The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 111

A maid approached me in a couple of strides.

“What is it?”

“I have a letter for you, my lady.”

“A letter? For me?”

That’s strange, I wonder who would have sent this?

I narrowed my eyes.

The maid politely handed the letter to me.

After receiving it, I turned it over and looked at the name of the sender.

“…Sienna Antes?”

It was a name I’d never expected.

As I read the name in a sullen voice, Damian’s eyes showed concern.

“What? Why is Sienna writing to you?”

“I don’t know… that’s what I’m curious to find out.”

I opened the letter.

Aside from the stiff, high-quality paper used for the letter, the letter was written with neat handwriting.

“Salutations, this is Sienna Antes. I apologize for writing this letter to you all of a sudden.”

I smiled involuntarily.

It was because I could just hear Sienna’s voice through her writing.

〈We’re going to hold a spring tea party this season, but since I’ve only been in the north, I’m not familiar with the customs for a spring tea party. I would be so glad if Lady Charlize could help. Would that be all right?> 

From Sienna’s point of view, this must have been embarrassing for her.

I nodded. 

Spring tea parties were obviously not a custom in the north.

In a land where there are no ‘springs’, what are spring customs needed for? 

But there’s no easier route to making an impression on society than hosting a spring tea party.

<If you’re uncomfortable with this type of request, you’re welcome to decline it.>

<I look forward to your reply. Sienna.>

After that, the words ‘P.S.’ were written along with a thank you note.

<You helped me a lot at the memorial service. I won’t forget that. Thank you.>

…Sienna was cordial to the end.

I admired her heroine personality as I gently folded the letter and tucked it back into the envelope. 

Just then, Damian raised his head.

“What was it about?”

“Ah, about that…she’s going to hold a tea party this spring and says she wants me to help her.”

“Sienna?”

“Yes.”

I continued to stroke the envelope. 

“Viscountess Antes was considerate of me. Thankfully.”

“…considerate?”

“Isn’t she? Objectively speaking, I am still only the fiancee of the Crown Prince.”

I’m not a crown princess or a member of the nobility.

In many ways, holding a tea party this spring was burdensome for me due to the unfavorable situation I was in.

The Emperor had been keeping a watchful eye on me so that if I caused trouble, he’d be the first to know. 

But as Damian mentioned earlier, spring tea parties were a place for intimate interaction with socialites.

It would be a shame to miss that opportunity.  

“She was being considerate by asking me to help her hold a tea party together.” 

Most of all, it was very heartening that Sienna, Viscountess Antes, invited and asked me for help.

If you don’t value someone and think they aren’t on an equal footing, you wouldn’t ask them for help. 

Damian looked at me with a discontented look on his face. 

Then he mumbled in a hoarse voice.

“I know you’re going to go help Sienna.”

“You do?”

Licking his lips for a brief moment, Damian then looked into my eyes and said.

“Just don’t make that face for other people.”

“…pardon?”

“You’re only allowed to make that face in front of me.”

I was at a loss for words.

But Damian appeared to be earnest.

He looked at me wide-eyed and repeated himself. 

“Just put on that happy expression only when you’re with me. Okay?”

“Excuse me, that’s not what I want-”

“Anyway!”

As I looked at a sulky Damian, I shook my head.

“Really? You’re not a child, Damian, but you act younger and younger as time goes by.”

His gaze, as he looked at me, exuded frustration and dissatisfaction. 

Damian leaned his head on my shoulder, muttering in a childlike manner. 

“I don’t act younger as time goes by.”

“Then, what was that request?”

“It’s because it’s you.”

I narrowed my eyes.

…Seriously, in my head, I’m well aware that it’s nonsense. 

‘Though every time I hear something like that, strangely it makes my heart flutter without me even realizing it.’

Really…there must be something not right with me. 

I sighed deeply inwardly.

***

A day later.

I invited Sienna to the Crown Prince’s palace.

“Welcome, Viscountess Antes.”

“Thank you very much for inviting me here.”

I escorted Sienna to the parlor.

Sienna, who was sitting opposite me, had a face as radiant as the sun.

‘Ugh, my conscience.’

I laughed awkwardly.

Whenever I see Sienna, I have an unavoidable pang of guilt in my conscience that I can’t help but feel.

It feels as if I’m illegally occupying what should be Sienna’s. 

To shake off that remorse, I clenched my fists and exclaimed.

“This spring tea time, I will do my best not to be ashamed of anyone I invite!”

Isn’t that right?

All I can do for Sienna now is make this tea party great!

But then.

Sienna stared at me and smiled.

“I think I can see why His Highness likes Lady Charlize so much.”

Huh?

With my eyes wide open, she lowered her voice and continued speaking.

“In fact, His Highness only talked about Lady Charlize throughout his entire stay in the north…” 

“Don’t pester my Charlize, Sienna.”

A sharp voice was heard.

Damian, who suddenly appeared next to me, sat near me.

In addition, he stared at Sienna with fire in his eyes.

However, Sienna only met Damian’s gaze with a mischievous face.

“Your Highness, when did you show up?” She asked. 

Damian declared with an imposing demeanor in response to her abrupt question.

“It involves my fiancee, so of course, I should be here too.” 

No, doesn’t Damian know about personal space, and when to give that space? 

I narrowed my brow and glanced at him.

“Your Highness, please don’t do this.”

“What are you embarrassed of me?”

“Yes.”

At my resolute answer, Damian was annoyed. 

But at the same time, he didn’t want to leave my side. 

I decided to just focus on the conversation with Sienna.

“I’ve been thinking a little bit, but why not do something more meaningful than just a tea party?”

“Something significant?” 

“Mmm-hmm.” I nodded.

“Until now, the North has hardly been active in the empire, hasn’t it?”

“Yes,” Sienna replied. 

“It’s because they’ve had a weaker presence than other families.”

“Well, you’re right on that. We’ve only been in the North…” 

Fortunately, Sienna looked convinced.

Great.

I blinked my eyes and continued.

“Since you’ve come to the Empire, I think it would be better to give people a more positive image.”

“A positive image? How will we set about doing that?”

“Well…in memory of the northern subjugation, I was thinking we could have a tea party in connection with it.”

After thinking deeply for a while, I offered a proposition to Sienna.

“Why don’t we select orphans and invite them to the tea party?”

“Orphans?”

“Yes. There were quite a few children who lost their parents in the northern subjugation.”

“Ah..”

Sienna blinked her eyes in surprise.

“They’ve probably never been to a tea party or anything similar.”

To be honest, the orphans created by the northern subjugation lived in a state of disrepair even within the Empire’s borders. 

It’d be good to give those children a pleasant time at least once. 

Of course, it may seem hypocritical in the eyes of others. 

However… … .

‘It’s more hypocritical to not do anything at all than to not make happy memories even just for a day.’

Of the two, I’m sure the latter would be better.

“It’ll be a good memory for the kids, and hopefully it’ll help them in coping with the loss of their parents.”

“…I see. Good idea.”

Sienna nodded her head a bit.

Then she smiled brilliantly at me.

“I never thought of it that way. Thank you, Lady Charlize. You’re a very thoughtful person.”

“Please, don’t mention it.”

That smile of hers was so pretty, I stuttered a little without realizing it.

Oh, this old temperament of liking good-looking people!

I must have looked stupid just now!

At the same time, Sienna held my hand tightly and continued.

“I’m so glad that Lady Charlize helped me.”

“I’m very happy to…”

“Wow, really?”

Sienna’s eyes lit up, and she smiled broadly.

“After hearing your idea, I feel relieved. Let’s do well for this tea party.” 

Seeing Sienna’s innocent expression, I had to suffer a guilty conscience once again.

That’s right…the expression she has on now is one she should show Damian, not me. 

At the same time, Damian interrupted the conversation with an expression that something was bugging him. 

“Wait a minute,” said Damian.