The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 22

Ah, the yellow candy tasted like apples.

It’s really delicious.

As expected, sweet things are the best.

I rolled the candy with my tongue, enjoying the taste of apples spreading in my mouth. 

Damian asked me with a disgusted face.

“You almost threw up, why put candy in your mouth?”

“When I feel nauseous, I have to eat something sweet.”

In response to my answer, Damian looked as if he was saying, ‘What kind of person is like this?’

“Alright, if you think so…”

Then he nodded hastily, as if he couldn’t understand my answer.

Hey, many people can love candy. 

Don’t you know that humans are designed to basically like sweet things?

Then, Damian opened his mouth.

“By the way, I’ve never seen a maid as young as you.”

“Ah, well, I have been in the Imperial Palace since I was born. That’s the reason why.”

I answered him politely.

Then, for the first time in a while, Damian, who had been disgusted at me or expressionless the entire time, opened his eyes wide.

“What? Why?”

“My mother used to be the maid of the Imperial Palace, but they say she passed away after giving birth to me.”

Damian’s eyes flickered briefly.

What?

I tilted my head.

Are you sympathizing with me?

Actually, I don’t really mind.

Then, my eyes lit up.

Okay, I’m gonna seize this opportunity!

I’m gonna make him more and more sympathetic!

I pretended to be as pitiful as possible and faced Damian.

“You don’t have any parents either?”

“Yes.”

As my shoulders dropped down, I looked into Damian’s eyes slightly.

Damian was frowning.

Oh, oh, oh.

Have I finally managed to create a connection with Damian?

Right, come to think of it!

Didn’t Damian’s parents passed away?

I put candy in Damian’s hand.

“I don’t eat candy…!”

“You’ll like it when you feel down.”

Damian, who was reflexively trying to swat my hand away, stopped.

I made eye contact with Damian and used my special move.

“If you eat something sweet, everything will be fine.”

I smiled until my eyes are nearly closed.

What do you think? Aren’t I cute?

If I smiled like this, not only the Empress, but the other maids would all gush over me!

However Damian didn’t react like I expected.

“Don’t smile like that. It’s ugly.”

I was a little shocked.

I-is it really because I’m ugly?

I looked at him sullenly.

Seriously, with that handsome appearance, I would be nothing in front of him is it?

… But I don’t want to admit that.

By the way… Damian really looks just like the one depicted in the novel.

I glanced at Damian.

‘He looks so handsome.’

On his smooth forehead, his blue hair fluttered softly.

His neck that stretches beautifully like a deer is as white as a whipped cream.

His features and small face seemed to have been created by God with all his heart.

And his golden scarlet-tinted eyes.

All of that was completed with a slender body and slender limbs that looked elegant.

‘He’s still dazzlingly beautiful… and in the future, he’ll be the most beautiful young man in this empire.’

But that dazzling appearance and the place where he lived doesn’t really match.

I looked around.

My maid’s senses were tingling.

Ah, it’s dirty.

Look at the dust on the window sill.

I want to clean it, I want to wash it thoroughly with detergent!

With Damian’s thin and small body, how did he usually clean an area this big…

If we get to know each other a little later, can I do some cleaning for you?

Thinking that way, I smiled at Damian.

“What are you looking at?”

… Our eyes just met.

Ehehe.

Instead of answering, I smiled vaguely.

The palace you live in is really dirty!’

I was thinking about it, can’t you tell?”

Damian asked with a confused face.

“Come to think of it, you’ve been calling me the Crown Prince for a while now.”

“What’s wrong with that? You’re Crown Prince, am I right?”

Eh, aren’t you the crown prince?

No, he looks exactly like the prince depicted in the original, right?

“… Of course I am.”

Looking at me as I tilted my head, Damian narrowed his brows.

After a moment’s hesitation, he opened his mouth.

“You don’t even know what other people call me?”

“I know.”

Damian.

People only call his name without any title that way.

‘He should’ve been called respectfully with Your Highness or the Crown Prince.’

It was because everyone would gossip that Damian would be deposed as a Crown Prince.

‘But, I know that he’s going to ascend beyond the Crown Prince title and become the Emperor.’

And even if that doesn’t happen, he was still the Crown Prince, he should be called politely.

It’s not that I don’t know about that, I just thought it’s the least I could do for him.

After pondering for a long time, Damian asked again carefully.

“… You don’t mind it?”

“Why should I? You’re the handsome Crown Prince after all.”

Damian was silent.

I faced him with confidence.

Right now, I’m being generous. 

He said I was ugly, but I tolerated it. After a while, Damian quickly turned his head away.

Huh?

I opened my eyes wide.

Damian’s ears… are turning red?

“That’s funny, truly.”

A moment later, Damian muttered begrudgingly, but I decided not to hear it.

“Ah, I have to go back now!”

Then, I got up from my seat.

I didn’t plan on staying for too long.

Actually, I never thought I’d run into Damian like this.

I picked up the bundle of clothes placed on the bench.

“I have to get some clothes for the maid Weber.”

“Maid Weber?”

“Yes, she’s the senior maid in the Empress’ Palace. She’s a nwice person.” (Yes, she’s the senior maid in the Empress’ Palace. She’s a nice person.)

I think I have regained some strength in my legs now.

I took a couple of steps and looked back at Damian.

“Twen, I’ll come back next time.” (Then, I’ll come back next time.)

“Enough, don’t come back.”

“No, I’ll come back.”

When I answered stubborny, Damian looked at me with squinted eyes.

He asked me again.

“You said you were a nice kid before?”

“Well, umm, coming to you is what a nice kid does.”

I didn’t say I was nice.

When I said I was nice, I meant I’m nice to myself!

Upon hearing my answer, Damian sighed.

He’s still young, yet he kept sighing.

I smiled brightly.

“See you later!”

“… Okay.”

After a while, Damian answered with a small voice.

Ah, I got permission to come next time, right?

After bowing down, I crawled back into the doghole.

Ah, really.

I’m so tired!

***

Damian stared intently at the doghole through which Charlize had disappeared into.

‘What the hell is she doing?’

At first, he thought the kid really was an assassin. 

Of course, after their exchange, he felt pathetic for worrying about being assassinated by a kid like that.

Besides, no matter how surprised he was, the act of pointing a knife to her neck first… 

‘… I was wrong about that.’

Damian frowned involuntarily.

The little girl that looked up to him looked like a rabbit.

Her frightened look kept lingering in his mind.

‘Ah, come to think of it.’

He didn’t even ask for her name.

… Will she really come back next time?

Damian blinked.

He know he’ll be disappointed if he look forward to it, but the words “See you again” left behind by that kid replayed over and over again in his head.

‘Nevermind, what do I expect?’

She will soon disappear.

Just like bubbles disappear, not even a trace will be left behind.

Damian’s expression quickly turned cold.

Then, the boy felt something in his pocket.

‘This is…’

When he put his hand in his pocket and took it out, his expression crumbled in an instant.

A candy was in Damian’s pocket.

It was a candy wrapped in colorful paper.

How did she do it so discreetly?

After some time, Damian peeled the candy and put it in his mouth.

Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since he had eaten candy.

The pink candy tasted like strawberries.

Maybe it’s because of the taste, but it tasted strangely sweet in his mouth.

***

When I returned to the Empress Palace, I was immediately caught by the two maids.

The maids who saw me were surprised.

“Oh my God, Charlize! What is this!”

“Did you get grass on your apron?”

“Also, your clothes are a mess because of the dirt!”

“I, um. I fell on the road on the way here…”

Ehehe.

I tried to cover it up with a smile, but the Empress, who had just come out of the room, joined in.

“You fell on the road? Are you hurt?!”

“No. I’m not huwt.” (No, I’m not hurt.)

The only problem is that I almost died… 

I mean because of Damian, that little boy.

How dare he aim a dagger at someone so recklessly?

Fortunately, the Empress and maids were only concerned about whether or not I was seriously injured, and didn’t question anything else.

But, the Empress suddenly whispered in my ears.