The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 33

The empress fixed her gaze on the man in front of her.

His name is Vincent de Winsor, and he was the Marquis Vincent before becoming Emperor of the Empire.

He’s a man who sees her as a ‘connection to Rochester’ rather than as a person.

The emperor grinned as she averted her gaze.

After seeing his smile, the empress shuddered slightly.

Despite the fact that he was her husband, who had vowed to stay with her for the rest of her life, the handsome face gazing back at her seemed unfamiliar.

“It’s been a long time since we met, empress.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The empress elegantly lowered her head after opening her lips.

“I didn’t know the emperor would come all the way here. I’m overjoyed.”

The empress stated this in the gentlest voice she could muster.

I’m overjoyed.

Those words pricked the tip of her tongue like a thorn.

There must have never been a moment when they both liked meeting each other.

Meanwhile, the emperor could only smile.

“No matter how busy I am, I can’t live without seeing my wife’s face as your husband.”

However, unless there’s a particular reason, he never comes to meet her.

The empress managed to straighten her brow before it could wrinkle arbitrarily.

Until now, there had been only one motive for the emperor’s visit to the empress.

‘To ask for or obtain something from the Duke of Rochester.’

There was nothing else.

But this time, why?

“Recently I heard that the empress had found a new pastime, so I came here right away.”

“Pastime?”

You’re looking after the crown prince these days, aren’t you?”

…… As expected.

The empress took a deep breath.

The emperor’s grin widened slightly.

It was not a friendly grin however.

“Actually, I felt it was excessive to interfere in the empress’s affairs, so I tried not to pay attention. But there is some problem.”

The emperor lifted his head slightly and met the empress’ eyes.

The empress fixed her gaze on the emperor, her face expressionless.

“You seem to be interested in the imprisoned crown prince, may I ask why?”

“I did it for your majesty, the emperor.”

The empress responded without batting an eyelid.

The emperor burst out laughing, however, his eyes became sharp.

“For me, you say?”

“Yes. Isn’t his majesty the emperor neglecting the crown prince right now?”

At the empress’s answer, the emperor’s laughter ceased.

The emperor asked back a question in a bone-chilling tone.

“… … Are you rebuking me now?”

“There’s no way.”

The empress smiled amiably.

Because of her response, the emperor cast a discreet glance towards the empress.

“I asked that simply because if you keep swinging the whip, it will hit you one day.”

“Even so, he is still a child.”

“A child will become an adult someday.”

The empress answered firmly.

For some time, the emperor kept his mouth shut.

The empress continued in a calm voice.

“And his bitter childhood memories would linger in his memory for a long time.”

“……Resentment lasts a long time.”

“Yes. So, if the emperor stays away from the crown prince…”

The empress tilted her head slightly and looked at the emperor and the corner of her lips rose.

“Shouldn’t I treat the crown prince nicely?”

“Even so, what reason is there for the empress herself to take care of the crown prince?”

“He’s still the Crown Prince of Winsor. Your pride will not be harmed if someone else looks after him.”

Her emerald eyes shone brilliantly as she grinned.

She tried to act as nonchalantly as possible so that the emperor’s suspicion subsided.

“You need to treat him well if you don’t want to regret it later.”

The emperor was silent for a moment.

After all, given the emperor’s treatment to the crown prince so far, it was well worth worrying about.

The empress pretended to care about the emperor’s worries.

Then, she said cautiously,

“What if, by any chance, the crown prince causes trouble?”

“… Empress.”

“Wouldn’t the succession to the throne be a headache in the future?”

The empress pointed out the emperor’s sensitive subject.

The situation where the grown up crown prince demanded the throne was the most troublesome concern for the emperor.

The emperor gave a small nod.

“Yes, that seems to make sense.”

“I am so grateful that you have accepted my loyalty.”

The empress made a modest bow as the emperor once again smiled politely.

“Then can I entrust the crown prince to you, empress?”

Chapter 33.2

TL/Editor: Eastwalker/Greatape

“Of course, I will do my best.”

“All right. Then I’ll be preoccupied with state affairs, so let’s call it a day.”

Busy huh?

The empress restrained herself from laughing.

The fact that the emperor was sitting around while delegating his responsibilities to his subordinates was not a secret among the nobles of the court.

The empress saw the emperor going outside of the empress’s palace.

The head maid said as she saw the back of the emperor, as he went away.

“Your Majesty, Charlize has returned.”

“Really? Tell her to enter the room.”

The empress’s face began to brighten up at that moment.

She’s so happy to have Charlize.

The maid thought so as well.

***

On my walk back to the imperial palace, I happened to come across a man.

He was a handsome man with dark brown hair and gray eyes.

Oh, no way?

I drew my brows together.

Is that person the emperor?

In the novel, he was described as handsome despite his cruel heart….

The man in question matched that description quite well.

“Charlize of the empress’s palace greets His Majesty.”

I bowed my head slightly and greet him.

But rather than looking at me, the emperor passed by me as if he was dazed.

Hmm, is he not fond of children?

I squinted my eyes.

But it’s a relief.

If he showed any sign of being interested in me…

Wow, that’s something I’d despise.

I shuddered and entered the Empress’s Palace.

“Is that you, Lize?”

The empress welcomed me with a big grin on her beautiful face.

Perhaps because she was drinking tea, there was a pungent bitter scent of tea around her.

Huh?

I took a whiff.

I don’t think this is the tea she usually drinks.

I believe this is the first time I’ve seen this kind of tea.

“Yes, that’s right.”

The empress grinned bitterly while touching the rim of the teacup.

“I’ve been debating whether or not to drink this tea, but I’ve finally decided to do so.”

“Decided?”

I was a bit perplexed.

Is it necessary for her to make up her mind whether or not to have a cup of tea?

“What kind of tea is it?”

Is it an incredibly expensive tea?

“…..”

The empress smiled in embarrassment.

Then she shook her head.

“You don’t have to know Lize.”

“What?”

“I’ll teach you when you’re a little older, okay?”

“Yes, I understand.”

I responded quickly.

At first glance, it was a soft voice, but somehow it was mixed with firmness.

The empress added another word.

“And Lize, you should never drink this tea.”

“Why? Is it due to the bitterness?”

“That’s…”

I narrowed my eyes.

Normally, the empress would have responded immediately.

However, she seemed to be having trouble responding this time.

“If it’s hard for you to answer, you don’t need to.”

“…Yes.”

The empress just nodded with an ambiguous smile.

At that time, I didn’t know the fact that the empress started drinking tea with contraceptive effects from that day on to avoid leaving any heirs. I was simply curious about what the empress had talked with the emperor earlier.

“Well, about that, Your Majesty.”

I approached the empress.

I asked her carefully.

“Y-Your Majesty. Have you met the emperor yet?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Ju- just in case you’re in trouble because of me…

“It’s not like that.”

The empress shook her head repeatedly.

Afterwards, she knelt beside me and spoke, her gaze fixed on me.

“Leaving the crown prince in that state had been troubling me, so it all worked out in the end for the best.”

“But…”

“I hate having you feel useless guilt because of what you did. Okay?”

With that said, the empress gently stroked my cheek.

But I felt bad so I kept watching the empress.

If I hadn’t continued to visit Damian, the empress wouldn’t have had to be questioned by the emperor, right?

At that moment, the empress’s attitude seemed to have taken a turn.

“If you’re sorry to me, let’s sleep together today as a token of apology.

… … Eh? Are you serious about what you said to Damian?

The empress glanced at me with an envious and sorrowful expression.

“Did you think I was joking?”

“Yes? Oh no. That is…”

“Come to my bedroom at eight o’clock in the evening. Understood?”

The empress, predictably, was firm.

My eyes began to shake.

Weren’t you just trying to tease Damian?

Am I going to sleep together with the empress?!