The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 73

The existence of a hidden daughter within House Ortea was a secret. That this daughter had been missing for fifteen years was an even greater secret.
Yet here I was, wrestling with such concerns.
‘Wouldn’t Janet’s intuition prove helpful?’
Luna was undeniably suspicious. The parents Lishar had encountered were equally so.
People who wielded the magic of the Hyperion Magical State?
No matter how I looked at it, they reeked of espionage.
‘There’s no point telling that madman—he won’t listen anyway.’
Theo had already informed Lishar of this fact.
But Lishar, completely fixated on the assumption that Luna was Genia, had turned a deaf ear to Theo’s warnings.
I considered revealing the truth to the Commander, yet I hesitated to drag him into matters entangled with Genia.
Left with no choice, I alone had to bear the weight of this problem.
‘But how do they know of Genia’s existence?’
And what was their purpose in approaching Lishar under the guise of that daughter?
The most plausible explanation I could conceive was revenge for the Ashleyde War.
After all, Marquis Ortea had been one of the two principal architects of victory in that conflict.
‘Yet would they truly seek vengeance for a war three years past in such a manner?’
No matter how I examined it, something felt fundamentally misaligned.
These were problems that simple investigation could not resolve. Even for Illinia, there were limits to gathering intelligence across borders.
Therefore, I desperately needed Janet’s assistance.
Had she not consistently resolved matters I could not?
Janet’s intuition had a remarkable success rate.
The details that troubled her invariably became the crucial keys to unlocking vexing problems.
I exhaled slowly.
A sigh laden with contemplation escaped me, and as resolve crystallized, I lifted my head.
“Janet.”
“Yes?”
“I would like to share something with you—a secret matter.”
“A secret… matter?”
“Yes. A most important one. Information that must not leak to anyone.”
Janet’s eyes widened at Theo’s words.
“Why would you entrust such an important secret to me?”
“Because I need your help. Your help, Janet.”
Theo asking me for help?
My initial shock gave way to resolve, and I nodded with determination.
“Please, tell me. I will guard this secret faithfully.”
“Are you certain?”
In truth, burdening someone with a secret while demanding their silence could feel like an imposition.
It might feel like saddling them with an unwelcome responsibility.
Yet Janet remained resolute.
“If I can be of help, I want to. This isn’t just anyone’s matter—it’s Theo’s.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
“Please, don’t mention it. So, what’s this secret?”
Theo hesitated no longer, laying bare everything about Genia and Luna.
“So something like that happened within House Ortea.”
Janet murmured in surprise, tilting her head as a question formed on her lips.
“But why must Genia’s existence remain a secret?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that myself.”
“You don’t know either, Theo?”
“No. Perhaps even Lishar doesn’t know the reason.”
Which meant only the Marquis Ortea himself held the answer.
‘What could possibly be the reason?’
Yet having stumbled upon a secret of another house unbidden, it felt improper to indulge her curiosity too openly.
Janet suppressed her bewilderment and spoke carefully.
“There are certainly many suspicious details about all of this.”
The use of Hyperion’s magic, for instance.
Or the family members who appear harmonious on the surface but remain cold as strangers behind closed doors.
And today’s incident as well.
‘Come to think of it, wasn’t his approach to me because of Lishar?’
Knowing that Lishar and I were acquainted, perhaps he deliberately drew close to me.
By remaining at my side, he would naturally create opportunities to intersect with Lishar.
‘Now that I think about it, Lishar was nearby when he brought up his past.’
I’d wondered why he would speak of such things with someone he barely knew standing close by—
But it was the opposite.
He brought it up precisely because Lishar was there.
“If there are any other suspicious details, I’ll keep watch as well.”
“Yes, I’d appreciate that.”

***

In an underground chamber shrouded in darkness.
A soft whoosh.
Pitch-black ash swirled through the air before settling to the ground. Luna emerged from within the floating debris, her form materializing like a phantom.
Still catching her breath from the aftereffects of the teleportation spell, she quickly noticed the presence before her and lowered her head respectfully.
“You called for me, Commander?”
At Luna’s greeting, the silhouette behind the black cloth shifted slightly.
“Luna.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“The operation is proceeding smoothly, I trust?”
The voice asking the question crackled like static interference.
“There’s no need for concern. Everything is advancing without difficulty.”
“Good. I’m relieved to hear it.”
Satisfaction permeated the amused tone.
Luna offered a faint smile and bowed even more deeply.
“Remember this, Luna. Understand the gravity of the task entrusted to you.”
“Yes, Commander. I will succeed in this mission and not disappoint you.”
My task was simple enough.
Impersonate Genia, the daughter House Ortea had lost, and approach Richard Ortea.
And destroy both Richard and Marquis Ortea.
“He already believes I am Jenia Ortea. Therefore, he will do anything for me—anything at all.”
Even if it meant sacrificing his own body.
Luna’s lips curled into a smile, but she suddenly caught herself and spoke.
“However, there seems to be a problem with the item you provided earlier.”
“Which item are you referring to?”
“The paralysis toxin.”
“The paralysis toxin?”
Bewilderment colored the static-laden voice.
“Not a magical artifact, but the paralysis toxin itself has malfunctioned?”
That shouldn’t be possible.
While magical artifacts could break down, what could possibly go wrong with a toxin?
Luna swallowed hard before answering the Commander’s question.
“To be cautious, I tested it on someone else before using it in the actual operation. At first, it seemed effective, but the duration was far too short.”
When I received the toxin, I was told it would slow the body’s movements for at least half a day.
But.
‘Janet recovered remarkably quickly.’
The toxin’s effects lasted barely five minutes.
With such a result, I couldn’t safely execute the main operation. Richard Ortea was far stronger than Janet.
“….”
“…Commander?”
“I understand. If the toxin is defective, we’ll need to replace it. I’ll send you a stronger one by today—make sure to keep it safe.”
“Yes, thank you, Commander!”
*bow*
Luna bowed deeply once more.
“I’ll be looking forward to good results.”
With those words, the Commander vanished in a wisp of black ash. The faint scent of sulfur lingered for a moment before dissipating entirely.
#Chapter. The Scholarly Festival

Before long, the Scholarly Festival was upon us.
The Swordsmanship Department had prepared demonstrations for each year—
First-year mock duels.
Second-year sword dances.
Third-year cavalry training.
—respectively.
Among these, the third-year cavalry training demonstration was undoubtedly the most captivating spectacle.
Watching them ride horseback while wielding spears and swords naturally drew gasps of admiration.
“Everyone must never let their guard down. You understand, yes?”
“Yes!”
“Once the festival ends, graduation preparations begin immediately. If you want to graduate safely, be careful—and then be careful again—not to get injured.”
With the professor’s warning, the third-year students rushed toward the horses they would use for today’s training.
Lishar was about to turn away to inspect his own horse when—
“Lishar.”
“Yes, Professor.”
It was Professor David who called out to him.
“You’re the one I worry about most. It’s unlike you—where does your mind keep wandering off to?”
“…My apologies.”
“Apologies won’t do. Be careful not to get hurt. When you’re on horseback and when you’re holding a sword, focus only on that moment. Do you understand?”
At Professor David’s words, Lishar clenched his fists tightly.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good. Now go.”
With a bow, he moved toward where the horses were kept. Yet even as he walked, his mind remained cluttered with endless thoughts that refused to clear.

Perhaps today’s accident was already a fated outcome.
Of course, that the victim would be—
“Janet! Snap out of it, Janet!”
—Janet, he never could have imagined.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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