“All right, do whatever you want. I’ll let you do anything.” Serwin finally said.

“Really?”

“There’s a condition instead. I’ll throw a party to officially introduce you as my guest. You said you could be on your own, correct? I’m hoping you don’t disappoint me at the party.”

“Yes. I like that!”

Amelie answered without hesitation.

“I’m not going to help.” Serwin said grumpyly.

“Yes! Don’t worry!”

Amelie smiled brightly. Serwin was confident that her smile would not last long. He thought of the future where Amelie would cry and ask for help, he expected it to be pleasant, but it didn’t make him feel any better.

*******

People followed her persistently until she disappeared into her palace. As if to make sure she’s really going into this building. They were about to follow her inside if the knights didn’t stop them at the main gate.

Amelie didn’t sigh until she was completely inside the palace.

“Miss Amelie, please have some tea.”

Milena brought her a cup of tea. She received a cup of tea because she was thirsty.

“Ugh, they’re following me like crazy.”

“Things are only going to get worse in the future.”

Mrs Enard mentioned. Amelie hated it. But she couldn’t curse because she had dug her own grave.

“Miss Amelie, all eyes will be on you. They’ll be watching everything you do. We need to find a teacher as soon as possible.”

“An etiquette teacher?” Amelie tilted her head.

“Yes, you must learn the etiquette and culture of the Imperial family from now on.”

“Do I have to do that?”

“Without a doubt! It’s basic! The nobles are gossip-crazed hyenas. They’ll try to bite anything. You’ll be easy prey if you don’t know basic manners!”

Mrs Enard spoke passionately.

‘There will be less time to look for information about the disaster—’

She wondered if she had dug her own grave too deeply this time.

“I’ll look into the teachers. I know who the best teachers are.”

“Then please look after me.”

Milena loosened her hair and removed her shoes while Amelie sipped her tea.

“We need to get ready for bed— Where has Charlotte gone?”

Mrs Enard made the maid prepare her bed.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Charlotte for a while.”

“I know. We were together until we left earlier, but she disappeared at some point, so I don’t remember what happened.” Mrs Enard said.

“She must be hanging out with the knights somewhere else. That is frequently the case.”

Milena explained. Mrs Enard agreed with her nod.

“I’m concerned that we’ll have more visitors starting tomorrow. We need to hire more maids.”

“May I also leave that to Mrs Enard?”

“Sure. Just leave it to me. I know a lot of kids who are hardworking and friendly.” Mrs Enard said with confidence.

******

Inside a fast-running carriage Charlotte nervously bit her lower lip. She was in a rush, was Count Manverse really that far away? She appears to have been traveling for some time, but she is only halfway there.

‘I’m not ignoring contact from Young Lady Renia!’

The next empress was Renia Manverse. Count Manverse backed her wholeheartedly, and the lady, too, was trying her utmost to become Empress.

Charlotte was able to get close to Renia because of her work at the Emperor’s palace before serving Amelie, and she was watching Serwin’s every move with interest in order to provide information for Renia well.

Charlotte provided Renia with information about the Emperor, and Renia provided her with a connection to the Count. Renia’s connection was greatly useful to Charlotte, a local aristocrat.

However, as the workplace changed, things changed. Charlotte has been ignoring Renia’s contact since her workplace changed. She thought Reina would ask what was in the Palace the Emperor visited every night and who he was looking after.

‘It was the Emperor himself who ordered us to silence! We’ll all die together the day Amelie’s identity is revealed. I can’t answer her directly, so I’m forced to avoid her.’

She would not have ignored Renia’s contact if she had known Amelie would leave the palace on her own and reveal herself.

With belated regret, Charlotte dashed to pick up the pieces.

‘Before anything else, we need to talk about Amelie. That way, I’ll be able to cover up what I’ve been hiding!’

Her family was aristocratic, but her father was only the second son. After her father died, she was unable to enjoy even half of what she did. As a result, she desired to marry a wealthy aristocratic man such as Count Manverse. She was also working as a maid in the Imperial palace in preparation for her marriage. Because they were well-dressed and had connections with high aristocrats and Imperial families, imperial palace maids were popular bridesmaids. If Renia’s network had been included, Charlotte could have married into a better family than her own.

She arrived at Manverse County after Charlotte hurried the coachman a few more times. Charlotte threw herself out and dashed to the mansion. Charlotte was led to Renia’s bedroom by the Count’s maid.

‘I guess no one came before me? I’m glad.’

Charlotte followed the maid, organizing her dress.

Renia was sitting with a bored expression when she entered the room. Renia had as many as five handmaidens following her. The maid used scissors to carefully cut the ends of her hair, while another two maids, one for each hand, trimmed her nails smoothly.

Charlotte looked at her longingly. Renia was adorned in the room of her mansion like a piece of ivory. She was like a finely crafted ornament that had been meticulously ground and polished.

“Sit down, Charlotte.”

“Yes, Young Lady Renia.”

Despite their strict hierarchical relationship, the two appeared to be friends. Charlotte quickly sat in the seat that Renia had been given permission to take. Renia sat across from it.

“Young Lady. I’m here to tell you a very important story.”

Charlotte rushed out carefully. She pondered how she would say something without hurting her feelings.

“Is this the story?”

Renia smacked a small folded piece of paper in Charlotte’s face. The paper landed on Charlotte’s lap after being slapped on the cheek. An ominous story passed by. Charlotte quickly opened the paper.

[What the Emperor had hidden, a young woman, appeared in the Palace, assumed to be very close, and His Majesty smiled at her]

“This—”

“You arrived here on short notice a while ago. Isn’t His Majesty’s lover in the palace where you work?”

Renia appeared to have been informed of Amelie’s existence before her. Charlotte was already a step behind.

“Young Lady, that’s why I—”

Slap!

Renia slapped Charlotte across the face with her acrimonious hand.

“How dare you ignore me?”

Renia’s beautiful face had turned terrifying. Her green eyes were ablaze with rage. Charlotte was terrified of the momentum.

“No, not at all. What do you mean I’m ignoring the Young Lady? There’s no way.”

She quickly made an excuse.

“His Majesty was very strict. Young Lady is well aware of what will occur if I speak with my mouth. I’ve waited until I’m in a position to speak, not to ignore you or anything.”

“Is that true? You’ve been meaning to tell me?

“Of course, yes. That’s why I rushed over to see Young Lady. Who dares to ignore the future Empress?”

Charlotte added a little flattery.

“So now I can tell you everything without hiding it.”

Renia smiled sweetly, as if she had never been angry. It was a quick change in facial expression, as if he were changing masks. Charlotte realized she had a chance.

‘I can’t release all the information from the beginning— This is why I have to tell you everything. Whew.’

Charlotte sighed inside and spilled everything she knew about Amelie. Charlotte’s story ended abruptly. She only had little knowledge of Amelie, due to Milena’s determination to keep everyone away.

“What, it’s nothing like a gorgeous lover.”

Renia defined Amelie in one word.

“I thought she was stunning because she was the first woman in His Majesty’s eyes. Not the daughter of a local government official.”

“But His Majesty is the most sincere to her. You see, it’s not just nobles who become Empress.”

“That’s right, it’s not something to sit still about. My seat is next to His Majesty.”

Renia has lived to be Empress. As a result, she was the sole candidate for Empress. It was unthinkable for an unrivaled woman to get in her way.

“What are you going to do?”

Charlotte asked carefully.

“Let us know that the social world of the Empire is not an easy place. She had the guts to put her foot in it. She doesn’t even know what her place is, and she’s stepping over into my territory? I’m not going to let her get back on her feet.”

Renia’s eyes were filled with flames once more. Her lovely face had turned creepy.

‘Oh, please don’t give me a task.’

Charlotte’s tongue felt numb.

******

The next morning Amelie was woken up by a buzzing noise. When she opened her eyes, she was in her pajamas, lying in bed. Perhaps the maids washed her and moved her to bed while she slept.

‘I like it. Like this.’

Amelie woke up feeling extravagant.

“Are you up? Good morning.”

Milena smiled and greeted her.

“Did you sleep well, Milena? Why is it so noisy out there?”

“Do you want to see for yourself?”

Milena turned her eyes out of the window. Amelie stood by the window with curiosity. And she opened her mouth wide.

Her palace’s front yard was busier than ever. Goods were transported from large carts that were lined up. She couldn’t see the supplies she ordered because they were packed, but the box’s size and packaging were different. But they all appeared to be expensive.

That wasn’t the only thing. There were a lot of ladies in fancy dresses. Mrs. Enard was surrounded by them and seemed uninterested in listening to their words or managing their numerous belongings.

“What exactly is all of this?”

“They’ve come to impress you.”

Milena explained.

What happened yesterday at the Emperor’s palace spread quickly by word of mouth.

The Emperor’s woman appeared. That’s why the Empire’s aristocrats flocked here at dawn to meet Amelie. Normally, knights would have blocked them from the front door, but Serwin had not stopped them and instead commanded the knights to obey Amelie starting today.

As a result, people began to gather even before Amelie awoke, and Mrs Enard arbitrarily judged them and brought them inside. It was impolite to refuse a person who had brought a gift all the way afterall.