Chapter 61

The lake was located right next to the party hall. The road to the lake was dark and gloomy, and it seemed to be the reason why it was not managed for a long time.

As she approached the lake, she felt sick. Suddenly, she became anxious, her breathing became short, and her heart beat fast. Amelie hurried her steps.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

The moment she stood in front of Renia, Amelie realized the reason. Black smoke was seen around Renia. It was scattered around like fog, but wrapped around Renia’s body as if it were hugging her.

‘That’s—the energy of disaster. But it’s a little different from what I saw in the Fidelia Forest.’

When the disaster took control of Serwin’s body, the energy of the disaster was darker and more intense. The energy of disaster at that time had the destructive power to corrupt everything that it touched.

‘It’s not to that extent right now.’

It was similar to what she saw in the mansion before the disaster took control of Serwin’s body.

Amelie nervously looked at Renia. Her condition was a little strange. Her eyes weren’t focused, and her mouth was hanging open slightly. At the same time, her expression, which looked vacant yet joyful, added to the unpleasantness.

‘She’s holding a knife.’

Amelie swallowed despite her very dry mouth. She couldn’t guess at all how the situation would go.

“Young Lady Manvers—Right?”

Amelie asked carefully.

“You’re asking something weird. If I’m not Renia Manvers, who am I?”

It was a little hoarse, but it was definitely Renia’s voice.

“Why are you holding a knife? It’s dangerous. Put it down.”

“No, I can’t kill you without this.”

At the moment, Amelie doubted her ears if she heard it wrong. Renia’s tone was too plain, as if mentioning the weather.

“If it weren’t for you, I’d be the Empress.”

“I wish I could be—.”

“I can do anything to become the Empress.”

Renia picked up a knife. The blade flashed red as if it had blood on it.

“So—What are you going to do to me now—?”

When Renia smiled brightly, Amelie’s face turned pale.

“Think again. I’m going to leave anyway, so I have nothing to do with Renia becoming Empress.”

“Don’t lie. You’re going to leave that position!? How hard did I try to get it!? I’ve dedicated my entire life to it!!!!!”

Renia suddenly rushed at Amelie. She swung her knife recklessly. Amelie narrowly avoided the knife as she frantically backed away.

‘At this rate, I think I’m going to get stabbed?’

It was a sharp attack for a woman who had never lifted anything heavier than a bread knife in her life.

“Do you think you can become the Empress if you kill me? You can’t do that. Do you think His Majesty will keep you alive?”

Amelie tried to stop her using logic.

“Then let’s die together.”

Amelie’s jaw dropped.

‘This woman is out of her mind right now! I need to use magic.’

Fortunately, there was no one around. It would take a little while to stop Renia using magic, but there was no other way.

Amelie called for the wind. The black smoke surrounding Renia shook and shuddered but that was all. The black smoke gathered around Renia and did not fly away in the wind.

‘Huh?’

Amelie was perplexed. The black smoke that filled Serwin’s room at the Dellahaim mansion was easily swept away by her wind magic, but now the smoke was staying despite the intense gust Amelie created.

Meanwhile, Renia continued her attack.

‘Fine then!’

Amelie ran towards Renia. Grasping her wrist that was holding the knife, Amelie hugged Renia tightly. It was the way she saved Serwin from the disaster in Fidelia Forest, it might work here too.

“Calm down for now. It’s good to be ambitious. Yes, it’s great to be the Empress and enjoy power. Everyone else is at your feet.”

Amelie talked and put her hands on Renia’s body, but the black smoke only flowed around them and didn’t disappear. Renia’s rebellion grew stronger.

‘There’s no effect!’

At that moment, Renia got enough space to lift the knife and stab towards Amelie’s back.

‘I can’t avoid it!’

With a soft Pong sound, Amelie transformed. As she turned into a small rabbit, she narrowly avoided the knife.

“Rabbit?”

Renia’s eyes widened. The rabbit with pink fur looked familiar. The last time she collapsed in the imperial palace, it was the rabbit who helped her.

Amelie jumped and made it to a safe distance, she  then returned to being human.

“Y, you. What is this? That rabbit is you?”

Renia was shocked. Come to think of it, the pink fur or bright mint eyes were the same.

‘Huh? The black smoke is breaking?’

Amelie’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘If she lets go of the thoughts of becoming an Empress, will her mind become a little more sane?’

Amelie came up with a different strategy.

“Renia. It doesn’t matter if you become the Empress. No matter what you do, you have to keep an eye on the Emperor, and the nobles will always try to bite you.”

“Still, the only way out is to become the Empress. To gain freedom. I’m not going to let anyone control my life. Once I’m the Empress, everything is—”

“No! Then you won’t be free at all any more! If you become the Empress, will your father or brother let you go? They’ll be holding onto you just to use you more! It would be better if you just left the Count!”

Amelie desperately persuaded Renia.

“Leave that kind of family and live freely alone! Renia has good skills and is smart, so you can live alone!”

“—You want me to abandon the Count? You want me to give up my status and privileges?”

The black smoke deepened, and Renia picked up the knife again.

“Ah, is that too much?”

It would be unfair to leave behind a good family and wealth and run away to live in squalor.

“Then I guess you can become the Count. It seems that women can inherit the title too.”

Even Renee was the successor to the Count in her family. In most aristocratic families, the son succeeds the heir, but in some cases, the daughter becomes the heir.

“I’ll be the Count of Manvers?”

Renia was surprised and asked Amelie as if trying to confirm. It was something she had never thought of before.

As Amelie said, Renia deserved the title of Count Manvers. She was the eldest daughter of Count Manvers and the child of his wife. She was, in a way, a more legitimate heir than Gilbert.

However, she was taught from an early age that it was her duty to cultivate beauty and culture and marry the son of a famous family. The Count was greatly angered when she showed interest in her family affairs, and Renia saw that becoming Empress was her only chance to prove her worth.

‘It’s opening up.’

Amelie carefully approached her.

“Now, put down your knife. Think about your future.”

Renia stepped back. Her hands trembled with a knife. She made eye contact with Amelie.

“His Majesty won’t let me live.”

“I can stop that.”

“Do you think I will have a different future?”

“Of course.”

It wasn’t only because she’s trying to escape the situation, Amelie was sincere. Even if Renia wasn’t on the right path now, another path would always appear.

“So, don’t make irreversible choices.”

The tip of Renia’s knife fell to the floor. Amelie took a step closer and stood in front of Renia. She was still captivated by the black smoke, but at least her eyes were clear.

‘I just need to get rid of the black smoke.’

Amelie reached out to Renia. But at that moment, Renia grabbed Amelie.

“….!”

Amelie’s eyes widened. Renia’s eyes were pure black. And the black smoke covered Renia’s mouth. A murky voice that seemed to tear her vocal cords came out from Renia’s mouth.

[I can’t control my heart until the end, so I’m getting angry.]

Amelie’s face turned pale. It was a terrible voice that she will never forget.

“Disaster—!”

Kiiik, kik, kiik.

The noise rang like nails scratching against chalkboard cutting through the air as Renia’s mouth was forced to move in a mockery of laughter. Along with it, the black smoke fluttered around them both.

Stab.

Renia stabbed Amelie with a knife and pushed her into the lake. With the sudden pain, Amelie’s body lurched heavily for a moment.

‘No!’

Renia ran again towards Amelie, who was barely holding on, and Amelie fell into the lake along with Renia.

Splash!

The water in the lake was as cold as ice. Cold permeated every cell in Amelie’s body.

Black smoke spread widely in the lake like ink falling into the water.

‘Ugh, first I need to go up.’

Renia was in danger of losing her mind, and Amelie was getting out of breath. They were both in danger if she didn’t get out of the lake quickly enough. Amelie struggled, kicking the water with her feet to rise above the water surface.

Strangely, however, her body gradually sank below. It feels like something is pulling her from below. Amelie looked back. The lake was black and dark enough that she couldn’t see the bottom. The darkness held Amelie and didn’t let her go.

‘I have to go up.’

There was also a limit to holding her breath.

“Uhh!”

The water of the lake flowed into her mouth. Goosebumps covered her whole body as she shuddered in revulsion. It felt similar to when she drank poison.

‘The water tastes weird, too. Is it poison—?’

The sensation in her mouth was gradually disappearing.

Amelie chanted the spell desperately as she slowly began to suffocate. As she opened her lips, more water entered her mouth. Her tongue was paralyzed and unable to move properly, but she managed to complete her spell.

The calm waters of the lake began to churn. Like when water boils, bubbles of air are formed and gushes toward the surface of the water.

‘Ugh, a little bit more—!’

Amelie did her best to purify as much of the darkness as she could. Black smoke began to turn gray little by little as it was swept away. As the force that was pulling Amelie weakened, Amelie and Renia’s bodies began to rise to the surface little by little.

‘Ugh, just a little bit, hurry—!’

She felt a squeezing pain in her chest because she couldn’t breathe properly. She was gradually losing her mind. The pulling force was weakening, but she could hardly move upwards.

As the power of the magic that pushed her up weakened, her body began to sink again little by little.

‘Ah, more—’

Amelie desperately reached out her hand, but there was nothing to hold. Her body began to sink, and her mind became distracted.

‘Is this really the end?’

At that moment, a strong force pulled her hand.