The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 21

“The Empress?”

 

Damian frowned slightly.

 

The Empress.

 

Damian, who had been deliberating over every word, gave me a hard time.

 

“That raises the specter of suspicion even further. Why would the Empress’s maid travel so far?”

 

“S-so, that…!”

 

“Oh, I’m sure you’re a  spy for the Empress.”

 

Damian, who declared so, smiled cynically as his expression was grim.

 

Argh, listen to me until the end!

 

Besides, how could he be so afraid of a mere child?!

 

Excuse me! This is a heinous offense! 

 

I sobbed and raised my voice.

 

“No, I’m not a spy!”

 

“Then?”

 

“I-I’m just lost…”

 

I answered with an excuse I had planned ahead of time.

 

Despite my reply, Damian did not waver at all.

 

Rather, he stared at me with a surprised face and raised the corners of his mouth.

 

“Is the term ‘lost’ now synonymous with ‘hiding somewhere’ these days?”

 

“Oh, um…”

 

“Besides, isn’t getting in through a dog hole a little too much?”

 

Damian, who asked me back, looked at me as if he were expecting me to respond.

 

Of course… I couldn’t think of anything to say.

 

I let out a sigh.

 

What kind of eight-year-old boy is so eloquent?

 

‘In this case, I have no choice but to act childishly.’

 

I shut my eyes tightly.

 

In fact, my childish behavior piqued Empress’s interest but the Imperial Palace is essentially survival of the fittest.

 

Besides, didn’t I still get bullied despite the Empress’ favour?

 

But the chances of this sad male lead falling for my childish antics is…nearly none.

 

But there’s no other way!

 

“Actually, adventure… I wanted to experience it…”

 

“Adventure?”

 

After hearing it, Damian didn’t even bother to hide his amazement.

 

So what?

 

I decided to be a little brazen.

 

Anyway, I look like a five-year-old, aren’t I? 

 

According to the Empress, I’m so adorable that she wants to kidnap me!

 

Besides, kids my age are usually adventurous!

 

“Yes. I heard there were ghosts in this palace.”

 

I quickly nodded my head, trying to sell the rumours to the best of my ability. 

 

Damian narrowed his eyes.

 

“That’s why I’m here, to see whether or not there is a ghost…”

 

Please, let me off the hook.

 

Looking at Damian’s face, I pleaded with him in a mournful voice.

 

“Kindly spare my life. Please? I’m going to be nice to you…”

 

Damian, who had been in agony for a long time, retracted his dagger with a suspicious face.

 

I raised my hand and felt my neck.

 

Me, me, I survived!?

 

Damian looked down at me pitifully with his eyes.

 

“How could a maid be so laidback. Adventures…”

 

Seriously, I was almost slain by the male lead before I died at the hands of the Empress! Isn’t it too much?

 

I think so, and just for a moment, I felt relieved. 

 

After that, tears fell from my eyes unconsciously. I wiped my tears away.

 

Is it just my feeling, or am I reallu crying?

 

“…… What, you’re crying?”

 

Seeing Damian staring at me with such a weird look on his face, I guess, I’m really crying.

 

As soon as I realized this, a wave of regret washed over me.

 

I licked my lips.

 

“N-no……”

 

That’s right. I nearly died!

 

That blade almost cut my throat, I was just trying to protect Sister Rose!

 

My whole body was trembling and it was difficult to even stand properly.

 

I slumped down to take a seat.

 

“Are you all right?”

 

Damian approached me after a while.

 

I wanted to say I’m fine, but I’m not.

 

I became nauseated just looking at the dagger Damian was carrying.

 

“No, I’m not going to vomit in front of a stranger!”

 

My dignity, please!

 

I covered my mouth with both hands.

 

Damian then looked down at the dagger in his hand.

 

I felt awful.

 

Why, why are you staring at the dagger again?

 

Hey, you. You’re not going to put that dagger to me again are you?

 

Damian, on the other hand, grimaced and slid the dagger into the rear pocket of his pants.

 

“I’ve put the dagger away, so don’t be afraid.”

 

“Gasp, sniff……”

 

I sniffled and tried not to cry.

 

Damian let out a sigh.

 

“Well, regardless of how stupid the Emperor is…… he’s not going to send a kid like you as an assassin.”

 

Yeah, that’s a reasonable guess.

 

How do I look like an assassin?

 

As I nodded with tears welling up, then I realized something.

 

Come to think of it, an assassin?

 

Diamide had a troubled expression on his face.

 

“All of the assassins so far had been sent by one person.”

 

“…. Assassins? Was there a real assassin? ”

 

Damian gave me a sad look when I glanced up at him with tears in my eyes.

 

He grumbled a little.

 

“All right, forget it.”

 

“B-but.”

 

“Why did I say that to a kid like you?”

 

Hey, you’re only an eight-years-old kid as well.

 

Damian then reached out to me unexpectedly.

 

“Alright.”

 

“What?”

 

“Take my hand and stand up.”

 

..Huh?

 

I blinked.

Am I hallucinating?

 

However, Damian didn’t withdraw his outstretched hand.

 

“It’s my fault that I pulled out a dagger out of the blue.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“So stop crying, you’re ugly when you cry.”

 

At that point, I became angry at his words.

 

Hey, who are you calling ugly?!

 

According to the Empress, I’m the cutest girl in the world.

 

Of course, the Empress is completely blinded by her affections to me.

 

“Aren’t you going to get up?”

 

Damian moved his hands.

 

I only looked at him like I was going to cry.

 

I want to get up, too. But…

 

“My legs.”

 

“Legs?”

 

“It’s too weak.”

 

Damian was silent for a moment.

 

I think I understand a little bit about Damian’s expression now.

 

He thought I was ridiculous right?

 

I squinted at Damian, puffing up both cheeks.

 

He clicked his tongue.

 

“Then climb on my back.”

 

Carry me on your back?

 

I doubted my ears.

 

Damian, on the other hand, was serious. He turned his back to me.

 

“H-how could the Crown Prince!”

 

Surprised, I shook my head.

 

Damian then returned my bewilderment with a sour look on his face.

 

“So you’re gonna keep sitting on the floor?”

 

“T-that’s……”

 

Well, I can’t sit like this all the time.

 

In the end, I swallowed my pride and was carried on Damian’s back.

 

The back of an eight-year-old boy was pretty wide compared to mine.

 

My tense body gently relaxed when I felt his warm body temperature.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“It’s okay, it’s my fault.”

 

I wrapped my arms around Damian’s neck.

 

I could feel the curvature of his bones over his thin clothes.

 

I was a little surprised.

 

‘Damian, you’re so skinny.’

 

He’s the Crown Prince of this country, yet he’s malnourished?

 

I couldn’t help but remember about the bullying he had to suffer.

 

Then the next time I visit, I’ll bring him something to eat.

 

Ah, but I can’t just leave like this.

 

“Wait a second, it’s mine.”

 

I pointed to a bundle of my clothes on the ground.

 

Damian asked me back in a sullen voice.

 

“… Are you making the Crown Prince work?”

 

“I-I’m not bossing you around…”

 

I replied glumly.

 

Damian shook his head and knelt as he picked the clothes.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Damian carried me on his back as he started to walk.

 

I glanced at the bundle of clothes on his hand.

 

I even got candy from Mrs. Weber, so I need to do my errands well.

 

Then, I opened my eyes wide.

 

Oh, right. My candy!

 

Do you want some candy, Damian?

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“What?”

 

“Do you like candy?”

 

A person who gives food to others will be considered a good person.

 

I decided to start by offering Damian a snack.

 

“I do, but how could I eat it when I don’t know what others put in it?”

 

However, only a harsh answer came back.

 

Ugh.

 

I pouted my lips.

 

Seriously, he kept being suspicious over small things.

 

“Come on, sit here.”

 

Damian walked to the garden, putting me down on a dilapidated bench.

 

Unlike his harsh answer just now, he put me down very gently.

 

I took out all of the candy I had in my pocket.

 

“Are you really not going to eat the candy?”

 

“I’m not eating.”

 

He’s very stubborn.

 

In the end, I ate the candy without minding him.

 

The rustling sound made Damian glance back at me.

 

I pushed the yellow candy in my mouth.

 

“I’m not giving you any candy.”

 

“Weally, weally, awe you not going to eat it? It’s really good.”