The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 45

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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 45

But I couldn’t think of a better move than this.

My head was already killing me from all the thinking I’d been doing. Among the strategies I came up with in such a short time, wasn’t this the best I could do?

A mere maid couldn’t just say ‘let’s just go with okay.’ And it was an undeniable fact that the Weatherwax Family was short on manpower.

Right, I did my best. I did enough for what I could do… and so, I comforted myself again today.

In the midst of the swirling silence, Lu was the only one who pulled up the corners of his mouth long, gently stroking my chin as he praised me.

“Oh my, did you now? Well, if he’s a swordsman, he’d have good stamina too, wouldn’t he? There, there. You’re so smart, our Daisy.”

As expected, Lu is the only one on my side. Woof woof!

“We have our answer. Since we can’t immediately confront my husband about this situation, we’ll accept the Duke’s request. However, you must keep in mind that depending on the circumstances, we may send him back immediately. I hope you understand?”

The Swordmaster gazed at me with a strange expression that was impossible to read. His eyes were accustomed to hiding his inner thoughts, as befitting a Sword Master who had been through war.

“Of course.”

Could he have figured out that I’m the Weatherwax Baroness?

Logically, the probability of that was extremely low.

They say a thief’s feet tingle with guilt. That saying perfectly described my situation.

“And regarding the conversation you were having just before, let me add one thing. His Majesty the Emperor entrusted all matters related to the Southern Imperial Archipelago to Duke Raphael long ago. Since it’s an issue closely related to national secrets in that region, disobedience can result in execution for violating national security laws and treason.”

He was pretending not to listen, but he actually heard everything.

Well, even four years ago, he was quite cunning when it came to matters unrelated to swords.

‘Even so, treason is…’

I devoted this one body to completely annihilate Grand Sorcerer Mephistopheles and his army. And what comes back to me is a charge of treason.

Even though it was something I brought upon myself, I felt a bit deflated.

Seeing my face, Lu shook his head and let out a laugh close to mockery.

“The laws of the Pen Rota Empire are so aggressive… Hmm. Well, fine. Duke Jenail? I’ll comply with the Duke’s request. But there’s one condition. Instead of our Daisy responding to the investigation, let my husband do it.”

What?

‘Is that okay?’

As Raphael’s eyes narrowed, Lu added a long explanation, unlike his usual self.

“Don’t misunderstand. I mean to have my husband step forward as Daisy’s representative. Daisy is a child who knows all the secrets of our family. I’m afraid of what kind of slip of the tongue she might make, so I’ll have my husband investigate Daisy first and then send her to the Duke. If you judge that investigating my husband is insufficient, then take Daisy at that time. Do you agree?”

It was quite a plausible way to buy time.

On the surface, Lu wasn’t disobeying the investigation.

He also said he’d hand over my person if there were additional requests, so strictly speaking, it was nothing more or less than delaying tactics.

The question was whether Raphael would accept that proposal.

“That much is no problem.”

“I’m glad our mutual interests finally align, even now.”

“I’m also relieved that you think so. However.”

Raphael shifted his gaze to me and continued his words like a warning.

“This mutual interest must be maintained until the very end.”

After that, he turned his back without any lingering attachment.

Raphael received a brief report from the knights in white uniforms and then disappeared toward the back of the estate.

‘Hmm. I didn’t expect him to accept so easily.’

He might have shown consideration for the Weatherwax Family, who attended the Nobility Council for the first time in years.

‘He’s just as unkind now as he was back then.’

The Swordmaster, who had been silently watching that scene, smiled gently toward us.

“There shouldn’t be any major problems, so don’t worry, Weatherwax Baroness. Duke Raphael isn’t as difficult as he appears. The investigation will surely end quickly too. Now, if it’s alright with you, I’ll escort you, Quincey, and Volkawin to the shelter.”

The Swordmaster led Lu to his side and walked ahead first. From the way Grey’s name was being mentioned, it seemed they were having various conversations about what Grey was doing and where, and about his personal details.

Before long, the nobles who had been gathered in front of the villa also moved to the annex following the crew members’ guidance.

“The Weatherwax Baroness seems to care for you very much, miss.”

Quincey, who had approached my side, whispered quietly.

“I was surprised. I never thought she would actively stand in front of Duke Jenail like that.”

Volkawin also looked at me and smiled.

“They say married couples are a pair. I could feel with my whole body why the Baroness came all the way from her distant hometown to Pen Rota and chose Grey.”

Their attitude remained consistently gentlemanly even in front of me, a maid.

Since they didn’t treat me carelessly and showed a friendly attitude, I didn’t particularly want to ignore them either.

“I was lucky.”

“Haha, it wasn’t luck. Weatherwax is a member of the Nobility Council, so strictly speaking, it was a natural result.”

It was a short answer, but it contained many implications.

It meant that if Weatherwax hadn’t been a member of the Nobility Council, they couldn’t have gotten Raphael’s consent to send a representative.

“You might not know this well, miss, but the reason so many people gathered like this in the first place was to gain the privileges and connections of the Nobility Council. Nobles belonging to the Nobility Council give and receive various favors, big and small, as long as they don’t go against imperial law. At least in the open.”

So that’s why he accepted Lu’s proposal.

We moved to the basement of the annex. There, a large iron door stood wide open, waiting for us. It was a temporary shelter.

“It’s bigger than I thought.”

The shelter was a completely enclosed underground space without a ray of sunlight.

However, despite being underground, the interior was well-decorated and bright and comfortable, so it felt more like a hall than a shelter.

“Please go inside and rest comfortably. There are plenty of chairs.”

“Thank you. Daisy? Come here.”

Is this what it feels like to be a noble lady’s small dog?

I sat next to Lu and closed my eyes, resting my head on his shoulder.

Forget everything else, I just want to go home now.

After a while.

With an unpleasant rumbling sound, the iron door of the shelter closed.

Thanks to the refined stone-powered lamps being adequately placed throughout, the interior was as bright as day.

With knights in black and white uniforms standing guard at the door protectively, the Swordmaster stepped up onto the highest platform in the shelter.

The Swordmaster’s calm voice, though not particularly loud, penetrated straight into our ears.

“Distinguished guests. First, I want to apologize. At dawn yesterday, twelve unidentified sorcerers infiltrated Irigel Manor. They installed large-scale mental magic traps to cause chaos within the manor, and we estimate they had been preparing for at least a day beforehand.”

“Oh my. Who on earth could have…”

Perhaps because we were underground, the murmuring sounds, both loud and quiet, echoed throughout the room like an echo.

The Swordmaster let people talk to their heart’s content before opening his mouth again.

“You must be very shocked, but you can breathe a sigh of relief. We succeeded in capturing all the intruders alive. We’re currently checking whether there are additional traps within the manor, and we’ll escort you to your respective rooms afterward.”

“Then the remaining schedule won’t be canceled?”

“No, it’s completely canceled. Reinforcements from Ragal will arrive within 7 hours, and we expect to be able to leave Irigel around 8 PM. Treatment for the mental magic trap effects will proceed sequentially. Are there any other questions?”

The surroundings were quiet.

Not a single person in the basement expressed anxiety and caused a disturbance, or pointed fingers at the Swordmaster to voice complaints.

People seemed greatly relieved by the fact that the Swordmaster was protecting them.

I could see how solid the Imperial Citizens’ trust in him was.

‘When someone as high-ranking as a Duke steps forward personally to reassure people… they have no choice but to believe.’

The interior, which had been filled with small noises, entered a lull after some time passed.

People were exhausted.

These were people who had been trembling with fear and anxiety all dawn while suffering from mental magic traps. With the peace that came after half a day, they began to relax one by one and started nodding off.

Creak.

That’s when it happened.

The tightly closed iron door opened very slightly. A man who emerged from beyond approached the Swordmaster and lowered his head.

“Your Excellency. For a moment…”

What news could it be? I perked up both ears.

Other people also stretched their necks long, looking with curious faces about what new news had arrived.

However, I was probably the only one who could hear the whispering between the two men. Jealous?

“A strange airship has requested permission to dock. We cannot confirm the owner or any markings, so we refused docking for now.”

“A strange airship? Isn’t it Duke Raphael’s airship?”

“Yes, we asked, but he answered that it’s an unknown object.”

It was when the Swordmaster and the man were about to leave the shelter. Lu, who had stood up from the seat next to me, led me and tried to exit quite boldly.

The flustered man blocked our way.

“I’m sorry, Baroness. You cannot leave the shelter until safety is secured. If there’s something you need, please tell us…”

“I don’t need anything.”

Lu, who had forgotten Morian’s duty to be lovable and wore a thoroughly indifferent expression, gestured with his chin toward beyond the door.

“It seems my airship has arrived. I’m thinking of heading home soon, but do I need permission for that too?”

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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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