The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 96

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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 96

“Why is the Count laughing?”

“Because it’s cute.”

Count Sereniye smoothly countered even King Astrosia’s rebuke.

The king, who had been examining him with confused eyes, cleared his throat and stole a glance at me.

“Ahem. Well… since we seem to have time left, I’d also like to learn a thing or two from your lover…”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“My wife is delicate. Please don’t torment her.”

“What? Delicate? Who?”

Count Sereniye’s smile deepened at the question that absolutely couldn’t be accepted.

“My wife.”

“Then what about me?”

“Do I really need to say it?”

It seemed like the power dynamic had briefly reversed just now.

King Astrosia shook his head once and was about to raise one hand to declare the end of the examination.

“This is so frustrating, really. Sigh. Then the admission examination is concluded with this…”

“Your Majesty the King.”

Someone boldly appeared, interrupting the king’s declaration.

“…Garoush Berkleygraton? Do you have something to say?”

“I’m late, but I request an admission examination.”

Are you insane?

‘No, before that, how?’

King Astrosia seemed just as flustered as I was, but soon regained his royal dignity and spoke calmly.

“The examination cannot be taken by just anyone. You need a recommendation letter from a Loqwe believer, Garoush Berkleygraton.”

“I brought one.”

There was good reason for Andert’s confidence. It was the admission recommendation letter he presented to the king.

‘…Don’t tell me, he followed me here targeting that from the beginning?’

Was it Weatherwax’s scheme to infiltrate Andert into Loqwe?

But such suspicions of mine seemed to be useless delusions.

“Did you receive this recommendation letter yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

I could roughly guess where the recommendation letter came from.

‘Yesterday, while I was crossing over to the Royal Palace with the golden key, he threatened one of the nobles.’

Tsk tsk. The poor lambs got robbed by a thug.

King Astrosia now had a somewhat enlightened expression, having lost the will to object.

“Good. Since you’re also a special guest, let’s proceed quickly. The examination will be conducted by this person…”

“No, the examiner I would like to be tested by is this person.”

Andert’s gaze was directed precisely at one place.

Not at Skuld, not at the examiners, and not even at the king, but at Count Sereniye.

“I’d like to be examined by Count Sereniye. Of course, if you’re afraid, you can refuse.”

One of the examiners stepped forward with confused eyes.

“Count Sereniye is not an admission examiner…”

“I don’t mind conducting the examination privately, Count.”

At the blatant appeal, everyone’s gaze turned to Count Sereniye.

I thought the king or Skuld would dissuade him, but unexpectedly, they only looked at Count Sereniye.

‘He’s suddenly pointing out Lu like this? Is there something between the two of them that I don’t know about?’

This is a bit suspicious. Could Andert have noticed Count Sereniye’s true identity?

He’s only met Lu once.

Count Sereniye frowned and scolded Andert.

“You’re acting like a child, Garoush. This isn’t the Empire. This isn’t land where you can act as you please.”

I thought it was an uncharacteristically typical warning.

But soon after, a brief sneer appeared beneath his coldly frozen eyes.

“…is what I should warn you about. But it’s been a while since a young man courted me, so I’m a bit curious.”

Count Sereniye extended his hand toward Skuld.

Skuld, who had been quietly staring into his eyes, handed over the sword he carried.

It was his intention to accept Andert’s proposal.

“Count Sereniye.”

King Astrosia tried to dissuade him, but the response was cold.

“I will conduct a private examination as Garoush Berkleygraton requested, Your Majesty.”

His attitude was firm, as if he wouldn’t accept any objections.

It was certainly presumptuous behavior to show before the king.

However, no one, including Skuld, could stop Count Sereniye’s announcement. They didn’t even ask for reasons.

Count Sereniye, as if such an atmosphere was natural, sent everyone except Andert out of the rear garden.

And the next day.

Andert appeared confidently as someone who passed the first admission exam.

* * *

The day of departure to Loqwe.

I entrusted Jin with several matters and then moved to the meeting place.

“Stick to Count Sereniye somehow. If you tell him you want to learn from Kalerpa and ask him to arrange a meeting, he’ll help you.”

“…Would it be proper for me to dare do such a thing?”

“It’s your freedom to execute it. But if not now, this opportunity will never come again, so think carefully. Roughly inform Quincey about today’s events. When the time comes, have him leave straight for Midwintry.”

“Understood. Please don’t worry.”

Andert, Deshero, and I had an audience with King Astrosia in the audience chamber, then moved toward the canal within the Royal Palace.

I wanted to ask Andert what happened yesterday, but I didn’t act on it.

Because I know he’s the type who wouldn’t answer even if asked.

‘It would be faster to ask Lu later.’

In the canal, an old ferry boat that didn’t suit the royal dignity was floating around.

Surely we’re not going to Loqwe on that thing…

“Where is Count Sereniye?”

“Ah, he left you all to me and departed saying he had urgent business. Hmm. Count Sereniye is always busy. Busy indeed…”

The king, who answered Deshero’s question with a gloomy expression, turned his head toward the canal.

The canal was connected to one of the annexes within the Royal Palace. The waterway leading inside the annex was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see clearly inside.

Deshero examined that darkness in detail.

“You seem to have a tense look, Weatherwax Baroness. Even though you won’t be able to enter that place anyway. You seem to have many questions, so it’s fine, go ahead and ask.”

At the king’s consideration, Deshero asked without any hesitation.

“I’m curious if Loqwe’s main temple is very far from here, Your Majesty.”

“Are you interested in Loqwe?”

“I am also a soldier who participated in the Mage War. Moreover, my superior is Duke Raphael Jenail, a hero of the war. I remember receiving various forms of support from Loqwe during the war. When I recall those difficult times, I can’t help but be interested.”

“I understand completely.”

“For the past four years, the Imperial Court has sent countless requests for meetings, but Loqwe has consistently refused them all. His Majesty the Emperor was very disappointed. We received as much help from Loqwe as from the Magic Alliance. He was extremely curious about the reasons for their firm refusal.”

King Astrosia asked Deshero back with a subtle gaze that was impossible to read.

“Did you come to Astrosia as an envoy?”

“No. Although I mentioned His Majesty the Emperor, this is also purely my personal curiosity.”

“You’re a friend with great intellectual curiosity. It’s not such a complicated story. Loqwe originated from the Eastern Continent. Not just the Eastern Continent, but the Far Eastern Continent. Initially, Loqwe had much stronger characteristics as a religion itself that believed in a monotheistic god.”

The king’s story wasn’t very long.

To summarize briefly.

The reason the Northern Continent was closed to diplomacy was because of the large amount of refined stones buried in the North Deusus Mountains.

Countries and organizations targeting these refined stones had continuously invaded the Northern Continent for a long time, and among them were early Loqwe believers as well.

The reason why Rogue’s religious character has faded in modern times is also said to be because they experienced great internal strife due to purification stones.

After experiencing the Sungye Church drug smuggling incident, the Northern Continental Union completely shut down their diplomatic channels.

“But recently, we too have been feeling the need for communication. The Mage War had a great impact. Hmm. Shall we continue our more detailed conversation after sending them off?”

King Astrosia, who had patted Deshero’s shoulder, stood before Andert and me.

“As you confirmed with your own eyes earlier, you two are the only ones who passed this year’s first admission examination.”

“…”

“According to Rogue’s internal regulations, all examination passers must move to the Kalefa Outskirts with the examination committee for the second examination. The Kalefa mentioned here is the Sanctuary Kalefa, and it takes about two months to arrive.”

“Two months?”

Are you kidding?

“But this time, we will specially open the Royal Secret Passage for you. Through that route, you can reach the Kalefa Outskirts within half a day.”

Ah, that’s a relief.

“By the way, the information I just shared is a state secret, so please swear an oath of confidentiality as a precaution. All of you.”

We ended up sharing an oath to maintain confidentiality.

Thanks to that, a fourth oath mark was added to my arm.

In order, it would be Kalerpa, Weatherwax Baroness, Weatherwax, and King Astrosia. Quite a luxurious list.

“From here on, your vision will be blocked. I wish you good fortune.”

King Astrosia extended his hand first, and I shared a final handshake with him.

After that, black blindfolds were placed over Andert’s and my eyes. Getting on a ferry boat for the subsequent journey was the beginning.

We traveled without rest.

First a ferry boat, then a carriage, then a car, then… riding something unknown.

At some point, the fresh air of the surface was completely cut off and the humid earthy smell characteristic of underground areas wafted through.

After riding something that rattled as badly as a mine cart and could hardly be called a carriage – more like a basket – we also descended a long downhill path.

I often felt such doubts.

‘Are we actually being sold off?’

I don’t even know how many hours passed.

I could only vaguely guess that about half a day had passed, but couldn’t be certain about any part of it.

Then suddenly the blindfolds were removed.

It was the twilight hour when the red sun was setting behind the mountain ridge.

We had arrived at the Sanctuary of Rogue, the Kalefa Outskirts.

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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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