Chapter 78

“I will do it.”

“Yeah.”

As Amelie chanted the spell, there was a popping sound and Serwin felt dizzy. As his field of vision lowered, he felt an unfamiliar sensation in his hips. He seemed to have developed a wiggly-tail.

“Wow.”

Amelie was amazed. Transformation magic was a success. Serwin became a very nice dog. He had the build and appearance of a German Shepherd or Doberman, and his fur was shiny, black.

“Handsome people look handsome even when they transform into dogs.”

Woof!

Serwin’s tail turned like crazy.

“Are you happy to hear compliments?”

Amelie smiled and patted Serwin’s back.

His golden eyes were the same as when he was a human, but he was less intimidating because he was in the form of a dog.

‘Or it could be because the tail is spinning like a windmill.’

Serwin went round and round to look at his own body. When he transformed into an animal, he felt different senses than before too. His eyesight was getting a little dull and his color vision looked weird, but his sense of smell and hearing seemed to have become more sensitive.

‘Amelie’s scent has grown stronger.’

Serwin pounded his nose against Amelie’s body. He felt the urge to jump into her arms.

‘I can’t do such a shameful thing.’

However, his body faithfully followed its instincts.

He thumped against Amelie, moved up and down, and eventually fell into her arms. It looked like a real dog, so Amelie burst into laughter.

“This should be kept as a video. Ah, too bad.”

Amelie hugged Serwin and stroked him. It felt good to hug him because he was big.

Serwin blinked slowly. It was so comfortable and cozy that he started to fall asleep.

‘I can’t sleep.’

But his eyes were getting heavier. He hadn’t slept well for several days, and the temptation to sleep was too strong for him.

He stretched out his body.

“Are you sleepy?”

He shook his head.

“If you’re sleepy, you can sleep, why are you holding on?”

Amelie stroked Serwin’s neck.

‘I, I can’t—’

It would have been nice to get away from her, but it felt too good to do that.

“Okay, okay. Let’s lie down.”

Amelie lifted the spell while laying Serwin in bed. Serwin, now a human, accidentally laid in bed obediently like he still had some dog instincts.

“Amelie—”

“Yes, yes. I’m going to sleep, too.”

Amelie also lay down next to Serwin. Serwin turned to her and hugged her. Then he pressed his head against Amelie’s.

‘You’re doing it again. Is it becoming a sleeping habit?’

It was a little uncomfortable, but she didn’t hate it. Amelie moved into a comfortable position in his arms. Serwin’s arms were wide, and he held her so often, she easily got used to it.

“Good night.”

Serwin nodded instead of answering. Soon after, a calm breathing sound was heard.

‘I have no choice but to write a letter to Marchioness Lewin tomorrow. Oh, I should add that the cat is doing well.’

Amelie, who was thinking of what to write in the letter, quickly fell asleep.

******

When the Marchioness replied gladly that she would come to the imperial palace, Amelie’s palace began to be busy preparing for a tea party.

She couldn’t prepare in a simple way just because she sent a letter saying that she wanted to have a conversation while drinking tea.

The servants prepared harder because the opponent was the Marchioness and it shouldn’t be said that the imperial palace was lagging behind a noble family.

In order to create a natural look that doesn’t seem too strong, they decorated everywhere with real flowers, and carefully chose matching tableware and linens. It is more difficult to show wealth secretly, so even Mrs. Enard suffered quite a bit.

Caroline and Monet’s dressing room staff came in the morning to decorate Amelie.

Her hair was made fuller by emphasizing the curls, and her side hair was ponytailed into halves. A small flower-shaped hairpin was attached to fix it.

The dress was light pink, and it was a cute style with a ribbon tied under the puff sleeves. The skirt was spread wide in an A-line, and a ribbon was tied at the waist to emphasize the slender waist. White flowers were embroidered on top of the clothes, adding to the loveliness.

Amelie, dressed so sweetly, was with a black dog all the time.

‘No one knows that’s Serwin.’

Except for Amelie, Milena, and Mrs. Enard, no one else knew that Serwin had turned into a dog, but strangely, people feared Serwin even as a dog. It was such a commotion that it was hard just to sit still.

‘He’s only cute in my eyes.’

He sits quietly and wags his tail. What’s scary about him? Amelie didn’t understand.

“Amelie, the Marchioness has passed through the main gate.”

The maid announced the news. She added with a very troubled face.

“But she’s coming together with Young Lady Serina.”

“Why did she come here?”

Mrs. Enard and Milena made an expression at the same time.

Amelie had been humiliated at Renia’s tea party. Serina, who was there with her, was also hostile to Amelie.

“I didn’t hear the details, but it seems that Lady Serina has forced her mother to let her follow. I could tell that the Marchioness was uncomfortable.”

The maid’s voice gradually became smaller in the intimidating atmosphere.

“What’s wrong with Young Lady Serina?”

“Does Marchioness Lewin really have no choice but to bring her? Could it be that the two of them planned something together?”

Mrs. Enard and Milena made several speculations to relieve some of their ambiguous unease.

“The Marchioness is coming to say thank you, so what could happen?”

Amelie smiled and spoke lightly, but inside was anxious that Serwin just might bite Serina’s leg.

“Let’s meet them first. Mrs.Enard please prepare a place setting for Young Lady Serina, too.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Let’s hear what kind of trick it is.”

Milena prepared herself as if she would not let go of anything.

*****

When Amelie arrived at the parlor, Marchioness Lewin and Serina, who had been waiting, greeted her.

“Thank you for inviting me. It’s only right for me to personally thank my benefactor.”

Marchioness Lewin bowed her knees to greet Amelie.

“I invited you in a way I was comfortable with. I’m sorry to call you out even though you weren’t feeling well.”

“No, thanks to Miss Amelie’s good treatment, I’m in a very good condition now.”

Marchioness Lewin said with a smile. Her cheeks were pale, and her expression hazy. She was a little better than when she fell, but she still looked sick. She was wearing a thick cloak and a fur scarf. Although it was very cold, she was a little overdressed.

‘You must be a weak person from the beginning.’

When she thought of Marchioness Lewin, she thought of a vicious and cunning person, but it’s the exact opposite in reality.

“Excuse me, Marchioness, Miss Amelie.”

Serina intervened cautiously. She was very careful as she was conscious that she wasn’t in a position to intervene.

“Oh, you know Young Lady Serina well, right? I was going to come alone, but the Young Lady wanted to come with me—”

Marchioness Lewin looked up at Amelie. She looked very troubled. Serina continued to talk, reading the Marchioness’ troubles.

“I’m sorry to interfere with the two of you meeting, I can’t enter the Imperial Palace unless I’m with my younger brother but I wanted to meet Miss Amelie somehow.”

Serina forced herself to smile. She also seemed very uncomfortable and awkward in this situation.

‘Why were you asking to meet me so much?’

Amelie was wondering, but first she guided the two inside.

The tea party was set up in the center hall on the second floor. Plant pots and real flowers were brought there and used to create a greenhouse-like atmosphere. Accordingly, it became a comfortable and luxurious space when wooden ornaments with living grain were brought and ceiling decorations made of glass were hung.

“Oh my, the view outside the window is really nice.”

“It’s just the forest that’s around here.”

“I like this natural forest more than the garden that was built.”

“Please sit down. Young Lady Serina too.”

Amelie recommended that they sit, the round table was spacious enough for three people. She hurriedly prepared a place for Serina, but fortunately, it was not obvious that it was a last minute addition.

As the three of them sat down, Milena followed and brought the tea, the scent of tea spread softly.

“Last time, I couldn’t even say hello because I wasn’t in a good condition. My name is Esther Lewin.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m glad the Marchioness is safe. I’m Amelie Bourbon. Thank you for coming today. Young Lady Serina, too.”

“Yes.”

“The two of you must be close. Calling each other by their first names.”

“Ah? Young Lady Serina’s name was Serina?”

Amelie thought it was the family name.

“It’s Serena Bowen. My father is Count Bowen.”

“I’m sorry. Everyone calls Young Lady Serina so—.”

Even the maid told Amelie that she was Young Lady Serina.

‘What should I do?’

As Amelie looked at Milena, Milena shrugged slightly.

Milena wanted to one day get revenge on Serina for ignoring Amelie without introducing herself properly. That’s why she made the servants call ‘Young Lady Bowen’ ‘Young Lady Serina’ on purpose. So that Amelie doesn’t know her family name.

Looking at Serina’s embarrassed face and Marchioness Lewin’s pitiful expression, Milena seemed to be losing her ten-year-old congestion.

“No, I’m in a situation where I’m more sorry—”

Serina’s face got darker.

It was too late to introduce herself, and when she didn’t introduce herself properly the first time her name was left ambiguous.

‘I didn’t know what happened back then would be an obstacle in the future.’

Serina regretted her childish behavior of trying to beat Amelie late, but it already happened. In addition, Serina decided to be more brazen because it was not something she could usually pretend to not be ashamed by.

‘It’s all to save the family. it’s okay.’

The moment Serina was about to talk to Amelie, the black dog began to spit and snarl towards Serina.

Grr.

‘That’s what happened.’

Until now, Serwin had no idea how Amelie was treated at Renia’s tea party. This was because Amelie kept Milena and anyone else who knew from telling him. Serwin, who only knew the situation through Serina’s reaction and situation, had a hard time holding back his rising anger.

Grrrrr.

Serwin showed his teeth and growled. When the dog, who had been calm like a doll, behaved threateningly, Serina was terrified.

“What’s wrong with that dog! S, stop it!”

Serina rose from her chair in a hurry.

“Calm down.”

Amelie shushed him, but Serwin kept growling, revealing more sharp teeth.

“Or I’ll kick you out.”

As Amelie whispered while stroking Serwin’s head, Serwin made a squeaky sound and lowered his ears.

“It’ll be okay now.”

Serina didn’t take her eyes off Serwin as if anxious.

“Shouldn’t you tie it somewhere?”

Amelie smiled awkwardly. No matter how much of a dog he became, she couldn’t put a leash around the Emperor’s neck.