Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: The Strongest Maid in History (2)
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The First Princess Luriel's daily routine began at the royal library. After a light reading session in the morning, she would head to her detached palace.
The same routine as always. Blending into that routine to protect the princess was the core of this operation.
"I'll head out first. We'll meet again soon, Professor."
Luriel gave a brief instruction and made her way to the library to start her day. That left just two people in the storage room.
"......"
The girl who needed to carry out the operation, and the head maid waiting to help her change.
Silence hung over the storage room, now empty save for the two of them.
"So."
The girl broke the silence.
With trembling fingertips, she pointed at the maid uniform held by the head maid.
"This."
"Yes."
"You're telling me to wear this?"
"The princess commanded me to assist you with changing."
"Oh."
"Please change quickly."
"No, wait a second. Put that down. Just a moment."
"We don't have much time."
Head Maid Charlian lowered her gaze and looked at the girl before her. The girl sat on an oak barrel, legs crossed and chin propped up, wearing an utterly peculiar expression.
"Could you hold that up a bit higher?"
"Like this?"
"Yes, like that. Hold it there for a moment."
Her eyes settled on the hem of the maid uniform.
The girl narrowed her eyes, as if gauging its length.
A flicker of relief seemed to pass through her gaze, but soon she furrowed her brow and shook her head.
"Wearing this... this thing..."
She bit her lip, tilting her head back and forth repeatedly. For whatever reason, she appeared to be deep in thought.
"...Do I really have to wear it?"
"Your current attire stands out far too much in the palace. Changing is necessary."
"Th-that robe. Wouldn't a court mage robe work?"
"It's impossible. The number of court mages is tracked and recorded daily."
Was changing into this really that difficult?
Charlian couldn't understand why the girl was so averse to this outfit.
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside.
It seemed to be the guard knight. The knock sounded like it was asking if they were done yet.
'What doesn't she like about it?'
Charlian glanced at the girl.
She wasn't sure, but perhaps the girl thought it didn't suit her?
"It will suit you perfectly."
"Pardon?"
"You have a well-balanced figure. Any outfit would look great on your build, so don't worry..."
The girl's expression soured even more.
Charlian swallowed the rest of her words.
'...That wasn't it.'
This approach wasn't working.
Charlian reviewed the girl's reactions so far, trying to think of how to persuade her.
'Looking back at her reactions up to now...'
She had served the First Princess—covertly called a "mad dog" among the maids—for a long time. Her life had been one of reading others' moods and catering to their whims.
This time was no different.
'...She pursues efficiency ruthlessly.'
Charlian finished her thought and spoke.
"...This attire is essential for the mission you'll undertake."
The girl's shoulders trembled slightly.
It seemed this was the right track. With the direction set, all that remained was to elaborate along those lines.
"The princess called it maid duties, but that's just the nature of the tasks... Your precise cover identity is that of a lowly maidservant."
The tasks would be maid-like, but the cover was a servant. Charlian explained why.
"Recently, a large number of new servant girls have been added to the detached palace. You'll blend in among them, Professor."
"...The reason for the reinforcements."
"Yes, they're eyes to monitor the princess. Or perhaps bait to shift blame."
The First Prince wished for Princess Luriel's death. New servants added at a time like this... It was right to assume that direction.
"So, this outfit is essential for your cover."
"...But will wearing that really disguise me? I think my face is fairly well-known..."
"We've prepared for that."
Charlian pulled out a hairband adorned with a flower ornament.
"This accessory has multiple functions. Would you like to try it on?"
"...Sure, whatever."
The girl hesitated briefly before slipping the headband on. Her hair and eyes turned black.
"...Oh."
"To everyone except the princess, you'll appear that way."
With that, Charlian thrust the maid uniform forward. The girl looked back and forth between it and Charlian with a troubled expression.
"We don't have time now."
What will you do?
At Charlian's implicit question, the girl nodded reluctantly.
"...I'll wear it."
She muttered in a voice barely above a whisper.
Charlian didn't miss it.
"Yes, I'll help you."
2.
How did it come to this?
The thought crossed my mind. I looked at the princess, who gazed at me and let out a long "Ooh" of admiration.
"Hm."
She slowly raised her head.
Nodding as she looked at me.
"It suits you quite well."
"......"
"Don't make that face. You can be proud. I don't mince words. I strive for an utterly objective view of all things."
The princess said with a faint smile.
"From an objective viewpoint, it suits you."
"...Let's just get to work."
"Quite rude phrasing. But I prefer it that way. Very well, let's go."
The princess walked ahead.
I followed behind her with an unfamiliar gait. The feeling was strange. Incredibly strange.
"Do you know how to cast a soundproof barrier, by chance?"
I flicked my finger without a word.
Silence.
Silence descended around me and the princess. No sound from inside would escape this area.
"Good. Then continue the explanation as we move."
She kept talking as she walked.
"For the next three days, you'll be right by my side. I have no intention of assigning you menial tasks, so rest easy on that."
"That's a relief."
"Yes, your role is solely to protect me from 'magical' threats. I won't expect you to handle physical dangers."
That was the job of my guard knight.
The princess muttered that and continued.
"And if a magical threat targets me, no need to report it."
"Pardon?"
"It means you can act immediately without reporting. I hate wasting time. Judge for yourself and act as you see fit."
Her steady steps, taken one at a time at regular intervals, began to slow. Finally stopping, she turned her head to look at me.
"Aila recommended you. I trust Aila. That means I trust your abilities, Professor."
Her golden eyes turned toward me.
Paler than Aila's, but her softly glowing golden irises stared straight at me.
"I'll trust your judgment. I don't want anything to make you hesitate. Act as you deem right."
She added,
"Even if it goes against royal protocol. Act first, ask questions later. Cleanup is my responsibility."
"......"
As I blinked, the princess shrugged.
"Quite the surprised look. As if wondering if you can handle it."
Luriel let out a chuckle.
"Do you know what the nobles call me, Professor?"
"No idea."
"If you don't know, I should tell you. Those fools call me a mad dog. Mad dog sounds polite—they probably say crazy bitch or lunatic whore."
She raised her arm.
"And you now hold the leash of that mad dog."
With her raised arm, she stroked her nape. Then, as if grabbing a dog's collar, she mimed yanking it.
"Run wild as you please. If anyone interferes with your actions, I'll bark at them myself. What, I bark quite well."
Luriel cocked her head and added,
"You can be happy about it. The kingdom's top crazy bitch has your back."
She curled the corner of her mouth upward.
A mischievous smile, akin to a sneer, lingered on her lips.
"......"
I looked at her sly grin.
It gave a strange sense of déjà vu. It had to. Someone who smiled just like that was close to me.
The Fourth Princess, Aila.
It was a smile like hers.
'...I didn't think they resembled each other much.'
Seeing that smile made me feel their sisterhood. The smiles were eerily similar. If Aila learned that smile from someone, it was probably this woman before me.
'...She said I can run wild without worrying about appearances.'
I tugged my gloves taut. Then cracked my neck twice and asked Luriel,
"You said no need to ask permission?"
"I'm not some spineless worm like my brother; I don't take back my words."
She nodded.
"Do as you wish."
"Erm, then... well..."
Permission granted.
No need to hold back, so I clenched my fist. Something had been bothering me since earlier anyway.
'Already visible.'
Suppressing a sigh, I moved forward.
I pressed against the wall of the corridor leading to the princess's detached palace. Then beckoned Luriel.
"First, duck your head a bit."
"What?"
"Duck it."
I raised my right hand, spreading three fingers.
Folding one, I counted "one."
"Hm?"
The princess blinked, then lowered her head slightly.
"Two."
I nodded my chin to indicate lower.
Despite her puzzled look, the princess obediently ducked further.
'That should do it.'
I counted the last one and raised my left arm.
"Three."
I swung my fist toward the corridor wall.
3.
"First, duck your head a bit."
At the sudden commanding tone to duck her head, Princess Luriel blinked. She'd said to do as wished, but ordering a princess to bow her head?
'What's the intent?'
She couldn't fathom the reason.
Luriel glanced around.
Fortunately, no one was passing through the corridor to the detached palace. If anyone witnessed this, it would be quite the scandal.
Regardless, the professor folded her fingers, counting.
"One."
Luriel pondered briefly before ducking her head.
"Two."
Not enough, the professor gestured with her chin. Luriel ducked lower. Only then did the professor fold her third finger with satisfaction.
"Three."
With that, the professor raised her arm.
Luriel watched. A slender arm. Her fist clenched tight, but it didn't look particularly powerful.
Whoosh.
But the sound as it swung was anything but ordinary. Air whistled as it cut through. The fist slammed into the corridor wall.
Boom!
The corridor shook with the impact.
Luriel staggered, losing balance from the vibration. And right then.
-Screeech, skreeee!
A sound came from above.
No time to look up and confirm. The moment the sound hit, the professor kicked off the ground with a thud.
Whoosh.
Something whistled past overhead. What filled her vision was the fluttering maid skirt. The hem billowed elegantly in the wind.
In stark contrast to that elegance.
Crack, crunch!
The echoing sound was utterly gruesome.
Luriel slowly raised her head.
"Ah."
The professor smiled.
A radiant smile like a blooming flower as she lowered one arm out of Luriel's sight.
"There was a bug."
Drip, drop.
Something hit the floor. Something was gripped in the professor's dangling left arm. But Luriel deliberately didn't look there.
It didn't seem like a sight worth seeing.
"...Hm."
Luriel slowly opened her mouth.
"You're a crazy bitch on my level."
"That's a bit harsh."
Author's Note
This illustration was provided by Fnas.k!
She's smiling so prettily, but something's probably gripped below the cropped frame!
*Received tons of lovely fanart!
I've gathered them all in the fanart notice, so please drop by sometime :D