The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 317
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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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Part 2, Chapter 115
Suddenly, Lu downed his champagne in one gulp and held out the empty glass to me.
Thinking he wanted me to take it away, I reached for it, but he gripped the glass tightly and gestured toward me with his chin.
“Throw up.”
“…What?”
“You look nauseous. Aren’t you?”
Accurate. But… even so, throwing up in this small glass seems a bit much, doesn’t it? I stared at his glass silently, then took it along with mine and handed them both back to the attendant.
Perhaps it was because of Lu’s sudden suggestion. My anxiety seemed to settle a little.
‘Lu… thinks a partner’s role is managing one’s condition, I suppose.’
That seemed like a very him-like definition.
“Baroness Weatherwax!”
Just then, cutting through the quiet atmosphere around us, a welcome face came looking for me.
“Baroness Wokhood.”
The face approaching with a smile was unusually bright.
She looked a bit older than when I’d met her long ago, and had three or four noble ladies and even more young ladies at her side.
Baroness Wokhood, who quickly closed the distance, glanced once at Lu (his beauty) with a surprised expression, then grabbed my hand and smiled.
“Oh my goodness. You look exactly the same as before! Since I heard you returned without any word, I was wondering when I should visit you. This is…”
Could my mother be among these people?
I suspected that among those who approached me first, there would be a higher probability of my mother being present.
If she knew of my existence, if she remembered, if she truly kept us siblings alive out of affection alone…
‘But distinguishing by appearance would be foolish.’
From what I could sense, none of these people seemed suspicious of being my mother. If you ask what kind of feeling that is, well. If she felt some emotion toward her own child, wouldn’t I be bound to notice it too?
I glanced at Lu. I had asked him beforehand to let me know if there was anyone whose appearance had been altered using magic.
But seeing his indifferent expression, there didn’t seem to be anyone worth paying attention to.
The problem was…
‘Lu doesn’t look well.’
It was a subtle change, but unmistakable.
The fortunate thing was that Lu hadn’t lost his composure and calm, and I thought it might simply be that he felt stuffy after entering a space crowded with people.
“Lu Eslio. He’s my fiancé. Lu? This is Baroness Liwein Wokhood. She helped me a great deal when I was foolish four years ago.”
Lu gave a light greeting and kissed the back of Baroness Wokhood’s hand.
“Oh my.”
(Inexplicable) sighs could be heard from here and there, but at the same time, some women let out disappointed sighs.
Really, the charm of a 200-year-old grandfather.
‘You’d think they’d reflect on the unheard-of Eslio family name.’
The fictional family I made up just yesterday doesn’t seem to register in their ears. Baroness Wokhood covered her mouth with a considerably surprised expression.
“You got engaged in the meantime? Congratulations, Baroness Weatherwax! Our Liwein will be quite disappointed. That boy, despite how much you cared for him, somehow until now… Sigh.”
“His free-spirited nature is part of Sir Liwein’s charm, though.”
Baroness Wokhood glanced at Lu and smiled with a strangely dreamy expression.
“They say beauty belongs to heroes… That immature youngest son of mine hasn’t become a hero yet, it seems. Speaking of which.”
Baroness Wokhood lowered her voice and asked.
“By now the host of the banquet should appear… When do you think Count Bladief will arrive?”
By then, many people of all ages and genders had gathered around us. It seemed to be because of Andert.
‘Is this really something to crowd around and listen to like this?’
…No, actually this isn’t bad. If people gather naturally, it would create an even more optimal environment for observing them.
I pretended to be deep in thought, fidgeting with my earlobe, then carefully parted my lips.
“Andert would want to hide it, but… with so many people waiting, I can’t help but reveal the truth.”
Everyone held their breath and focused on me. Good. Slow breathing, a pitiful expression, and even a pained voice…
“My brother is currently in poor health and is recuperating.”
Shock, suspicion, bewilderment. Faces expressing complex emotions mixed together.
As I thought it would be difficult to gain complete trust through a family member’s defense, at that moment.
“Now see here, Baroness Weatherwax!”
Inastasia, who had pushed through the bustling crowd with her shoulders, approached gracefully and shouted.
“What do you mean? Count Bladief is recuperating?”
When the duchess appeared, no one, including Baroness Wokhood, could easily add their words.
Excellent timing, Head Maid. I gave a brief bow and answered as if I had been waiting.
“The incident at the honorary medal ceremony… seems to have triggered past trauma. His condition was so poor that I had no choice but to force him to rest.”
“Oh dear!”
With long sighs, women with tearful faces all began to speak up.
“I know how terrible trauma can be. My cousin still suffers from nightmares every night.”
“The incident at noon was definitely strange. If someone who just returned had to experience such an event, certainly…”
Good, did they buy it?
There’s no surer method than deflecting criticism with sympathy. Especially in Pen Rota, where victims of the Mage War were everywhere, war veterans were respected by everyone.
‘With this, I won’t have to worry about Andert Pager’s side for a while.’
Pretending to wipe away tears, Inastasia dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, patted my hand, and consoled me in a resounding voice.
“Even when I was fortunate enough to see him the day before, he looked quite unwell… Instead of improving, it seems to have gotten worse? Oh- how heartbreaking. If only we could be of some help to our hero…”
Indeed, flawless acting. In response, I too lowered my head and touched my eyes.
“Thank you. I’m sorry, but I need to step away for a moment.”
As if he had been waiting, Lu wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me away from the crowd. Indeed, flawless cooperation. Living together harmoniously under one roof had been worthwhile.
“Lu, did you check if there were any suspicious people…”
I was whispering quietly when I had to trail off as soon as I looked up at Lu’s face.
“Are you okay?”
Instinctively reaching out, I wiped away the cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Lu, who had been standing there dazedly as if in a trance, slowly closed his eyes as soon as my touch reached him and leaned his forehead against my hand. No, it didn’t end with just leaning – he buried his nose bridge and cheek between my fingers, steadying his breathing.
Was he hearing those hallucinations again?
Remembering Lu who had wandered through hallucinations all night and grabbed my neck, I absolutely couldn’t let him go alone.
‘Should I shake off the people and move around just the two of us?’
His deeply exhausted appearance made my heart ache. To think he was suffering this much from mere hallucinations. It was hardship I couldn’t imagine with my current self.
Why are humans so fragile?
“Lu, this won’t do. Let’s go out and rest for a moment.”
When I carefully took Lu’s hand and led him, he followed without resistance. That reaction made me feel even more urgently compelled, so I excused myself to those who tried to greet me whenever our eyes met and left the banquet hall.
The moment the now faintly cool early autumn breeze touched my skin.
A long shadow fell under the yellow lights blooming in the corridor.
Beyond my casually raised gaze stood a familiar face.
“Raphael.”
Suddenly, a strong force gripped my hand.
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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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