The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 153

***

I raised my gaze as my eyes blinked repeatedly. 

It was like I was trapped in the deepest of nightmares, from which I barely woke up. 

My whole body felt heavy and sluggish as I lay in bed, but someone called me in a worried but sweet voice. 

– Are you okay?

I blinked my eyes slowly.

The scarlet eyes looking down at me were as dazzling as the setting sun. 

His gaze gave away his concern, so, in response, I tried smiling. 

– Yes, I’m fine. 

– I think you’ve been overdoing it lately, Lia. 

The man said so as he brushed my forehead. 

I leaned my cheek against his hand and gently closed my eyes. 

Lia.

A nickname I hadn’t heard in a very long time. 

The only person in the entire world who would address me by my nickname. 

The holder of all my affection, my lover…

‘Damian.’

Damian? 

For a moment, that name surprised me.

Who was Damian?

Damian looked…exactly like Carpel….my….

‘Ah, it hurts!’ 

The moment I remembered that name, an acute pain descended on me as if a knife had been plunged into my heart. 

Tears trickled down my cheeks.

– Carr, Carpel. 

Feeling like I had messed everything up, I inadvertently clung to Carpel. 

His eyes widened, unsure of what to do as he attempted to comfort me. 

– Lia, what’s wrong? What’s making you cry?

– No, it’s nothing.

As soon as I buried my face in Carpel’s arms, my mind instantly became clear. 

The name ‘Damian,’ which had me confused, disappeared from memory before I knew it. 

The warmth beside me made me feel so comfortable, like everything was going to be all right. 

For Carpel was by my side…

– I love you, Carpel.

– I love you too, Lia.

Carpel held me in his arms like it was the most natural thing. 

Leaning against his figure, I inhaled slowly. 

When did I start loving you?

Our meeting started with the earnest prayer of a boy. 

Carpel fought staunchly to protect humans in a land where beasts slaughtering them was the norm. 

I maintained the world’s balance and was forbidden from intervening between beasts and humans.

But I fell in love with Carpel anyways, he was upright—eventually, I became lovers with Carpel. 

From that moment, my divinity suffered an ineffaceable blow, and I was cast down from ‘Goddess” to ‘divine beast.’ 

But it was fine.

Because I knew very well how much Carpel wanted to protect humans.

If it was something precious to Carpel, I wanted to cherish and protect it as well. 

So, I signed a contract with Carpel and lent my strength.

Spending time by Carpel’s side cost me. The longer it went, the more divinity I lost, day by day. 

I continued despite knowing it would eventually devolve me into a beast….

– Carpel.

– ….Lia?

– Wait a minute, let’s just stay like this…

Deciding to cast those thoughts to the wind, I burrowed myself into Carpel’s embrace like a child. 

– What brought this on so suddenly? I don’t know why you’re acting so childish today. 

A voice mixed with laughter teased me.

Even so, the hand that caressed my back was kind. 

I slowly closed my eyes.

It was fine though.

If Carpel remains by my side, even if I were to fall into the abyss, I’d be the most grateful being….

I wouldn’t mind at all. 

****

Numerous battles ensued.

On the blood-stained battlefield, fresh blood would be drawn. 

The sounds of clashing weapons and screams mingled in the confusion, echoing like a hellish symphony.

And I was with Carpel every moment of it. 

*Roaring!*

“Everyone forward!”

Under my protection, swords imbued with divine power, cut through the beasts. 

Sticky blood and black flesh were strewn all over. 

Despite the amount of blood being spilled like rainfall, Carpel smiled brightly. 

– I’m so glad you’re by my side, Lia.

That was all I wanted to hear.

Confirmation that I became what he needed. 

Thus the unending war finally reached an end. 

The humans had won. The beasts were pushed into the north and could no longer invade the human domain. 

I held the belief that I would be able to live happily with Carpel, or so I thought…

“Acck!” 

All it took was one short cough for our happiness to come crashing down. 

Carpel tried covering his mouth, but it was too late. 

His hand was covered in his bright red blood. 

– Ca-Carpel? 

– Carpel, w-what’s happening?! 

The knights who surrounded Carpel yelled in shock as if they were about to pass out. 

The surprise they had was nothing compared to mine. 

– Carpel!!

Carpel, seeing my fear, smiled softly, as he always did. 

His complexion was as white as a sheet of paper. 

– Lia.

– …what’s happening to you? Why is-? 

– I want to be alone with you.

Hearing that, I froze.

The reason being, Carpel never spoke to me so firmly. 

I had an eerie feeling. 

The eerie feeling that, at the end of this conversation, it’d be impossible to undo what would come to pass. 

Everyone hurriedly gave us some space. 

Carpel opened his mouth with a troubled expression.

– Actually, there is one thing I haven’t confessed to you.

I reflexively shook my head.

– No, don’t tell me.

– No, you have to listen.

Carpel looked at me with desperation. 

I blankly fixed my gaze on him.

At the same time, I suddenly realized.

– …..did I do this?

– Lia, it’s…

– I did this, didn’t I…

The silence was deafening. 

I covered my face with trembling hands.

Why didn’t it…cross my mind earlier? 

Carpel, a human who accepted a contract with me for my power. 

– Of course, I should have been cautious from the beginning!

– Wait a minute. Hear me out first…

– No, no. 

I shook my head wildly and then raised my head. 

– Using my power diminished your health, didn’t it? 

A chilly silence passed.

At an unresponsive Carpel, I bit my lip until it bled. 

– I had no idea, and I foolishly fantasized that I was able to have a happy future with you. 

– Lia. 

– ….Carpel.

My vision blurred because my tears welled up. 

After wiping away the tears with my hand, I berated Carpel in a suppressed voice. 

– How….could you do this to me…

– Lia…I. 

– You should have said something! Anything!

I raised my voice.

Truthfully, deep, deep down, I knew it. 

For a mere human to be able to use the power of a goddess required no small price. 

Perhaps Carpel, in exchange for my power, gave up his vitality to form a contract with me. 

Just me being with Carpel must have put tons of strain on his body. 

But I turned a blind eye to the fact. 

‘Because being with Carpel…’

In the name of ‘saving humanity,’ Carpel needed me…

‘That made me feel happy.’

Only now, I feel like I’m going to hurl because of the embarrassment and shame. 

Carpel hugged me. 

– Sorry. I’m sorry, Lia…

In his arms, I sobbed like crazy. 

It was so heartbreaking that I could do nothing but cry about it. 

* * *

After the defeated monsters had been beaten back to the north, humans could begin prospering. 

In contrast, the hero who saved humanity’s health was declining by the minute. 

Carpel was barely keeping his eyes open. His time was approaching, and his breathing became ragged. 

I stayed by Carpel’s side as he lay silently. 

Back then, I was always on edge. 

I was afraid that if I took my eyes off him for even a second, Carpel would leave me without bidding me a final farewell. 

Then, Carpel, who awoke from his rest, called me. 

– Lia.

– Carpel. 

Carpel reached out and held the back of my hand. He was like a plant slowly withering in the shade, but he had a rare, distinct look about him this time. 

– I want to go.

– ….Where?

– To where….you and I first met. 

‘You’re cruel to the end.’ 

I bit my lip till it bled.

****

Carpel and I were sitting side by side on a low hill.

We sat beneath the lovely, velvety night sky, where countless stars were dazzlingly engraved. 

A gentle gust of wind blew my hair and made the verdant grass around us tremble at its caress. 

One could just smell the aroma coming from the clusters of wildflowers spread all around. 

Sitting here like this made me feel like I was transported back in time. 

To a time when Carpel was but a young boy, not yet the hero of humanity, and when I hadn’t lost my divinity. 

I opened my mouth while staring at the scenery in front of me.

-You know what, Carpel?

– What?

– I’m pregnant.