SWS CH 33

Chapter 33

“No!”

No one knew exactly what had been said, but Geti’s face went deathly pale in an instant.

“Fine. I’ll let this matter end with me.”

With that, she tried to leave, stubbornly clinging to her pride until the very end.

[Sword Wind.]

Bang—!

“Aaah!!”

Before she could get out, Junel played a prank and knocked her flat.
And not a single person went out to help Geti when she screamed.

This time, I gave Junel a thumbs-up.

[I held back even though I really wanted to beat her senseless!]

Yeah, yeah.

We’d have to see her face again in the future, after all. That would have been too much.

“Little Madam, please forgive us for failing to recognize you.”

Hatsen removed his chef’s hat and bowed deeply.

“Please don’t bow. Please, just treat me the way you always have.”

I absolutely refused to let someone older than me show that level of formality.

That was exactly why living as a maid had felt more comfortable.

“I’m sorry as well. I didn’t know you were the madam and gave you a maid’s uniform…”

May also switched to honorific speech.

“And I even asked you to prepare food meant for the madam. Please forgive my mistake.”

“That was something I wanted to do. I genuinely enjoy cooking. I really made it happily.”

“From now on, I’ll prepare everything myself. It’s a shame we won’t be able to cook together anymore, though…”

Hatsen looked more regretful than apologetic.

“Wait—then does that mean we won’t get to eat food made by the little madam anymore?”

One of the maids spoke up from the side.

“Of course not. Are you suggesting we ask the madam to cook for servants?”

“Well, no, but… it’s just such a shame. I was really happy these past few days. I even thought it was a good thing I got assigned to the annex.”

The other maids nodded in agreement.

Oh no. Seeing them all so disappointed was making me feel sad too.

“Nothing will change. I’ll keep making food that you all can enjoy.”

“But, little madam…”

“And I’ll share the recipes with Chef Hatsen as well. So you can eat good food anytime.”

That was too tempting to refuse. Even Hatsen couldn’t argue.

The maids broke into bright smiles.

****

Unlike the warm atmosphere in the annex, the main residence was in chaos following Helbern’s return.

“What do you mean… holy knights?”

The Holy Knight Order had disappeared hundreds of years ago.

“I’m not totally sure, but who else could it be? That disgusting aura.”

“That’s impossible.”

They weren’t knights who served God, but those who followed a fallen angel.

An angel named Johannes, who declared himself a new god to oppose the true one and tried to destroy humanity.

He betrayed God, joined hands with the Demon King, and attempted to wipe out humankind.
The Five Great Houses joined forces to seal him away in Seraphim’s Paradise, the center of the world.

The last holy knight who inherited part of his power had been executed centuries ago.

So how could the Holy Knights still exist?

“I don’t know! Nilsen kept trying to go back to my brother, so I tied him up. Then I asked some guy passing by how long it’d take to reach the Northern Empire’s border lord’s castle, and he suddenly drew his sword! Damn it! Thinking about it still pisses me off.”

Francesca questioned him seriously.

“Enough vague nonsense. Did you see a holy knight’s mark? Any proof?”

“He was wearing a robe, so I couldn’t see.”

“Helbern! Stop being careless and speak properly!”

Normally, she would’ve dismissed it as Helbern’s misunderstanding.
But she couldn’t this time.

He’d returned covered in torn clothes and wounds, and Nilsen—whom he carried over his shoulder—was unconscious and drenched in blood.

“Who did this to you? Are you sure it wasn’t remnants of the Northern Empire?”

“Mother, I’m an eight-star knight. Do you think I can’t tell the difference between real fighters and some defeated stragglers?”

“Ow—!”

Helbern flinched and groaned, clutching his broken arm.

“Are you sure they were holy knights?”

“I just felt it! Can’t you see my broken arm?!”

“I want proof, not your feelings!”

“Damn it! Don’t you even care that your son is hurt?!”

Francesca grew grim.

Helbern joked often, but he was always serious in battle.

“If this is true… it’s a serious problem.”

She muttered, lips drawn tight.

“It’s fine. I cut his head off.”

“No.”

This wasn’t something to brush aside.

The mere possibility that the Holy Knights could return was dangerous.

“Historical records mention over a hundred thousand holy knights. The emperors of the Four Great Empires officially announced that they were all executed—but some may have escaped with their lives.”

“But they’re not gods. How could they still be alive?”

“That’s exactly the problem!”

It made no sense.

But Johannes had possessed that kind of power.

That was why the entire world had united to seal him away.

“If this is true, it’s a global disaster.”

“What? That serious?”

Enemies so powerful that even a sword master like Helbern, with Bloodymary’s unique aura, struggled to fight them.

“Where is that woman?”

They needed to uncover her power.

To grow stronger—
To become the strongest knight in the world—
He needed power beyond his own.

“You mean Halara?”

“Yes. The woman that bastard brought back.”

Francesca let out a deep sigh.

Seeing Helbern go to stop Nilsen, she’d thought he was willing to accept them both.

It seemed she was wrong.

“Helbern. This is your mother’s earnest request. Leave that girl and Docep alone. Let them live quietly.”

“I don’t care about that bastard. It’s the woman I have business with.”

“She will be your sister-in-law. Be mindful of how you refer to her in front of servants. You don’t have to treat her lavishly—but do not touch her.”

It was a clear warning not to attack her like last time.

A child in the womb was fragile—even a small accident could be dangerous.

“Mother, I almost died because of that woman last time!”

Helbern was still furious.

“I trust my son. Head Butler—write this all down and prepare to send it to His Majesty the Emperor. He will investigate.”

Without listening to Helbern further, Francesca walked to her desk.

“Damn it! That woman is the problem! Everything went wrong because of her!”

Helbern was the only one left, writhing in pain.

***

“They’ve all completely lost their minds.”

Geti bit at her fingers until she yelped.

“Ugh—my back.”

Her back still ached from slamming into the door earlier.

And her stomach burned.

She was now stuck working as Halara’s personal maid.

“Those annex maids acted like they’d help bully her before she arrived—then switched sides the moment she showed up?”

Even if Halara had been pretending to be a maid, why would they defend her?

“What did that witch do? Seducing Young Master Docep was already suspicious enough. And the madam too. Isn’t this all strange?”

She must’ve used some bizarre magic.

Otherwise, there was no way normal people would all act like that.

“Fine. I don’t need their help anyway. I can drive her out myself.”

Geti had always bullied and chased out maids she disliked.

Being the little madam didn’t change that.

“I’ll make her cry and beg to be sent away.”

***

Thanks to Hatsen—whose hands had finally healed—I enjoyed a delicious meal.

My original plan had been to cook a celebratory feast for Docep’s awakening to four stars, but now that my identity was exposed, no one would allow me to work in the kitchen today.

So instead, I enjoyed Hatsen’s cooking.

“As expected of the head chef.”

It wasn’t Korean food, but it was unique and indulgent.

I headed back to my room, planning to rest. My body felt unusually heavy today.

“You’re finally back?”

Geti was in my room.

Despite Hatsen’s warning, her rude tone hadn’t changed.

I’d been in a good mood from eating, but suddenly my stomach churned.

I thought my IBS had disappeared when I transmigrated—but apparently it came along too.

“Yeah. I’m going to sleep, so can you leave?”

I didn’t want to talk to someone who openly hated me.

With ten years of in-law experience, there was no way I didn’t know she’d been bad-mouthing me.

“In the middle of the day? Sleep?”

“It’s my choice.”

I’d been up early, cooking for the maids and Docep. I was exhausted.

What was wrong with taking a nap?

“No. Don’t sleep. Read all of these instead.”

She placed a box full of books on the table.