“By the way, my lady, that Mr. Blue Crow seems to harbor some hostility toward me.”
After lunch, Jennie began to discuss serious matters with Eleia.
“That was to be expected. After all, your current prestige far exceeds that of Blue Crow and Nolan,”
Eleia replied while poking the fire in front of her with a stick.
“Um, my lady, this might be a bit presumptuous…but may I ask a question?”
“Hm? Go ahead.”
Eleia looked at Jennie, already guessing what kind of question she might raise.
Most likely…something related to her maternal family.
“Lord Nolan’s father is Viscount Saireton, which makes him your uncle, right? So why…doesn’t Lord Nolan take advantage of that relationship?”
After all, Jennie was merely a subordinate of Eleia, known as the
“Demon’s Attendant.”
Whereas Nolan was her true cousin — the marquis’ nephew.
If he used the identity of the marquis’ nephew to recruit other noble youths, his prestige would definitely surpass hers…
“That’s not possible.”
Before Eleia could respond, Amisa — the maid hidden under a brown cloak and hood — suddenly spoke up.
“The madam’s family is not ordinary. Due to certain reasons, women of the Saireton family are completely severed from the family after marriage,”
Amisa said softly.
They were some distance away from the main group, so no one else could hear them.
“It works both ways. Not only Nolan, even Viscount Saireton himself wouldn’t dare publicly claim kinship with the marquis. This is…a royal decree, one that has been upheld by kings across generations: a ban concerning the Saireton family.”
…Is that so?
This statement didn’t just startle Jennie — even Eleia herself was a bit taken aback.
Her own maternal family…had such a mysterious connection with the royal family?
“Why?”
Jennie blurted out the very question Eleia wanted to ask.
Seeing the confusion in Eleia’s eyes, Amisa softly continued,
“I don’t know the full details either. But apart from the fact that married daughters are cut off from the Saireton family…there is another restriction.”
The maid’s eyes, hidden behind crystal glasses, slowly shifted toward Eleia.
“That is — women of the Saireton family are not allowed to become transcendents.”
Eh?
Eleia was completely baffled now.
It was like being given the answer to a math problem without being given the question.
Without investigation, there was no way to proceed.
“Of course, the madam has already completely severed ties with the Saireton family and has become Lady Bartios. So, my lady, you don’t need to worry. Whether or not you become a transcendent is not under the kingdom’s control.”
So that’s how it is…wait a minute…
“You…how do you know all this?”
Eleia looked at the usually shy maid.
Suddenly…
Eleia recalled several details she had previously overlooked.
Every time her mother came looking for her, apart from doing so in person, she would always send this seemingly inconspicuous maid to find her…
Even this time, it was her mother who arranged for Amisa to serve as her guard.
This meant…her mother really trusted her deeply.
“Because…I used to be the madam’s personal maid,”
Amisa said while shyly scratching her cheek.
Eh…
EH?!
Aside from Veil — who was still munching on dried fruit — and the zombie-like statue nearby, the other two were shocked again!
Jennie was shocked because — the personal maid of the marquis’ wife!
That’s basically half a master in the marquis’ estate!
Eleia, meanwhile, was not just shocked…she also felt slightly embarrassed.
After all, she had once hit this girl for no reason.
Thinking from another perspective — if Yumina had been slapped like that by someone…
She’d definitely lose her mind in anger!
And then…unleash inhumane and endless revenge on the attacker!
18..19…
Eleia rubbed her temples.
“Then…why did you say at the time that you were just a castle servant maid?”
If you’d said you were my mother’s personal maid from the start, I wouldn’t have done something so stupid…
“Uh? Because…because I really am a servant maid…My status as a personal maid was revoked by the madam about seven or eight years ago…”
As she spoke, Amisa’s gaze started to drift, as though recalling something from long ago.
“Chomp~ chomp~ Why?”
Veil, seemingly wanting to join in the conversation, suddenly asked.
“Uh…ahaha…well, it’s better not to say. It was due to some…personality reasons…”
As Amisa spoke, her face flushed slightly for reasons unknown—
Her face gradually turned red.
Was it…because she was too shy?
Unfit for important duties?
Didn’t seem like it…
Though she appeared timid, she was clear-headed and reliable…
Whoosh—!
Just as Eleia was lost in thought, a flash of white light suddenly streaked from the bushes on the side — aiming straight for the fair neck of the young lady!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh — thud!
But…that white light was intercepted mid-air by a flash of silver chain, which shattered it instantly.
Accompanied by a burst of sparks, the broken arrow spiraled and embedded itself into the campfire beside them.
“Hmm?”
Eleia blinked in surprise, looking at the crossbow bolt lodged by the fire.
When she looked up…she saw that Amisa, cloaked in brown, had already risen to her feet at some point.
In her left hand was a strangely shaped boning knife, and she stood protectively in front of her lady.
“Trash,” she muttered coldly.
Her eyes were fixed on the side bushes…where black liquid seemed to churn within her gaze.
Whoosh whoosh!
Thud!
Splash!
“AAARGHH!!”
“An ambush— We’re under attack!!”
“Protect me— someone protect me!”
“I’ve been shot— I’m hit, help me!!”
At the same time, the entire caravan camp exploded into chaos!
It wasn’t just Eleia’s group — members of the Blue Crow Mercenary Corps were under attack from all directions…
The noble youths clearly had no combat experience.
At the sight of blood or feeling an arrow piercing their own shoulders, only a few managed to stay calm.
Most were already panicking and fleeing, screaming and clutching their heads in terror.
“Milady, please give the order.”
Amisa slowly turned her head.
The crystal glasses beneath her hood glinted in the sunlight, making it difficult to see her eyes clearly.
Eleia also slowly rose, her gaze dark and fixed on the forest from where the sneak attack had come.
“Bring the attacker…to me,” she said in a low voice, suppressing the violent fury rising in her heart.
“Yes.”
Rumble…
In the next second, Amisa’s entire body “melted” before their eyes, transforming into a pool of black shadow, and vanished from sight!
As expected…this maid whom her mother trusted so deeply…
She was indeed a transcendent!
To be able to turn into a shadow…and even meld into darkness itself…
What a frightening ability.