The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 35
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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 35
“I’ll accept your request. However, if Jin Berkleighton loses to me, please strip her of her inheritance rights.”
If you want to make me move, you’ll have to put something bigger on the line.
That’s what it means to be a maid who doesn’t work for free.
“Whoa!”
At that moment, Quincey jumped up from his seat and grabbed my hand, pulling it toward him.
What the hell, don’t interfere and get lost.
“Ah, haha, ahem. Your Grace. You might not know this, but this friend has been ill for a very long time. So her brain is a little…”
“My brain is fine.”
Volkawin, who had also stood up, ignored my response and hurriedly continued.
“Her brain seems to have melted a little.”
“I told you it hasn’t melted!”
“Yes, it seems melted and causing problems.”
Who exactly am I talking to right now?
Fortunately, only the Sword Saint seemed clearly willing to have a conversation with me.
“Let me ask you one thing, Weatherwax Baroness. Don’t you think it’s too presumptuous to talk about our family’s succession?”
“Ah, Your Grace is asking for my thoughts again! How very befitting of a Sword Saint. You’re truly a magnanimous person of the ages.”
When I gave him a thumbs up, Quincey and Volkawin’s faces grew even paler.
I lied wholeheartedly with a voice mixed with deep concern.
“I know that the next Duke of Berkley-Greytown depends solely on the decision of Your Grace and His Imperial Majesty. It’s a noble position given to the guardian who protects the Royal Court and the Empire. The Empire’s security and future depend on Your Grace’s family. So as a citizen of the Empire, how could I not worry about the next Duke Berkley-Greytown?”
“…”
“Therefore, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch a successor who loses in a mock duel against this Grey Weatherwax—a complete novice among novices who has only swung a sword a couple of times—ascend to the next Berkley-Greytown Dukedom.”
The Sword Saint, nodding continuously as if watching his grandchild’s antics, encouraged me.
“That’s a plausible reason. Continue speaking.”
“That’s the end.”
The Sword Saint’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.
“The point is that Your Grace and Miss Jin are ‘requesting’ a mock duel from this Grey Weatherwax, a complete novice among novices who has only swung a sword a couple of times. It truly cannot help but be a frightening thing. Ah! How frightening indeed!”
“The Baroness seems to have learned acting somewhere.”
“And the conclusion is that I’ll accept it. Your Grace’s outrageous request.”
“…”
“Ah, right. I should add one more condition. I won’t accept spectators. Including Your Grace.”
“…”
“Do you think it’s a loss? Of course you would. There’s one solution to this unprofitable mock duel. Shall I tell you? It’s for Your Grace to withdraw your ‘request.’ Quite simple, isn’t it?”
Assuming the conditions were met, the mock duel proceeding wouldn’t be bad for me. I could gratefully strip Jin of her inheritance rights.
But that doesn’t mean I’m desperate enough to reveal my swordsmanship skills.
Jin’s inheritance rights could be stripped through other methods anyway.
But would the Sword Saint really do that?
“The Baroness’s conditions are to hold the mock duel without spectators, and if the Baroness wins, you’ll take away my daughter’s inheritance rights?”
Even to my own ears, these were conditions with nothing good for the other party.
And if my prediction is correct.
The Sword Saint won’t withdraw from this matter.
“Jin Berkleighton.”
It was a quiet call.
A tall, silver-haired woman strode in from outside the cabin and stood before us.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Will you accept the Weatherwax Baroness’s betting conditions?”
Tsk tsk. My tongue clicked involuntarily.
‘Asking so openly in a place like this is basically telling her to accept.’
As expected, Jin’s existence means nothing to the Sword Saint. It was something I vaguely sensed right after realizing he was the client.
And if he had cared about Jin even a little, he would have inevitably taken me outside before requesting the duel.
To the Sword Saint, Jin Berkleighton was a card he could use and discard as he pleased.
‘It was the same on the battlefield.’
The Sword Saint is a man who doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice the small for the great.
The battlefields where he was appointed as commander always achieved perfect victory, even if they paid considerable sacrifices.
To the Sword Saint, who had used the lives of thousands and tens of thousands as tactical bait, the sacrifice of just one successor wouldn’t be significant.
But would Jin meekly accept the Sword Saint’s pressure?
“I’ll accept it. There’s nothing wrong with the Baroness’s argument. If I, who must protect the Empire in the future, made a wrong judgment out of mere whim, it would mean I’m not qualified to be the Empire’s guardian. Therefore, I agree to the conditions set by the Weatherwax Baroness.”
She’s accepting it.
‘Even if she’s a sword-crazed demon, still. She’s accepting this?’
Is a sword demon truly a sword demon?
“Well, if you put it that way. Shall we amicably head up to the deck?”
The Sword Saint, who had leisurely taken my chair, ordered Jin.
“Jin. The Weatherwax Baroness seems to lack a sword, so lend her mine.”
“Understood.”
Why does it have to be his sword of all things? How burdensome.
We crossed through the spectators with their intrigued expressions and left the cabin.
However, just before leaving, my feet were briefly held back.
“Weatherwax Baroness.”
I turned to look at the Sword Saint.
Wearing formal attire instead of armor, sitting comfortably with his legs crossed, the Sword Saint stared intently into my eyes and asked.
“By any chance, have we met before?”
“…”
“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”
“That’s impossible. This is our first meeting.”
I left the cabin without waiting for a response.
Not forgetting to walk with the world’s strangest gait.
When I arrived on deck.
The tourists who had been enjoying the night’s leisure were returning to their cabins following the crew’s guidance.
The deck, which had been full of people enjoying romantic lighting, garden tables, and the night air, quickly became quiet.
For a few minutes, my gaze was captivated by the Milky Way embroidering the sky.
“Thank you for waiting, Weatherwax Baroness.”
When I turned my head at Jin’s voice, a large, heavy scabbard flew toward me as if it had been waiting.
This scabbard, with glorious scars remaining here and there, was definitely the Sword Saint’s sword.
I was briefly immersed in sentiment before drawing the sword. The dazzlingly sharp silver blade sparkled in the starlight.
And it was quiet.
‘I was curious how the Sword Saint’s sword would resonate. I can only hear its voice when the swordsman directly wields the sword.’
How long has it been since I held a sword? It felt like years had passed…
Thump. Thump.
‘This isn’t my body.’
My heart sings pleasantly.
I had the illusion that my heavy hands had become as light as bird wings.
Even though I had never swung this sword before, it felt like it had been mine from the beginning. It felt not like a sword, but like my own arm.
When I felt a gaze and turned around, I saw Jin silently watching me.
Jin was completely focused on my every small movement. She seemed a little tense too.
I asked her.
“Aren’t you interested in the Berkley-Greytown Dukedom?”
“…I find it difficult to understand the intent behind your question.”
“There’s no deep meaning or anything. I asked because normally people wouldn’t accept such conditions.”
Jin, who had been blinking thoughtfully, answered a beat late.
“It’s not that I’m not interested, but it’s not my most important goal.”
“Aha.”
That meant her position as heir to Buckleygrayten was merely a means to achieve her own purposes.
‘There was a good reason why the Weatherwax Baroness used her without hesitation.’
Regardless of skill, he wouldn’t want to keep close an heir who harbored other intentions.
“So Miss Jin’s duel with me plays quite an important role in achieving your most important goal.”
“It might, or it might not.”
“Do you think I’m a swordsman?”
“Yes.”
“Then Miss Jin, this isn’t a condition but a request. I’d like only you to know how I move in our duel.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jin’s attitude was so serious and respectful that I didn’t even feel like joking around.
“Good. Let’s begin.”
I sheathed the Weatherwax Baroness’s sword that I had finished examining and tucked it into my right side. Then I walked to the center of the training ground and said to Jin.
“If you make me draw my sword, it’s your victory.”
Perhaps thinking she was being underestimated, Jin’s eyes turned sharply cold.
Hmm, that’s quite fierce?
“I take back what I just said. Let’s make it so you win if you make me draw my sword and swing it twice.”
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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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