Chapter 99: We are innocent!

After Rita rejoined the team, the whole group set out in grand formation toward Solus City.

Once they learned that the Lord of the Night had appeared at the border, a fight was out of the question—this was a tough battle, and fighting would only mean heavy losses. Better to reconsider and plan long-term.

As for what clues everyone brought back or what the military planned to do, those weren’t things Rita needed to worry about now. Everyone was preparing to return anyway; there was plenty of time to discuss those matters slowly.

Over the next few days, Rita was transported lying down. Although it wasn’t as luxurious as Cecilia’s carriage, with much of the food consumed along the way, the carts originally used to transport supplies could be rearranged to carry the wounded.

Even though Rita insisted she wasn’t a patient anymore and was already fine, Cecilia insisted she get proper rest. Not having to walk back herself didn’t sound so bad, so Rita agreed.

Since the assessment had ended, the other candidates didn’t need to risk their lives for their scores anymore, so the army changed their marching tactics a bit, and their speed on the way back was actually faster than when they came.

Promi didn’t wake up until the second day after everyone set out. After waking, Promi repeated the story Rita had already told. As for how Rita saved her, nobody really knew.

Though the recording stones captured everything, those two stones had already been casually tossed aside by Rita in two different places. In the chaos back then, it was a miracle Promi and Rita even kept their lives; they didn’t have time to care about the stones.

Evening routines were much the same as before: sitting around the fire drinking with Momoka and the others. When Momoka’s wine eventually ran out and only water remained, the mood somehow got even better.

Promi joined them by the fire, but remained as silent as ever. That open-heartedness she’d shown in the cave that night was unlikely to appear again.

By the way, most of the candidates Cecilia had sent out had already returned. Many came back after only a day or so.

Rita was the last among them. For those candidates who hadn’t returned, no one said they were dead—most people believed they simply ran away.

Cecilia and Maggie had arranged the routes for everyone with purpose. The safer routes were left to candidates who weren’t so strong but still wanted to help out.

Really, their main purpose was to guard against any enemies sneaking into the camp’s vicinity. The actual reconnaissance work was left to the elites like Rita.

A few days later, the whole group finally returned to Solus City, and Rita at last sank into her loyal bed.

The first thing Rita did upon returning to her room at the lord’s mansion was have a maid prepare a big tub of hot water. Then she slipped herself into the wooden tub and soaked in comfort.

Why not just use the ready-made Great Bath Palace in Solus City?

The Great Bath Palace wasn’t mixed-gender, but it was still shared among the lord and their guests. Private use was a privilege reserved for Cecilia. Not even Angus had many chances to bathe alone, so Rita didn’t have a shot.

After a delightful bath, Rita put on her old maid uniform.

One reason was that none of her other clothes fit anymore; another was that there was something addictive about wearing a maid uniform with hidden meaning.

Most importantly, Rita knew she actually looked good—there’s no such thing as an unattractive succubus.

Once the team entered the city, Cecilia’s order was for everyone to rest well. And proper rest ought to mean at least a day off, right?

The question was, what should she do with herself now?

With a full belly and warm clothes, Rita absently touched her rumbling stomach, wondering when she could trick Cecilia into snuggling again.

But it was still daylight; that kind of thing was hardly appropriate now, and Cecilia probably wouldn’t agree anyway.

Sitting around in her room wasn’t getting her anywhere, so she decided to go out for a walk.

With that thought, Rita left her room.

The moment the maid outside saw Rita come out, she hurried over. Upon seeing Rita in a maid outfit, she gave a look that was just like seeing her best friend receive a love letter—full of hidden meaning. “Lady Rita.”

“Where’s Lady Cecilia?” Rita asked.

“Her Highness the Princess is still resting in her room. She’s probably sleeping right now,” the maid replied.

Rita leaned against the wall and chatted with the maid. “So, has anything been happening in Solus City lately?”

“Lady Rita, in what capacity are you asking me?”

“Me? What capacity could I possibly have?” Rita pulled the corner of her mouth.

“If you’re asking as Her Highness’s guard, then there’s nothing happening in Solus City. The previous unrest has been completely quelled, some repairs have been finished, and everyone’s returned to normal life,” the maid replied seriously. “But if it’s just idle chat, then there are a few interesting things.”

“What interesting things?” Rita asked skeptically.

“There’s a maid at the lord’s mansion named Fula. Her friend came to visit her in Solus City, and the two of them spent the whole day shopping and eating together. But at night, her friend got tricked into going to a small inn by another maid named Nancy.”

“And then?” Rita’s eyes sparkled as she listened.

“Fula went to confront Nancy, but Nancy dragged her into a little corner. Somehow, things developed and the two of them ended up getting together, which made the friend unhappy.”

“That’s good, I love stories like this—keep going.”

The two chatted animatedly in the corridor, completely unaware someone was approaching.

“Ahem!”

A cough interrupted Rita and the maid. Maggie strode over in plain clothes, her voice stern as she addressed the two maids.

“No slacking off during work! Get back to work!”

“S-sorry, Miss Maggie!” The maid, startled by the cough from behind Rita, bowed repeatedly in apology to Maggie.

“And you? Are you new here?” Maggie frowned and turned to Rita.

“Ahaha…” Rita turned around and watched Maggie’s expression go from displeasure to surprise, and then become perfectly clear.

“Rita? Why are you wearing that?”

Wasn’t this the second time Maggie had failed to recognize her?

Guess her disguise skills had improved.

Actually, not really—no one would imagine Rita had the odd habit of wandering around in a maid outfit.

“My clothes were either used to bandage Promi or got too dirty, so I just put on whatever I found,” Rita scratched her head.

“That damn old geezer!” Maggie’s teeth ground audibly. “To treat his own guest like this—especially someone who’s a great benefactor to Solus City! He won’t keep his seat as lord for long.”

Maggie had always been a bit unrestrained, but wasn’t this a little too fierce?!

The general in charge of the city’s garrison standing in the lord’s mansion, cursing Angus right in front of Cecilia’s bodyguard and the lord’s maids—this was well beyond a breach of etiquette.

Rita was not the best with words and didn’t like to overthink things, but she could read a room. Sensing the conversation going south, she quickly changed the topic.

“Anyway, General, why are you here? Is there something important to report?”

Maggie was stunned for a second, her brows knitted slightly, and she replied as if it were the most obvious thing: “Because this is my home? Last time I was in such a rush I didn’t get the chance, but now that I’m back, I need to rest up too!”

“Huh?” This time it was Rita’s turn to be surprised.

“You didn’t know? That old guy’s my father—he’s never told you?”

Rita shook her head.

Well, then. The lord’s rebellious daughter. When it came to social skills, she was on par with Rita, but she could really fight.

If you looked at their weapons and fighting styles, you could spot some resemblance between father and daughter—but Rita hadn’t thought about it before.

“Ugh, if you weren’t one of Her Highness’s people, I’d definitely take you out to buy some proper clothes. How could I let you wear something like that?” Maggie rubbed her temples.

Rita couldn’t just pretend not to hear that.

Cecilia had helped Maggie out of trouble, but not only did Maggie fail to show gratitude, she even said that. It made Rita a little angry.

“So what if I’m one of Her Highness’s people? Is that a problem?”

“Uh… umm…” Maggie’s face turned red, and she stammered for a long while, “It’s just… just…”

Her reaction made Rita even more suspicious.

After a long pause, Maggie clenched her fists. “It’s just! When Her Highness was packing, I caught a glimpse… That… kind of risqué outfit, that’s yours, isn’t it? Also, some maids have mentioned that you sometimes spend the night in Her Highness’s room, so… it’s better for Her Highness to pick your clothes, right?”

This time, it was Rita’s face that turned red.

What is this! Did this woman mistake her and Cecilia for having that kind of relationship?!

All they ever did was kiss and cuddle… and that day when they first met—who knows what happened, maybe everything, maybe nothing… B-but, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything improper between her and Cecilia!

“A-anyway, that’s how it is!” Maggie rubbed her flushed face, but her tone turned more serious. “But, I do have some things to report. Since you’re here, why not listen first?”