The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 129

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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 129

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May 31st, morning.

Half a day before the nightmare’s visit.

After meeting with Lillieta and returning to her room to sit face-to-face with Ethan, Hanna was overcome by a very strange feeling.

The lingering attachment that had uncomfortably circled around whenever he came into her sight had somehow disappeared, allowing her to look at him with surprising composure. That very fact was what felt strange.

‘Strangely… it’s refreshing.’

When she had run through the forest leaving behind the injured young lady, her lingering feelings had truly all blown away in the headwind.

Unlike her, sitting calmly, Ethan across the table looked extremely uncomfortable. He irritably ran his hands through his hair.

Golden brown.

Hanna spoke without thinking.

“You can go back to your original color, Ethan.”

“What?”

“I, I don’t care about such things anymore…”

His blue-gray eyes narrowed. He lifted the corner of his mouth in a mocking smile.

“Someone who doesn’t even have the courage to stab a person, where do you get off acting tough… Hey, you.”

“…Why?”

“Once you start this operation, you can’t quit. No matter how scary or difficult it gets, you can’t stop. Someone like you who’s lived such a smooth life, a civilian with modest life goals and utterly ordinary dreams, what? Going into a great noble family to spy? Fuck, easier said than done…”

“…”

She had talked about her life goals back when he was being affectionate. Hanna thought blankly. He still remembers what I told him.

Ethan let out a heavy sigh and continued.

“Since you’ll regret it once you start, just give up now. Rita isn’t the type to be disappointed or angry if you suddenly whine about not being able to do it, so don’t worry about it. She’d probably apologize for making an unreasonable request instead.”

“Ethan, you…”

Hanna swallowed dryly and stared at him, stammering as she continued.

“You, you’ve known the young lady since long ago, right? Like the Viscount Blen’s daughter, you met during the period when the young lady was missing…”

“Yeah, that’s right. We became acquainted during that time.”

Ethan answered half-heartedly while picking up the water cup between them. She hesitated before speaking.

“Then… you’ve liked the young lady since then.”

“Pfft, cough.”

He spat out the water he had been drinking and beat his chest before looking back at her with a flustered face.

“What the fuck did you just say?”

“I’m the young lady’s personal maid. Serving the young lady is my job… Don’t you think I’d notice how your eyes change when you look at her?”

“…Fuck, don’t misunderstand. There are circumstances between me and her that you don’t know about.”

“You look at the young lady with those eyes… but the young lady doesn’t seem interested in you.”

Hanna muttered as if talking to herself, recalling how Lillieta had whispered to her with a pale face.

“…Go, don’t tell anyone else and find Gid… Crown Prince Gideon. Only tell him.”

“…But she seems interested in Crown Prince.”

She turned her gaze to Ethan. The courtesy and consideration she would have shown in front of others felt unnecessary with him.

After all, he was the one who had first exposed his raw feelings and acted selfishly.

So she spoke whatever came to mind.

“Is it hopeless unrequited love? That’s a bit pitiful.”

“…”

Ethan’s face crumpled as if stabbed by a knife. Then, like blood flowing, color drained from his hair and eyes.

Colorless white hair and transparent eyes, so transparent that blood vessels showed through, making them appear red.

Having returned to his original color, he remained silent for a moment before speaking in a low, warning voice.

“…I told you not to misunderstand.”

“What’s the misunderstanding?”

“Ha, fine, I was going to tell you this content anyway. Hey, there’s something in this world called oaths…”

He explained about Oaths and oaths. He also taught her about the content and meaning of the oath he had made.

“Do you understand now? I recognize her as my master because of that. That’s why I treat her that way, so don’t misunderstand.”

“So, you’re protecting your heart with that excuse. Because it would be painful if you acknowledged it…”

“What the fuck?”

Ethan’s eyes blazed again, deeply stung by her words. Hanna looked at him quietly before changing the subject.

“Anyway, if I make that oath… I’ll gain power too, right? Then I won’t be a ‘civilian’ anymore either, and I’ll be perfectly capable of spying, won’t I?”

Then she could resist that criminal who had controlled her body to kidnap the young lady. The reason the young lady told her to learn about oaths was…

“The young lady knows many mysterious techniques. Among them, isn’t there a way for me to resist so others can’t control me? If you teach me, I’ll grit my teeth and learn!”

It was probably the answer to that request.

‘Because she’s kind.’

Hanna thought of the pretty golden revolver still in her apron pocket.

At the time, she had simply been happy that the young lady had fulfilled her excessive wish, but now she saw it from a different perspective.

‘Even knowing that I might be controlled again by that criminal who’s supposedly a great magician… the young lady didn’t hesitate to put a gun in my hands.’

It was separate from trusting her. No matter how loyal she was to the young lady, it would be meaningless if she was controlled by a magician.

‘Of course, it’s a practice gun with a blocked chamber, but still… it’s a weapon.’

Across from her, Ethan spoke in a blunt voice.

“Do you think everything will be over just by making an oath? You’ll only be able to handle Oaths in exchange for gaining restrictions, and you’ll need fucking extensive training to handle it properly. You have to roll around like shit to barely become human.”

Instead of responding to his words, Hanna couldn’t hold back the question that arose and blurted it out.

“Ethan, why did the young lady give me a gun? What if I’m controlled by a magician and attack the young lady with it?”

“What bullshit are you talking? Do you think she’s easy just because her body is a bit frail?”

Ethan let out a hollow laugh before adding.

“Hey, do you know what your young lady’s nickname is? ‘Matan Marksman.’ With just one gun, no, fuck, even without any gun at all, she’s a crazy monster who can turn most magical beasts into honecombs by herself, that’s why she’s called ‘Matan.'”

“Matan…”

“You were there when the Kraken appeared, right? You saw her fight there, didn’t you? Think carefully. Do you think she’d be defeated just because you have one old gun? It would be over before you could even draw and aim, you idiot.”

“Ah, I see…”

Hanna felt relieved and smiled broadly. Ethan looked at her as if dumbfounded.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because I’m happy that the young lady is strong.”

“What?”

“Ethan.”

She continued with a much more relaxed expression.

“As you said, I’m someone with modest life goals who’s lived smoothly all along. The reason someone like me stepped forward to do such dangerous work is.”

“What, Rita saved your life twice, right? It’s admirable that you want to repay her, but you don’t need to risk your life—”

“Yes, I did say I’d dedicate my life to the young lady, but you know, actually that’s not simply for repayment.”

Hanna added calmly.

“Ethan, I’m an ordinary person, so I’m timid, selfish, and cowardly. My life and my future are too precious to just dedicate anywhere.”

“What? Then why…”

“But even if I don’t want it, I’m already involved, aren’t I? If I close my eyes and turn away, will my bloodline change? If I pretend not to know and hide, can I live normally? Will no one bother me then?”

“…That would be difficult.”

As long as Pascal had returned and was causing trouble, there was no way for someone who was his bloodline and had been used as a possession vessel to live normally.

Hanna shrugged her shoulders.

“Right? How could I live the same way when I’m caught up in a disaster… My life is already precarious. From 10 years ago, when the young lady was kidnapped, any way to live normally disappeared.”

“…”

“I’m powerless and short-sighted, so I can’t protect my life and future in this disaster. But the young lady is different. The young lady is… a wise and strong person. Strong enough to defeat such monsters and try to find and catch that kidnapper who’s supposedly a tremendous magician.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“And she’s kind. Instead of revealing and punishing wrongdoing, she says she’ll trust me first, bows her head for a mere maid, grasps the interests of someone as lowly as me to give gifts, saves me even while getting injured…”

She took such a deep breath that her shoulders visibly rose, then continued pouring out her words.

“When I said I’d risk my life, she tried to dissuade me countless times, telling me it was a matter of life and death and to think carefully about it repeatedly… Just like you said, she’s the kind of person who wouldn’t blame me even if I said I couldn’t do it now.”

“…”

Ethan fell silent. Hanna smiled softly as she recalled the time she had spent by Lillieta’s side.

“That’s why I can entrust my life to Miss completely. Because Miss would never treat my life carelessly. Because she would treasure the person who risked their life for her. Because it would be much safer for Miss to protect me than for me to protect my own life. Don’t you think so?”

“…!”

“Do you understand, Ethan? Becoming Miss’s hands and feet, becoming a spy and working hard on Miss’s side – that’s the safest path for an ordinary person like me. It’s not a dangerous or sacrificial choice, but the most selfish way to protect my life and future.”

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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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