Chapter 84

EP.84 The Strongest Maid (2)

The first princess, Lyluel, starts her day at the royal library. After a light reading session in the morning, she would move to her own palace.

This was a routine that never changed. Guarding the princess, blending into this routine, was the core of this operation.

“I will go first. I’ll see you soon, professor.”

Lyluel gave a light instruction and headed to the library to start her day. Thus, only two people remained in the warehouse.

“...”

The girl who had to carry out the operation and the maid-in-charge who was waiting to help her change were the only ones left. Silence enveloped the warehouse where only the two of them remained.

“So.”

The silence was broken by the girl. She pointed to the maid uniform held by the maid-in-charge with her trembling fingertips.

“This.”

“Yes.”

“This, you want me to wear it?”

“The princess ordered me to help you change.”

“Oh.”

“Please change quickly.”

“No, wait. Put it down. Just for a moment.”

“We don’t have much time.”

Maid-in-charge Charlion lowered her eyes and looked at the girl. The girl, sitting on a barrel with her legs crossed and chin resting on her hand, wore a very peculiar expression.

“Can you lift it a bit higher?”

“Is this better?”

“Yes, like that. Just hold it for a moment.”

Her eyes met the hem of the maid uniform. The girl narrowed her eyes, seemingly gauging the length of the hem.

For a moment, relief flashed in her eyes, but then she frowned and shook her head.

“This, damn... this...”

She bit her lip and repeatedly tilted her head back and forth. Though the reason was unclear, it seemed she was deeply contemplating something.

“...Do I really have to wear it?”

“The professor’s current attire is quite out of place in the castle. It’s necessary to change.”

“Well, then, a robe. Can’t I wear a court mage’s robe?”

“That’s difficult. The number of court mages is managed and recorded daily.”

Is it that hard to change into this?

Charlion couldn’t understand why the girl was so resistant to the uniform.

Knock knock.

A knock came from outside. It seemed to be a guard knight. The knock seemed to be asking if they were ready yet.

‘What’s bothering her?’

Charlion observed the girl. Perhaps she thought it didn’t suit her?

“You’ll look very good in it.”

“Pardon?”

“You have a well-proportioned figure. You can pull off any outfit, so don’t worry...”

The girl’s expression darkened. Charlion swallowed her words.

‘...That’s not the right approach.’

It seemed this wasn’t the right way to go. Charlion, based on the girl’s reactions so far, tried to think of a way to persuade her.

‘Judging from her reactions so far...’

She, who had long served the first princess, known among the maids as the ‘mad dog,’ had spent her life reading people and adjusting to their moods.

This time was no different.

‘...A thorough pursuer of efficiency.’

Charlion finished her thoughts and spoke.

“...It’s a necessary uniform for the mission you’ll be performing.”

The girl’s shoulders trembled slightly. It seemed this was the right answer. Once the direction was set, the rest was just a matter of elaborating.

“The princess did mention you’d be a maid, but that was in terms of your duties... Your actual cover identity is a servant.”

The duties would be similar to a maid’s, but the cover identity itself was that of a servant. Charlion explained the reason.

“There are many new servants being added to the palace. You will blend in among them.”

“...Why are they being added?”

“Yes, they are likely to be eyes watching the princess. Or perhaps, they are decoys to shift responsibility.”

The first prince wants Princess Lyluel dead. Given this situation, it was reasonable to suspect this.

“So, it’s a necessary uniform for your cover.”

“...But will I really blend in by wearing this? I think my face is quite well-known...”

“The preparations for that are already in place.”

Charlion took out a headband with floral decorations.

“This decoration has multiple functions. Would you like to try it?”

“...Sure, why not.”

The girl hesitated for a moment before putting the headband on. Her hair and eyes turned black.

“...Oh.”

“You will appear like this to everyone except the princess.”

The girl’s expression darkened further. Charlion swallowed her words.

‘...That’s not the right approach.’

It seemed this wasn’t the right way to go. Charlion, based on the girl’s reactions so far, tried to think of a way to persuade her.

‘Judging from her reactions so far...’

She, who had long served the first princess, known among the maids as the ‘mad dog,’ had spent her life reading people and adjusting to their moods.

This time was no different.

‘...A thorough pursuer of efficiency.’

Charlion finished her thoughts and spoke.

“...It’s a necessary uniform for the mission you’ll be performing.”

The girl’s shoulders trembled slightly. It seemed this was the right answer. Once the direction was set, the rest was just a matter of elaborating.

“The princess did mention you’d be a maid, but that was in terms of your duties... Your actual cover identity is a servant.”

The duties would be similar to a maid’s, but the cover identity itself was that of a servant. Charlion explained the reason.

“There are many new servants being added to the palace. You will blend in among them.”

“...Why are they being added?”

“Yes, they are likely to be eyes watching the princess. Or perhaps, they are decoys to shift responsibility.”

The first prince wants Princess Lyluel dead. Given this situation, it was reasonable to suspect this.

“So, it’s a necessary uniform for your cover.”

“...But will I really blend in by wearing this? I think my face is quite well-known...”

“The preparations for that are already in place.”

Charlion took out a headband with floral decorations.

“This decoration has multiple functions. Would you like to try it?”

“...Sure, why not.”

The girl hesitated for a moment before putting the headband on. Her hair and eyes turned black.

“...Oh.”

“You will appear like this to everyone except the princess.”

The girl’s expression darkened further. Charlion swallowed her words.

‘...That’s not the right approach.’

It seemed this wasn’t the right way to go. Charlion, based on the girl’s reactions so far, tried to think of a way to persuade her.

‘Judging from her reactions so far...’

She, who had long served the first princess, known among the maids as the ‘mad dog,’ had spent her life reading people and adjusting to their moods.

This time was no different.

‘...A thorough pursuer of efficiency.’

Charlion finished her thoughts and spoke.

“...It’s a necessary uniform for the mission you’ll be performing.”

The girl’s shoulders trembled slightly. It seemed this was the right answer. Once the direction was set, the rest was just a matter of elaborating.

“2.”

How did it come to this?

I suddenly thought to myself as I looked at the princess, who was staring at me and exclaiming in amazement.

“Hmm.”

She slowly raised her head and nodded at me.

“You look quite good in it.”

“...”

“Don’t make that face. You can be proud. I don’t sugarcoat my words. I strive to evaluate everything with a very objective eye.”

The princess smiled faintly and continued.

“Objectively speaking, it suits you.”

“...Let’s get to work.”

“Your tone is quite rude. But, I actually prefer it. Good, let’s go.”

The princess led the way. I followed her with an unfamiliar gait. The feeling was strange. Very strange.

“Can you cast a soundproof barrier?”

I silently flicked my fingers.

Silence.

Silence settled around the princess and me. Sounds from inside wouldn’t escape this area.

“Good. I’ll continue explaining as we move.”

She continued talking as she walked.

“For the next four days, you will be the closest to me. I don’t intend to burden you with regular duties, so you can relax about that.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes, your job is to protect me from any ‘magical’ threats. I don’t expect you to handle physical threats.”

That’s the job of the royal guards. The princess muttered and continued.

“And if there are any magical threats, you don’t need to report them. You can act immediately. I don’t like wasting time. Make your judgment and act accordingly.”

Her steps, which had been steady, slowed down. She stopped and turned to look at me.

“What’s bothering you?”

Her golden eyes met mine. Though lighter than Ayla’s, they still had a faint golden hue and looked at me directly.

“I trust your judgment. I don’t want my judgment to be clouded by yours. Act as you see fit.”

She added.

“Even if it goes against the royal code. Just do it. I’ll take care of the aftermath.”

“...”

I blinked, and the princess shrugged.

“You look quite surprised. It’s as if you’re wondering if you can handle it.”

Lyluel princess chuckled.

“Do you know what the nobles call me? Professor.”

“I don’t.”

“Well, I should tell you. They call me the mad dog. In nicer terms, a mad dog or a madwoman.”

She raised her arm.

“And you are the one holding the leash of that mad dog.”

She swept her arm down her neck and then, as if holding a dog collar, pulled it.

“Run wild as you please. If anyone tries to stop you, I’ll bark at them. I’m quite good at barking.”

Lyluel princess nodded and added.

“You can be happy. It means the princess of the realm, the madwoman, will back you up.”

She then twisted her lips into a smile. A playful, mocking smile lingered on her lips.

“...”

I looked at her with a mischievous smile. It was a smile that gave me a strange sense of déjà vu. It couldn’t be helped; there was one person close to me who smiled just like that.

The fourth princess, Ayla.

It was a smile that resembled hers.

‘...I didn’t think they looked alike.’

Seeing her smile like that, I could feel the connection between her and Ayla. The smile was strangely similar. If Ayla had learned that smile from someone, it must have been from this person in front of me.

‘...She said I can run wild without worrying about it.’

I pulled on my gloves. Then, tilting my head a couple of times, I asked Lyluel princess.

“You said I don’t need permission, right?”

“I’m not a petty person like my brother. I don’t go back on my word.”

She nodded.

“Do as you please.”

“Eh, then...”

Permission was granted. Since there was no need to hold back, I clenched my fist. There had been something bothering me since earlier.

‘It’s already showing up.’

I suppressed a sigh and moved. I stood against the wall of the corridor leading to the princess’s palace and gestured to Lyluel princess.

“Bow your head a bit.”

“What?”

“Just bow.”

I raised my right hand and spread three fingers. I counted, folding one of them.

“Hmm?”

The princess blinked and bowed her head slightly.

“Two.”

I gestured for her to bow a bit more. The princess, though puzzled, obediently bowed her head further. The professor then folded the remaining third finger, seemingly satisfied.

“Three.”

Saying that, the professor raised her arm. Lyluel watched. It was a slender arm, and though the fist was tightly clenched, it didn’t seem particularly powerful.

Whoosh.

However, the sound when the fist swung was far from ordinary. The sound of the air being split was heard as the fist struck the corridor wall.

Boom!

The corridor shook with the impact. Lyluel lost her balance and staggered. And right at that moment.

-Squeak, squeak!

A sound came from above her head. There was no time to look up and confirm. The moment the sound was heard, the professor kicked the ground.

Whoosh.

A sound of something passing over her head. The maid uniform in her field of vision swayed elegantly. The skirt flapped in the wind, looking very graceful.

Contrary to that grace.

Crack, crunch!

The sound was quite unsettling. Lyluel slowly raised her head.

“Ah.”

The professor smiled. She smiled brightly, like a blooming flower, and lowered one arm out of Lyluel’s sight.

“There were some bugs.”

Thud, thud.

A sound of something falling to the ground. Something was held in the professor’s extended left arm. However, Lyluel didn’t lower her gaze to look.

It probably wasn’t a sight worth seeing.

“...Hmm.”

Lyluel slowly spoke.

“You’re quite the madwoman yourself.”

“That’s a harsh thing to say.”

Author’s Note (Afterword)

This is an illustration by Fnas.k!

Though she’s smiling beautifully, something is likely caught in the part of the image that’s cut off!

*Received a lot of beautiful fan art!

I’ve gathered them all in the fan art announcement, so please take a look from time to time :D