Chapter 31

‘What is this?’

Serwin was annoyed and called towards Amelie.

“Amelie.”

“Huh! Your Majesty!”

Amelie took a step back in surprise. Serwin appeared as she was seriously considering going around in secret. Her heart seemed to sink for a brief moment as she had been caught inside.

Serwin grabbed her hand, but not so tightly that she felt pain. It was an unusually urgent gesture for him. The two made eye contact while holding hands. As a result, there was a brief period of silence.

“……”

“……”

Amelie was blinded by anger then and embarrassed by her daytime behavior, and her conscience was pierced by what she had done behind Serwin’s back. She couldn’t face him because of the guilt she felt. She lowered her gaze and focused solely on her hands. Amelie’s hand was gripped tightly in his larger, firmer hands.

Serwin couldn’t speak as fluently as he usually could. He tried to understand Amelie’s condition as he looked down at her round head. It seems that she is feeling better, but it is difficult to see if her anger towards Serwin has resolved or not.

‘There was no eye contact at all.’

Serwin frowned his brow. He felt stuffy on the inside. It felt like he may need to do something more, but what? He had no idea what was going on.

Serwin, on the other hand, was used to keeping his emotions hidden. He brought it up in a calm manner.

“Do you want to go outside?”

Amelie raised her head and looked Serwin in the eyes.

“Outside?”

“Outside the Palace.”

“Of course.”

Amelie nodded in response to the unexpected question. Her hair swayed slightly as it tangled in the wind.

Serwin casually tried to tuck her hair behind her ears and stopped.

‘Touching a woman…’

He didn’t think he would’ve said something like that while stroking someone’s hair as he pleased. Serwin quickly took a step back and lowered his hand.

“I haven’t gone on an inspection of the capital in a long time. If you want, I can take you with me.”

“Really?”

Amelie was totally shocked.

What happened all of a sudden? Why? What’s the matter with him, who refuses to let her enter and exit the Imperial Palace whenever she pleases?

Many questions have been raised. Serwin’s response was a little subdued in front of the startled mint-colored eyes.

“You must change into an animal. Because we have no idea who is watching. However, once you arrive at the market, it is okay to go as a person. There won’t be anything around because it’s nighttime, but it’s still a night in the capital city, so it’s worth seeing.”

He claims she can even walk around as a person. Amelie was very curious about his intentions. Serwin was aware of Amelie’s question, but he had nothing to say. He could have irritated her even more if he had said something inappropriate. As a result, Serwin chose to ask first.

“Don’t you like it? If you don’t like it, I’ll do it alone—”

“No!”

Amelie responded quickly. She couldn’t pass up the chance to proudly tour the capital with Serwin’s help.

“I’d like to go. Let’s go together. What should I be preparing? Do you want to go to the bedroom?”

Amelie took a step forward, as if Serwin’s words would change. Serwin appeared to be dragged by her as she held his hand. Amelie’s grip on the hand opposite her was exceptionally strong. Her boundless energy was transmitted through her hands. Serwin laughed because it was strangely funny.

Many people who were watching both of them turned to stone.

The Emperor burst out laughing! He wasn’t laughing to mock or pretending to laugh, he just laughed! As if he were a human being!

People stood blankly for a while, trying to decide whether they could see clearly with their own eyes or not, they hurriedly followed after the two of them had moved away for a long time.

******

Amelie and Serwin are ready to go to bed separately.

Because Serwin should not be known to have left the palace, the two planned to pretend to be asleep and sneak out.

Milena spoke quietly to Mrs Enard and Charlotte, who were tidying up the bedroom and helped Amelie in putting on her pajamas.

“I brought clothes for you to wear in the bedroom and to go out. Because it’s my clothes, it’s just a regular dress, but I think it’d be better for you if you went out. Nobody will notice if one of my clothes is missing.”

“Thank you.”

Milena didn’t overlook anything, so she was trustworthy. Amelie asked her questions honestly.

“What’s the matter with His Majesty all of a sudden?”

Serwin had either double- or triple-blocked Amelie’s leave from the palace. He had no idea Amelie had never tried to go out. But she wasn’t expecting him to tell her to go outside first. It was unimaginable.

“Well, I don’t know because the opponent is His Majesty but—”

“……”

“Maybe he’s trying to cheer you up?”

“Ey, His Majesty wouldn’t do that!”

It’s not anyone else, it’s Serwin.

“Consider whether your opponent is not His Majesty. You stated that His Majesty would cause you stress during the day. So, in situations like this, a normal person would try to make you feel better. Especially if they feel sorry.”

“But it is His Majesty, not anyone else. Will he feel bad?”

“….No, I don’t think so. You’re right.”

Milena abruptly rescinded her claim.

“Whatever the reason is, have fun. It’s your first time looking around the capital.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Amelie agreed with a nod of her head. Serwin’s motives didn’t matter to her right now. She was ecstatic to be leaving the Palace.

******

Serwin and Amelie were the only ones in the parlor. The two went into the bedroom, turned off the lights, changed into outdoor clothes, and left the room. Amelie transformed into a rabbit and ran around in Serwin’s arms. She wished she could turn into a rat small enough to fit in his pocket, but she couldn’t.

Serwin hugged the soft, hot rabbit and drove his horse to the edge of the palace. Thanks to a wide-bodied cape, no one knew he was hugging a pink rabbit while riding with such a scary face.

When Serwin tied the horse to a deserted alley, Amelie immediately returned into human form.

“Shall we go?”

Amelie gladly held Serwin’s hand as he reached out for hers.

A completely different environment emerged from the deadly quiet alley.

It was in the shape of a large square. Yellow magic lights lit up the road, and people strolled leisurely along it. The buildings surrounding the square had a variety of styles, which gave a rough idea of when the building was constructed.

The Imperial palace’s history was reflected in the Empire’s capital. There were no proper cities or countries on the continent until the first Emperor defeated the disaster. As a result, the capital was the continent’s first city.

People’s lives have changed over time. The appearance of the capital has also changed, but there are still many traces of the past. The road from the square to the church building, in particular, felt like a historical site.

“It’s night, but it’s also crowded and bright! There are stores that are open.”

Amelie cast a glance around her head. Business was brisk on the first floor of each building, and street vendors could be found in a variety of locations.

“I’m telling them to keep the lights on late at night, even if no one is around. This is the capital’s heart.”

“Aha, that’s symbolic.”

Amelie walked admiringly toward the square. She felt as if she were walking through a medieval European city. The palace was also gleaming, but the square was even more impressive because people’s footprints were still visible. Amelia’s mouth dropped open in admiration.

“Your Majesty, that man has blue hair.”

What exactly do you mean, natural blue hair? Nobody in Dellahaim has that color of hair. In Korea, it was the same. Amelie was reminded once more that she was in a fantasy world.

“I’m guessing he’s from the North. Blue hair is common in the North.”

Serwin replied with a sour face. Because he didn’t like the way Amelie looked at another man. In any case, Amelie was distracted enough to look around.

“Look at that, Your Majesty! It’s a wizard.”

Following her gaze was a wizard who performed tricks. The stringed instrument he was playing made a cheerful sound, and small petals fluttered. It was a common sight for new wizards when they first started earning money.

The people of the capital passed by him without a glance. But Amelie stopped walking and watched his magic.

“I’ve never seen magic before.”

“You use it yourself.”

“What I use is witch magic. The wizard’s magic is different! It’s amazing that he can use such beautiful magic.”

Is it amazing?

Serwin saw the petals fluttering in a sour way. When compared to the Imperial wizards, who only demonstrated useful magic, such useless magic was refreshing.

“That’s different.”

“Right? I think it’s a good idea.”

The two resumed their walk. Amelie waved Serwin’s hand around, pointing to anything that piqued her interest. What was so strange and admirable about her was that she frequently stopped in her steps. She was able to see everything in the square because of him.

Serwin was more interested in Amelie than in the scenery. She was amazed by the trash cans on the road as any tourist would be. Even if Serwin told her it was a trash can, all she could think was, ‘the trash can is pretty!’

Serwin was always in working spirit as he walked to and from the square. He’d usually look around the square for any ominous signs, and he’d occasionally pass through the alleyways and into the pubs to hear the story of a strange drunkard.

Is there any neglect in city management, whether people are living comfortably, or if anything absurd happened? Everything in his vision appeared to be a job. He had never considered this street to be beautiful or cool.

But as he followed her gaze, the familiar cityscape began to change.

‘Was there something like this here?’

In keeping with Amelie’s rhythm, he also looked at the city as a traveler, not as a manager.

“Let’s go over there!”

Amelie was excited when Serwin took it well. Amelie and Serwin walked as far as they could, watching or talking to each other. He smiled brightly despite the strange scenario.

******

The time to return came quickly.

‘I’m going to have to rebuild the broomstick. I can go as far as I want with it.’

Amelie consoled herself in this way, but she felt bad. Because there was a significant difference between sneaking out and going out with Serwin. Amelie bravely asked, looking up at his side.

“Do you often come out of the Palace, Your Majesty?”

“Sometimes?”

He looked down at Amelie with a sly grin. It was because the question’s intent was obvious.

“Why do you ask? Do you want me to bring you back next time?”

‘Anyway, he’s a quick learner!’

Amelie nodded sincerely.