The journey would take less than an hour to fly from where Amelie lived – the Fidelia forest – to the Count’s mansion. It was an indefinite distance; not too far yet not too close. Sooyeon arrived at the mansion before the rough handle of the broomstick could chafe her skin.

Right now, Count Delaheim was just a rural count, but in the past, it was said that his territory was thriving. She recalled his mansion being very large and antique. In particular, the backyard was connected to the Fidelia forest and boasted a beautiful landscape. It looked as if it was covered by a green rug.

Amelie’s family consisted of her father – the Count – and her twin sister, Renee. Her mother was said to have died in an accident when she was a child. The two of them lived together in the Delaheim mansion.

Amelie also resided in the mansion when she was younger. But when her powers as a witch were awoken, she was sent to one of her own kind in the Fidelia forest. Although, since Amelie was an idiot, she couldn’t control her powers. When she left the mansion, Amelie took on her mother’s last name, Beauxbon. The twins, Renee and Amelie, ended up with different last names.

The Count and Renee continued to miss her. After her grandmother – a witch – died, the Count had wished to take Amelie back, but she refused.

‘It’s questionable as to why she would do that… what an idiot. Not completely but, should I just say we still have some who retained the instincts of animals?’

Anyways, it was that kind of family.

Amelie landed lightly in the yard. The suitcase hanging from the end of her broom rattled, emitting a sound. She looked around. No one was in the yard. She could only see the knights guarding the front entrance on the other side.

‘Let’s hurry up, say goodbye and go.’

Amelie straightened the hem of her skirt and knocked.

Knock knock.

When she knocked on the door, she heard hurried steps from inside.

“Your hi– huk…… I’m sorry I’m…… huh?”

Blonde hair and blue eyes. A middle-aged man who looked exactly like how Renee described him in the novel. His eyes opened so wide that they looked like they could pop out at the sight of Amelie.

“Ah, hey…….”

Perhaps it was Count Delaheim, but his reaction was strange. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut yet couldn’t continue speaking.

‘What’s with his reaction? Did I come to the wrong place? Should I just not have come at all?’

In a short moment, thousands of worries flashed through Amelie’s mind. But a voice had come to rescue them.

“Father, I don’t think he’s arrived yet… Oh? Amelie?”

It was Renee Delaheim in a fresh, yellowish-green dress. Her dazzling blonde hair was braided beautifully; she looked like she came straight out of a novel.

‘Wow, as expected of the main character.’

Amelie admired her appearance.

Both the Count and Renee looked at her in surprise. They’d never imagined she would visit them there. Amelie inspected their faces carefully.

“Hello? I just wanted to say hi….”

“O-Our Amelie greeted us…!”

Tears sprung out from the Count’s eyes. The middle-aged man’s tears made Amelie stiffen up.

“Amelie!”

The Count clasped her on her shoulders.

“I can’t believe you came home! I’m so happy……! Do you know how worried I was over leaving you all alone after your grandmother died?!”

“No, I’m not coming back……….”

The Count held her a bit too tightly. Sooyeon had never been held this way, in a father’s embrace.

‘W-What am I supposed to do in this type of situation?’

She was suffocating, but she couldn’t say it aloud. She couldn’t think of anything to say. Renee, yet again, saved Amelie who was becoming increasingly pale.

“Father. She can’t breathe. Plus, we have to listen to her story.”

“Right. You’re right. I’m sorry, Amelie. I was just so happy to see you….”

His voice trembled with emotions, and his blue eyes filled with tears.

‘H-How can he even make such a fuss?’

Amelie rolled her eyes at the awkwardness.

From what Renee described, the Count was a noble with dignity. Although he loved his daughters very much, he wasn’t the type to be flippant.

No matter how many rose-colored lenses her memories were seen in, wasn’t this a bit too different?

“Come on, let’s go in. Let’s sit down and talk calmly.”

The Count took Amelie’s hand and entered the mansion. Renee followed and handed over the broom and baggage to the maid.

“Have you eaten yet? It’s lunch time soon; I wish we could eat together…… Of all times, a guest is coming over.”

“Guest?”

Come to think of it, she’d heard something like that. She remembered the Count’s letter saying something along the lines of them not being able to come over for the time being because something important happened to the family.

They were both dressed up. Renee wore makeup and jewelry – something she normally didn’t bother with.

The employees were also dressed in their neatest clothing. There was tension on their faces. It was such a tragic disharmony compared to greeting a guest. Like they were going to war.

‘I think I came at the wrong time.’

“Then I’ll just…… I’ll leave and come back later.”

Amelie tried to step back quickly. Then, the Count took her hand.

“It’s fine! You have nothing to worry about. You can just idle around in your room for a bit. The guest is only staying for a day; you won’t run into them.”

The Count was scared Amelie would leave because of the guest.

“You just came home after fourteen years. You can’t just leave like this, okay?”

The Count looked at her anxiously. Amelie was slightly shaken.

‘It’s been fourteen years and you just don’t want to let her go, do you?’

“Who on earth is your guest?”

“That’s…… I’m afraid you’d be scared if I told you…….”

Then, running in from the outside, a servant yelled with a tired and blue face.

“His Majesty is passing through the front gate!”

At that moment, the hall went silent. She couldn’t believe her ears.

‘His Majesty? Like that ‘His Majesty’?’

There’s only one person here worthy of being called ‘His Majesty’. The man called the cruelest Emperor in history.

Serwon Henesia.

The worst villain in the novel. The man who was destined to kill Amelie in a year’s time.

‘Why is the Emperor coming to the mansion instead of the forest?!’

Amelie panicked. She left the forest to escape him, yet he appeared here. This is ridiculous!

The first thing that awoke her from her state was the butler.

“Count! Miss Renee! Come on! Everyone, to your places!”

The employees began to line up in the hallway. The fact that the Emperor was coming made them all look half out of their minds. The feeble servants were already in a mild panic from hearing the word ‘Emperor’ and didn’t know what to do. That’s how infamous Serwon was.

“Miss Amelie, leave by that door! Come on!”

The butler took care of the servants as he pointed at a small door at the back of the stairs.

When Amelie left the mansion, the Count omitted her name. Although she was treated as a lady, on paper, she was not. In short, that meant she was in an ambiguous position. It would have been a problem if Amelie were to be seen in the hallway for seemingly no reason.

“Let’s talk later. Even though you came home after a long time, I’m sorry, my daughter. But if the Emperor harms you, it’ll be a big deal. We would never be ashamed of you…….”

“I already know that. Go, quickly.”

Amelie cut him off. They didn’t have time; she needed to run.

The Count hugged Amelie one more time before hurrying on, Renee stood besides him. Amelie ran towards the door the butler pointed at. The front door was opening.

‘Quickly!’

Fortunately, Amelie was good at running and was able to reach the door quickly.

But when she grabbed the doorknob and twisted it, the door was locked.

“Ack, I’m doomed.”

Amelie looked at her surroundings. There were some potted plants, but they were too small for an adult woman to hide behind.

While she was wandering about, the front door was opening. Tension hung in the hall. Slowly, the door opened. Light poured in and gradually, the silhouette of a person came into view.

‘What am I going to do? I need to hide, anywhere………!’

Instantly, an idea flashed through her head.

‘Right! This is it!’

Amelie recited the spell. With a small ‘pong’, Amelie disappeared. Instead, there was a tiny bird left in her spot. The bird had soft pink feathers and round, mint eyes.

Animals, turning into one was also a witch’s spell. Amelie was so inexperienced that she only turned into a tiny one, but it was the most helpful force at her disposal at that moment. She ran and hid behind a pot.

‘Phew, I lived.’

Amelie used the pot as her shield, poking her head out. The door opened and a huge man came into the mansion. He looked strangely relaxed despite his quick steps. His golden eyes observed the hall.

When thinking of gold, you think of a pretty colour that shines. Serwon’s eyes didn’t shine. They looked cold, only possessing a metallic feel to them. He simply looked around the hall, yet everyone’s faces were already turning pale.

“Count Delaheim. This is a gift. I couldn’t just come empty-handed.”

Serwon threw what he was holding.

Tok.

Roll.

Hair, eyes, nose, mouth. It was a human head. Dark red blood spilled across the swept and polished white marble.

[T/N] just so yall know i love this man

[P/N] i second that