The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 24

“I’m not trying to attack you, so don’t make that face.”

“Th-then…!”

“I’m trying to show you why these foods shouldn’t be eaten.”

Simultaneously with those words, Damian plunged the dagger into the whole chicken.

No, what are you doing to that mouth-watering chicken now?

After a while, Damian pulled out the dagger.

And the dagger’s tip… 

“… It’s black?”

It was stained black.

Thi-this. Could this be…?

I gulped, feeling my parched throat.

Damian let out an awkward laugh.

“This dagger is made of silver.”

Oh my goodness, I’m speechless.

It’s made of silver.

Didn’t silver have the ability to detect poison?

“Th-then, all the food…?”

“What you think is correct.”

Damian gave an unambiguous response.

Oh my, poison?!

I was so taken aback that I thought I was going to pass out.

No, but why is he so calm?

There’s poisoned food right in front of him, isn’t that scary?!

I raised my voice without realizing it.

“Then why not just go and throw it away? Why are you putting it around the table?”

“Aren’t those dishes given directly by the emperor himself?”

Damian replied in a calm voice.

‘Food bestowed by the emperor himself.’

I paused and tensed.

That means his uncle fed him poisonous food… that’s exactly what it means.

“How dare a person like me throw away such precious food.”

Contrary to my expectations, Damian’s expression remained composed.

Damian pursed his lips.

“He must’ve thought that I would let my guard down since it’s food.”

I was rendered speechless.

How could such a young boy talk about it so calmly?

“Well, I do think that the emperor is that stupid.”

Damian shook his head and glanced at me.

Those scarlet eyes looked tired, resembling a sunset.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing much.”

“Nothing much…?”

“Yes. Since I’m trapped here, he thought that I was helpless and that even if he gave me poison, I’d be powerless to resist.”

I pondered how many near-death experiences Damian had to go through before he could speak in such a relaxed tone.

Before I knew it, I was clenching my fists.

My nails pierced my palms in a painful way.

“It’s not such an awful idea to just give up everything, eat that meal, and then die.”

How many lives has the emperor attempted to destroy?

Not only the empress, who didn’t want to get married from the start but also Damian, who was her nephew.

All of them are suffering because of one person.

Damian ended the conversation with an unusually tranquil tone.

“… Well, it’s just a thought.”

Damian met my eyes directly.

Seeing his malnourished body was heartbreaking.

I licked my lips.

“Then what do you regularly eat…?”

“His Majesty is so gracious, I’m provided just enough food to keep me from dying.”

Damian replied sarcastically.

So he gave him enough food to not starve to death…

After that, he continued.

“Well, it would be problematic for the Emperor if his heir starves to death.”

“I, I…”

“That’s why he does poison instead, they could say I died of illness.”

Damian’s face grew a little darker.

“After all, starving to death is too disgraceful isn’t it?”

Having said that, Damian pointed a finger to a corner of the dining room.

“Come here if you want to see it.”

After slightly opening the drawer of the cupboard, I was at a loss for words.

The food in the drawer… 

It looked so awful, to call it food was a disgrace.

It consisted of dried-up carrots, green vegetables, and a handful of worm-eaten barley.

Furthermore, it’s not even cooked.

Could Damian really have only eaten these kinds of things until now?

‘It’s too much, how could they give him something like this to eat?!’

I used to eat much nicer meals than this while I was training!

I took a quick glance around.

Let alone any seasonings, it was only then that I noticed the empty kitchen with limited cooking equipment.

I got up from my seat and examined the oven and furnace.

Judging from the fact that it was clean and free of soot, it seems that the emperor had not even provided woods for the fire at all.

‘By the way, it has been five years since Damian was imprisoned…’

So, he’s been living alone in this massive palace for 5 years?

From the age of 3 to now?

While enduring the emperor’s ridicule, contempt, and even the threat on his life?

“This is… oh my.”

I mumbled unknowingly.

Damian raised his eyebrows slightly, and he asked me,

“What?”

“No one… there is no reason for someone to be treated like this.”

I bit my lip until it bled.

For some reason, I felt compelled to help Damian any way I could.

Is it because I saw my past self reflected in Damian when I was bullied at the education center?

Or is it because Damian is the main character and is the only one who can ensure the empress’ safety when she is regarded favorably by him?

Truthfully, it doesn’t matter what the reason was.

I just didn’t want to see Damian live a life so miserable.

Staying alive, just barely getting by on a day-to-day basis.

That’s not how a person should live.

And I wanted to see Damian live a regular life.

“Crown Prince.”

“What?”

“I’ll come every day from now on.”

I said resolutely.

Damian looked at me with an astonished expression.

How should I interpret that expression?

At least it was certain that there was a mixture of doubt, gratitude, and regret that I couldn’t really pinpoint in his expression.

“I’ll prepare meals for you every day, so just eat them.”

I added calmly.

Damian’s eyes trembled slightly.

He replied in a hushed tone.

“Why are you… doing this for me?”

I simply shrugged.

To be honest, anyone else would have the same reaction if they could see the current state Damian is in.

“Anyone else would have done the same thing.”

“… Anyone?”

“Yes.”

I smiled brightly.

It was genuine. People will undoubtedly feel pity when looking at Damian in his current state.

Damian was silent.

To be precise, he appeared to be at a loss for words.

I walked up to him.

Looking up at Damian, I could see the light returning to his eyes.

Those eyes, filled with all kinds of emotions, were truly dazzlingly beautiful.

“Let’s eat bread together.”

I reached out and pulled the hem of Damian’s robe.

Damian didn’t move my hand away or push it away.

He just gazed at me with a helpless expression, yes, like that of a helpless young boy.

“I brought milk and apple jam.”

“… Okay.”

After a while, Damian responded in a low voice.

I pretended nothing was wrong and continued.

“Since the weather is nice, I think it would be wonderful to eat outside while getting some sunlight.

I didn’t want Damian to be in this bad situation any longer.

“Prince, what do you think of me?”

“G-good.”

Damian rarely stuttered.

I slung the bag of bread and milk over my shoulder.

Okay, then let’s go out.

But then, Damian placed his hand on my shoulder.

What?

I looked at him questioningly.

When I looked ahead again, he took the bag off my shoulder.

He held the bag and said,

“I’ll carry the bag.”

“Thank you!”

Damian quickly moved his head as his cheeks became red.

And so we went outside together.

Since sunlight barely entered the Crown Prince’s palace, I chose a spot that was sunny and sat down.

“Prince, eat with me.”

I sliced the white bread in half myself and spread plenty of apple jam.

Damian looked at the white bread as he carefully held the bread with both hands and gently touched the soft surface of the bread.

“It’s been a while since I’ve eaten something like this.”

I instantly felt sad hearing it.

Why is he so pitiful?

It’s only bread and jam, why does he look so grateful?

I looked at Damian with a pitiful gaze.

Damian said as he bit into the bread. 

“… Tasty.”

“How is it? Is it tasty? Delicious?!”

Personally, I didn’t really like it.

I mean, I thought I applied a little too much apple jam in his bread.

However, Damian ate the bread happily.

Then he shook his head and answered.

“I never said it didn’t taste good.”

“R-really? That’s a relief.”

By the way, you have jam around your mouth.

I picked up a handkerchief and wiped his lips.

Damian then flinched and averted his gaze.