The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 0

The breath of the earth was rustling through the grass, up in the sky were the clouds hugging the valleys and mountains all the same. The sea of red roses were laid in front of my eyes. Each and every one of them bloomed brilliantly, the red petals dazzling the eyes of the onlookers. But not me. I didn’t care about such a rose.

All because of a certain woman standing in front of me. The Empress, whose beauty preceded the roses, stared at me with her stubborn glare. Her soft-red lips opened and her melodious voice travelled with the wind. 

“Lize, what did you say to the Emperor?”

“I said that I support you.”

At my resolute answer, the Empress nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Lize, truthfully, you like me much more than the Emperor, don’t you? Am I right?”

“Yes, of course.”

When I nodded, I could see the Empress’ eyes light up with joy at my acknowledgement.

I just stood by her side, holding on to her long-flowing dress.

I stepped closer to the Empress and tried to whisper in her ear. She chuckled as she bent down to reach my height. 

“You know, this is a secret…”

“Secret?”

The Empress’s gaze was quickly filled with curiosity.

With a bright smile, I hugged the Empress’ neck tightly. 

“Lize likes sister Rose the most in the world!”

The Empress was stunned when she heard my confession. After a long pause, her face bloomed into a beautiful smile. Her eyes were beady and wet with tears. She then hugged me tightly and spoke sincerely.

“Thank you, I like Lize the most in the world, too.”

“Wow, for real?” 

“Of course.” 

The words that reached my ears sound as sweet as honey. I couldn’t help but leaned my head in the arms of the Empress. Not the Empress, who was described as the villain that caused my death in the original story. But the Empress, who only for me, would smile gently. Turning my gaze up and coming face to face with her enchanting smile, a new realization dawned on me. 

Original story? Who cares about that? I only want to be loved by the Empress!

***

In fact, I had never intended to acquaint myself with the Empress. Right away after I discovered I was reincarnated as a character in “Charlize”, I had decided that survival would be my highest priority.

The first thought that crossed my mind was, ‘I must avoid the Emperor and the Empress at all cost!’.

“Better to be born ugly and rich, rather than poor but beautiful,” Charlize was a character who proved that sentence right throughout her life.

In fact, just looking at the background of Charlize, she hardly fit the role of an extra. She was born as an orphan with no background.

So how did an orphan like her manage to receive the role of a supporting actress in this world?

Charlize was borned with a simple gift. It was a special gift that only she had.

The factor that she has and nobody else had was her phenomenal beauty.

“Lize, I think the beautiful statue that the master owns can’t even compare to you,”

some people would even make such statements to describe how beautiful Charlize was.

And in the end, the Emperor who was 20 years older than Charlize was the one who caused the terrible death of the beauty. 

He came across her when Charlize was assigned into the Imperial Palace. Her beauty immediately caught the eye of the Emperor and won his favor.

Unfortunately, no matter how much favor she got from the Emperor. It didn’t protect her from the claws of the jealous women in the palace.

The Empress regarded Charlize as an eyesore who took away her husband’s affection. Angered and betrayed, the Empress poisoned Charlize to her death.

When I remembered how Charlize fell to her death, I couldn’t help but feel wronged.

‘Why should I die because of the favor the Emperor held for me. I like young, handsome guys! Not some old greasy man who is 20 years older than me!’

As a result of my decision, I’ve been trying my best to avoid both the Emperor and Empress at all cost.

If I don’t go to the Imperial Palace, there’ll be no reason for me to catch the eyes of the Emperor and be his mistress.

Right?

I could only hope that in the meantime the head of the maid wouldn’t send a five years old, probationary maid, like me to the main palace.

In the meantime, I enjoyed the life I was leading. I even got a great friend amidst this precarious situation. Every time something troubled my mind, my feet somehow would always lead me to that person, someone with whom I could loosen up, and that is…

“Sister Rose!”

My short legs ran at its fullest speed towards the red haired figure.

The beautiful woman turned to face as she reflexively opened her arms, welcoming me into her embrace.

“Charlize!”

I jumped right into Rose’s arms. Someone who I considered my sister.

Whenever I was upset or worried, I would always visit her. She was just like a gentle wind in the midst of summer, blowing away all my troubles as if it was unreal. Her lulling scent would always soothe all the worries I held.

Sister Rose. The only friend I had in the hard and stifling life’s of the royals. I rubbed my cheek on her shoulders coyly as she laughed at my antics, yet still indulged me in her hold. 

“Charlize, how are you? Have you been well?” which I replied with a contented hum.

…I had no idea until then. That Rose, was the evil Empress that orchestrated Charlize death.