The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 198

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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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Episode 3

And Deshero has as many as four younger sisters.

A few years ago, I remember seeing a family photo in passing where girls who looked just like Deshero were gathered together, smiling brightly. Perhaps because of that, the letters that arrived for Deshero were always noticeably thick.

“Your four sisters seem to have a lot to say. What on earth is written in there to make it so thick?”

“Let me see. This time there are many questions about the Egita-Bruschell equation.”

“…What equation?”

“The Egita-Bruschell equation.”

“…”

“Would you like me to explain what theory it is?”

“No. I suddenly have a bit of a stomachache.”

“Your stomach pain is always so timely, Andert.”

Duke Kalpenweber was someone who, whenever letters arrived, would run out of the barracks faster than anyone else and in a way different from others.

I heard he has two children, and one of them was practically the main culprit behind causing a commotion with some incident every year.

What kind of letter does he send to cause such a fuss every time? It’s not particularly remarkable content. It’s just that the men show very childish reactions.

“Oh, Your Excellency Duke! So this time, who is the lovely Miss Kalpenweber interested in?”

“Is there no mention of the rectus abdominis? What about the serratus anterior?”

Whether she was the eldest or second daughter, that tomboy young lady who was clearly female caused an uproar throughout the unit with questions like ‘Who is the most handsome knight?’, ‘Who is the strongest unmarried man?’, ‘Which knight has the most solid thighs?’

Soldiers thirsty for love with women always approached such trivial controversies with a serious attitude. They would appeal their weathered charm to their heart’s content, hoping their names would be written in Duke Kalpenweber’s hastily scribbled reply.

For reference, the winners of this traditional uproar were, from the first, Raphael, Duke Berkley Greytown, and Baron Laghwirten. I wonder what kind of commotion will happen this year.

Raphael also received letters every time.

The sender was his mother, and when reading letters, Raphael always wore a comfortable smile.

Raphael’s mother was a person of amazing vitality, who steadfastly continued work and prayer even after losing her husband in war and sending her son to the front lines.

In order not to become a shameful mother to her son who was revered as a hero, she not only took care of herself but always looked after her neighbors.

Her good deeds eventually reached the ears of Natasha’s siblings and bore meaningful fruit. They established a camp by gathering refugees from the border outskirts who were alienated from the system.

Hearing the news, I truly felt that children are mirrors of their parents. Couldn’t one easily infer where Raphael’s unwavering straight spirit originated from?

Of course, not all soldiers have family or relatives.

Quite a few don’t receive letters. However, in front of these people, gifts that were abundant to overflowing usually gathered instead of letters.

All the items of a certain weight that came enclosed with letters were distributed to them. Sweet snacks like chocolate, candy, and jelly that were said to be more precious than anti-inflammatory drugs during wartime, as well as various miscellaneous goods like cigarettes and newspapers.

Even though the military might be called a microcosm of society that condensed trash and adults together, when you go through life and death together, bonds of death naturally accumulate. Due to this small sharing, festival-like banquets would take place in the unit.

For some reason, those moments always felt excessive to me, and the picture of me staying among them also looked very strange.

Forcing myself to fit in would only increase the emptiness.

Indeed, on days like this, being alone is comfortable. Like now.

I came out to a deserted flat ground and lay down on the mud that had turned into a mess with snow. The mud that had frozen cold in the cold weather created a strange texture. Like ice cream…

“Our young hero is sitting pitifully like a dog caught in the rain. Are you waiting for a master to take you in?”

Suddenly, a black shadow fell over my head.

What timing. I weakly raised my upper body and made eye contact with the person who had taken the seat next to me. As the sticky mud got on his neat uniform without a single wrinkle, I felt an unnecessary sense of guilt.

“If I said yes, would you personally pick me up?”

“Of course. I’d stroke you while singing lullabies on a sofa wrapped in silk.”

“Forget the silk and just get me a purification stone mine, Duke. I’ll spend the rest of my life living and dying as a miner instead of a soldier.”

“You truly have spirit. I was going to dote on one dog, but it looks like I’ll ruin a perfectly good household.”

Letters don’t arrive for the Swordmaster. Since he has no blood relatives, it wasn’t surprising.

For a commander of the Swordmaster’s level, at least a golden seal mixed with the Emperor’s warm encouragement and concern should arrive, but seeing that there had been no news so far, he seemed to politely decline.

Well, having the Emperor’s seal arrive with ‘secret dispatches’ would be dangerous. Military secrets could be unintentionally leaked.

The person who glanced down at my arm asked casually.

“Is your arm alright?”

“Yes, it’s almost completely healed now. Thanks to that, any chance of me becoming well-behaved has gone out the window.”

The Swordmaster immediately understood the barbed response.

“There’s no need to be disappointed. There’s still plenty of time.”

What time? Time to really make me disabled?

Knowing that the Swordmaster wasn’t someone who made empty jokes, I quickly changed the subject.

“Duke… don’t you get married?”

If he could form a family as soon as possible and become someone who receives letters, we wouldn’t have to stick together pitifully like this every day like this.

“You sometimes blurt out rude questions without warning.”

“I’m sorry. Giving warning doesn’t seem to make it less rude.”

Even when war breaks out, children are born.

Children were both the fruit of love and political agreements.

Although the position of the Berkley Greytown ducal family wasn’t inherited by blood, the Swordmaster possessed not only vast manor and wealth of his own based on his achievements so far, but even a title. These were things worthy of having an heir to protect.

“I’m not particularly considering it right now.”

“Why is that?”

“Because if my child were born unsightly, I would surely be disappointed.”

Huh. My mouth fell open at a reason I had never thought of.

“Duke… you always surprise me in various ways.”

The Swordmaster just looked at me with eyes that said I was surprised by every trivial thing, without any particular response.

“If it’s not too rude, may I ask one more thing?”

“As long as it’s not about personal matters.”

“How does one open their eyes?”

He seemed to immediately grasp the true meaning of my question. The Swordmaster, who briefly swallowed a contemplative sound, slowly blinked and opened his mouth.

“Count Andert. Do you believe that hardship and adversity forge a person?”

“Yes, I suppose that would be the case.”

“Then forging would mean breaking, wouldn’t it? Do you agree?”

“I agree.”

“People are broken by hardship and adversity. Sometimes there are those who collapse beyond help and live unable to die, but someone rises with their broken body through the single-minded determination to protect something. Family, future, beliefs, or themselves… Opening one’s eyes and ears is the evolution experienced in that process.”

I thought of Raphael, who had collapsed as if dead, buried in fallen leaves.

‘That’s called the process of evolution?’

It just looked like he was dying. The evolution of warriors is troublesome indeed.

“On the other hand, it could also be seen as the struggle of unfortunate weaklings. Those who repeat anguish in hardship and adversity… beings like mere candles before the wind.”

“Do you mean only the weak can become strong?”

“Yes, because evolution is originally the exclusive domain of the weak.”

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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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