Chapter 135 - Secret
"Hoo..."
"Miss? Is something worrying you?"
At that moment, when the slave market was heating up due to various incidents, Serena, who had remained at the academy dormitory, was conversing with her personal maid.
"...No, it's nothing."
"It's Frey again, isn't it! Always!"
"...Add the honorific."
"Hah."
The maid, irritated by Serena's gloomy expression, put on a dumbfounded look when Serena murmured in a low voice.
"Aigoo... The heavens are truly indifferent. What on earth did our miss do to deserve this..."
"Quiet."
"What? Are you sulking, Lady Serena?"
"...I don't know."
As Serena, seated at her desk, turned her head away, the maid grinned mischievously.
"Does it bother you that much when I badmouth Lord Frey?"
"......"
"That pretty-boy wastrel who cheats passionately with his secretary the moment you approach—good looks but a total failure otherwise... You like him that much?"
"Stop it."
Serena tried to cut her off firmly, but the maid persisted with her teasing murmur.
"Lately, there's been scandalous rumors with the princess... Whispers that a mage visits his room daily... Eyewitness accounts of dates with the saintess..."
"...Didn't you tell me not to trust rumors blindly?"
"I checked from multiple sources, and they're all true..."
"Until I verify it, it's not true."
As Serena held her ground, the maid's smile faded into a darkened expression.
"...Miss, do you remember when you were little?"
"I remember most things."
"The day Lord Frey first made you cry."
Serena's face stiffened at the words.
"Do you know how heartbroken I was that day?"
The maid, who had cared for Serena since childhood, shed her usual playfulness for the first time in ages and spoke quietly.
"At first, it was wonderful. Seeing you, who endured endless torture and training from the family, finally smile for the first time after living like an emotionless machine."
"...A smile?"
"The day you met Lord Frey, exactly one month in."
"That would be... when Frey solved all the problems I gave him."
Serena faintly smiled just like back then, prompting the maid to sigh.
"Back then, I thought fortune had finally smiled on you. But it's time to admit it."
"Admit what?"
"Don't pretend not to know, you're too smart for that."
Serena fell silent, and the maid, gauging her reaction, cautiously continued.
"That after the day he made you cry, the 'Frey' you knew was gone."
"...Ngh."
Serena flinched, and the maid pressed on with a serious look.
"The Shadow Duke's influence has waned now. It's time to look for another match, or you'll never marry."
"No plans for that."
"For real? Look at me—missed my chance, and now my future's bleak."
Speaking self-deprecatingly, the maid quickly added as Serena's gaze wavered.
"Besides, what's so great about Frey? His looks? His wealth? Plenty of other men have those."
"........."
"Nostalgia from the past? That's not love; it's lingering attachment. Sometimes the past grabs your ankle."
Serena nodded at the earnest words, and the maid clenched her fist, rising to shout.
"Fine, then I'll scout new groom candidates right—"
"Kkuuuu!!!"
"Eek, eeeek!!"
Suddenly, an owl lunged at her. The maid scrambled onto the bed, diving under the covers in terror.
"S-Sorry! I won't do it! I don't even know what I did wrong, but I'll apologize anyway!"
"Kku! Kkuuu!"
The maid groveled as the owl perched near her head, eyeing her hungrily. Desperate, she pleaded with Serena.
"Miss, help! Your pet is trying to kill me!!"
"...Irion."
"Kku!"
Serena extended her hand, calling the owl. It pecked viciously at the covers before returning to her arm to preen its feathers.
"Lady Serena, I've always wondered... What is that owl?"
"A spirit."
"Pardon!?"
Glared at by the owl, the maid asked irritably, only to widen her eyes at the unexpected answer.
"Th-That thing is a... spirit?"
"Yes, a spirit."
"Why didn't you tell me until now...?"
"...You never asked."
The maid stared blankly, but Serena responded with a 'why ask the obvious?' look.
"No, but... Spirits actually exist? Any proof that's a real spirit?"
"Too strong for an owl, silent wingbeats despite being an owl, and incredibly intelligent. Those three clues are enough to infer it."
"How does that even..."
"Anyway, let's drop it."
The maid tried to argue, but Serena's words snapped her back. She stood again.
"Anyway! Wait a sec, I'll fetch those groom candidates—"
"No need."
"Huh?"
The maid tilted her head at Serena's sudden smile.
"I already have a groom candidate."
"...Really?"
Beaming at Serena's words, the maid approached cautiously, firing questions.
"Who is it? Status? Looks? Wealth? Personality?"
Gazing at her, Serena began in a soft voice.
"First, high status. On par with mine, even."
"Ooh..."
"Looks... well..."
Pausing, Serena blushed faintly before continuing.
"Frail, but cute and pure. Gives off this urge to protect him? That kind of feeling."
"Ooo...!"
"Wealth is impressive too. One of the richest in the empire."
The maid looked moved, then grew serious for the final question.
"And... the most important, his personality?"
"The best. Probably no kinder soul in the whole world."
Serena smiled warmly, and the maid teared up, lunging to hug her.
"Miss...!"
"Out."
"...Urk."
Aimless, she was shoved in the forehead by Serena's fan as she rose, falling flat on her butt.
"Once this job's done, I need to corner that Shadow Duke somehow."
"S-Suddenly?"
"Yes. And once I catch the Shadow Duke..."
Rubbing her sore butt with teary eyes, the maid listened as Serena continued.
"...I'll make a child with the man I mentioned."
"Gasp."
Serena whispered seductively, making the maid inhale sharply without thinking.
"C-Congratulations? But... isn't it too fast? Shouldn't you get to know each other more?"
"We've spent so much time together already; not much left."
"What do you... Wait, what about the engagement? You need to at least—"
"Doesn't matter."
Panicking at Serena's bombshell, the maid sweated coldly, trying to persuade her.
"Wait, you can't! Even if it's Frey, breaking the engagement without notice..."
"...Huh?"
Serena ignored her, staring blankly into space.
"What the hell is that bitch...?"
Her hand touched the moon-shaped hairpin in her hair—identical to the one on Frey's cane.
"...Can't our pet cat chase away even one such intruder from him?"
"Miss...?"
"Prepare the carriage. Now."
Serena withdrew her hand, issuing the cold command.
"...Understood."
Always by her side, the maid matched her chill tone and left the room.
'Anyway, the miss found a new match. Good for her.'
Inside, she was thrilled Serena had moved on—but a massive misunderstanding born from sunset timing after her advice.
"Kkuuu!"
"...Hm?"
As the maid left to summon the carriage, the owl cooed cutely.
"Oh my."
Serena tilted her head at the owl, then beamed at the item dangling from its leg.
"Good work. As a reward, your favorite cookies."
Stroking the owl, Serena eyed the diary's cute script on the cover.
"She always carries it everywhere, so why leave it in the dorm today?"
Serena tilted her head, murmuring.
"Well, she's quite erratic..."
After pondering, she swiftly flipped through the diary.
- Flip, flip...
"...'Half drinks it,' 'to the basement,' 'Dielsi.'"
Murmuring scattered words, Serena chuckled softly.
"Such cute little codes in the diary?"
She hadn't even seen the final page hint but had already cracked the hidden cipher.
"...Hm?"
Suddenly, she stopped flipping.
Can you handle it?
The July 11th entry held only that sentence, no cipher.
- Flip, flip, flip.
Tensely turning pages, Serena reached July 14th—nothing but blank pages after.
"......!!!"
She froze in place.
"Miss, the carriage is here. Time to go down..."
"Buy that carriage."
"Pardon?"
Standing stock-still for ages, Serena declared.
"I'll drive it at full speed myself."
"What do you..."
Shoving the bewildered maid aside, she climbed into the driver's seat, muttering.
"...Something urgent I need to check ASAP."
Moments later, a carriage raced at full gallop through the empire's twilight streets.
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> Activated the cabinet magic successfully. Expanded area and stability.
> Now replicating the magic across all identical cabinets in the market zones.
> Engaged Demon King's forces appearing throughout the slave market.
> No executives yet, but we're dominant for now.
> As ordered, I and the combat executives are not intervening.
> Per Lord Frey's instructions, the sacrifice magic circle comes first.
'Good work, everyone.'
The plan was proceeding smoothly. Irina and Clana handled their roles excellently, and the Demon King's army was chasing shadows.
If it continued like this, I could save everyone again.
"...Khek."
"Grrr..."
But this fox throttling my neck in her frenzy made me uneasy.
Can't she squeeze a bit gentler? My arms must be numb by now.
"Ugh..."
I hoped, but the pressure only intensified.
> Y-Young master... Are we... s-still far...?
In that moment, Kania's faint voice echoed in my mind. Her transmission was unstable from the throttling.
'If I stop responding, barge in immediately and calm Miho.'
> U-Understood... I'll do my... b-best...
'Thanks as always, Kania.'
> I... love you... t...
Staying conscious, I sent the telepathy. As it cut off, I looked back at Miho.
"I just... wanted to live more... just wanted freedom..."
Miho's Clear method: nearly get killed by her.
Redirecting a rampaging spirit's rage, eroded by negativity, solely onto myself until blackout. Truly a shit game.
Of course, she might drain my essence before venting fully, so I insured with Kania beforehand.
Irina and Clana had their tasks; Kania was perfect for this. She was horrified when I first explained but sighed and agreed to follow young master's will. Endless gratitude.
"Ugh..."
Lost in thought, my mind grew hazy.
"I... I-I..."
Watching Miho descend into chaos, I thrashed deliberately, feigning agony.
".....Ugh."
Grabbing her arm, trembling, I finally blacked out.
- Screech...
The last thing I saw was Perloché entering the waiting room, holding someone's hand.
"Frey!!"
"......!"
...Huh?