The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 48

The Duke, who raised the tip of his lips obliquely, asked me in a mischievous tone.

 

“What are you gawking at?”

 

“Oh, nothing.”

 

“Well, I’m kind of handsome.”

 

The Duke said so without raising an eyebrow. 

 

Ha, really…

 

I clenched my fists tightly.

 

Disappointment! I’m upset that I have to admit that the Duke is handsome!

 

Well, it’s only natural. He’s related to the empress, the most beautiful woman in the world!

 

But I’m still angry!

 

“The tea tastes mediocre.”

 

After a while, the Duke put down the teacup and gave such a comment.

 

“Remember it’s an obligation to be ready to prepare meals for guests as the maid of the empress’ palace.”

 

Er, I didn’t do anything of the sort.

 

I rolled my eyes.

 

Shouldn’t he have eaten before coming to the Empress Palace?

 

However, the Duke was not finished speaking yet.

 

The Duke gestured with his chin, pointing to the sofa opposite of the sofa the Duke was sitting on.

 

“Aren’t your legs sore from standing?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“What I mean is you can sit.”

 

Oh my God, the Duke is really offering me a seat right now?

 

As I blinked blankly, I came to my senses.

 

“I can’t do this. How could I as a maid, sit across from you?”

 

“Does the kid intend to get rid of me by questioning everything I say?”

 

“Maybe?”

 

“Do you not know? If I keep you standing like that, Rose will come back and try to end me.”

 

The Duke groaned.

 

… …So, that’s why you suggested for me to take a seat.

 

Convinced, I sat down.

 

Then, the Duke placed a plate stacked with financiers in front of me.

 

“Eat.”

 

“What?”

 

“Should I tell you one more time about Rose’s cruelty?”

 

After saying that, the Duke added a comment.

 

“And I for one, don’t like sweets.”

 

Welp, I guess this is happening.

 

I calmly pulled the plate in front of me.

 

The Duke, who was watching me munch on snacks, slowly tilted his head and opened his mouth.

 

“Hey, kid. I have something to tell you.”

 

“Wat?”

 

Maybe it was because my mouth was full of financiers, my pronunciation was a little unclear.

 

The Duke, who had been hesitating for a while, narrowed his brow and said.

 

“So… before, I was a little too cold-hearted to you. You’re still young……”

 

“Lize!”

 

I didn’t hear what the Duke had to say till the end.

 

It was because the Empress had entered the parlor.

 

As if on instinct, I sprang up from my seat.

 

“Her Majesty, the empress!”

 

What should I do, my empress is finally here! I’m so happy that I feel like crying!

 

The Empress, who hurriedly approached me, grabbed me and embraced me in her arms.

 

Then, she shifted her gaze to look at the duke with a sharp expression.

 

Her expression resembled a cat that had welled up with anger.

 

“Did my brother bother you?”

 

Well, he didn’t reeally bother me. 

 

Objectively, the Duke was quite kind.

 

I’m was however left emotionally exhausted…..

 

As I struggled to suppress my desire to complain like that, I smiled brightly.

 

“Not at all. She did a very good job,” stated the Duke.

 

“… … Brother? Can you not? It’s okay to be honest, Charlize.”

 

“It’s true.”

 

Even though I said that the empress did not hide her suspicions for a long time.

 

After but a short while, the empress recomposed herself and asked a question.

 

“So, why did you come to the empress’s palace, brother?”

 

“Why not? Can’t I come to see my sister every now and then?”

 

The Empress expressed all kinds of swear words that exist in the world just by wrinkling her face.

 

But it’s kind of weird.

 

I don’t think she was this sharp when the Duke visited last time.

 

I tilted my head.

 

The empress’s arms still embracing me, strengthened upon asking the Duke a question.

 

“You weren’t mean to Charlize, were you?”

 

“I telling you, no.”

 

“When I think about what you said about Charlize the other day, really…..”

 

The empress narrowed her brow and glared at the Duke.

 

“…Oh, are you doing this because of me,” said Charlize internally?

 

For some reason, the tip of my nose was twitching, so I glanced up at the Empress.

 

But right then.

 

“Rose, Margrave Antes entered the Imperial Palace today.”

 

The Duke had just dropped the bombshell of news in a monotone voice. 

 

… … Antes?

 

My shoulders flinched.

 

According to the legend of the founding of the country, the founding emperor, Carpel, with the help of the divine beast Aurelia, pushed the beasts to the northernmost fringes of the empire.

 

That land currently belonged to the Margrave Antes.

 

The place, covered with snow and ice that never melted, was a rough land infested with magical beasts.

 

In the Empire, the lord who ruled the land from generation to generation was given the status of Margrave and entrusted with the task to prevent the beasts from pushing into the Empire.

 

And ‘Antes’, is the one important person who has a great influence on Damian… ….

 

“…….I beg your pardon?” Why didn’t this news come to me sooner?”

 

The empress’s sharp voice disrupted my thoughts for a moment.

 

For now, let’s focus on the current situation.

 

I tried to shake off other thoughts.

 

At the same time, a calm and collected reply rang out.

 

“It’s because His Majesty the Emperor has rejected an invitation from Margrave Antes.”

 

……What?

 

I and the empress could not hide our astonishment.

 

The playfulness on the Duke’s face before disappeared as if washed away, just to prove that this wasn’t a joke.

 

“Is it really true?”

 

“It is.”

 

The duke nodded his head slightly.

 

‘… … The great lord guarding the border asked for an audience but he refused?’

 

Emperor, are you out of your mind?

 

I opened my mouth.

 

The Duke seemed to have a headache, so he was pressing his temple with his index finger.

 

“Margrave Antes declared that he would not be able to endure any longer and that if the imperial family continued to refuse to provide support, he would give up the territory and resign.”

 

“Antes is the front line to stop the beasts. And there hasn’t been any support as of yet?”

 

“Yes.The Margrave has asked for support several times but his Majesty has rejected it.”

 

The Duke spoke without restraint, openly expressing his discontent. 

 

“Antes’s lands are receiving a half-price tax reduction due to the nature of its ability to keep the magical beasts at bay.”

 

“This can’t be…”

 

“Yes. With the tax reduced, I was told to make up for the shortage by myself.”

 

In response, the Empress did not hide her disillusioned expression.

 

“Oh my God, why are you saying this now? How can Antes survive without support!” exclaimed the Empress.

 

“I know. But the Emperor is so stubborn, what should I do?”

 

The Duke let out a long sigh, it was clear that persuasion was not working.

 

“Anyway, we can’t leave the matter unattended as it is, so I think we should hold a welcome dinner and prepare ourselves for it,” advised the Empress.

 

“Can we hold a dinner under the name of the Empress, brother?”

 

“I think we should.”

 

The Duke, who nodded his head, continued speaking with a heavy voice.

 

“Actually, I don’t think the Margrave’s mood will get any better with a hearty dinner, so that’s the first problem.”

 

“His Majesty, the Emperor… …do you think he is going to attend?”

 

“I hope so but it’s unlikely.”

 

In response to the empress’s earnest question, the Duke shed a brief laugh.

 

The Duke then rose up on his feet, his eyes still on the Empress.

 

“I’m sorry, Rose. I have no one to ask but you.”

 

“Don’t say that, it’s something I must do as an Empress.”

 

At the Empress’s resolute reply, a slight smile crept over the Duke’s lips.

 

“Then I’ll take my leave now. You’ll be busy preparing for dinner and I won’t take your time any longer.”

 

The Duke, who had finished speaking like that, unexpectedly greeted me as well.

 

“Goodbye, little one.”

 

“Hmm? Oh, goodbye, Duke.”

 

I saw the Duke off with a bewildered face.

 

The Duke had taken his leave.

 

The Empress on the other hand gently laid both her hands on my shoulders and comforted me.

 

“Hey Lize, you just listened to stressing news. I’m sorry you had to hear all that.”

 

“No, it’s okay.”

 

I gave a big smile. 

 

The Empress in return smiled brightly as well though her expression said otherwise.

 

“By the way, this is a big deal.”

 

“Is it a big deal?”

 

“Even though I will personally host the event, his Majesty, the Emperor won’t be present.”

 

Her voice was heavy as if everything hung in the balance.

 

“From the standpoint of the Margrave, he’s been in a situation where he’s been neglected for long enough.”

 

Meanwhile, the Empress came to her senses.

 

“Hey, I don’t know why I’m talking about this with you. You can leave while I try to sort this out.”

 

The Empress, who had said so, fell into deep thought again.

 

She seemed strained from all the thinking about how to entertain Margrave Antes and prevent him from succeeding from the empire.

 

Meanwhile.

 

‘……What?’

 

Did I just come up with something?

 

I blinked both eyes.

 

Even if his Majesty, the Emperor doesn’t attend, isn’t it enough to just show that he respects the Margrave Antes?

 

At the same time, the Empress noticed I was still in the room and snapped out of her contemplation. She glanced back at me.

 

“Lize? Is there something you wanted to say?”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

 

I quickly shook my head and walked out.

 

After all, rather than judging and talking about this sensitive problem alone…..

 

‘It would be better to seek other people’s opinions first.’

 

Perhaps, Damian. I’d say he’s a good match for counseling.

 

And…..

 

‘… … It would be good to know about Margrave Antes and his relation with Damian as well.’

 

Antes.’

 

When I thought of that name, my chest would become stuffy as if a large rock had been placed on my chest.

 

Because…..a person from the ‘Antes’ bloodline……

 

‘….will be the heroine married to Damian.’

 

Sienna Antes.