The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 318

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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 116

It was brief, but I felt a nauseating sensation that made me hold my breath.

The events at the banquet after the hunting competition four years ago flashed before my eyes.

I instinctively examined Raphael’s abdomen, and only after realizing that both his complexion and body showed no problems could I breathe again.

Fortunately, Lu showed no particular behavior other than gripping my hand so tightly it felt like he might crush it. However, I couldn’t shake the tension, feeling like I was holding a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

Raphael only glanced at Lu once with a sweeping look, his expression showing he didn’t consider him worth his attention. He probably couldn’t even imagine that Lu had lost his memory.

But his expression was nothing short of murderous. His face looked as if he was trying to warn me of something.

“Baroness Weatherwax, let me tell you something in advance.”

Thanks to that, my heart began to race again.

‘Could it be that Raphael found out about Spolia’s plan?’

I hadn’t told anyone yet about the bet with Spolia and the future I had seen. It was my own optimal judgment after much deliberation.

The incident at the honor medal ceremony had become a big issue during the afternoon, but since there were no casualties, it remained just an issue.

Rather, there were loud voices saying that in such situations, the banquet should be held to show the strength of Pen Rota’s defensive magic. The prevailing opinion was that my survival had boosted the Empire’s citizens’ morale.

Being swayed like a reed by others, especially by someone who could be called an enemy, didn’t suit my nature… but this matter involved a near-compulsory oath, so I had no choice.

‘If I can’t warn of danger, I’ll prepare the best countermeasures.’

I fidgeted with the silver ring with my thumb while waiting for Raphael’s next words.

After a moment of silence, Raphael warned me as if sighing, his face looking like he wanted to grab my collar and throw a punch.

“Don’t try to shoulder everything alone. Not like before.”

…This guy, did he really achieve unity of mind and body while I was gone? Did he see the future?

‘Though it’s fortunate he seems to know nothing.’

A warrior’s intuition really can’t be ignored.

I put on a blank expression as if I’d heard something nonsensical.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but please refrain from strange misunderstandings. I just came to rest because Lu’s condition isn’t good. Of course, I’m hoping to luckily run into Spolia.”

“His condition isn’t good?”

Raphael’s gaze turned toward Lu again.

At that moment.

Lu, who had been motionless like a doll, slowly lowered his head and buried his face in my shoulder.

‘Lu?’

His hot breath fell on my nape. Lu inhaled deeply as if swallowing my scent… then rubbed his forehead against my shoulder in a movement that seemed almost petulant. I was quite flustered by this behavior so unlike Lu.

“…Something’s strange.”

Raphael, muttering this, also seemed to notice that something was different between the usual Lu and the current Lu. I answered like an excuse.

“Lu is originally strange. Sometimes to a degree that’s hard for me to handle.”

But I actually prefer this side.

Rather than Lu causing uncontrollable trouble, I feel more at ease when he clings to me, even if he becomes a bit more docile.

Of course, I don’t know how long this behavior of his will continue… I comforted him by patting his back rather than pushing him away in embarrassment.

Chuckle.

The soft lips that faintly touched my shoulder seemed to curve in something close to a hollow laugh.

Enduring that ticklish sensation was quite burdensome. I looked around and asked Raphael in a low voice.

“Do you happen to know about the Republic’s spies?”

Raphael’s expression, which had been observing Lu, twisted strangely.

“Spies… Are you talking about the Republic’s security department?”

Raphael reacted as if he found my question puzzling.

‘Ah, Natasha hasn’t told Raphael about my birth parents yet.’

Well, no matter how much it was Raphael, she couldn’t easily reveal my stale personal history.

“You’re asking about all sorts of things at a banquet celebrating your return. …I know it’s not the mood to enjoy.”

He still had a suspicious look as if wondering whether I was plotting something, but as always, he readily answered the question.

“As you know, similar organizations exist in the Empire too. The so-called Shadows of the Throne, the Royal Court’s intelligence agents.”

I remember. It was an organization I first learned about during the urgent wartime. The Empire’s dark side. Those who carry out secret operations.

“Among them, the largest number are active in the Kontaninos Republic. The Republic has also planted the most security agents in the Empire. Do you want to ask about them?”

I nodded slightly.

“Previously… I heard that when Republic security agents operate in teams rather than individually, some disguise themselves as families.”

“So?”

“I was wondering how they handle the aftermath when unexpected personnel are added to the team.”

“That doesn’t happen.”

It was a ruthlessly firm answer. Raphael, who had been examining my face searchingly, crossed his arms and added.

“…Of course, it’s not like it never happened. During nearly two hundred years of related records, three or four cases occurred… but the result is always the same. Death by accident, or murder.”

“What if they’re swept up by emotions and leave without handling it?”

“That doesn’t happen either.”

“…”

“Even if it happened by any chance, they’d use every means to have other security agents chase them to hell and handle it. Summary execution. That’s for the best. Whether the target is an old person or a child.”

Sharp eyes that said no exceptions exist.

Then those eyes wavered very briefly as he was about to say something to me.

“Raphael.”

Deshero called Raphael from beyond the corridor.

“…”

He narrowed his eyes and after a long moment, tapped my arm and turned away. He had the face of someone with something to say but couldn’t continue.

Watching his retreating shadow, I once again traced the distant past. My mother’s face, hazy like fog.

‘Were Andert and I… destined to die somehow?’

Destined to die.

But what about us now?

Far from dying and becoming bones, we’re living perfectly fine with both legs stretched out. We don’t even have memories of being threatened by those presumed to be Republic spies.

Was our survival also our parents’ arrangement?

‘…No.’

That might have been the beginning.

But it was only the beginning.

Hearing Raphael’s story made me more certain. There was a third party’s intervention in Andert’s and my survival, not our parents’.

‘Otherwise, we couldn’t have reached this point so smoothly.’

Then who intervened?

‘Who, and with what intention?’

Us, who were just orphans of Queen’s Island, me…

‘Why on earth?’

For what purpose?

.

.

.

The wind blowing in the corridor stopped.

.

.

.

A night without even a moon. A hazy sky that looked like a storm could strike at any moment.

Music that had stopped.

The laughter of the banquet fading distantly…

At this moment when I felt such clear déjà vu that it gave me goosebumps down my spine.

From beyond that distant darkness, blue light flickered like lava.

“I told you, Daisy.”

I clenched my fist.

I could no longer feel Lu’s presence, who should have been leaning against me. While all my senses became muffled as if submerged in the deep sea, only the opponent’s voice pierced my heart like a shot arrow.

“I wasn’t the first to discover you in the Caliphate.”

Spolia.

“It was me.”

So it’s you.

I unleashed all my energy toward the opponent who had revealed themselves.

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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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