The Tyrant’s Tranquilizer

Moments later, Renia arrived at the drawing room exactly on time. Amelie made her way to the drawing room, remembering Mrs Enard’s special lecture.

“Miss Amelie is here.”

At the maid’s words, Renia looked at Amelie and Amelie looked at Reina. She was so perfect. Her vivid red hair slid down her shoulders in waves, and her skin was as radiant as a lustrous pearl. Besides, there was no flaw in her features. She looked expensive, and precious, like a doll that was carefully cared for.

‘If I’m next to someone like that, I’ll just look like a commoner.’

She didn’t feel inferior. Up until now, she had been living as a commoner, so of course she couldn’t look like a noble. Besides, she herself was a witch. From her birth, she was far from noble. However, when she thought that Serwin and Reina would be a well-matched couple when they got married, she felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach.

“Thank you for the invitation, Amelie.”

“Thank you for coming. Lady Manvers.”

While the two exchanged simple greetings, tea and simple refreshments were prepared at the table.

In fact, Amelie imagined and worried about numerous situations last night. What if she poured water on her like typical evil women in the drama? Slapping in the face? Even if it wasn’t a crazy drama-like situation, Reina could have done as much as possible to find fault with Amelie and ruin the atmosphere. She was not confident that she could cope well with it if Reina was sarcastic or insulting. Of course, she couldn’t do it openly because she had to be wary of Serwin, but Amelie couldn’t shake off her worries.

But, contrary to Amelie’s concerns, Renia didn’t try to find fault and wasn’t sarcastic. She was a truly exemplary guest. While praising her tea and refreshments, she quietly asked about her current situation so that Amelie would not feel burdened. She was the perfect example of conversational manners as Mrs Enard taught her.

‘They said she has a fiery personality— or no? Rather, she seems calmer than me and has a good personality.’

She was relieved because she wasn’t as bad as she was worried about. As Amelie drank her tea, Renia’s sharp eyes scattered Amelie’s whole body. Caring for the angle of her fingers, Amelie didn’t even notice that she was being observed as closely as a farmer graded her cattle.

‘Big eyes and clear skin. The hair color is unique. The face has a cute axis. If I were to rate it, would it be a little above the middle?’

It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t beautiful enough to fascinate Serwin at first sight.

‘What kind of charm does she have?’

Renia thought seriously. It was to learn about an effective strategy for Serwin’s through Amelie. But she has no idea if she sees it. Is it true that Gilbert has the advantage of not being visible on the outside while giggling? Renia recalled her shallow brother and raised her brows slightly.

“Young Lady Manvers. Do you know why I invited Young Lady today?”

Amelie finally brought up the subject.

“The invitation said that you wanted to thank me for the gift I sent you. Is there any other reason?”

Renia pretended to be innocent.

“I heard you hit Charlotte. Because she doesn’t tell you anything about me.”

“Really Charlotte?”

“Isn’t Manvers Young Lady like that?”

“It’s true that I hit Charlotte.”

“Charlotte is my maid. If you hit her for something about me, I can’t stay still.”

“Oh my, you’re misunderstanding.”

Renia smiled and looked as if she had heard a ridiculous story.

At that moment, anxiety passed by Amelie’s face. Amelie seemed to find herself difficult for some reason. There would be nothing more scary in the world than carrying Serwin on her back.

‘Are you naive or stupid?’

Renia laughed inside. She doesn’t know what Amelie’s charm is, but she knew for sure that she was an easy opponent.

“I had a misunderstanding with Charlotte, so I fought with her. It got a little intense, but it’s a common fight between friends. It’s desirable for Miss Amelie to take care of your maid, but I don’t think you should be intruding into her private life. I think it’s because you just want to take care of your maids, but she would be offended.”

Renia was confident. She wouldn’t even touch Charlotte if there was no way out.

“No, I’m offended by this. Charlotte is my maid. No matter how close my maid and Young Lady Renia may be, and if you hit her in an argument, that’s an insult to me. And others won’t accept it like that.”

Amelie was expecting Renia to come out this way. It was all thanks to Mrs Enard and Milena’s advice.

“No way, you didn’t think other people would believe what Young Lady said, did you?”

Amelie brought the prepared sentence out of her mouth. But she’s the one who wants others to believe her as she is, so she said it, but she broke her heart.

“It doesn’t feel good because it seems like I’m getting into a fight between friends, but I wanted to give you advice to be careful in the future, for the sake of Young Lady Manvers. There’s no point in making gossip for nothing.”

“—Yes, I’ll be careful.”

Renia readily accepted. Charlotte was just an excuse to meet Amelie, so it didn’t matter how the conclusion was made. There was also confidence that Amelie would not be able to punish her. But when she heard the admonition from Amelie, she didn’t feel good.

‘Well, because there’s Mrs Enard.’

She let her guard down because she didn’t think that a woman who only revealed that money would sincerely help someone. The goal of meeting Amelie was fulfilled, but her pride was hurt.

Suddenly, the smile disappeared from Renia’s face. Her glassy eyes became hot as if they were breathing fire. Amelie stuck out her tongue as she drank her tea. Despite her appearance, she was a force not inferior to Serwin.

‘—Isn’t that just provoking me? It’s difficult if you make me kick you out.’

Amelie had no desire to be involved in a love fight. Her purpose is to defeat disaster only. She couldn’t afford to deal with Renia.

“Excuse me, Lady Manvers. I don’t know how I sound, but I want to get along with you.”

“I see.”

“I don’t want to be in the Imperial Palace for a long time, but I don’t want to make my face red for nothing.”

“What do you mean you won’t be here for a long time?”

Renia looked into Amelie’s eyes. She didn’t know her subject, and she followed Serwin to the imperial palace, so she thought she would hold on until she was kicked out.

“Somehow, I came to the Imperial Palace, but this place doesn’t suit me. I’m going back to my hometown when things are sorted out.”

“—Are you serious? Does His Majesty know that?”

“Yes, he knows.”

She once told Serwin that she would return to her hometown if the disaster was defeated.

‘Or not? Is it not?’

Her memory is hazy, but since she has always said it in such a nuance, Serwin must have known that she was going back to her hometown.

Renia didn’t say anything more about what she was thinking.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

She guesses she’s kind of angry. Is it a mistake? Amelie was a little nervous, but fortunately, Renia smiled brightly.

“I also want to get along well. If we were close, there would be no misunderstandings like today.”

“Of course.”

Amelie nodded.

“The timing is good. I’m planning to hold a small tea party with my friends soon. I’ll be happy if you come, too.”

“Tea party?”

“Will you come? I’ll introduce you to my friends. Let’s be close.”

Amelie hesitated to answer for a moment.

‘I think I need to get permission from Mrs Enard first?’

But Mrs Enard was far away while Renia in front of her kept persuading Amelie.

“Well— His Majesty will notice it right? His Majesty hates nobles.”

Renia made a deep expression.

“That’s not true. His Majesty is quite respectful.”

Amelie waved her hand and defended Serwin.

‘Respectful? Are you showing off that you’re close to him?’

Renia was angry inside, but she kept a smile on the outside. She couldn’t do anything wrong with the emotions of the moment.

“Then, you’ll come, right?”

“Well, yes. If you send me an invitation, I’ll go.”

Amelie eventually had no choice but to accept it. Mrs Enard’s voice seemed to have already been heard, but she couldn’t refuse Renia’s request to be close to her.

‘It’s nice to get close!’

Amelie and Renia’s first meeting ended like that.

******

“Argh!”

Clank!

Along with Renia’s scream, the sound of the object breaking rang out. Renia’s maids were all nervous and stuck to the wall and looked at her. The momentum of bushing things was so harsh that they couldn’t even dare to stop her.

“Ha! How dare you discipline this Renia Manvers? This girl who no one even knows where she comes from!”

Renia threw things as soon as she could. The perfume bottle quickly flew away and was stuck in a full-body mirror.

Crash!

The maids trembled at the sharp rupture.

‘You’re leaving? Do you think I will fall for such a common trick? You thought you could distract me with a few words like that, but you’re mistaken!’

Renia gasped and became angry.

“Will this mansion break down?”

A cheerful voice was heard from the side. It was Gilbert, Renia’s half-brother and successor to Count Manvers. He laughed at Renia’s figure.

“You pretended to be elegant by yourself, but what’s wrong with you? Guys will run away without looking back.”

“Get out.”

Renia immediately issued a congratulatory order. She hated Gilbert, who was an incompetent lamb and condescending successor. Gilbert was shamelessly snickering at Renia as Gilbert normally did.

“How did you break all of this? If you buy it again, it’ll cost a lot of money.”

“It’s not your business.”

“No way, I’m going to be a Count in the future. I can’t see you wasting the Count’s fortune.”

“Are you talking as if you were the Count?”

“It’s going to happen someday. Just don’t buy anything right now. Who knows if walking around naked would work better. His Majesty must be a man too.”

Gilbert grumbled. Renia trembled with insults.

“Don’t do it by any means. Don’t forget, I’m different from my father. If you don’t catch the Emperor, I’ll marry you off immediately. A man who can pay back all the money you wasted.”

“….”

“Take my advice carefully.”

Gilbert scratched Renia’s insides with his words until the end and disappeared. Renia’s face turned white, and she held back her anger. She would have thrown a chair at Gilbert’s head, but she had to endure. It was because he was the heir to the Count Manvers, even if he was a fool.