The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 49

She first appeared in the novel when Damian turned 15.

 

The story goes something like this.

 

Damian, who had fled from the Crown Palace, headed north, where the Emperor’s hand could not reach.

 

Then, because of accumulated fatigue, he lost consciousness on the streets……

 

‘It would be Sienna who saved the fallen Damian.’

 

The only daughter of Margrave Antes, she was a beautiful young lady about the same age as Damian.

 

She was also a strong warrior and the successor to Antes, who had been a warrior for generations.

 

‘So, it would be nice if Sienna saved Damian.’

 

Damian, however, had so much distrust in people because of his long imprisonment in the Crown Palace, couldn’t even realize his love for Sienna.

 

Their story would end in catastrophe, but… ….

 

‘No, that’s just the flow of the original.’

 

I pondered about it.

 

I’ve been working hard to change Damian’s distrust of others, haven’t I?

 

Only Margrave Antes has appeared so far, yet there will be a day when Damian will really meet Siena.

 

So, if Damian falls in love with Sienna as the flow of the original story goes… ….

 

‘Then Damian will… …Damian will be happy.’

 

So let’s not be sad for no reason.

 

I’m only thinking about Damian’s happiness.

 

I brushed off any complicated thoughts and headed out.

 

I often walked to the Crown Prince’s palace.

 

Only this time it was different, I was carrying large and heavy baskets, one in each hand.

 

“Your highness!”

 

“Oh, hey Lize……what! What’s in these baskets?”

 

Damian freaked out and snatched the baskets from me.

 

I started by explaining little by little.

 

“This is your lunch for today, and the one wrapped in this wrapper can be eaten for dinner. And this is… …”

 

“Hang on. Why are you giving me so much food all of a sudden?”

 

As he cut me off, Damian asked back in a gruff voice.

 

I shrugged.

 

“Ah, I don’t think I will be able to visit the Crown palace until tomorrow afternoon.”

 

“Why? What’s going on?”

 

“That’s because tomorrow evening there’s a dinner scheduled with Margrave Antes. I’ll have to prepare for it.”

 

“… … Margrave Antes, you mean that person who came to the Imperial Palace?”

 

I explained the whole story.

 

It wasn’t enough for the Emperor to neglect Margrave Antes’ invitation but he’s also refusing his request for support.

 

Because of that, the Duke and the Empress are racking their brains.

 

“… … Understood? It’s a big deal,” I clarified to Damian.

 

Meanwhile, Damian, who had been listening to me, couldn’t hide his serious expression.

 

“Antes is the forefront for holding back the beasts. If that place falls, the damage to the people of the empire will be significant.…”

 

“So the Duke and her Majesty, the Empress are obviously very concerned.”

 

I nodded with a heavy face.

 

Damian thought about something for a while, then beckoned to me.

 

“Lize, could you lend me your ear for a second?”

 

“What?”

 

Ugh, why are you whispering when it’s just us?

 

What are you going to talk about?

 

Choosing to trust him, I tilted my head closer and listened to Damian.

 

Damian whispered in a cautious manner.

 

“That’s what I’m saying…”

 

After a bit.

 

My eyes were wide open.

 

I could see why Damian wanted to whisper in my ear.

 

It was such political and sharp advice.

 

No, but… ….

 

‘… … How could an eight-year-old kid even think like this?’

 

I looked at Damian with astonished eyes.

 

Can he be the main character of this world because his brain works this well?

 

Damian received my gaze with a confused face.

 

“What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

 

“That’s… because your Highness is unexpectedly smarter than I thought.”

 

“Excuse me, unexpectedly?”

 

Damian widened his eyes. In fact, his eyes seemed to shine at this unexpected opportunity.

 

“Hey, Lize! Am I really smart?”

 

“Yes, yes.” Of course, your Highness is the smartest person in the world.”

 

Damian narrowed his brow, annoyed at her answer. 

 

“You treat me like a child sometimes but don’t forget that I am three years older than you.” 

 

Damian couldn’t hide his irked expression.

 

“But to see him angry, he really is like a child,” I thought to myself.

 

To not annoy him further, I stopped laughing.

 

Damian, who now had a resentful look, sighed and reminded me.

 

“Anyway, make sure to deliver what I said to Her Majesty and the Duke of Rochester, okay?”

 

“Yes, I will.” Oh, by the way!”

 

I, who nodded without much thought, raised my voice without realizing it.

 

Startled, Damian asked me back.

 

“What’s wrong? Is there something else you want to talk about?”

 

“Yes. I have a question for your highness.”

 

When I left the Empress’s palace, I was going to ask Damian for his opinion about the matter.

 

I totally forgot though. What was I going to ask?

 

Was it? No. Wait. Hrmmm. Wait…..now I remember.

 

As I licked my lips, I continued to talk.

 

“Hey, I heard that during dinners, there’s a certain rule of conduct when it comes to treating distinguished guests.”

 

“Yes, there is. So when you invite a distinguished guest, you have to treat them according to the dignity of the distinguished guest,” replied Damian. 

 

“That means anything else doesn’t matter as long as I treat the distinguished guest with the befitting dignity, right?”

 

Damian’s expression became subtle. 

 

I’ll have to rephrase that.

 

I asked the question again.

 

“Anyway, all I have to do is show that the imperial family respects the Margrave, right?”

 

“Well, that’s true. But it’s a matter of how you show respect, correct?”

 

“Then, even if it’s not necessarily his Majesty, the Emperor… …”

 

I glanced at Damian’s eyes.

 

“Isn’t it possible for an older member of the royal family to attend the dinner?”

 

“…….What?”

 

Damian’s face expressed bewilderment.

 

“Are you talking about grandma?”

 

I nodded my head slightly.

 

“This is my opinion, but it’s already been five years since Her Majesty, the Empress dowager retired to her palace.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“I know. Can’t she slowly return to make an official appearance?” I asked with earnest intent.

 

Damian’s eyes shook violently when he heard me.

 

I could tell he had mixed feelings about this.  

 

‘The Empress dowager… …the Emperor said that she was against him usurping Damian’s throne.’

 

In fact, it wasn’t a matter of debate. It was natural succession for her Majesty, the Empress dowager.

 

Damian was the only blood left from his Majesty, Emperor Seon, whilst being the eldest son and all. 

 

By that logic, Damian should have ascended to the throne but her younger son, now known as Emperor Vincent, wanted the throne for himself.

 

She couldn’t bear to witness her younger son harm her only grandchild.

 

It was with that, Emperor Vincent was furious with his mother for choosing her grandchild instead of him.

 

‘How could a mother do this to me!’

 

His anger was so great that he threatened his grandmother openly. 

 

‘Live as if you were dead. If you don’t want to see your beloved grandson get hurt.’

 

After that day, I heard that the Empress dowager lived for her grandchild in isolation.

 

“Now might be the chance for the Empress dowager to make her long-awaited comeback.”

 

“Chance?”

 

“Yes. In fact, this situation is close to being neglected by his Majesty, the Emperor, right?”

 

I shrugged lightly with a grin on my face because of what I came up with. 

 

“That means if the Empress dowager is present at this dinner….”

 

“Then what will happen?”

 

“On behalf of ‘his Majesty, the Emperor,’ the Empress dowager will fill the vacancy instead.”

 

Damian didn’t respond immediately as he was still concentrating on what I was saying.

 

So I continued to speak calmly.

 

“So, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

 

“… … That’s right. Margrave Antes’s pride will be protected and grandma will be able to return to the public without any commotion.”

 

At the surprised rabbit-eyed Damian, I smiled satisfied.

 

“And her Majesty, the Empress doesn’t have to be troubled anymore.”

 

In fact, this was the main purpose.

 

I don’t want to see sister Rose troubled, even if dirt gets into my eyes.

 

After a while.

 

“Did you tell Her Majesty, the Empress about this?”

 

“No. I was going to tell her after I asked his Highness for his opinion.”

 

I shook my head lightly as I answered his question.

 

Then Damian looked at me as if something was out of the ordinary. 

 

“You know what, Lize?”

 

” Yes?”

 

“You sometimes act like you’re 500 years old, not five years old. It’s like you’re different on the inside. I would even say you’re sly at times.”

 

Hah, hum…..

 

I had to try very hard to brush that off and not give anything away.

 

That’s right, my real mental age is that of an adult.

 

But…

 

‘I must have acted too childishly because I was in a rush to find a solution.’

 

I’ll have to be a little more careful about my behavior in the future.

 

I looked at Damian and he looked firmly determined, he even flashed a smile at me.

 

“Anyway, it’s a splendid idea.”

 

“Wow, really?”

 

“Uh-huh. I think it would be good to tell the Empress dowager.”

 

Hearing that friendly voice, I somehow felt a little sad.

 

One day, a heroine who will monopolize Damian’s bright smile will appear.

 

For now, I’m not going to think about this.

 

Sienna Antes.

 

In the end, that name was like a thorn and I just couldn’t get it out of my head.

 

The next evening, everything was set.

 

Under the auspices of the Empress, Margrave Antes’s welcome dinner was held.

 

As a place to welcome the great lord, the banquet hall was impeccably decorated without any blemishes in regards to formality.

 

But the atmosphere was filled with tension.

 

“How can you do this to us?”

 

“Yes! It’s because of us repelling the demonic beasts, we’re fighting tooth and nail so that the empire can be so peaceful!”

 

The people from Margrave Antes’ lands were full of anger.

 

It was because the emperor, who should have listened to their opinions, was not present at all.

 

The nobles also rarely came because they were busy keeping an eye on the emperor.

 

Thus, the number of guests who attended the banquet was small enough to be counted on only ten fingers.

 

“Everyone, calm down,” requested Margrave Antes.

 

“Margrave Antes!” greeted the Duke.

 

“The Duke of Rochester attended the dinner. He must have something in mind.”

 

At least Margrave Antes was still holding onto reason and comforting the people around him.

 

However, it so happened that the Margrave also had an empty stomach. I could hear his stomach growling.

 

“If there’s no clear solution from this dinner, they might turn this place upside down.”