The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 26

His sandwich consumption was commendable even for a boy.

In fact, I don’t think it was because of the food itself.

Is it what others call feeling full just by watching others eat…?

I think I understand that a little bit now.

After I waited for Damian to finish his meal, I said to him confidently.

“Today, we’re also going to have dessert.”

“Dessert?”

I rummaged through my bag and took out a packaged milk pudding. 

Damian peered at the pudding with wide eyes, as if it was the first time he saw it.

I can’t believe how brightly the crown prince’s eyes lit up as he gazed at the pudding…

I felt my heart pounding once more and quickly lowered my head.

After drizzling caramel syrup onto the pudding, I presented it to Damian.

“Ta-da! It’s milk pudding!”

“Milk pudding?”

“Yes! I poured caramel syrup on it!”

Having said that, I handed the spoon to Damian.

Damian stared alternately between the spoon and pudding 

After a while, Damian gulped and tapped the pudding with his spoon.

As the pudding wobbled, a smile was formed on Damian’s face.

Damian exclaimed in an excited voice.

“Pudding. I’ve only heard of it, this is my first time seeing it in person.”

“I ate this a lot. It just melts in your mouth.”

I told him proudly with my chin up.

I had suffered to bring it here.

I just wanted to feed Damian something delicious.

Just like how my days are enjoyable after I met the empress, I hoped that Damian would remember how much he enjoyed the days he spent with me.

“I see…”

Damian scooped out the pudding carefully. As he put the pudding into his mouth, his 

eyes widened.

Ah, I know that look.

I couldn’t hide my happy face.

If the food you try for the first time is extremely delicious, you would react in this manner.

I had the same reaction when I tasted chocolate chip cookies for the first time.

Damian scooped one more spoon happily.

He put it in his mouth, swallowed it, and repeated the process……

It must be delicious. That’s a relief.

After that, Damian’s eyes met mine.

“Why aren’t you eating pudding?”

Perhaps a little embarrassed, Damian asked the question with both of his cheeks blushing.

I shook my head.

“Ah, I’m fine. There’s only one pudding.

The pudding I sneaked away was actually meant for me.

After hearing my answer, Damian put the spoon down with a look of disappointment etched on his face.

“I’m sorry. I…”

“It’s nothing much. Crown Prince, eat it all.”

I responded nonchalantly.

Damian gazed at me, unsure of what to do.

I continued.

“Hey, I brought it for you.”

“How am I supposed to eat it by myself?  So…”

“It’s okay.”

Hey, I brought it for you. No need to feel bad, I could eat more later.

I laughed heartily.

“Is it delicious?”

Damian nodded calmly.

Alright, eat as much as you want.

I’m satisfied just by watching you.

“… Still, I want to eat it with you.”

“What? Why?”

I tilted my head.

Damian stared alternately between the pudding and the spoon. His face was adamant at first, but soon, he looked at me with determination.

“If you don’t eat it, I won’t eat either.”

He threw away the spoon.

Huh, what’s wrong with him?

I tried to calm him down.

“You can’t eat it all?”

“But I don’t enjoy eating alone.”

… His stubbornness somehow reminded me of someone.

Taking a deep breath, I adjusted myself next to Damian.

“Okay, then let’s eat it together.”

Damian smiled brightly.

Oh my goodness.

His smile had me completely captivated.

How does he looked so beautiful? His smile is truly the best.

My mouth was agape, and I didn’t even realize it.

“Can’t you smile more often from now on?”

“Why?”

“Crown Prince, it’s a waste that your beautiful face is always hidden by a scowl!”

I raised both of my fists.

If I had that kind of face, I would always be smiling, but unfortunately I don’t!

“Of course, even with a frown on your face, the crown prince is still beautiful!”

I paused while speaking enthusiastically.

Because Damian’s face became serious.

“Well, I’m indeed a little bit beautiful.”

“… You’re truly beautiful, so I’ll endure it.”

Ugh seriously, won’t he at least say thank you for my compliment?

I shook my head.

During that time, Damian returned my gaze, his face was serene. And there was no scowl on his face like usual.

The wind blew gently.

His navy blue hair fluttered gently over his forehead.

His eyes, beneath his long eyelashes, were as bright as the afternoon sunlight.

I looked at Damian, entranced with the sight. Then I suddenly came to my senses.

How could I feel this way towards an eight-year-old child?

That’s outrageous!

“A-anyway…”

I immediately lowered my head and focused my attention on the pudding in front of me.

At the same time, I noticed that we ran into a problem.

“… … You don’t have any more spoons?”

He didn’t have a spoon.

I wanted to give him the pudding from the beginning, so I only brought one spoon with me.

Damian, on the other hand, didn’t bat an eye.

Instead, he asked me,

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“We could use it like this.”

Damian scooped out the pudding and handed it to me.

I was surprised by his actions and my eyes shook.

“We can eat it together.”

“How dare I use the same tableware as you, Crown Prince?”

“Why? You don’t want to eat it with me?”

Damian stared at me with a sad face.

I was speechless.

Hey, don’t you know it’s unfair to use your face to win an argument?

 Damian pushed the spoon closer to my mouth and urged me.

“Say ah.”

“Hurry, my arm hurts.”

I admitted defeat and gave in to his demands.

I’m really weak to beautiful faces.

If a boy prettier than the empress smiling in front of me, I can’t win against him!

I found myself being spoon fed by Damian.

“You’re eating well.”

As I swallowed the pudding, Damian smiled with his eyes.

I might get a heart attack at this rate.

I grabbed my chest without realizing it.

In the original story, there was no mention of the male lead being so demanding!

After finishing it, I got up from my seat.

Damian stared at me, puzzled.

“Huh, why did you do that all of a sudden?”

“I- I’m going to do some cleaning.”

After hearing me, Damian was at a loss for words.

After a while, Damian shouted,

“How could a kid like you do the cleaning!”

“I’m a  maid. I can do it well.”

Since I was a child, I’ve worked as a maid, so how could I not do it?

I smiled confidently.

“I’m fine though. It would take a lot of time to clean here…”

“No, I could do it.”

I shook my head.

Today, I’m the assertive Charlize.

I spoke resolutely.

“Prince, I don’t want to see you living in that dust den anymore.”

In response to that, Damian became silent for a moment.

You wouldn’t like living in such a dirty place, would you?!

Just watch, I’ll make this plave sparkle!

Damian then opened his mouth.

“… Then let’s do it together.”

“What? Crown Prince, I’m capable of cleaning this place.”

“This is where I live. It’s unacceptable to leave it all to you.”

Having said that, Damian rose to his feet. 

Why are you striding ahead of me then?

Are you really going to clean this place too? But you’re the crown prince…

I quickly ran to him.

“Your Highness!”

“Hurry up. If you want to go back after cleaning, you have to move quickly, okay?”

As I slowed down and matched his stride, Damian added sarcastically.

Hey, who doesn’t know that?

* * *

Three hours had passed.

Unexpectedly, Damian cleans better than the empress. 

Unlike our empress, who seemed to be clueless about cleaning, Damian was good at brushing and mopping.

How would I describe his wonderful skill?

Should I say that it was a skill gained because he was forced to get used to cleaning in order to survive?

After scrubbing the floor with a tall mop, I raised my back and sighed.

“Sigh.”

I take a look around.

All right, I’m satisfied with the outcome.

At least, there’s not as much dust as before, right?

Thinking so, I raised my head.

In the corner of the ceiling, there was something that kept getting on my nerves.

Now, the time has come for me to get rid of that thing.

The spider web!

I inadvertently looked at where Damian was and paused.

Come to think of it, he left earlier, saying he would clean the living room.

That means I’m the only one who will fight the spider’s web, right?

I clenched my fists.

Then the weapons I need right now are brooms and ladders!