since you’ve become the new head of such a family, I thought I should exchange greetings as befits a ruler.”

“It’s an honor.”

“As you can see, my body is unwell, making it difficult to appear even at important banquets. I hope you understand.”

“Yes.”

“Though I’ve only met you for a few minutes, somehow I feel like I’m talking to a soldier.”

“I hear that often.”

The chamberlain glared at me once more. What am I supposed to do? Not even respond?

“Are you enjoying the hunting competition?”

“Yes.”

“Duke Jenail seems to be helping you well.”

Oh my. The relationship between Raphael and me has reached even the Emperor’s ears. People’s interest in romance is truly frightening.

“So which way is your heart leaning?”

Romance really is scary. To make even the Emperor ask such questions!

“Naturally, it’s leaning toward winning first place in the hunting competition.”

Despite your appearance, you’re quite cheeky… Belated words, but I’m sorry about your brother’s death.”

“I only feel proud of him.”

“Thank you for saying that. Through Andert Pager’s sacrifice, the continent regained peace. This historical fact will be passed down through generations to posterity. Everyone, including myself, feels gratitude and regret toward your brother.”

It wasn’t the first or second time I’d discussed my past as if it were someone else’s story. But today, for some reason, my heart felt heavy as if a large rock had been placed on it.

“Andert Pager received a title posthumously from His Imperial Majesty. Do you know about it?”

“I’ve heard vaguely about it.”

“It’s regrettable that you can’t inherit it since it’s a single-generation title.”

“It’s fine.”

The Head Maid had told me that posthumous titles could only be single-generation titles. It was intended to prevent improper use of the deceased’s status.

‘As expected, the Emperor has great interest in Andert.’

Living as Daisy Weatherwax, I had newly realized several things, one of which was that people surprisingly had little interest in the dead.

The same was true for nobles.

While being ‘Andert Pager’s sister’ had considerable influence on their attention to me, the title of ‘the woman Raphael chose’ had an even greater impact.

Moreover, such reactions were quite favorable for me.

“If you continue to attract attention like this, His Imperial Majesty might summon you.”

“Over something like this?”

“Of course. His Imperial Majesty is human too. It’s also a much more dignified way than coming to find you directly to verify the rumors. If such an opportunity comes, never miss it. Interesting stories can even move the Emperor’s favor.”

If rumors grew, the Emperor would seek me out.

Not bothering to correct the relationship between Raphael and me was also for that purpose.

However, the Emperor I actually faced showed little interest in my romantic affairs. Rather, our conversation revolved around Andert.

Considering his position, it couldn’t be seen as particularly strange, but now it was different.

‘Was it really the Emperor who summoned me, or was it Natasha?’

If all this conversation was reaching Natasha’s ears.

‘It would be better to guide her to take more certain bait.’

I let out a short cough, then opened my mouth very carefully.

“However…”

“Speak.”

“This is merely a hypothetical example. If my brother were to return alive, would he be guaranteed the treatment as a hero that he couldn’t enjoy in life?”

The Emperor kept his mouth shut and studied my face.

Pretending to feel burdened, I quickly lowered my head to avoid his gaze.

“You speak of obvious things. If Andert Pager returned alive, I would personally hold a banquet. There could be no greater joy.”

“Thank you. Even your words put my mind at ease.”

“The hunt will begin soon. It was a short but pleasant conversation, Baroness. You may withdraw now.”

As soon as the Emperor’s command fell, the chamberlain drove me out of the bedroom.

Thanks to that, I ended up standing alone in the middle of the vast manor with a single servant trailing behind me.

I retraced the corridor I had walked through, following the servant’s guidance.

The endlessly long red carpet.

Silk curtains embroidered with gold thread.

Quiet passages without a trace of human presence.

A servant who didn’t make a single breath.

Slowly exhaling, I turned my head to look out the window. I could see a large cloud drifting leisurely while blocking the sun.

It looked exactly like my hometown, Quin Island, had been transplanted here.

Quin Island.

My hometown.

Suddenly, the space where I stood felt incredibly foreign.

‘How did I, who lived on that small island, end up coming all the way here?’

Baroness Daisy Weatherwax having an audience with the Emperor. What a strange sentence that is.

I had thought that many things around me had changed during the four years I was absent.

But looking back, the person who had changed the most was me.

My name, face, and everything I possessed had all changed. This meant I wasn’t in a position to feel bitter just because my surroundings had changed.

‘Then what’s the cause of this feeling?’

I have many things to do.

I have clear goals, and I’ve become someone who has gained much and also has much to lose.

Yet even so, there were times like this when I occasionally wondered what I was working so hard for, whether the path I was walking was right, whether the choices I had made were correct.

Even during those days when I roamed the battlefield. And even now.

‘Am I afraid?’

No. I was too busy solving the problems right in front of me to feel such emotions.

‘Then am I tired?’

To say I was tired, hadn’t I not even properly accomplished anything yet?

‘Why do I still not know myself well?’

I had clearly overcome two walls. Was overcoming two walls still not enough to perfectly understand ‘myself’?

The moment I turned my head again with these questions.

A man was standing in the light.

That was all.

At the far end of the path I was walking, a man stood surrounded by autumn sunlight.

Because of the bright light, the man’s face wasn’t clearly visible.

But before my eyes could recognize his face and before my nose could perceive his scent, I was already running toward him.

“Lu!”

The being who always remains in that place, no matter what name and face I wear or what land I stay in.

Toward my mage.

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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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