~Chapter 79~
“Miss, Count Montorre is here…?”
It was a peaceful Friday morning.
I quickly closed my notebook where I had been sorting information for customers.
‘Persistent bastard. Not dead yet, and came again.’
He was no different from a mosquito at the end of summer—annoying and impossible to kill.
“Tell him I don’t want to meet. Send him back.”
“Ah… yes, understood!”
Sofia nodded firmly and left.
But barely a minute later, she returned, looking troubled.
“Um, Miss… He says it’s something important, that you should listen. He’s waiting in the reception room. What should we do?”
“Ha!”
Not only threats, but now even trespassing? Unbelievable.
With shamelessness like his, he might stick to this house all day. I had no choice but to leave my room.
On the way to the reception room, I suddenly turned to Sofia.
“Sofia. Do we have holy water in the mansion?”
“Huh? H-holy water?”
“Yes. If we do, bring me some. I need to drive that demon out for good.”
“Ah, yes!”
Even at my strange request, Sofia answered with determination, as if she would really find some.
After sending her off, I entered the reception room.
Wudian, shameless as ever, sat comfortably on the sofa, holding the teacup a maid had just served.
“You look well, Amelie.”
His casual smile carried thorns.
“Really? Maybe because I haven’t seen a disgusting face for the past few days.”
It was a retort to not lose against him, but it was true.
He had been strangely quiet, and thanks to that, my days had been peaceful.
“Oh, is that so? Whoever it is, you must be disgusted even if you meet by chance.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’d like you to leave now.”
I made it clear that it was his face ruining my mood.
The only way to deal with someone who keeps showing up and causing trouble is to respond firmly, so they never think of coming back.
That’s what my boss always said. And if needed, make them feel shame by pointing out their wrongdoing directly.
But Wudian Montorre didn’t seem to know what shame was.
“If I leave like this, I’ll have no choice but to make our engagement official.”
“You’ll make our engagement official? You? By what right?”
“Foolish Amelie. Do you think I’d talk about our engagement with nothing to back it up?”
When I sneered and asked, he sneered back even more.
In that moment, his warm smile melted away, revealing his sly, cunning true face.
I faltered at the sight of his mocking grin.
“Don’t act up for no reason. I’ll say it again—there’s no proof of an engagement between us.”
“That’s why you’re foolish, Amelie Garnet. There is proof of our engagement.”
“Proof has no effect—”
“Her Majesty the Empress has it. She’s the witness of our engagement.”
“…What?”
The Empress? As the witness of our engagement?
This was no simple matter.
A wave of unease pressed on my chest.
“If you want, we can check right now. Her Majesty even said I may visit anytime if testimony is needed.”
The way he smiled—smug, drunk on victory—left me speechless.
At last, the carriage stopped in front of the Empress’s palace.
Pretending to act like a gentleman, Wudian offered me his hand as I stepped down.
I ignored him and got off by myself, but he only smiled with confidence.
How I wished someone would smash that face.
I turned my eyes to the grand palace towering before me.
This would be my first private audience with the Empress.
According to Richard, she was quite extreme. I worried whether I could endure it.
“Welcome, Count Montorre, Lady Garnet. Her Majesty awaits.”
Following the chamberlain, we entered the Empress’s palace.
The interior was darker than I expected—filled with red and black furniture, curtains, and decorations. Some items bore strange patterns I couldn’t identify.
We walked past them until we reached the audience chamber. My throat went dry with nervousness.
“Your Majesty, Count Montorre and Lady Garnet request an audience.”
“Let them in.”
At her command, the doors opened.
‘Wow…’
The moment I saw her, I knew right away she was Richard’s mother.
Even at her age, there was no trace of time on her face. Every small movement overflowed with dignity.
She looked like someone truly born to reign.
“We greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Welcome.”
She received us with a gentle smile, but soon her gaze sharpened as it fell on me.
“This must be my first time meeting the daughter of Baron Garnet.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I’ve long been in poor health, so I’ve had no chance to greet you.”
“I’ve heard. I always felt pity that your body was weak. But lately, you seem lively enough to act bold.”
Her words were classic noble-style insults—mocking me indirectly.
In plain terms: ‘How dare someone so weak try to cling to my son?’
It almost felt like I had become the tragic heroine meeting the chaebol’s mother in a drama.
Strange as it was, I felt an odd mix of emotions.
“There are many exaggerated rumors, Your Majesty. I apologize if my lacking self has troubled your heart.”
At times like this, it’s best to bow my head.
As I lowered myself, I heard the faint sound of laughter above.
Even after I straightened, the Empress stared down at me in silence.
“Your Majesty, the reason we requested today’s audience is to confirm that you hold the proof of our engagement.”
Perhaps Wudian found her silence unbearable, because he rushed into the main point.
“Yes. I have the token of your engagement.”
The Empress glanced at a chamberlain, who opened the doors.
Another servant entered, carrying a box, and stood before us.
“Open it.”
The Empress ordered, pointing directly at me.
I carefully opened the dark wooden box.
Inside lay a necklace with an olive stone pendant, along with a rolled paper.
“That necklace is the token Baron Garnet presented. Your name is engraved behind the pendant.”
Just as she said, the words ‘Amelie Garnet’ were carved into it.
As I traced each letter with my eyes, my gaze fell on the rolled paper.
“Oh, that paper is the engagement contract.”
The Empress smiled faintly, like she was enjoying a show.
An engagement contract.
The very thing I was sure did not exist—the strongest proof of engagement between Wudian and me—was right inside this box.
I couldn’t find the courage to open it.
It felt like all the blood was draining from my body, leaving me cold and hollow.
“In the end, you have no choice but to be engaged to me, Amelie.”
Wudian’s snake-like words in the carriage replayed in my mind.
