The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 52

Teatime and Birthday Party

 

“Yawwwwwn.”

 

After a long yawn, I walked out of my room, rubbing my eyes.

 

It is currently 7am.

 

It’s time to start the morning at the Empress palace.

 

After eating lightly as always, I placed the prepared breakfast for the Empress on my trolley……

 

I was going to do what I normally do each day.

 

But this time, one of the maids stopped me, shaking her head.

 

“Charlize, you don’t have to bring her Majesty’s breakfast today.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

I couldn’t hide my surprised expression.

 

“Today, Her Majesty is going to visit the Empress dowager’s palace, so she’ll have breakfast there.”

 

“Oh really?”

 

I blinked blankly.

 

I suppose so.

 

With the invitation to breakfast as a starting point, the Empress and Empress dowager are slowly trying to restore their relationship.

 

Well, it’s a good thing in many ways.

 

Just when I nodded.

 

With a gentle voice, the maid dropped a bomb on me.

 

“Oh, by the way, you have to go too.”

 

“Whaaat?”

 

And about two hours later.

 

I was anxious with every step I took as I followed behind the Empress and we neared the Empress’s dowager’s palace.

 

How do I describe the Empress dowager’s palace during my first visit there…..

 

‘… … Old. It was clear that the palace hadn’t been maintained properly.’

 

It looked too shabby for a palace where the current Emperor’s birth mother, the Empress dowager, resided.

 

Although there was an effort to touch up the place, we could see old and worn-out facilities everywhere.

 

‘……I guess there’s no denying, it must be true that the Emperor despises Her Majesty, the Empress dowager.’

 

The Emperor is very strange.

 

For the way he treats Damian and Her Majesty, the Empress dowager.

 

Why Emperor, are you so mean to the few people who share the same blood with you?

 

I narrowed my eyes.

 

Of course, power has the ability to change people in many ways.

 

Does it make sense to persecute your family for the sake of power?

 

‘It’s completely bonkers, there are a lot of people in the world who live without being able to know their family’s relatives.’ 

 

If I had a family, I would love them to the fullest.

 

I’d do the best I could for them… … .

 

“Welcome, Empress.”

 

I was so lost in my thoughts till I heard a gentle voice. 

 

‘Ah.’

 

Is that Her Majesty, the Empress dowager?

 

I politely put my hands together and bowed my head.

 

A dignified old lady, who must have been very beautiful in her youth, stood before us.

 

Her posture was very straight, and her eyes were clear, uncommon for people her age.

 

Hmm, did Damian get his looks from the Empress dowager?

 

The Empress smiled at her.

 

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

 

“You’re welcome. Thank you for accepting my request.”

 

The Empress Dowager who said so, suddenly turned her attention to me.

 

“Hello, are you Charlize?”

 

…….Hold on.

 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager knows me? How?

 

“Your Majesty, Empress dowager. This is Charlize, a maid of the Empress’s palace.”

 

I tried hard to conceal my embarrassment and hurriedly greeted her.

 

“Yes, nice to meet you.” 

 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, who nodded her head, looked at me quietly.

 

It felt odd, the way she looked at me as if my appearance reminded her of someone she knew.

 

After a while, the Empress dowager turned around, gesturing with her hand.

 

“Come inside. I prepared a small meal for you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

The Empress moved lightly.

 

Hmm, so I guess I’ll just have to wait outside until the two of you finish eating, right?

 

Thinking like that, I eased up a bit, relaxing my body.

 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager who looked back, added a word in a delicate voice.

 

“Ah, let’s have Charlize join us as well.”

 

Err, me?

 

Why me all of a sudden?!

 

I quickly tried to catch up with them, almost spraining my foot in the process.

 

There I was, sitting at a table as stiff as stone with breakfast in front of me.

 

Opposite of me, Her Majesty, the Empress and Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, seated side by side.

 

From cleaning up after his Highness, the Crown Prince and sleeping in the same bed with Her Majesty, the Empress…..

 

……Am I also going to be a maid to Her Majesty, the Empress dowager as well?

 

I think I’m going to get indigestion from the very thought!

 

“Thank you, Empress for coming. I’m very happy to have breakfast with you. Please enjoy your meal.”

 

In contrast to how I felt in this situation, the atmosphere around both Empresses was fortunately mild. It wasn’t terribly tense or awkward but it also wasn’t exactly brimming with gaiety. 

 

“Don’t mention it. I should have visited you more often… …”

 

The Empress let out a short sigh.

 

“If I may be so bold to say, I was worried that I would make your Majesty feel troubled by visiting you on short notice.”

 

As the Empress held the tableware, one could see her nerves stand out from her wrist as she truly struggled to get out what she wanted to say. 

 

“Perhaps because I… … I am the Emperor’s wife.”

 

At those words, Her Majesty, the Empress dowager’s eyes sank deeply.

 

“Don’t say that. How can I fault you, Empress, when you’ve done nothing wrong?”

 

“But… …”

 

“No noblewoman can be free from political marriage.”

 

It was a voice laced with deep remorse.

 

“The Empress is also a victim.”

 

“…Empress dowager.”

 

“Also, pertaining to the matter of Damian, I am still indebted to you, Empress.”

 

After saying that, Her Majesty, the Empress dowager showed her wondrous bright smile.

 

“Debts aside, I’m just grateful that the Empress herself came to see me here. So don’t frown, you did nothing wrong.”

 

“Thank you so much for saying that. It means a lot to hear you say that. From now on, I’ll make sure to smile more and have a joyful face more often.”

 

The two of them had a friendly conversation.

 

I just rolled my eyes and looked at the two of them. Relieved that things went well, I even might have smiled slightly.

 

All’s well that ends well.

 

As it is, if there’s nothing else, I can just wait for the meal to end… … .

 

“So, darling. Is the food good?”

 

But right then.

 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager snuck in a question. 

 

My pupils were shaking as if there had been an earthquake.

 

Thank you for your concern but you don’t have to pay any attention to me, is what I wanted to say but I couldn’t do that.

 

I mean…aaah! This is embarrassing! Too much for my liking!

 

“Yes, of course. I’m grateful that the Empress dowager is so attentive.”

 

Fortunately, the long time I served as a maid has not been in vain and I was able to give a quick answer. 

 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, closed her eyes, relieved at my answer.

 

“That’s a relief. There are only older people in this palace. I was worried that it wouldn’t suit the tastes of a child.”

 

“No, it was really good.”

 

I shook my head right away.

 

“How old are you? You’re not picky about food?”

 

“Of course, if you give me a choice between meat and vegetables, I’d choose meat!”

 

‘……But.’

 

Meanwhile, I glanced at the food in front of Her Majesty.

 

She only ate soft dishes such as soup and hasn’t touched any hard foods.

 

Are her teeth sensitive?

 

At that time, Her Majesty opened her mouth.

 

“Actually, the reason you’re here is because I begged the Empress that I really wanted to see you.”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

After nodding, the Empress dowager continued to gaze at me for a long time.

 

Ah, she’s doing it again.

 

My face must remind her of someone she misses very much.….

 

“…You’re the maid who takes care of Damian, right?”

 

The Empress dowager said so with caution in her voice. 

 

That’s right, the Empress dowager is Damian’s grandmother.

 

When I recalled that fact, I felt sorry.

 

Even though they lived within the Imperial palace and their palaces are not far from one another, they haven’t seen each other for five years.

 

In addition, the shock she would probably feel from seeing how much Damian has grown.

 

“That’s right, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager.”

 

“First of all, I should say thank you for taking good care of Damian. You’re very young too.”

 

“No please, it’s what I have to do.”

 

I shook my head.

 

“By the way, I heard that Damian collapsed from a fever a while ago, has he gotten better?”

 

“Yes, he’s very healthy now.”

 

“That’s a relief. It’s gotten a lot hotter these days. How’s Damian doing? Is he eating well?”

 

“Of course, he’s been enjoying southern-style meat dishes lately. So…”

 

Her Majesty asked countless questions about Damian.

 

I answered each question sincerely.

 

After all, the least I could do for the Empress dowager was to deliver the news about Damian.

 

“She’s still five years old but she’s very smart for her age.”

 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, who had been listening to me for a long time, finally said so with a satisfied face.

 

The Empress nodded her head, unable to hide her pride in Charlize.

 

“Right? You don’t know how smart our Charlize is. She’s very good at her work.”

 

“I’m so proud of you. So, can you send Charlize to my palace sometimes?”

 

Then, the Empress suddenly flinched her shoulders.

 

“Being in this palace is so lonely. I think it’d be nice if she could talk to me and keep me company.…”

 

“……Empress?”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

It was then that the Empress hurriedly put a smile on her face.

 

Her smile seemed awkward, different from her usual smiles. 

 

…..Or am I just imagining things?

 

“Okay. I’ll let her go sometimes.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

In response to that answer, the Empress dowager’s face brightened.

 

After that, their friendly conversations continued.

 

But I saw it.

 

The empress’ lips twitched slightly!