Chapter 15 : The Tyrant's Tranquilizer 

Translated by Tam

Edited by Genie

Serwin grabbed Amelie's hand and didn't want to let go. The knights lifted him and she almost dropped his hand but Amelie, unconsciously anxious about how the disaster might reappear, went to Serwin's room while holding his hand. As the knights laid Serwin on the bed, Amelie grabbed a chair next to the bed and sat down.

Ha…

Amelie breathed deeply. She still didn't quite understand what happened.

'What the h.e.l.l did I do? Does this man know what that was?'

Amelie looked at Serwin. He was fast asleep with his eyes closed. His usual cold expression was nowhere to be seen, and his softened face was as still as a statue. Looking at him like this, she suddenly realized that he was handsome.

Amelie thought this situation was very ironic. She's holding the hand of a man who was strangling her until just now, and she's enjoying his face with ease.

'What am I going to do now?—'

The reason Serwin has been searching for her so far was probably related to the disaster sealed in his body. It's likely that as soon as he wakes up he will try to take her to the imperial palace.

'As originally written—'

Amelie tried to run away from him. Nevertheless, the fact that they met like this is a divergence from the original work. In novels, no matter how hard the main characters try to escape their fate, they often failed to prevent the original story.

Then the only future ahead of her was death.

'I've been so complacent.'

Suyeon has been hoping for nothing from anyone her whole life. She eats with her family, takes a walk, and feels comforted. Abandoned as soon as she was born, she had always longed and dreamed of having a bright family. Perhaps that's why after possessing Amelie, Suyeon was so excited that she had a family that she couldn't judge the situation calmly.

Despite knowing that she was in danger, she said she would be fine because she had magic so she didn't need to leave the mansion. At that time, the wrong choice created the current situation.

'Should I run away now?'

Amelie stood up impulsively. She let go of Serwin's hand and walked to the window. Opening the window, a cold night breeze touched her cheek. The night was deep and the forest was dark. No matter how much the Emperor's knights fly and crawl, they will not be able to catch Amelie, the witch of the Fidelia Forest.

'If I run away, what happens to my father and Renee? What about the Emperor? What about the disaster?'

When the disaster is unleashed the continent would be destroyed. The disaster she saw with her own eyes today was beyond what she imagined while reading the novel. Does it mean that she would be the only one who runs away alone? A world where her family and hometown are destroyed?

Amelie hesitated. Then, Serwin hugged her from behind.

“Your Majesty?”

When did he wake up? Serwin's body was hard and eerily cold. Amelie was embarra.s.sed and tried to escape from his arms.

“Let me go!”

He hugged her tighter as Amelie struggled. He wrapped his muscled, thick arms around Amelie's shoulder and rested his forehead on her shoulder. Amelie's back and his body met tightly.

'Uh, come on— Did you try to catch me who tried to run away?'

Amelie screamed inside. It is the first time that she has been held back so desperately by a man other than her father. But it's not exciting at all! Rather, it is heavy and suffocating as if she were stuck between rocks.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I didn't mean to run away. I'm serious. Ugh—!”

Amelie made a lot of excuses. She tried to open the window because it was hot, she saw something outside, etc. But Serwin did not answer back. As if he were asleep.

Serwin was having a very comfortable and happy time. It was the first time in his 27 years of life that he rested so freely. He lived a disciplined life since he was young, but after sealing the disaster on his body, it got worse. In order not to be taken away by a disaster, he had to always be on guard as if he were in the middle of a battlefield at any time. As a result, insomnia became a part of life, and as time went by, his personality became cranky and sensitive.

'I need to get my head on straight—'

While thinking so, he was relieved by the special scent of Amelie filling his lungs when he breathed in. It's okay. If he's next to her, he doesn't have to worry about the disaster.

Serwin fell into his first deep sleep in over two decades. At one point, however, the scent surrounding him faded away. He instinctively chased after her and hugged her tightly so she would no longer move away.

'It's nice.'

When he buried his nose into the back of her neck, a deeper scent filled his senses. After coming down to Delahaim, it was the scent that had been teasing him without being caught. He was the one hugging, but he felt like he was surrounded by a bigger version of Amelie's bird form. Serwin hugged her tighter as if he had missed her. The body that filled his arms was warm and satisfying.

“Finally, I caught you.”

Serwin murmured quietly.

“Yes, I've been caught— so please let me go.”

Amelie sighed. Serwin seemed to be out of his mind anyway.

Only then did she realize that wasn't listening to her at all and she gave up on running away. As she relaxed, Serwin relaxed his arms. It was only a little bit, but she was able to breathe.

Then, the door opened and Ethan came in. He discovered Amelie and Serwon and froze. The knights who followed him were in no different condition. They froze as if they had seen a ghost, and only their eyes were wide open.

“Uh, uh— We are sorry to disturb you!”

“It's not like that—”

Ethan closed the door quickly and went out.

An excuse could not reverse the misunderstanding. Amelie sighed.

“Your Majesty, let me go now. This will be a dark history later.”

“I warned you.”

Amelie decided to give Serwin a bigger dark history.

Amelie left the room with Serwin attached to her back. It took a little while, but Serwin was not stubborn and followed well, so it was worth walking. When she opened the door, the Knight's eyes were on her. She felt how enthusiastic their eyes were and where they were looking.

“Oh…”

There was silence in the living room.

'Look, look at this! Let's make more of a dark history!'

It was Amelie's own timid revenge. Ethan noticed and quickly grasped Serwin's condition. He was so embarra.s.sed earlier that he didn't know, but Serwin didn't look like he was opening his eyes.

“I am sorry on behalf of His Majesty.”

“It's okay sir Ethan.”

“First, sit down.”

Ethan pointed to the sofa. The knights jumped up and gave up their seats. When Amelie tried to sit on the sofa, Serwin instinctively sat next to her. His arms still held her, and his squinted eyes were fixed on Ethan.

“Your Majesty, are you awake?”

“Maybe.”

“If I talk to you, will you answer me?”

“I'm not sure.”

Ethan looked at Serwin with a vague face.

“Your Majesty, all the scattered knights have gathered. Shall we get ready to go back to the palace?”

The knights waited with impatience for Serwin's answer.

Serwin was silent. It was his first time relaxing in two decades, so he only had an instinct that he didn't want to miss this comfort. Perhaps that's why he only clings to Amelie, but he didn't even listen to other people's words.

“Your Majesty, Sir Ethan is asking.”

Amelie, who couldn't stand to see it so she stepped in. But Serwin closed his eyes again and leaned his head on Amelie's shoulder. It seems that the sound of breathing is getting slower and he's about to fall asleep again.

“You don't listen at all.”

“I'm really sorry. How can I do this… It's the first time I've ever been like this. I wouldn't fall over even if you force me off of you…”

Ethan couldn't hide his embarra.s.sment. He would be the first to see Serwin's appearance. Serwin has never been distracted until now. As he grew up, he became very harsh and cruel, but he did not lose his dignity as an emperor.

'When his eyes are revealed… The Emperor's appearance is so untouchable…'

It was like a cat drunk on catnip.

At a time when everyone was troubled, Renee appeared. She was just coming out of the kitchen after making tea for Amelie when she saw Serwin and opened her eyes wide. Who is this crazy guy hugging right now!

Renee put down the teacup and pulled out the sword.

“Get your hands off my sister!”

Renee suddenly ran toward Serwin. However, she was caught by knights before he even got near him.

“I'm sorry, lady. This is not because His Majesty was being improper, there is a different meaning—”

“Please calm down—”

The knights did not respond strongly because they knew how Renee felt. During the disturbance, Renee's liveliness roused Serwin from his drowsiness. Serwin's clear head quickly grasped the situation as soon as reason returned.

Forests, disasters, the appearance of witches, fights, faints, and he who was chasing after Amelia.

Serwin was stunned by the memories that came to mind. Oh, my G.o.d. Serwon Hennia, no one else, showed people this stupidness. He felt like he was possessed by something.

The first person that noticed Serwin's change was Amelie. She turned her head and looked up at Serwin.

“…Your Majesty?”

At the moment of eye contact, Serwin looked at himself reflected in her clear eyes. It was a face that was more dim than he imagined.

Serwin jumped to his feet.

“Your Majesty, are you awake!”

When Ethan shouted gladly, all the knights eyes were on Serwin. Serwin felt embarra.s.sed for the first time in his life. He wanted to run away like this, but he couldn't show embarra.s.sment in front of the knights.

Serwin created a shameless face as if nothing had happened. His poker face was excellent.

“We're going back to the palace. Get ready.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Looking around the knights, he looked at Amelie for the last time.

“I'm afraid we have something else to talk about.”

He said with a smile. Amelie looked like she had never seen it before. It was not a lazy and crazed smile made by the disaster, nor a comfortable smile like when he was looking at her as a bird.

'This is how you usually smile.'

It was as smooth as a picture, but it was a smile with a sense of distance.