The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 145
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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 145
It was difficult to open my mouth easily.
The word ‘love’ that came from Lu’s mouth was extremely unfamiliar, and it wasn’t entirely light either.
‘Does Lu have difficulty clearly defining emotions?’
It doesn’t particularly seem that way. Rather, perhaps he’s experiencing confusion precisely because he clearly defines each emotion. It makes sense that his teeth feel itchy when he sees me.
“I…”
After much deliberation, I conveyed my most honest feelings.
“To me, it sounds like a confession.”
So even if it’s not quite love, wouldn’t it be somewhere around that area? I thought it was a pretty good answer, but I heard a counter-question that seemed completely incomprehensible.
“The part about wanting to chew you up and eat you?”
“You’re not really going to chew me up and eat me.”
“I really might chew you up and eat you.”
Don’t do that. Because it really seems like you would.
“If someone else had said that, I would have been offended. But because it’s Lu, it’s okay.”
“Then what do you want to do to me?”
“Me?”
I…
Certainly, I clearly recognize my feelings toward Lu. Nevertheless, I couldn’t easily answer the question of ‘what do you want to do.’
In my own way, an answer like ‘I just want to keep being with you’ was also sincere, but if I received the counter-question ‘But you can do that with family too, right?’ I felt like I’d have nothing to say.
Moreover, perhaps because I was pressed close to his body, I could see his fox tail-like bewitching lips all too well. No, it wasn’t enough that I could see them well – I could only see them.
I can only see his lips.
“Daisy.”
When we reunited at the Imperial Palace, I recalled the warmth that had brushed past my upper lip.
Was that Lu’s conscious action? Or was it coincidence? A mistake? Does he also remember the lips that touched like a mirage?
“I…”
“I?”
“I want to kiss you.”
This is all Lu’s fault.
Lu’s honest and straightforward attitude planted unprecedented courage in me, that’s why this happened. He talks about chewing people up and eating them, so lips are nothing special – that’s the kind of perception he planted. Anyway, it’s all Lu’s fault!
Lu froze.
Literally froze. Standing alone in the middle of the stage. Thanks to that, I froze too. Afraid I might hear the answer ‘Even if I like you, lips seem like a no,’ I wanted to take back the words I had carelessly spoken.
Eventually, Lu, who let out a long sigh, grabbed my shoulders and hung his head low. Then, as if gauging something, he tapped my body with his long fingers before pulling me into his arms.
So tightly that my body might be crushed.
“Ugh. It hurts!”
“It’s okay if it hurts a little. …Damn it, are you crazy? Why do you say things like that without warning?”
“I said it hurts!”
“Kissing is not allowed. And from now on, don’t carelessly say things like that in front of me.”
What? Not only is it not allowed, but I shouldn’t even mention it in the future?
After struggling in Lu’s arms for a while, I gave up trying to escape from him and shouted with disappointment mixed with half defiance.
“Why not!”
“Because it’s not allowed.”
“So why?”
“It would be troublesome.”
“For who?”
“For you.”
At that moment, the strength in the arms that had been confining me slowly loosened. Thinking this was my chance, I pulled away and looked up at Lu’s face, which bore very complex emotions. He sighed again and stepped back, saying.
“No, I mean… I don’t think I could hold back. In various ways.”
I’m also an adult who’s lived long enough. I couldn’t not understand what those words meant.
As my disappointment melted away like snow, but since it was still true that Lu had rejected my request for a kiss, I criticized him irritably.
“Are you a pervert?”
“No.”
Lu, who wrinkled his expression with displeasure, subtly changed his words.
“Am I?”
In the meantime, I approached Lu, pulled down that blue hair hanging so high, kissed him, and ran away.
But the escape was short-lived. I couldn’t even take a few steps before my wrist was caught.
“W-wait a minute!”
“What wait? Come here. The song isn’t over yet. You need to face the consequences.”
Lu even carried me on his back to prevent my escape and returned to the stage. Then, holding me in his arms, he began dancing alone. I shouted for him to stop this foolish behavior, but Lu didn’t even pretend to listen.
My body swaying arbitrarily and the dizziness that hit my head from time to time was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but burst into laughter for a while. My hair and dress became a complete mess, but… what does it matter.
I think it would be okay to die like this.
I thought that for the first time.
* * *
After returning to the town house to rearrange my clothing and hair, I immediately moved to the Imperial Palace.
Since most people had already arrived at the banquet hall in advance, the front of the Imperial Palace wasn’t very crowded. However, when I got out of the carriage with Count Sereniye’s escort, dozens of pairs of eyes that had been fixed on me from far away followed persistently.
“This time it’s Count Sereniye.”
“I never thought she’d accept an escort from a man who even has daughters.”
“She’s really an amazing woman. In many ways.”
“Wait a minute. This criticism is wrong. Weatherwax Baroness is Count Sereniye’s benefactor. Look at that shoulder that hasn’t healed yet. Moreover, Weatherwax Baroness is well past marriageable age but still unmarried, while Count Sereniye is a widower with three daughters, so there’s nothing strange to see.”
“Hmm. The Countess’s words are also correct. I’m looking forward to seeing who Weatherwax Baroness’s first dance partner will be. If that partner is Count Sereniye, then as you say, it would be right to view it as a pure relationship.”
Liwein was standing at the entrance to the banquet hall. Seeing him standing alone, it seemed he hadn’t brought a partner.
Was our combination quite surprising? Liwein’s eyes widened before he soon made an expression of displeasure and walked over.
“Baroness.”
He bowed his head and briefly kissed my hand, then whispered to me.
“Since you had hung a yellow handkerchief, I thought you would come with Duke Raphael.”
“Why would I?”
Liwein asked again with puzzled eyes.
“Or was it first come, first served?”
“You mean the gentleman to escort me? No. I chose my favorite person.”
My answer seemed to make Liwein’s feelings more complicated. Judging by how his expression became even more strangely distorted.
Count Sereniye, who had been quietly watching our exchange, interjected with a smile close to arsenic.
“Young Sir Liwein seems displeased that a middle-aged man like me caught Weatherwax Baroness’s eye.”
“No. If it sounded that way, I apologize.”
“Apologize, my foot. You were saying it outright. Does young Sir Liwein have other business with our Weatherwax Baroness?”
“I received orders from my mother to escort the Baroness.”
“Ah. Young and good Sir Liwein who listens well to his mother. I’m sorry for taking your place. Your mother must be very disappointed.”
Count Sereniye knows about the deal between me and the Wokhood Family. Since I have an obligation to inflate Liwein’s value, I had already informed him that the three of us could move together.
‘But even so, to be sarcastic like this.’
Since I felt guilty about blaming him, I quietly kept my mouth shut and led Liwein to the opposite side. As soon as Liwein stood next to me, Count Sereniye burst into admiration.
“Oh my. Did our Weatherwax Baroness choose to receive escorts from two men?”
Liwein answered.
“I don’t know about Astrosia, but it’s not uncommon in Pen Rota. It’s mainly when mature women move around introducing shy friends or relatives to those around them.”
“Since young and good Sir Liwein is not our Weatherwax Baroness’s relative, he must be the shy type. I’ll take good care of him, so don’t worry.”
I’m clearly the one standing in the middle. Why does it feel like they’re having a conversation excluding only me?
“Ah. But aren’t you embarrassed, Sir? Being in the position of squeezing into the partner’s spot.”
Liwein, as if he couldn’t stand it anymore, gritted his teeth with a rigidly hardened face.
“I also find it regrettable. If Weatherwax Baroness had partnered with an unmarried man of excellent character, younger, and without children, there would have been no room for me to squeeze in like this.”
“Are you perhaps angry?”
“How could I be angry with His Majesty the Emperor’s precious guest?”
“You seem angry though.”
At this point, I can’t help but have doubts.
Was it really a good thing that Lu’s balance was broken?
Surely he wasn’t planning to pick fights with everyone he saw. I was already feeling cold sweat running down my back. This was the first time I felt so uneasy about the fact that his status was Count of Astrosia and his authority was the Caliphate of Roguey.
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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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