The Tyrant’s Tranquilizer - Chapter 96
“…I’m worried about going to the capital, so that’s why.”
Lira had not yet intended to tell Brillai about the disaster. It was because she saw the disaster in person, but she wasn’t sure what it was. She wasn’t even sure of herself, so she couldn’t explain it properly to others.
‘Let’s be more careful because only Amelie will be in danger if I say the wrong thing.’
If she had not seen the disaster in front of her, she would have believed Amelie was a traitor.
‘First, I need to find out more clearly, gather evidence, and then talk about it.’
The young witch’s life was at stake, and the disaster seemed unusual. She thought it would be better to be as careful as possible.
After talking with Brillai a bit more, Lira went outside to return to the Imperial Palace. Brillaii saw her off on her broomstick.
“Lira.”
“Yes. Great witch.”
“If you have any worries or concerns, feel free to tell me. I will always help you.”
“Thank you. I won’t forget that.”
Lira thanked Brillai. If the witch of Fidelia Forest was the one who saved her from death from witch hunt two decades ago, then it was Brillai who took her away and taught her how to live. If she doesn’t trust her, what kind of witch will she trust?
‘I’ll bring Amelie next time and introduce her to you.’
If it’s a witch, it’s polite to say hello to the great witch. Before that, she’ll have to turn her into a competent witch.
She had a lot of work to do. Lira speed up, determined to teach Amelie as soon as possible.
******
Brillai looked at Lira, who was moving away quickly. Then she took out the pearl earrings that Lira had picked up. Then she skillfully put it in her ear without looking in the mirror. It was a perfect pair with one earring hidden by the hood.
Her hands were soft and moist, and her nails were smooth as she touched the earrings. It was more like a lady’s hand than a witch’s.
******
The Imperial Palace has been busy since early in the morning. There were many people who worked from dawn because they had to finish cleaning and warming the palace before the nobles came.
Serwin’s aides were some of the few bureaucrats that had to work at the same time as them, meaning they kept the same long hours Serwin had. That was until Amelie appeared, they thought they were going to die while helping Serwin, who worked all night long, so just being able to go to work in the morning was a great joy for them.
This morning, the aides gathered in groups in the office. Their most serious problem these days was Serwin.
“It has been three days since His Majesty disappeared. There will be people who think it’s weird and notice something.”
“It seems that Marquis Lewin has already smelled it, because he applied for a meeting this afternoon.”
“What doesn’t he know?”
The aides sighed deeply. This was because Serwin was not found no matter how much they searched.
“Let’s go to Miss Amelie once again today.”
“…Is it possible for that person to be awake?”
“You don’t know yet? Maybe His Majesty left a clue.”
“Okay. Let’s go. Yes.”
The aides made up their minds. Today they have to meet Amelie in person and ask her to help them find Serwin.
They headed resolutely for Amelie’s palace.
Upon arriving at Amelie Palace, Mrs. Enard sighed as she looked at the aides.
“Why did you come so early?”
“I’m sorry that we have a great favor to ask of after meeting Miss Amelie.”
The aides were ready to grab Mrs. Enard’s skirt and hang on. The same was true of Mrs. Enard, who was in trouble. Because Amelie had already made up her mind that she wasn’t going to find Serwin last night.
While the aids were struggling, Amelie brought Serwin into the attic room on her broomstick. Not knowing what was going on downstairs, she put the broom down.
“The broom… I’ll make sure I don’t ride it.”
Serwin murmured melancholy as he looked at the broom. He couldn’t get used to heights at all.
“Isn’t it fun?”
“You fly too high. Isn’t it dangerous?”
They quarreled all the way down to the ground floor.
“I’m hungry. Come to think of it, I ate all right yesterday, but I haven’t eaten anything late at night!”
“I’ll have to tell the chef to cook a bunch of dishes.”
“I hope something delicious comes out.”
Amelie was excited at the thought of eating, and walked with a light step.
“Huh? Your Majesty’s aides are here again. I brought Your Majesty, so don’t worry and eat.”
Amelie’s head was full of breakfast, so she spoke briefly and passed them.
“Mrs, it’s too noisy in the morning.”
Serwin warned Mrs. Enard for Amelie’s peaceful breakfast, and followed after Amelie.
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“I, I apologize.”
“I apologize, Your… Majesty?”
“Your Majesty!”
The aides and Mrs. Enard opened their mouths and looked at Serwin’s back.
“Why did His Majesty come out…from there?”
“I don’t know either. His Majesty obviously wasn’t at the palace yesterday— Oops, I have to order the meal!”
Mrs. Enard rushed to the kitchen.
The aides were left in the lobby on the first floor. No one cared about them.
“I suppose His Majesty has returned… right?”
“Yes, it is. Miss Amelie seems to have brought His Majesty back.”
“Then we won’t have to wander around the palace like a madmen to find His Majesty!”
“We don’t have to hide where His Majesty is!”
The aides later realized that their big concerns had all been resolved. They looked at Amelie’s back in ecstasy. It was difficult to see her back because of the distance, but it was very clear to their eyes.
“Of course! Miss Amelie is powerful when it comes to His Majesty! Thanks to her, I’m feeling so much better these days. When Miss Amelie is in the office, I can breathe!”
“His Majesty’s stubbornness is unusual, but seeing that Miss Amelie went to pick him up and he followed her—”
“If there is any problem related to His Majesty in the future, let’s lie down in front of Miss Amelie.”
“I agree.”
“Ah, His Majesty must come to the office today.”
“Miss Amelie will send His Majesty on her own! Hahaha.”
“That’s right. Hahaha!”
The aides happily returned to the office.
******
Disregarding the early morning crowd Amelie was distracted by the food that filled the table. She usually had a simple breakfast. But today’s breakfast has more fillings like lunch. Mrs. Enard, who noticed that she had been out all night by looking at Amelie’s clothes, hurriedly added extra food.
“Thank you for the food.”
Amelie was the first to pick up a dish similar to quiche. It was a dish made with eggs, potatoes, and bacon in a flour mold and baked. When she took a bite, she felt the firm of the egg, followed by the soft texture of the potato, combined together into a delicious savory filling. When the salty taste of bacon was added to it, it became a perfect bite in itself.
“Your Majesty, please have some. It’s really good.”
Amelie also recommended it to Serwin. Serwin didn’t like to eat, but Amelie ate it so deliciously and happily that his appetite changed.
“Isn’t it good?”
“Yeah.”
When Serwin’s agreement was obtained, Amelie was even more excited. Since the quiche was a bit greasy, her second choice was a salad of chopped tomatoes and vegetables. The freshness of tomatoes and the bitterness of vegetables harmonized on her taste buds.
Other than that, she ate croissants topped with apple jam and small bowls of mushroom soup one after another.
“Ah, that’s right.”
By the time she had almost finished her meal, Amelie had suddenly remembered what she was going to tell him.
“Your Majesty.”
“Why? Do you want to eat more?”
“No, I’ve had enough.”
“Then?”
Serwin crossed his arms and looked at Amelie silently.
“That’s—”
Amelie suddenly stopped talking at his gaze.
‘Why do you look at people like that?’
As his eyes relaxed, the golden eyes were very attractive.
“Uhm, well, I’ve been thinking.”
Amelie managed to keep her mouth shut so as not to show her embarrassment.
“Thinking?”
“When the seal is weakened, it is when His Majesty is swayed by negative emotions. And disaster takes advantage of it.”
“That’s right.”
“Then wouldn’t it be helpful to think of good memories?”
“Good memories?”
“Yeah, happy things, really happy things. When I’m depressed, I feel good when I imagine eating something delicious. Something like that?”
“Do you imagine that?”
Amelia nodded her head.
“My favorite is imagining that I’m eating a whole cake with a spoon.”
She has never really eaten like that. She gets tired quickly and full.
“It’s a cake. I see. What kind of cake do you like?”
Serwin asked earnestly.
“Whipped cream—. No, not me. It’s about Your Majesty.”
Amelie quickly came to her senses as she tried to get caught up in Serwin’s pace.
“What makes you the happiest?”
“Anything I do with you?”
“….”
‘It’s cheating to say stuff like that!’
Amelia’s face grew redder.
“Then what’s the best memory in your life?”
“Hmm…”
Serwin pondered for a moment.
“The first time I met you and the first time you put your hand on my hand. And the last time you stroked my hair. Oh, I liked the first time you held my hand. Do I have to choose one?”
Amelia’s face was bursting red. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes around.
“What if I’m excluded?”
“I’m not sure—”
Serwin thought for a long time. No matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.
The longer the gap, the more Amelie felt sorry for asking the question. He doesn’t have it? really?
‘Well. When I think about how Serwin lived—’
Amelie felt sorry for him.
“Then shall we go somewhere? It might be helpful to make a lot of memories. Oh, of course, Your Majesty must have time.”
Amelia wanted to show him the beauty of the world.
“It’s okay if you can’t go far. It’s also good to have lunch outside like a picnic.”
“Do you like that?”
“Yes. I like it.”
“It must be cold now. We have a greenhouse, so we can eat there.”
“Do you have a greenhouse?”
Serwin nodded. He swallowed the word he was going to say from now on. Amelie will definitely tell him not to do such useless things.
Amelie likes picnics, and she didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
‘All I have to do is give orders. I wonder if two days is enough.’
If his aides were listening, they would have been running around with their hands wrapped around their heads, but Serwin lightly ignored that.
“Oh, we can’t do something I like.”
Amelie came to her senses while imagining a picnic lunch menu.
“I like anything that you like. So picnic, I think that would be good.”
“….”
Amelie was speechless. What’s wrong with Serwin? Why is he talking like that? Like a precise automaton?
“Your Majesty— You weren’t the type to speak straightforwardly like this, were you?”
Amelie asked carefully.
“Didn’t you say I won’t hide anything from now on?”
Serwin replied as if she was rather strange.
“Oh, yes. I did.”
That doesn’t mean he’s going to do it like that!
Amelie screamed inside and fanned her face. At this rate, she’d become so hot headed that she thought she would faint.
Serwin burst into laughter because Amelie was so cute. Thanks to this, Amelie’s face grew redder and redder.
Amelie asked Serwin to stop saying stuff like that, but her expectations were always wrong.