The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 193

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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 193

The trip to the Imperial Palace was decided.

Though it wasn’t in the original plan, since the identity of the villain called the ‘blue-haired northern continent god’ was suspected to be Lu no matter how much I thought about it ten times and pondered it a hundred times, I couldn’t pretend not to know.

No one held me responsible, but somehow I felt like I was the one who had to finish this.

Before leaving for the airfield.

I tightly fastened my winter clothes and handed a letter to the Head Maid.

“Here, Natasha asked me to deliver this.”

The Head Maid, who was helping me prepare for my outing in the tightly closed bedroom, looked at the letter with a complex expression.

“What are you going to do if you just accept whatever they give you? This is admitting that I’m really here…”

“Natasha already came here with certainty. I can’t hide it anymore. You know that too, Head Maid.”

They had been watching the Head Maid from the beginning. The reason they left her alone for so long and only now reached out was simply because they needed the existence called ‘Princess Natasha.’

Whether they needed a new guardian for the young Crown Prince, or whether there were complex political intentions involved… well, the Head Maid herself would know better about such matters.

“Think about it. I always respect the choices of our employees.”

She reluctantly took the letter and looked up with an ‘oh right’ expression.

“Oh, come to think of it, what’s this about a villain? Don’t tell me another demon has appeared?”

“No, it’s Lu. He seems to have some complaint.”

With me.

‘…Hmm.’

There were too many parts I could guess, so I had nothing more to say. The Head Maid also seemed deflated at the name Lu and didn’t add any more words.

“Jin will continue watching over you from a nearby distance.”

“He’ll figure it all out anyway.”

“Well, he considers such secret escort to be the aide’s role. He also seems to think he doesn’t have the face to meet you yet.”

Jin was still feeling guilty about the situation where he ended up reciting the legacy’s activation words.

No matter how much everyone around him comforted him saying it was okay, seeing him hide for several days, it must have been quite a shock for him.

“Won’t the Head Maid come to the Imperial Palace? I’ll wait until you finish reading the letter.”

The Head Maid, who was preparing leather gloves and a handkerchief for me, smiled softly.

“I’m not tactless enough to interfere with the reunion of old connections.”

Reunion, what reunion. Didn’t you hear? The Imperial Palace has been occupied?

Natasha hurriedly put me in a carriage as soon as I came out of the estate.

—Daisy. Is that villain really the benefactor who saved you?

“Yes.”

—If he’s your benefactor, then he’s mine too. But I’m curious about what reason he had for occupying the Imperial Palace.

“He probably doesn’t have any direct grudge against the imperial family. We can resolve it through dialogue.”

Probably.

Raphael, who had been watching me with suspicious eyes while crossing his arms, slowly parted his lips.

“Daisy Weatherwax. Don’t tell me that benefactor you’re talking about is…”

“Kalerpa of Loqwe.”

To be precise, it was Lord Caleph, but outsiders wouldn’t know the difference between the two, so I glossed over it appropriately.

—What? Kalerpa? I wondered what that nonsense about a northern continent demigod was, but to think an actual demigod came. This is truly absurd.

Unlike Natasha, who showed considerable surprise, Raphael seemed to fall into some deep contemplation, slowly furrowing his brow. And not long after, he gave a bitter smile.

“…I see. I did think something was strange. So that person’s identity was Kalerpa of Loqwe. Now it makes some sense.”

—Don’t figure it out by yourself and add an explanation, Raphael.

“Forget it. You don’t need to know.”

—It’s the Princess’s command, Raphael. Explain immediately.

“The rag doll talks too much.”

—It’s the Princess’s request, Daisy. Hit Raphael once!

We took a private imperial airship stationed at the terminal and headed to Ragal (Raphael, who had already noticed Jin’s presence, showed the kindness of letting her board the airship together).

Despite the shocking situation of a villain occupying the Imperial Palace, which was incomparable to previous marriage announcements, the provinces were as peaceful as always. And that same atmosphere was no different even in the Imperial Palace.

“At least on the surface, there doesn’t seem to be any problem.”

—Ragal is the empire’s capital. If Ragal becomes unstable, the empire becomes unstable. They’re taking special care to prevent large and small incidents that occur in the Imperial Palace from leaking out.

Indeed, wasn’t the incident at the hunting competition also completely unknown to the public? Their security could be considered on par with Loqwe.

Contrary to the peaceful atmosphere of the capital, the Imperial Palace’s security was quite strict, so even though I appeared with Raphael by my side, I could only enter the central part of the Imperial Palace after three or four identity checks.

Finally, three people standing confrontationally in front of the entrance to the main palace came into view.

I could tell just by looking at the backs of their heads. From left to right: Count Raghwirten, Duke Kalpenweber, and on the far right, the first to recognize us…

“Weatherwax Baroness!”

“Have you been well, Rosebel Count?”

It was Rosebel Count.

Rosebel Count, who approached with large strides and an extraordinary bearing, checked various parts of my body and asked worriedly.

“I heard about what happened recently, but how is your health? Is your body alright?”

“I’m fine. Perfectly healthy. Thank you for your concern.”

“Hmm. You can’t be perfectly fine after being unconscious for two weeks… Did you come here in a hurry because of the Imperial Palace incident?”

“Yes. But I was surprised to see everyone looking more relaxed than I expected.”

Rosebel Count lightly shrugged his shoulders and gently patted my shoulder as he answered.

“Well, aren’t we all seasoned veterans? We can sufficiently distinguish whether it’s a serious situation or not. I heard that the identity of this ‘unexpected visitor’ is quite high-ranking. High enough that His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Berkley Greytown ordered us to stand here and quietly chat.”

Contrary to my worries, Lu seemed to be receiving quite good treatment at the Imperial Palace.

“We’ve all just heard from Earl Garoshi about the identity of this ‘unexpected visitor.’ He’s the benefactor who helped destroy the heart or whatever of that irredeemable trash who was tormenting Princess Natasha, and even saved your life, right?”

What? You’ve already heard all of that?

“Ahem. That’s not the end of it, Count. Didn’t Earl Garoshi also add that the ‘unexpected visitor’ is crazy about Weatherwax Baroness? According to the interpretation method I learned from my daughters, this is surely an idiomatic expression meaning he’s so deeply fallen that it could change a person’s entire outlook on life…”

“That’s enough, Duke Kalpenweber. Look here, Count Andert. Earl Garoshi also added that the ‘unexpected visitor’ is crazy, so we should absolutely not mess with him. He didn’t look like an ordinary person at first glance. What exactly does he do? Why did he make the Imperial Palace so chaotic?”

“Oh my! Isn’t that being too tactless, Count Raghwirten? You say ‘crazy’ is an idiomatic expression? This is why you can’t have a conversation with an uncouth bachelor who knows nothing about love.”

—Raghwirten is definitely a bit rustic.

“Oh my, Your Imperial Highness. Were you inside that doll? This old man’s heart almost fell out.”

Perhaps they had evacuated all the court officials and employees in preparation for any situation, as only the sound of the Inspector and the rag doll chatting echoed throughout the quiet Imperial Palace.

While Natasha and Duke Kalpenweber engaged in deep discussion about the definition of ‘rusticity,’ Countess Rosebel, who had been silently observing us, burst into hearty laughter and said.

“Haha… Isn’t it truly been a long time since we’ve all gathered in one place like this? Somehow… hmm. It feels nostalgic.”

At that, the bustling conversation abruptly stopped, and heavy silence descended. Even Natasha’s sporadic laughter faded away like magic as if it had been waiting.

I looked down at Dummy’s drooping back of the head and recalled the brief conversation I had with Natasha on the airship.

“So… the reason you’re gathering talented people hiding here and there is to prove the Crown Prince’s potential to the Emperor?”

—That’s right. If trustworthy people gather around His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, my brother won’t try to win me over anymore.

“Couldn’t you just take the throne until that Crown Prince grows up?”

—I cannot do that, Daisy. My sin is very great. A sinner has no right to revive the Pen Lota Empire and protect the lives of the empire’s people. Of course, I will devote the rest of my life to the empire to pay for this sin… Yes, just being able to devote myself is enough for me. There’s nothing more than that.

Natasha continued.

—The reason I could come to my senses before committing greater sins was all thanks to my comrades. As the experiments progressed and the stages advanced, I started hearing nagging from the dead. Stop doing things you’ll regret, come to your senses and exercise to clear your head… At the time, I thought I was gradually going insane and even hearing hallucinations, but those weren’t hallucinations. Thanks to them, I was able to wait for you without losing my reason.

Natasha’s guilt seemed to have become a new driving force for her to move toward the future.

I don’t want to tell her that she has no sin either.

But at least Natasha isn’t someone who should be branded as a sinner and never forgiven for life. There’s no one to throw stones at someone who has properly taken responsibility.

Not long after, Duke Kalpenweber, who couldn’t stand to see the atmosphere dampening, playfully threw out a comment.

“Duke Berkley Greytown, who isn’t here, would be disappointed.”

“It can’t be helped. Regardless of the process or truth, nominally he and we are no different from political enemies. It’s right to keep an appropriate distance.”

Seeing Rosebel Count firmly draw the line and glance this way, it seemed like something he didn’t particularly want me to hear.

Count Raghwirten, who noticed such signs, awkwardly cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“Well, ahem. It does feel a bit strange. I think there was a scene like this in a fairy tale I used to enjoy reading as a child. It was a scene where heroes who had scattered after defeating an evil dragon gathered in one place before dying to share their feelings.”

“Huh. Are you comparing yourself to a hero now? You always have such high self-esteem.”

“Sharing feelings before dying. That’s an unlucky comparison. I doubt it was even a fairy tale.”

“That’s just what I’m saying! Geez, just because an old man misspoke one word without sense, everyone gangs up on him!”

Before falling deeper into the swamp of conversation with them, we got up and moved into the main palace.

At some point while passing through empty corridors and dozens of rooms without a single sign of life, I saw the Sword Saint standing suddenly at the end of the path.

He looked at my face briefly and let out a short exclamation.

“You’ve crossed the wall. Now even I can’t reach you.”

As expected, he notices at a glance.

Instead of answering, I raised the corners of my mouth, and the Swordmaster narrowed his green eyes.

“Did you receive the marriage certificate well? Since you’ll be lifelong partners from now on, please take care of each other, Weatherwax Baroness.”

I ignored his shameless joke and asked.

“Is that villain inside here?”

“Yes. Because he’s holding His Majesty the Emperor hostage, we can’t move carelessly.”

“It must be an urgent situation, but you seem quite relaxed.”

“That’s a misunderstanding on your part, Baroness.”

“What about Andert?”

“He’s inside confronting the villain. Shall we go in and take a look? Even I don’t have the confidence to put on a show in front of a demigod.”

Right, I need to go in.

That’s what I came here for.

“…Hah.”

But my legs wouldn’t move easily.

What exactly is this emotion I’m feeling right now?

Fear? No. This is trembling. I was so nervous that my palms were sweating. If you ask what I’m so nervous about….

“Daisy.”

I don’t know how he interpreted my sigh, but Raphael, who had been leaning against the window, slowly straightened his back and called my name.

He had his usual cold expression.

But having spent a long time with Raphael, I could easily notice it. That was definitely a sign of hesitation.

Raphael agonized over what he wanted to say to me, hesitated and swallowed his words, then finally spoke them.

“I’ll always be behind you. So whenever you’re tired, you can turn around anytime.”

It was a brief statement that felt all the more sincere for its brevity.

Thanks to that, the tension that had been spreading rapidly like rising heat loosened gently. I smiled softly and nodded.

“Thank you.”

The Swordmaster, who had been quietly watching us, shook his head with an uncharacteristically sympathetic expression.

“Rejected.”

—You got rejected, Raphael. How pathetic.

“…Shut up.”

—Dummies don’t have mouths, Raphael.

The familiar exchange of voices.

Why was it? I suddenly felt my body and mind becoming lighter.

I am here.

I, who am Ash, Andert, and Daisy, stood here as the owner and subject of my own life. Having reached this point from that small island burning in flames, what was there to be nervous or afraid of now?

My reason became clear. The sweat that had dampened my palms dried, and vibrant courage began to spring forth from my heart.

I willingly opened the door to go to Lu, who would be waiting for me.

The door that opened wide like that….

Bang!

As soon as I stepped foot into the room, it closed by itself with a cheerful sound.

“Hello, Daisy.”

The blue-haired villain greeted me.

“In the end, I came looking for you again this time. Right?”

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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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