The Tyrant Couldn’t Fall Asleep

"Her Majesty asked for a bet on conditions. If my client, the Duke, tries to kill me and destroy the evidence, I will be the empress's henchman."

Ern replied with a crumpled forehead.

"I don't understand.”

Roxanne thought while looking at the emperor's wits.

‘I don't want to come in and out of the imperial palace with such a monster, no matter what the deal was. I'll have to run away soon...’

At that time, a sword pushed against my neck.

"Don't tell me you're going to break your deal with the empress."

"Of course not! How could I have such an ungrateful thought?"

She answered sarcastically, but Ern's brutal momentum did not subside.

"It's better not to talk carelessly or think nonsense from now on if you want to live longer.”

Upon hearing the threat, the assassin master nodded eagerly.

Soon after the emperor disappeared, the master cursed inside.

'This couple are going crazy in pairs.’

If she could, she wanted to run away right away.

‘But if I do, I don't know when I'll die by the emperor…’

For three years, I would be in and out of the brutal imperial palace.

* * *

Meanwhile, Grehen was wandering around the office restlessly.

‘Where did his Majesty go? There's still something left to report…’

Knock knock-

"Your Majesty, it's Hans."

When Grehen opened the door, Hans entered the office.

"Where did His Majesty go?"

"He suddenly disappeared somewhere. I've looked everywhere where he might be, but I haven't found him."

"Really? But you don't look so happy. Is something wrong?

"Well, Admiral Stephen sent us the news that Etar's internal movements were unusual. In case of an emergency, I have to send a reply quickly by requesting more artillery and troops, but where is he…?”

"I can release the bird. Even so, he is smart and good at finding His Majesty.”

Then Grehen made an awkward face.

"It's not that I didn't think of it that way. The problem is that the little hawk is now in training.”

"What?"

I heard bad things will happen at the same time. It was crazy whether this happened one after another.

"Let's go find his Majesty."

"Yes."

"Just in case, try contacting the empress. He said he would never go…but he might be there.”

* * *

A court doctor who was looking at Melanie's condition opened his mouth.

"You should never overdo it for four days when the medicine is effective. You might faint again."

When Melanie did not answer, Izaya, who was next to her, said to the court doctor.

"Okay, you did a great job. Go out of here."

Looking at the back of the court doctor, Melanie sighed.

‘I collapsed because I was overworked, it doesn't make sense. I definitely saw an assassin...’

Soon, only they were in the room. Melanie then said to Izaya.

"Your Majesty, I certainly saw an assassin. But why...”

"What you saw was right. I just covered it up because I needed it.”

‘What? What's going on?’

When Melanie was lost in thought, Izaya lowered her head.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to be safe."

"What?"

"You saved my life from an assassin, right?”

Melanie made a silly face for a moment at the words.

"Your Majesty, I don't understand what you said."

"You noticed the existence of an assassin and would have ran away alone. But instead of running away, you tried to protect me."

"That's because it will be my responsibility to be in the same space."

When Melanie answered honestly, Izaya laughed.

"Yeah, but isn't it rare not to forget the responsibility in a situation where your life is in jeopardy?"

After finishing her speech, Izaya held something out.

Melanie's eyes shook when she saw it.

"Ee, this is...!”

She was getting choked up and choked up.

Melanie hesitated without receiving it.

"What are you doing? I won't give it to just anyone."

"How can I..."

"I told you, right? Your brother in prison can do as he pleases."

In the first place, she became the empress' maid to get her younger brother out of prison.

However, it felt strange to achieve her goal in such an instant.

"Really... Is it really okay to receive this?"’

At that time, Izaya smiled and said,

"It's okay. It's in return for saving me."

The empress recognized her credit even though it could just be overlooked.

Honestly, Melanie choked up.

Melanie accepted the indulgence with trembling hands. Then she bowed her head deeply and said with sincerity.

"I will never forget this grace."

Only for this moment, she followed the Duke of Lauchen for five years.

However, it was an unexpected person who actually helped and recognized her.

‘I will do my best to serve the Empress in the future.’

That was when Melanie was determined.

"Okay, then you can leave the palace now."

Melanie's face turned white at the words of the empress like a bolt from the blue.

"Right now? What does that mean?"

"You achieved your goal, didn't you? You can quit being my maid."

It was definitely like that.

When Jade becomes free, she will quit being a maid and live comfortably.

But...

‘How could I possibly do that?’

Although she was a maid, she was not sincere to the Empress.

She rather controlled and repressed the empress for the sake of Duke Lauchen.

'I know. I know I don't deserve to be with her, but...still, I want to repay the favor.’

In the meantime, she felt guilty for her actions she had committed, her heart felt like it got pierced with a thorn.

Melanie, with tears in her eyes, came down from the bed and knelt down on her knees.

“I was wrong. So please don't throw me away."

At Melanie's words, Izaya made a perplexed face.

“However, it may be dangerous to stay here. My father...”

“The Duke will try to take advantage of you. Even by intimidation.”

That's why she couldn't leave the empress anymore.

For she knew very well that the Duke of Lauchen regarded his daughter as a tool.

‘Obviously, when I leave the Imperial Palace, the Duke will send someone to replace me. In that case... They will be used and then thrown away, as he has been doing until now.’

At least, she wanted to prevent the empress from being betrayed by them like how she trusted her father.

‘Your Majesty the Empress is the benefactor who saved me and my brother.’

Soon Melanie fell to her knees.

“I know him well because I have been loyal to Duke Lauchen. Not only that, he will try to use His Majesty to oppress Her Majesty.”

Soon Melanie knelt to her knees and spoke resolutely.

“I wanted to tell the truth, even if you didn't want to take me back.”

“Are you telling me to betray my father?”

However, she wanted to give advice for the Empress even if she was expelled immediately.

"That's right."

The moment Melanie swallowed her dry saliva, Izaya reached out her hand.

Melanie, who was reflexively trying to close her eyes, opened her eyes wide.

“Get up. If you keep doing that, you will fall again.”

The empress was extending her hand to her.

“Uh, why…”

Asking with the trembling eyes, Izaya smiled faintly.

“Because I want to listen to you.”

She still couldn't figure out what was going on. So Melanie still had a blank expression on her face.

‘How the hell did this happen?’

Then, she heard the words of the Empress.

“I will betray my father. That’s why I needed someone I could trust.”

It was then that Melanie, who understood everything about her, received the words of the Empress.

“You were testing me. And the reason you are revealing all the facts now is because you believe in me.”

Melanie's eyes were full of emotion and loyalty as she said that.

Even more than when she saw her former master, Duke Lauchen.

“I will risk this life to Your Majesty the Empress.”

Izaya shook her head.

“If you die, it won't solve anything. So, live to help me.”

It was a hard sentence.

But she sounded so warm that it made Melanie cry.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve again.”

Izaya smiled instead of answering.

‘I have paid off my debt with this.’

Before her return, Melanie had not informed her about the atrocities of Duke Lauchen.

She must have been used like a fool like Izaya, and she would have been killed by Ern.

So Izaya had already forgiven Melanie a long time ago.

* * *

Meanwhile, Duke Lauchen distorted his face.

“The Master didn’t show up?”

“Yeah, what the hell happened…”

It was before he had even finished speaking.

Crash!

“Damn it, it’s all a failure! Do you think this makes sense?”

The duke could not contain his anger and threw his bottle. He swallowed dry saliva and opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

The duke lit up his eyes and said to his servant.

“Gail, you know I don’t believe in second chances.”

Many assassins disappeared. It was clear that something was preventing the assassin from breaking in.

“Obviously there is something going on in the Imperial Palace. Look carefully, and if you find anything suspicious, report it to me.”