Chapter 43

‘I don’t think it’s just a matter of cherishing it—’

But Serwin himself was completely unaware. Even Amelie wasn’t quick enough to notice Serwin’s change. She even promised to return to her hometown after they defeated the disaster. The future seemed dark.

“Anyway, if His Majesty and Sir Chad can’t stand in then I’ll have to do it.”

Amelie was devastated by the fact that she had to dance again. Then, Charlotte came into the room.

“Miss Amelie, Caroline is waiting in the drawing room.”

“Caroline? Oh, the owner of Monet’s dressing room who’s supposed to be here today.”

Mrs Enard smiled with pride. She contacted every dressing room in the capital. And it was all rejected in a row. It was because the owners of the dressing room didn’t want to get on the wrong side of Renia. The only positive answer came from Monet’s dressing room.

‘If it’s Monet’s dressing room, the owner is a bit eccentric, but it’s a place where you can trust the skills.’

Monet’s dressing room did not just make clothes, but also provided a unique service. From hairstyles, jewelry, clothes to perfumes. In order to bring out the beauty of the guests to the maximum, all accessories were also provided. There was no better dressing room than this for the women who lacked labor.

“I’ll have to put off your dance practice for a while. Hurry up and go to the drawing room, Miss Amelie.”

Mrs Enard was greatly delighted. Amelie headed to the drawing room, relieved that her dance practice was over.

******

Caroline couldn’t control her nervousness. She held it in because she could see the imperial palace people’s senses, but her shoulders kept shaking. She had not slept a wink since Mrs Enard contacted her to monopolize Monet’s wardrobe and Caroline until the day of the party.

‘When I saw Mrs Enard’s name, I was wondering if that was right. This time I might get to see the beautiful woman who captured the tyrant at a glance!’

Everyone who could read already knew that the emperor had a lover. She can’t believe that little tyrant is in love. Everyone’s attention was now on his lover.

What kind of woman melted the frozen emperor’s heart? He is an emperor who never even blinked at the beauties of the Empire. Are the beauties he has seen so far not a match for her?

As speculation was added to the rumor, the new emperor’s lover had become a once in a millenia beauty.

‘Oh, I’m looking forward to it. What kind of beauty is it? I can’t believe I can show my work to the best beauty on the continent. It’s like a dream.’

Caroline has devoted her life to beauty. Her goal was to create the best beauty with her own hands. To her, meeting with Amelie was like a priest welcoming God.

‘I’m a little scared of being hated by Young Lady Manvers, but I can’t miss this opportunity.’

It has already been known by everyone in the industry that Renia is tunnel visioned on becoming Empress and holds grudges. Because of that, most boutiques objected to being hired by Amelie. But Caroline was willing to take such a threat for the sake of her own pursuit of beauty.

‘Whoo, ha. Let’s calm down. Calm down.’

Caroline took a deep breath. Then, a woman with pink hair came through the door of the drawing room as it opened. It was Amelie.

‘Oh, you have pink hair. I think she’s my client because other people are wearing maid’s clothes—’

Caroline jumped to her feet. Amelie stood in front of her.

“You’re Caroline, right? Nice to meet you. I’m Amelie Bourbon.”

“Hello, I’m Caroline from Monet’s dressing room.”

Caroline looked at Amelie. She was so different from what Caroline thought. She wasn’t ugly. The big round, mint-colored eyes looked clear and good, and she had fine features that were lovely. She was attractive enough.

‘But she’s not the greatest beauty of the century, is she?’

Caroline was greatly disappointed. It didn’t show on the outside, but Caroline’s deflation was visible to Amelie. She seemed to have believed in false rumors about her.

“You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”

“No! Not at all!”

Caroline jumped up and down. At the sight, Amelie burst into laughter. Amelie also heard the rumors about herself, so she knew.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Rumors are just rumors, but it didn’t feel very good to think people were disappointed to see her. In addition, she was not good at relationships, so she was worried about how to overcome awkward moments.

What to do with this? Let’s think of what Milena would say; she’d advised her to be bolder in times like this.

“Ahaha, everyone who sees me for the first time thinks the same thing. When I ask, they are surprised like Caroline.”

It wasn’t easy to say that so shamelessly with Amelie’s personality, but she forced herself to get used to it. Caroline smiled awkwardly after Amelie’s light comment to hide her embarrassment. Thanks to this, the atmosphere continued to be friendly.

“You heard what I would need, right?”

“Yeah. You asked me to help you get ready for the imperial party. The capital isn’t too fussy about it.”

“It’s a very important party for me. So I really want Caroline to help me.”

Amelie let out a small sigh. Her frowned eyebrows looked like they were in trouble. Caroline understood Amelie’s burden. She pays only for the imperial party, and rumors have spread that she is the beauty of the century.

‘I’m sorry to hear that—I’m a little overwhelmed to be hated by Young Lady Manvers—.’

Caroline had lost her motivation. She said that Amelie was very different from what she expected her to be.

“It’s a matter of fact, I know— I’m really sorry, but I don’t think our dressing room will be able to be with you. I’m here to tell you this today.”

“Ah, I see—”

Amelie’s face went dark in an instant. Caroline was stabbed in the conscience as if she had committed a crime. She felt like she was doing something bad to a person good enough to smile even though she had been rude in public. It is common to reject a proposal, even if it was as serious as a matter of marriage, so not making a dress should be fine.

‘Oh, no. I need to get out of here quickly. I feel like I have to listen to her because I’m looking at her face.’

That face was the problem. Her heart was weakening because of that small animal-like face.

“Then I’ll go back now.”

Caroline got up in a hurry. Fortunately, Amelie let her go without holding her back.

While leaving the palace, Caroline thought about Amelia. Her first impression was that she had a face that would soon be forgotten because it was plain and not flashy. But surprisingly, it left a strong impression.

‘It was a little different from what I thought, but I think I can understand why the Emperor is in trouble—’

It seemed like Amelia’s look might change a lot if she added makeup or accessories.

‘Or it’s okay to boldly use the color of the dress— No, no, no. I refused. Let’s stop thinking.’

She can find that kind of beauty again!

Caroline tried to correct her faltering mind.

******

After Caroline went back, Amelie was lost in thought. Mrs Enard and the maids tried to comfort such a forlorn Amelie thinking that she was heartbroken by Caroline’s rejection. The maids set up a table in a sunny garden and served sweet food.

But what Amelia was thinking wasn’t about Caroline.

‘The Library information still doesn’t tell me how to fight off the disaster.’

People thought there would be no country on the continent before the Empire. However, the discovery of ancient artifacts seemed to have proven that there was an advanced state in ancient times. However, at some point, disaster fell and all of them were destroyed.

“I wish I had a record then— but even if I had one, I wouldn’t be able to read it.”

Amelia sighed. What’s the point of a smooth investigation? She hasn’t found a way to seal the disaster yet.

‘Maybe that’s why Serwin said she didn’t need to see it.’

All the materials she encountered were all seen by Serwin. Therefore, a new clue would not pop out just because she looked through it again.

‘Maybe I need to change my approach. Because it was the witch who sealed the disaster back into Serwin’s body. There may be some magic about sealing.’

Of course, Amelie has read magic books with that thought  in mind before. But there was nothing to do with the disaster in her book.

‘I’ll have to ask Renee to check out the forest house again just in case.’

Amelie looked up to call Milena to write a letter. Only then did she notice someone looking at her.

“Your Majesty?”

Serwin stood with his back against the sun. Amelie blinked her eyes.

“If you’re here, you should call me.”

“Ah, it’s been so long since I saw you.”

Serwin’s gaze followed more earnestly than before. He looked over Amelie’s features one by one. The round green eyes were lovely. His lips drew a line.

‘Why are you looking at me like that!’

Amelie blushed her cheeks.

“Sit down. Don’t stare at me embarrassingly.”

Serwin sat on Amelie’s diagonal seat.

“What are you thinking so deeply about that you don’t even know if someone’s here?”

“Just this and that.”

Amelie made an appropriate excuse. It was because she couldn’t talk about the disaster with her servants around her.

‘You must be thinking a lot about the party.’

Serwin distorted Amelie’s answer. He had mistook Amelie for worrying about the party.

‘It must be burdensome just having an imperial palace party, but how difficult it is when Manvers’s daughter interferes.’

He broke the cookie into small pieces and fed Amelie. Amelie took it and ate it. He used to hand-feed sweets to Amelie when she was under a lot of stress.

‘Serwin looks so tired, too.’

Amelie looked into Serwin’s face as she ate the cookie. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since she has seen him in the sun. Serwin’s face felt new to her.

‘Handsome, he’s handsome.’

Amelie was amazed at Serwin’s face. Perhaps because of his busy schedule, he’s a little emaciated, but even that makes Serwin look more handsome. There’s a sexy look that comes from a slightly tired look. Serwin has a manly face, but if she looks at him, there are delicate parts. The eyelashes and mouth lines hanging long over the golden eyes were fine and detailed.

“Why are you smiling?”

Serwin asked. Amelie sighed and took her finger to his cheek. Without realizing it, the corners of her lips soared high. She wanted to say that she couldn’t help but smile when she saw his handsome face.

“Just because. Is it because I haven’t seen Your Majesty after so long?”

Amelie grinned. It was scary before, but not at all now. His eyes were not as cold as metal. She seemed to be feeling that Serwin was finally close. When she realized that, she realized just how happy she was to meet Serwin after a long time.