The Tyrant Couldn’t Fall Asleep

“Are there any conditions?”

To that question, Izaya answered with a kind smile.

“Well, if I had to pick a condition, it would be nice to have someone who has usually hosted a banquet.”

The first person to come out was Erica, a young maid who had recently picked Izaya's dress.

“I want to try!”

Is it because the youngest came forward? Some of the maids who were watching raised their hands.

“I want to try it too!”

“My mother liked to hold banquets, so I am confident about it!”

“I am confident that I will do well!”

Then, Izaya said sympathetically.

“Then the four of you will be in charge of the banquet.”

Joy and sorrow were divided.

The women who volunteered had their faces in full bloom, and the eyes of those who were silent were disappointed.

And Melanie thought.

'Nonsense. This is...'

At that moment, Izaya's voice was heard.

“And if there's something you don’t know, you can let Melanie do the work. She has become a regular maid by today, so treat her with ease.”

* * *

It has been three days since Melanie became a regular maid.

“Melanie, please do this too.”

"This too!"

Melanie's complexion grew pale.

The attitudes of the maids, who were cautious when dealing with Melanie at first, had changed a lot.

Now they were naturally treating Melanie like a subordinate.

‘Was this on purpose?’

She didn't realize how good she had it until the Empress demoted her.

She was the only one who knew the internal affairs of this empress's palace, and even then, the maids were watching her.

That's why she thought that the Empress would open her hands to her as time passed.

But things were turning out differently than expected.

“Melanie, what was Her Majesty’s favorite flower?”

“It’s pansy and lavender and…”

“Can you tell the gardener? I think I should look at the garden decorations.”

She thought she would be able to stand it, but a feeling of resentment arose.

It has changed from a position where she always instructed and commanded others, to a subordinate that unilaterally grants requests.

In addition, the empress was gradually distributing what she was doing to the maids.

‘If I go like this, I…'

She felt shabby, and became increasingly anxious.

* * *

Meanwhile, Ern was signing papers with a bored face.

Then Hans came in and handed him a new document.

“The Empress seems to be preparing the coming-of-age banquet.”

"Right."

It was at that time when Ern's mood gradually subsided.

“This is your chance!”

“What chance?”

Even with the crooked emperor's question, Hans raised his voice without heeding it.

“A chance to restore the relationship with Her Majesty the Empress!”

Bang!

At that, Ern slammed the desk and looked at Hans.

Hans, engrossed in the action, swallowed his saliva.

‘Did I touch His Majesty’s heart?’

It was then.

“I am not very curious about it.”

Hans was frightened by the emperor's answer, but tried to pretend he was calm.

“Oh, I see…”

“But it sounds like you want to talk, so I’ll listen to you with great generosity.”

"Yes?"

It was when Hans did not understand the sudden change of attitude and questioned it without knowing it.

Ern's purple eyes flashed fiercely.

"What are you doing? Come on, tell me.”

Hans swallowed dry saliva at those words, which were almost compelled.

‘So, you mean that you are also interested in restoring the relationship?’

After a moment of doubt, Ern's expression grew bloodier and Hans licked his lips.

‘Yes, I’m risking my life in this or that way. Let me tell you.’

The moment when Hans mustered up the courage to open his mouth.

Bang!

“Your Majesty, I have something to report to you… Ah!”

As Grehen approached without warning, Ern silently drew his sword.

Hans clicked his tongue.

‘A friend who doesn’t have the ability to learn to… Knock.’

Still, unable to let the emperor attack the captain of the knights, Hans quickly opened his mouth.

“You just have to win the heart of Her Majesty at the banquet! Then she would never want to use different rooms again!”

Ern was still motionless.

Hans looked at Ern with an anxious mind.

‘Did it not mean something?’

Then, a soft voice was heard.

“So, what are the detailed plans?”

“I made plans, but… It has not been sorted out yet.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“I will write up a plan and post it today.”

“Bring it before dinner.”

After finishing his words, Ern put down his sword and sat in his chair in a proud pose. Then he stared at Grehen and opened his mouth.

“What did you want to report?”

The appearance of the emperor asking such a question seemed to have loosened up somewhat than before.

Grehen answered, sweeping his chest.

"It is said that the Duke of Lauchen visited a bar run by the Assassination Guild."

Ern smiled as if it was plastic.

'I warned you, Duke Lauchen. That stupid bastard did this now.'

That time when a bloody light glimmered in Ern's eyes.

“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be better to increase the number of escorts? Or giving orders to be more vigilant than usual.”

At Grehen's carefully spoken words, he opened his mouth.

“No, let’s do it as usual.”

"What? But…!”

“There will be a spy for Duke Lauchen in the Imperial Palace. If we increase the escort, they will only find out that we put a watch on him.”

Grehen admired the lucid remark, but then shook his head.

"All right. Then I will act as usual.”

* * *

"Today's work will go smoothly, right?"

When asked by the Duke of Lauchen, the aide nodded and answered.

"We have conciliated one of the gatekeepers guarding the eastern gate, so there will be no problem for uninvited guests to infiltrate today."

"You must have delivered it to the uninvited people, right? Give the empress nothing but fear."

"Yes, that's right. I've given them a heads-up, so I'll save the Empress in due course."

"Enough with Izaya. What about the emperor's guard dog?

"As you said, the assassin will go. Unlike in the case of Her Majesty, I said to kill him for sure."

Duke Lauchen had a satisfied smile.

‘I’m going to see if that little boy can be reassured even if his entourage dies.’

* * *

Late in the evening, Izaya was scribbling through something, reviewing invitations and lists of VIPs.

"Your Majesty, I brought out the tea."

"Okay, thank you."

Izaya, who drank the tea brought by the maid, slightly frowned.

"This tea..."

"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Is there a problem with the tea?”

There was no problem at all. She just realized that what she was drinking now was the tea she last drank with the Duke of Lauchen before her return.

"No, it's just because it doesn't suit mytaste, so don't mind."

"Oh no! I'll throw it away immediately."

"Throw it away? It's an expensive tea. Go to the maid's lounge and share it."

At that, the maid bowed her head looking at the words.

"Thank you."

Perhaps because I gave her expensive tea, it was obvious that she liked it.

“I think I will go to bed soon. Can you prepare?”

Is it because I left work earlier than I thought? The maid's face was filled with joy.

"Yes! Do you want me to prepare a scent that's good for your sleep?”

"Yes, thank you."

Soon after the maid left, Izaya hardened her expression.

‘It's good to communicate well, but I also need a supervisor to manage the maids. And a close aide to whom I trust and leave my work.’

The nobles were afraid of the background of the empress, but on the other hand, they openly laughed at the situation of her being shunned by her husband.

'No way, all my maids were my father's people. And there were no nobles close to him.’

But Izaya didn't care about it at the time.

She was busy keeping Duke Lauchen in check and worrying about Ern.

‘But that won't happen in this life. You'll have the most loyal henchman. And...'

Izaya looked at the list of VIPs again. Soon, a beautiful face and a smile as if drawn came to mind.

'Maybe there will be a reliable background.’

* * *

At that time, the assassins ordered by the Duke of Lauchen smoothly crossed the walls of the imperial palace.

Soon, the leader, who leads the assassination group, signaled his subordinates.

‘I'll go to the empress' palace, so you two go to the captain of the knights.’

Then the men nodded and headed in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

The assassin leader stared in the direction of the empress' palace.

‘The Empress's room is at the left end?’

When he approached carefully and looked inside, he saw the maids.

“You only need to make a commotion for the Empress to return to the Imperial Palace, so all you have to do is kill her maids.”

The moment the assassin tried to break into the empress' room.

"This is the last one."

At the quiet words in a young voice, the assassin contemplated and looked around.

‘Where are you?’

The leader, who was looking around, smiled when he saw someone.

'Some little boy has lost his fear.’

Even under the moonlight, a silver-haired boy stood staring at the assassin.