Chapter 36

Serwin wished to keep Amelie’s existence hidden from the nobles. That’s why he had her locked up here. But what if Amelie shows up at Serwin’s office and shows her presence? Everyone who visits the Palace will know Amelie, and Serwin will no longer be able to hide her.

Showing Serwin what she’s capable of, making him unable to hide her, and getting revenge on him for deceiving her. It was a plan aimed at many things.

“So you have to decorate me so that I can be seen from  100 meters away.”

So when people get home after working three days overtime, they’re like, ‘Huh? Who is that woman?’ It should be enough to make them turn around.

“Leave it to me.”

“I’ll make them see Miss Amelie.”

Mrs Enard and Milena went right to work. They took out all of Amelie’s best clothes, matched the accessories, and had a heated discussion about makeup and hairstyles.

She doesn’t have to be concerned if she simply aims for something that stands out. All she has to do is keep her chin up and put on some sparkling jewels.

“This is the first time Miss Amelie appears in public. It should be eye-catching and colorful, but not tacky or vulgar.”

“Besides, Miss Amelie is stunning. Then it may appear to be a simple task.”

The two veterans did their best to meet all of these requirements. Amelie became a placid doll in the face of their passion. If they tell her to wear it, she would. And if they want to take it off, she would take it off.

All of the decorations are finally finished after a long and laborious process.

“Perfect.”

“When the main necklace and the color of the makeup didn’t match, I thought it was ruined, but Mrs Enard’s skill in fixing it impressed me.”

“I’ve learned a lot from Milena’s young sense.”

Mrs Enard and Milena clasped hands as they observed their work. Amelie smiled awkwardly between the two of them.

‘Have I been doing it wisely—?’

She was getting tired of their attention to detail and enthusiasm, but when she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t help but admire herself. It was glamorous but not overdone, and it didn’t appear light. It was ideal for dealing with difficult situations.

Every time she moved, her white dress, which came up to her collar, fluttered. The elegant gleam of the Sendelian fabric wrapped around Amelie’s slim figure. Amelie’s fresh and lovely look was completed with small laced ribbons and red flower embroidery the size of pinky nails. Her pink hair was styled in a variety of ways, and her ears were adorned with finger-sized yellow jewelry that revealed a dainty earlobe.

The preparation is now complete.

Mrs Enard and Milena were on either side of Amelie as she walked proudly toward the front door.

*******

Charlotte and the maids were confused as Amelie, who had never left the palace, made her way to the main gate with a determined expression. Mrs Enard was supervising the palace and taking orders directly from Serwin. Her staying still meant that Serwin’s orders came unknown to them. Everyone agreed with Charlotte and began to quietly follow in Amelie’s footsteps.

Amelie’s appearance stunned the knights guarding the main gate, who blocked the door. “I’m going to see His Majesty!” Amelie declared proudly. The knights were perplexed to see both maids following in Amelie’s footsteps. Taking advantage of the pause, Milena and Mrs Enard persuaded them by saying that they couldn’t allow His Majesty to wait. Amelie passed by the knights as they couldn’t get in the way any longer. However, just in case, half of the knights guarding the palace joined Amelie’s group. It was mostly for surveillance and confirmation, but to those who were unaware of the situation, Amelie appeared to be escorted by the knights. Amelie’s outing became more legitimate after her entourage was joined by the Knights.

Charlotte and a few others escaped from the group in the middle to share the news, but no one knew.

‘Who, ha, hoo, ha. It’s all right. He’s not going to kill me right?’

Amelie’s heartbeat quickened as she approached the Imperial Palace. Because the Imperial Palace is the Imperial Estate’s focal point, more and more people were being encountered. As Amelie had hoped, everyone was paying attention to her. Amelie stood out brightly between the servants and the Knight’s.

There was no separate preparation because there were so many people roaming the Imperial Palace.

As Amelie entered the lobby, everyone’s attention was drawn to her.

“Which family is this Lady from?”

“I’m not sure. This is my first time seeing her.”

“Me, too. I wouldn’t have forgotten if I’d ever met such a Young Lady.”

Amelie was lovely enough to talk to about at least once. There are people who don’t know who she is, and there are people who do. It was the people who knew that the palace where Mrs Enard worked was the palace Serwin visited every night.

“She’s with Mrs Enard.”

“Doesn’t she work at the palace? Do you mean she’s the one who lives there?”

“Is she the one His Majesty has been keeping hidden behind his back?”

“A woman? His Majesty’s woman? Not a monster but a woman?”

They were dumbfounded. Serwin, who despises all humans equally regardless of gender, had a woman by his side, which was surprising. Furthermore, Amelie did not fit the stereotype of a Tyrant’s lover. A woman who has melted the heart of a tyrant, shouldn’t she have a fatal charm like she is so beautiful that she will slap them and make them want to waste their life? Amelie appeared to be kind and sweet, but she was far from a fatal beauty.

“Would it be different if I looked closer? I want to see it up close!”

“Someone talk to me.”

The buzz grew louder and louder. The atmosphere gradually drew people into the lobby. The greater the number of people who saw her, the better. Amelie adjusted her pace as she glanced past them.

On the outside, she exuded toughness, but on the inside, she remained silent. Her heart was pounding as it jumped excitedly, but her natural timid personality wasn’t going anywhere. Serwin appeared at the end of the stairs to the second floor, which relieved her tension.

‘Ugh, that’s Serwin.’

His appearance brought back memories of the first time they met. He resembled the God of Death. Serwin was working in his office when Amelie arrived at the Imperial Palace.

He wasn’t paying attention because he was holding his pen and a document.

In the morning, Baron Avery carefully reported. Since the Marquis Lewin mentioned Count Manverse and that Count Manverse had been making suspicious moves.

Baron Avery expected it to be about the tax Count Manverse embezzled while Serwin was away. Looking back on the situation, Baron Avery was correct.

‘What is Amelie doing?’

Serwin was worried about her. She seemed to be doing well, but she also seems to be losing energy these days.

‘Should we go out of the palace together like we did last time?’

That night, he remembered her bright smile. Serwin, on the other hand, drew a frown on his brow. Recently, there has been a persistent move for others trying to pry into Amelie. Going out was not a good idea in this situation.

‘I have to be more cautious, especially if Marquis Lewin is involved.’

The Marquis Lewin will try to harm what he values. Serwin was gripped by a strong sense of unease.

This morning’s unplanned meeting between Serwin and Amelie was also a relief. He was relieved to see her doing well in the palace. When he returned to the Imperial Palace, however, there was a new sense of anxiety. He wanted to make sure she was safe in front of him by holding her hand. But he wasn’t able to do that. Serwin’s great empire would be destroyed if he does not take care of it every second of every minute. Work accumulates as other work is processed, and if he even slightly deviates from the schedule, something goes wrong.

Serwin felt as if he had been stuck on a chain for the first time in a really long time.

‘Damn it.’

As if in response to a swear word, laughter echoed in his ears. Serwin raised his head and took a look around the office. His aides were working hard. These cowards who couldn’t even laugh at him because they couldn’t even breathe.

It was the laugh of the disaster.

[Grab your sword.]

The disaster whispered in his ear during that time. Serwin’s hand turned to the hilt.

[Kill them all. Simple, right?]

The hilt was cold and hard. The touch was so unfamiliar. It was because he got used to Amelie’s small, warm hands.

‘I almost got swayed again.’

Upon returning to the palace, the disaster began to perk up again, as if it had been quiet. His territory was the Imperial Palace, where disaster had lived for a thousand years. He didn’t lose himself to it only because of Amelie, but if he doesn’t get his act together, the disaster’s words will sway him.

[Oh, you’re so naive. If you truly care about that little witch, you must punish them right away to avoid danger. How come you don’t realize it’ll be too late when you wake up?]

His ears were scratched by a laugh.

‘Shut your mouth.’

He’s been swayed by disaster a few times when he couldn’t stand provocation. Even so, it was a close call.

‘How can I hide her from the nobles more perfectly?’

It was terrifying to think that the despicable nobles were after Amelie. He couldn’t bear the thought of bringing her to the palace.

The sound of disaster laughter rang out in the air. Then a servant entered the office.

“Miss Amelie has come to the Imperial Palace.”

“What?”

He rushed out of the office. It was easy to find her. Because a girl in a white dress with red embroidered clothes was right in front of him. Amelie was so adorable that anyone would be caught off guard.

‘Who sent her here? Dressed like that, what are they trying to achieve?’

Anger erupted the moment Amelie was discovered. Dressed to stand out. She made it clear that she intended to inform the Imperial Palace of her existence. It was clear who she was aiming her message at.

The lobby fell silent when Serwin appeared, the many people gathered in the lobby all looked at him at the same time.

‘Everyone’s afraid of Serwin.’

He was the only one who stood without saying anything. Amelie stared at Serwin with her eyes wide open. His dissatisfaction was visible on his face. She paused for a moment before placing her feet on the steps, as if she had made up her mind.