Quit The Hero Party

EP.84 The Strongest Maid (2)

The First Princess, Lruiel, starts her day at the Royal Library. After a light reading session in the morning, she would move on to her Royal Quarters.

An ordinary day, just like any other. The main objective of this operation was to blend into her routine and protect the princess.

“I will take my leave first. See you soon, Master.”

Lruiel gave a light directive and headed to the library to kick off her routine. Thus, only the two figures remained in the storage room.

“·····.”

The girl who was supposed to carry out the operation and the head maid waiting to assist her.

A heavy silence enveloped the storage room, with just the two of them.

“So.”

The girl broke the silence.

With trembling fingertips, she pointed at the maid outfit in the head maid’s hands.

“This.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me to wear this?”

“The Princess ordered you to change.”

“Oh.”

“Please change quickly.”

“No, wait. Let go of this. Just a moment.”

“We don’t have much time.”

The head maid, Charlian, cast her eyes down and looked at the girl sitting cross-legged on a barrel, displaying a very peculiar expression.

“Can you lift it up a little?”

“Is this how you mean it?”

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

Her eyes reached the hem of the maid outfit.

The girl squinted her eyes, as if measuring the length of the hem.

For a moment, relief flickered in her gaze, but soon she frowned and shook her head.

“Do I really have to wear this?”

“Currently, your outfit is very out of place at the Royal Castle. It is necessary to change.”

“Can’t I wear a robe? A court mage’s robe?”

“That would be difficult. The number of court mages is logged and recorded daily.”

Is changing clothes really that difficult?

Charlian couldn’t understand why the girl felt such aversion to the outfit.

Knock Knock.

A knocking sound came from outside.

It seemed to be the Guard Knight. The sound of knocking seemed to ask, “Is it time yet?”

‘What is it that she dislikes?’

Charlian observed the girl.

Though she wasn’t sure, it seemed like she thought it didn’t suit her.

“You’ll look great in it.”

“Yes?”

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

The girl’s expression soured even more.

Charlian swallowed her words.

‘…This isn’t right.’

It seemed clear that this approach was wrong.

Based on the girl’s reactions so far, Charlian tried to come up with persuasive words.

‘Considering the reactions she’s shown…’

Despite her small stature, she had been by the side of the so-called “mad dog” of the royal family, the First Princess, for a long time. She had spent her whole life observing others and keeping herself in check.

This time wouldn’t be any different.

‘…A person who thoroughly seeks efficiency.’

Charlian completed her thoughts and opened her mouth.

“This is a necessary outfit for the mission you will undertake.”

The girl’s shoulders trembled slightly.

It seemed they were on the right track. Now that the direction was set, all that remained was to lay out the words accordingly.

“Although the princess referred to you as a maid, that pertains to the tasks you will perform… Your actual cover identity is that of a servant.”

The duties are more akin to that of a maid. However, the cover identity is a servant. The reason was explained by Charlian.

“Currently, a new batch of servants has been added to the Royal Quarters. You will be mingling among them.”

“…The reason for the addition?”

“Yes, it’s likely to keep an eye on the princess. Or perhaps to serve as bait for shifting blame.”

The First Prince hopes for Princess Lruiel’s death. If these servants were added at such a time… it would be right to speculate in such a direction.

“That’s why this outfit is necessary for your cover identity.”

“…But will wearing that really help with disguising me? I believe my face is quite well-known by now.”

“Preparation for that has already been taken care of.”

Charlian took out a flower-adorned headband.

“This ornament serves various purposes. Would you care to try it on?”

“…Uh, sure.”

The girl hesitated for a moment but eventually put the headband on. Her hair and eyes blackened.

“…Oh.”

“To anyone else’s eyes, you will appear as such.”

After saying that, Charlian stepped forward with the maid outfit. The girl alternated her gaze between the outfit and Charlian, her expression distressed.

“There is no time left.”

What will you do?

In response to Charlian’s question, the girl reluctantly nodded.

“…I’ll wear it.”

She muttered in a voice barely above a whisper.

Charlian didn’t miss that mumble.

“Yes, I will assist you.”

—

How did it come to this?

Suddenly, that thought struck me. I found myself staring at the princess, who admired me with a long “Oh.”

“Hmm.”

She slowly raised her head.

Nodding at me.

“You look quite good.”

“·····.”

“Don’t make that face. You can be proud. I do not speak empty words. I strive to evaluate all things with an objective perspective.”

The princess said with a faint smile.

“From an objective viewpoint, it suits you.”

“…Let’s get to work quickly.”

“That’s quite rude. But I actually prefer it that way. Alright, let’s go.”

The princess started walking ahead.

I followed her with an unfamiliar gait, feeling strangely off. Very strangely off.

“By the way, can you cast a soundproof barrier?”

I silently nodded with my finger.

Silence.

A veil of silence descended around the princess and me. Sounds from within did not escape into the surroundings.

“Good. Then let’s continue explaining while we move.”

She kept talking as she walked.

“In the next three days, you will be by my side. I won’t be assigning you any typical chores, so you can rest easy about that.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes, what you need to do is protect me from ‘magical’ threats. I don’t expect you to shield me from physical dangers.”

That was the task of my guard knights.

The princess continued murmuring.

“And if there are any magical threats against me, there’s no need to report it.”

“Excuse me?”

“That means you can act immediately without needing to report. I dislike wasting time. You should judge for yourself and act as you see fit.”

As she walked, her steps began to slow. Eventually, she stopped, turned her head, and looked at me.

“Ayla recommended you. I trust Ayla. That means, Professor, I trust your abilities.”

Her golden eyes were fixed on me.

Though somewhat lighter than Ayla’s, they gleamed with a soft golden light and stared straight at me.

“I will trust your judgment. I don’t want my decisions to interfere with your judgment. Act according to what you believe is right.”

Then she added:

“Even if it goes against royal law, that’s fine. Just go for it. I’ll handle the aftermath.”

“·····.”

As I blinked in surprise, the princess shrugged her shoulders.

“You look quite surprised. It seems you’re unsure you can handle it.”

Snicker, Princess Lruiel chuckled.

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

“I don’t.”

“If you don’t know, I’ll have to tell you. They call me ‘mad dog.’ Although it sounds nicer, they actually mean ‘crazy dog’ or ‘crazy woman.’”

She raised her arm.

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

She gestured to her neck as if pulling on a dog’s leash.

“Go ahead and run wild. If anyone dares to interfere with your actions, I will bark at them myself. Don’t worry; I bark quite well.”

Princess Lruiel nodded, adding:

“Feel free to be happy about this. The kingdom’s top madwoman will watch your back.”

A mischievous grin spread across her face.

“·····.”

I gazed at her playful smile.

It was a strangely familiar smile. No wonder, for someone just like that was close to me as well.

The Fourth Princess, Ayla.

It was a similar smile.

‘…I didn’t think they resembled each other much.’

Seeing that smile, I felt the connection of being sisters, as it was oddly similar to Ayla’s cheerful grin. If that smile was learned from someone, it must be from the person in front of me.

‘…Did she say I could act recklessly without worry?’

I pulled on my gloves and, after tilting my head a couple of times, asked Princess Lruiel.

“You said I didn’t need to ask for permission, right?”

“I am not a pathetic person like my brother, so I won’t take back what I’ve said.”

She nodded.

“Do as you wish.”

“Eh, then, what…”

The permission was granted.

There was no need to hesitate, so I clenched my fist. There had been something bothering me ever since earlier.

‘It’s already visible.’

Suppressing a sigh, I moved forward.

I stood against the wall of the hallway leading to the princess’s Royal Quarters, then gestured to Princess Lruiel.

“First, please lower your head.”

“What?”

“I said lower your head.”

I raised my right hand and spread three fingers wide.

As I bent one, I counted, “One.”

“Huh?”

The princess blinked before tilting her head slightly.

“Two.”

I gestured again for her to lower her head.

The princess, with a puzzled expression, lowered her head obediently.

‘That should be enough.’

I counted down one last time and raised my left arm.

“Three.”

I swung my fist towards the wall.

—

“First, please lower your head.”

At the sudden command to bow, Princess Lruiel blinked. Though she said I could do as I pleased, telling a princess to bow?

‘What is the intent behind this?’

Not understanding the reason, Princess Lruiel glanced around.

Fortunately, no one was passing through the hallway leading to the Royal Quarters. If someone witnessed this scene, it would have been quite problematic.

Regardless, the professor continued counting with his fingers.

“One.”

Lruiel hesitated for a moment but ultimately bowed her head.

“Two.”

As if that wasn’t enough, the professor gestured again. Lruiel lowered her head a little more. Only then did the professor seem satisfied and folded the remaining third finger.

“Three.”

Saying this, the professor raised his arm.

Lruiel watched the scene. It was a slender arm. Though the fist was clenched tightly, it didn’t seem to hold much strength.

Whoosh.

However, when it swung, the sound it made was anything but ordinary. A slicing through the air was audible, and the fist crashed into the wall.

Boom!

The impact shook the corridor.

Lruiel lost her balance and staggered. And then, in that moment.

Kiik, Kyaaaak!

A sound echoed above.

Lruiel didn’t have time to look up and confirm. The moment the sound registered, the professor struck the ground.

Whoosh.

Something swished past above her head. The blurry vision before her was of the maid outfit fluttering in the air. The billowing skirt in the wind was quite graceful.

In contrast to that grace.

Crack, Crunch!

The resounding sound was rather eerie.

Lruiel slowly lifted her head.

“Oh.”

The professor smiled.

With a bright smile like a blooming flower, he lowered one arm to a place out of Lruiel’s sight.

“There was just a little bug.”

Thud, thump.

Something dropped to the ground. Something was caught in the professor’s outstretched left arm. However, Lruiel didn’t bother looking over there.

It surely wouldn’t be a sight worth seeing.

“…Hmm.”

Slowly, Lruiel opened her mouth.

“It seems you are just as crazy as I am.”

“You’re being a bit harsh.”

—

Author’s Note:

Illustrations by Fnas.k!

While she looks beautiful and cheerful in the picture, I suspect something waits below the cropped screen!

I’ve received lots of lovely fan art! All the fan art is gathered in the announcement, so do come and take a look sometime!

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