The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 51

The banquet concludes.

 

The Empress, who was about to step outside, abruptly stopped in her tracks.

 

Before she knew it, it was raining.

 

“Gee, it was sunny when the banquet started….”

 

It wasn’t heavy rain but that didn’t mean the rain wasn’t light enough to just ignore.

 

Just when the Empress narrowed her brow.

 

“Empress.”

 

At the unexpected call, she turned around surprised to see who it was.

 

The Empress dowager was walking towards her.

 

“Yes, Empress Dowager,” responded the Empress.

 

The Empress Dowager coughed a bit before opening her mouth.

 

“I should have said thank you in advance but I’m telling you this now because I didn’t have any prior context.”

 

“…..Yes?”

 

“Thank you Empress for taking care of Damian.”

 

The Empress dowager, who said so, respectfully bowed her head to the Empress.

 

“I heard you even assigned a dedicated maid but I was too late to meet her.”

 

“Oh my God, how could you bow your head to me…..”

 

Shocked, she tried to dissuade the Empress dowager from her current action.

 

“…..I haven’t done anything for my grandchild in nearly five years as it could have brought harm to him.”

 

“….Empress dowager.”

 

“I am very grateful to the Empress for taking such care of him.”

 

The Empress dowager’s voice turned to whispers as she was overtaken by her emotions. She trembled upon remembering all that had transpired. 

 

After the passing of her eldest son, regret washed over her for only watching her younger son push away her only grandson. 

 

And the sense of helplessness for not being able to stand up in defense of her grandchild.

 

Numerous emotions gripped the Empress dowager’s chest.

 

But then.

 

“No.”

 

The Empress shook her head and held the Empress dowager’s hand.

 

“As the Empress of the empire, as a member of the imperial family, and… … as an adult.”

 

The hands that held the Empress dowager’s hands grew tighter.

 

“I have an obligation to take care of the Crown Prince, who is still a child.”

 

In response to the firm answer, the Empress dowager’s gaze shook.

 

“Because the current situation isn’t favorable for your Majesty, the Empress dowager, I am merely filling in for you now.”

 

“…..Empress.” 

 

“So please don’t thank me.Okay?”

 

The Empress nailed it once more.

 

Finally, the Empress dowager lifted her head, gently closed her wrinkled eyes, and smiled.

 

It was a smile as bright as the sun.

 

“Your Majesty, I’m here to escort you.”

 

Just in time, a maid from the Empress dowager’s palace arrived with an umbrella open.

 

The Empress dowager nodded and looked back at the Empress.

 

“Then I’ll be leaving first, Empress.”

 

“Please return safely, Empress dowager.”

 

And with that the Empress dowager left.

 

The Duke approached his sister.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“Oh, brother.”

 

Perhaps because he was wary of prying eyes, the Duke regularly called his sister, Her Majesty.

 

The Empress laughed a little because she was content after speaking with the Empress dowager.

 

The Duke who watched as the Empress dowager walked further away, suddenly opened his mouth when the Empress dowager was far enough.

 

“Her Majesty, the Empress dowager was invited to this dinner.”

 

“Pardon?” reacted the Empress.

 

“It was a very wise decision.”

 

Oh, why must my brother compliment me like that?

 

The Empress opened her eyes wide.

 

“If Her Majesty hadn’t come, Margrave Antes would have been very furious.”

 

“Hmm, is that so?” replied the Empress rhetorically. 

 

“For one reason or another, high lords are usually people with great self-esteem.”

 

Meanwhile, the Duke suddenly asked a question.

 

“By the way, how did you come up with the idea of inviting Her Majesty, the Empress dowager?”

 

“What?”

 

“This event was suitable for the Empress dowager to attend in many ways, but… …

 

The Duke looked at the Empress with great attention.

 

“Until now, the Empress dowager has refrained from any outside activities.”

 

“Well, that’s true,” acknowledged the Empress.

 

“May I ask how you invited such a person?”

 

Then, the Empress’ face was filled with pride.

 

“Well, it was because Charlize came to see me last night. Can you believe that?

 

“Do you mean that kid?”

 

The Duke narrowed his forehead without realizing it.

 

Either way, the Empress continued to speak with an excited voice.

 

“Charlize and I talked about it.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“It’s…”

 

The Empress looked pleased and recalled what happened yesterday.

 

“Um, Your Majesty,” said Charlize in an adorable voice as she approached the Empress with her short-legged gait.

 

Charlize looked up at the Empress with her eyes wide open.

 

‘Yes? What’s the matter, Lize?’ 

 

‘I have a question for you.’

 

‘Okay. Ask me anything.’

 

With that said, the Empress opened her arms.

 

Charlize crawled up on the Empress’s lap and hugged the Empress tightly with her arms around her neck.

 

‘I thought of this when I saw your Majesty stressed earlier.’

 

“Yes, yes. And?”

 

‘Her Majesty, the Empress dowager is as great as your Majesty, isn’t it?’

 

‘…..What?’

 

It was someone I never thought of.

 

The Empress, who was caressing Charlize’s back, unknowingly paused and stopped her hand.

 

Charlize asked the question again in an innocent voice.

 

‘So the Empress dowager, can’t she attend this dinner on behalf of the Emperor?’

 

In an instant, the empress’s eyes became sharp.

 

That’s right. There was the Empress dowager.

 

Perhaps Charlize asked that out of childlike curiosity.

 

Nevertheless, for the Empress, it was like rain in a season of drought.

 

“…So what do you think? Our Charlize, isn’t she special?”

 

“It just sounds like a child asking questions without thinking to my ears.”

 

“How can you say that?”

 

The Empress intensified her gaze and glanced at her brother, who had an indifferent expression on his face.

 

“Well, she helped us out in the end!”

 

“Yes, well…I have to say, you’re right.”

 

Astonished by her brother, who so casually affirmed without debate, the Empress had a startled expression.

 

“Brother, are you saying I’m right?”

 

“Is that something to be surprised about?”

 

The Duke narrowed his brow.

 

“Anyhow, brother, what kind of person do you think I am?”

 

“Well… for the sake of our friendship, let’s not answer that question.”

 

“Maybe next time then.”

 

Accepting that copped-out answer, the Empress smiled brightly when she recognized 2 figures coming in the distance.

 

Charlize ran from afar.

 

The Empress’ expression simply lit up.

 

“Did you come to see me, Lize?”

 

“Yes!  Also, Your Majesty, here’s an umbrella!”

 

Charlize, who opened her umbrella wide, tried to position her umbrella above the Empress to cover her from the rain as she stepped forward.

 

But as soon as she realized the Empress’s stature was out of reach, she sullenly draped her shoulders.

 

Seeing that adorable face upset, a smile lingered on the Empress’s lips involuntarily.

 

“It’s alright, hand me the umbrella.”

 

“No, I can hold the umbrella instead of Charlize.”

 

Just then, chief maid Weber, who had followed Charlize, spoke.

 

But the Empress shook her head.

 

“No, it’s okay. I want to share an umbrella with Charlize.”

 

“What? Your Majesty is going to hold the umbrella herself?”

 

“I think so. Come here, Lize.”

 

The Empress had already made up her mind, opening her umbrella and motioning for Charlize to come to her side.

 

‘I wanna hug you right now, but… …’

 

Since there could be eyes watching, she put that thought on hold.

 

Regrettably, the Empress held Charlize’s hand tightly for now.

 

“Lize, did you come all the way here to bring me an umbrella?”

 

“Yes, I am a maid of the Empress’s Palace!”

 

Charlize exclaimed enthusiastically.

 

The Empress looked like she was going to faint from all the cuteness as she looked down at Charlize.

 

“Oh Charlize, you’re so cute and I’m proud of you….”

 

At the sound of her gentle, flowing voice, Charlize became embarrassed.

 

‘Oh, I’m embarrassed… …’

 

It was a word that anyone could hear.

 

There was only one person who could protest to the Empress for improper interaction.

 

And that one person was the Duke of Rochester but he was preoccupied with his own world…….

 

The Duke pondered the relationship between his sister and that child. Were his previous assumptions about them wrong? The aftermath of the banquet and the Crown Prince was also on his mind. 

 

As to why the Empress loved Charlize, the Duke was convinced in real-time from their interactions.

 

‘Certainly, if it hadn’t been for the kid… … we wouldn’t have been able to solve this matter so easily.’

 

Of course, in the first place, this outcome was the result of the Crown Prince’s doing.

 

The solution that Damian came up with was absolutely effective.

 

And without Charlize, that very solution would not have never reached me.

 

“There’s a reason why Rose loves her.”’

 

He thought she just adored her because she was a cute child but apparently it was more than that.

 

Thinking about it, the Duke suddenly frowned.

 

“No, it’s not.”

 

In the end, if I recap, the little girl just conveyed the words of the Crown Prince, nothing more.

 

Just because things turned out well this time, it’s prudent not to make hasty judgments from now onwards however….

 

The Duke raised his head slightly, looking at the two people walking in front of him.

 

For some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off the child’s small figure.

 

 

 

After a few days.

 

I was heading to the Crown Prince’s palace, humming along the way with a rolled-up newspaper in my hand.

 

My face was so cheery that the maids I usually pass by took notice and asked me a question.

 

“Lize, did something good happen?”

 

I answered that something good did happen but didn’t explain in detail.

 

I reached the palace and met up with Damian. 

 

“Your highness, look at this!”

 

I held the newspaper I brought right in front of Damian’s face.

 

Damian freaked out.

 

The newspaper was too close for comfort, admittedly it was only a few inches from his face. 

 

“Gah! What’s this?”

 

“Aren’t you going to read it?”

 

I dangled the newspaper in front of him.

 

Damian narrowed his brow and began to read the newspaper.

 

“…..Really?”

 

Damian, floored, asked me with a surprised voice.

 

“Really, his Majesty, the Emperor, promised to provide full support to Antes?”

 

“It’s true. Oh, by the way, besides the full support.…”

 

I got close to Damian’s ear and whispered softly.

 

“Because of the newspapers, there’s a lot of talk about His Majesty, the Emperor having neglected his duty to protect the people.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. That’s why His Majesty said he was really angry.”

 

I added insidiously.

 

“Isn’t it so satisfying?””

 

“Well, I know I shouldn’t agree with you… …”

 

Damian, who was frowning, eventually smiled.

 

“But you’re right. It’s totally satisfying.”