The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 78

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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 78

The “Holy Sword” was a blade gifted in the distant past by the sole deity, Take, to the first head of House Ortea.
A sacred relic bestowed upon him as Take’s first servant—a devout believer who threw himself into danger before all others for the sake of mankind.
Thus, the “Holy Sword” responded only to the direct bloodline of House Ortea.
This was likely why Lishar had not easily broached the subject of Luna with Liam.
Because there existed a means to determine the truth with absolute certainty.
For sometimes truth proves far more cruel than falsehood.
“Yes. There’s no method more reliable than that.”
Liam answered, forcing himself to reclaim his composure.
He had no wish to repeat the same mistake again.
To become recklessly elated alone, then plummet into endless despair and make a foolish choice.
He could not fathom how deeply that had wounded young Lishar and his wife, who was still recovering.
In truth, this entire affair with Lishar felt like it had unfolded solely because of him, and it weighed heavily on his heart.
One regret was enough.
“If I had my way, I would take Janet to my domain at once…”
Yet Janet was still a patient.
She was also a student enrolled in the Academy, and a maidservant belonging to the Ludwig Family.
“I must go to my domain and retrieve the sacred relic myself.”
The Marquis of Byeon clenched his large hands tightly.
Joy and fear and sorrow swirled tempestuously within his heart.
#Chapter. Day Out

The Imperial Court of the Latrian Empire.
An urgent report reached the Emperor’s desk.
“A mage from the Hyperion Magical State deliberately approached the son of Marquis Ortea?”
The Emperor’s expression darkened as he read the dispatch. It had been merely three years since the war’s conclusion. Yet such news was already reaching his ears.
“Treacherous vipers.”
Kale, the current Emperor of the Latrian Empire, was not one who relished warfare.
Unlike his elder brother Maverick, who had distinguished himself brilliantly in every campaign, Kale possessed a mind better suited to strategy than martial prowess.
When he participated in wars, he served primarily as a strategist, yet the contributions of those laboring behind the scenes were invariably eclipsed by the glory of those who charged forward with blade in hand.
Risking one’s life in battle yielded nothing for a prince.
The glory belonged to Maverick.
He received only the hollow words: “We are grateful you returned safely.”
In his hot-blooded youth, such trivial slights had wounded his pride deeply.
Of course, his aversion to war stemmed from far more than such childish grievances.
He had always cherished peace.
He despised conflict and warfare—instruments that spawned innocent suffering.
The Empire’s territory was vast enough, and its hard-won reputation was not easily shattered.
Yet they had fought Hyperion nonetheless, driven by the discovery of high-purity mana ore deposits in Ashleyde.
After three years of warfare, Hyperion surrendered to the Latrian Empire on the condition that Latrian would not demand military funds or reparations.
Weary of the prolonged conflict, Kale gladly accepted their terms.
Thus was born the Latrian-Hyperion Ashleyde Accord.
For three years, peace had held firm.
Hyperion, having relinquished Ashleyde, lived in quiet compliance.
And yet.
“To think they harbored such ulterior motives all along.”
Whether this was personal vengeance or an act sanctioned by the Hyperion Kingdom itself.
Threatening a major noble house of the Empire demanded appropriate retaliation.
He loved peace, but he would not be made a fool.
“Send a letter to the Hyperion Kingdom. Inform them that if they overlook this matter, we shall not remain idle.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The aide bowed and departed silently.
Left alone, the Emperor gazed out the window, hands clasped behind his back.
Beneath the scorching summer sun, many guests moved through the Imperial Palace. The Capital City’s social season had begun.

***

“Walk carefully. If it gets too much, you can lean on me.”
“I’m really fine, Julietta. It’s not like I injured my leg or anything.”
“So as long as your leg isn’t hurt, that’s all that matters? When people walk, their ribs move a little too, don’t they?”
…Is that so?
Do ribs really move when people walk?
After hearing that, with each step I took, my ribs seemed to throb with a dull ache.
Yet Janet could not abandon today’s outing.
Today was the Academy’s Academic Festival.
Though I wouldn’t be able to participate in the Swordsmanship Department’s events, hadn’t I prepared diligently over the past month?
I wanted to at least observe the festival as a guest.
Fortunately, the weather was exceptionally clear.
Had it rained, getting around would have been even more difficult, so I was grateful.

“Coming out was definitely the right call.”
Janet chattered excitedly, her face bright with enthusiasm.
Julietta and Janet bustled about together quite diligently.
They examined the vendor stalls set up in the spacious Central Garden and participated in various student club events.
In the afternoon, they watched the Swordsmanship Club and Magic Department exhibitions.
“They were worse than I expected, weren’t they?”
“Really? I thought they improved far more than expected—it was headache-inducing.”
Theo responded with a slight smile to Julietta’s remark.
In the first-year Swordsmanship Club tournament, Theo had unfortunately been eliminated just before advancing to the semifinals.
But from Janet’s perspective, well…
“You threw it on purpose, didn’t you? To avoid advancing to the semifinals?”
To the quietly asked question, Theo answered equally quietly.
“Standing out too much wouldn’t do me any good.”
Ah, right.
Theo was the vice-captain of Illinia.
It would indeed be problematic for an executive of the Information Guild to draw too much attention.
‘Though his face already stands out far too much.’
Dressed in his tournament training uniform, Theo gleamed brilliantly just by standing there.
Many women who had come to cheer for family or friends called out his name as if enchanted.
“Still, aren’t you disappointed? If you’d gone all out, you could have aimed for first place.”
“Not at all. I’m not disappointed in the slightest.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I properly dealt with the opponent I wanted to teach a lesson to.”
An opponent he wanted to teach a lesson to?
The answer to the riddle emerged not from the person in question, but from somewhere else entirely.
“Now that I think about it, you seemed particularly energetic whenever you were matched against that leech.”
The leech Julietta referred to was Samuel Berdin.
Since he constantly glared at Janet and picked fights with her at every opportunity, it was a nickname Julietta had specially given him.
‘It really does seem that way, doesn’t it?’
Unlike the first and second rounds, which I’d won in around five exchanges, my match against Samuel in the third round had dragged on considerably longer.
Just as Samuel’s defeat was about to be declared, I made a mistake.
Then, just as his defeat was about to be declared again, I made another mistake.
The same situation repeated more than five times, and in the meantime, Samuel was utterly exhausted, drenched in sweat and practically melting away.
Eventually, the match ended with Samuel’s shameful surrender.
Kendrick glanced sideways at Janet, who remained silent as she replayed the match in her mind.
And then.
“Julietta.”
“What?”
“You’re more interested in me than I thought, aren’t you?”
“Ugh!”
At his sister’s disgusted protest, Kendrick burst out laughing.

After more time had passed, Lishar, who had finished his cavalry demonstration, joined the group.
As if Julietta and Kendrick didn’t exist, he approached with long strides, his gaze fixed solely on Janet.
“Are you well enough to be out already?”
“Yes. There’s nothing seriously wrong with me.”
“Hmm.”
He exhaled with a low hum, circling around Janet two or three times.
As Janet, reminded of Liam from before, let out a small laugh, she gasped with an “Ah!” and clutched her ribs.
The worst part about injuring one’s ribs was the inability to laugh freely.
“Are you alright, Janet?!”
“Are you well?”
Janet waved her hand dismissively at the immediate concern, but no one seemed willing to let go of their worried expressions.
Lishar was no exception.
“Are you truly alright?”
“I’m truly fine.”
“Shall I carry you?”
“No? I’m fine.”
“What about holding you?”
“That’s fine too.”
“How about a piggyback ride…?”
“I really do think I’ll be fine.”
After three consecutive rejections, Lishar’s broad shoulders sagged downward.
Besides, the muscle mass made it impossible to tell anyway.

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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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