The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 55

Ch 55.1 

“I’m sorry, Charlize.”

After the commotion was cleared up.

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager sat down next to me and apologized with a serious tone. 

“I knew they couldn’t be trusted but I never expected them to treat you in a bad way.”

Oh, no…

Actually, I intentionally caused what happened. 

I tried to ignore my prick of conscience and smiled innocently. 

“No, I’m grateful to the Empress dowager!”

“You’re thanking me?” 

“Yes! From now on, I won’t meet those scary maids.”

When I answered as if I didn’t know anything, a soft smile spread over Her Majesty’s face.

“Then I should also thank my adorable maid.”

“What? Why?”

“Thanks to you, I have justification to get rid of those disrespectful maids.”

The Empress dowager who had said so, gently stroked my hair.

My eyes glistened as I enjoyed her affectionate touch. 

Of course, it can’t be guaranteed that the influence of the Emperor won’t be able to affect the newly selected maids. 

But at least…….

“Her Majesty has a chance to choose the maids herself.”’

This problem arose when maids were sent from the Royal household agency, so she should be able to ask and handpick maids for herself now that she has a reason to.

So it’s up to the Empress dowager to pick the right maid.

“Actually, I called you today because I wanted you to help me.”

“Oh? Can I still help, your Majesty?”

I opened my eyes wide, eager and ready. 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, looking at my startled face, immediately smiled.

“Yes. It’s not a big deal, I want to bake a cake.”

“Cake?”

“Maybe it’s because I haven’t tried to in my entire life, so I keep getting it wrong.”

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager added in an awkward tone.

“Since the previous maidservants had all come from aristocratic backgrounds, they never baked a cake before.”

Her Majesty’s asking for my help and those maids are gone….

I’m going to help her Majesty bake the cake. It’s not hard.

I asked a question out of curiosity. 

“Is there a reason why your Majesty has to bake the cake herself?”

Right?

It’s not someone else, it’s Her Majesty, why does she need to bake a cake all on her own?

In an instant, Her Majesty’s voice was filled with excitement.

“I’m going to give it to Damian as a gift.”

“….Her Majesty is going to send it to his Highness?”

The Empress dowager nodded her head energetically like a very excited child.

“I plan to send it to the Empress’s staff. I have already obtained permission from the Empress.”

“Well, I see. But why all of a sudden?”

“Well, because tomorrow is Damian’s birthday.”

“What?!”

To-Tomorrow is Damian’s birthday?

I was so surprised that I even forgot that I was in front of Her Majesty. 

I was deeply embarrassed for how I reacted but Her Majesty didn’t seem to take notice.

A gleeful voice reached my ears.

“I’ve never had a chance to take care of him in five years, but now, I can do so.”

………That’s what it was.

I clenched my fists.

“Well, I’ll do my best.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll do my best to help you bake the most delicious cake in the world,” I declared!

Oh, was my voice too loud?

When I heard that it was Damian’s birthday, without knowing it, my shoulders tensed up……

I was worried and secretly looked into the eyes of Her Majesty, gauging her reaction even if it was for a second. 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, who had her eyes wide open, answered with a gentle, sweet voice.

“Thank you.” 

“Wow, it’s done.”

I took a deep breath, satisfied, and stepped away from the cake.

The unique sweet and savory scent of freshly baked cakes permeated the kitchen.

With an ecstatic face, the Empress dowager gazed at the cake evenly coated with whipped cream. 

“Now all I have to do is decorate this cake?”

“Yes. Here, fruits and chocolate decorations.”

“……Yes.”

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager picked up a piece of fruit with a very concentrated face.

I looked with the eyes of a hawk to see if Her Majesty made any mistakes.

Hmm, it is a rare sight in its own way.

I didn’t expect to see Her Majesty decorate a cake during my lifetime.

After a while, Her Majesty raised her head.

“Charlize, look at this. Isn’t this pretty decent?”

“Mmmm…..”

I drooled. 

It seems that Her Majesty loves Damian tremendously.

Judging by all the chocolates and fruits piled up endlessly.

But…..in my personal opinion, I think that love needs some moderation…..and fewer toppings.

In the end, I chose an easy answer.

“….His Highness, the Crown Prince will be very happy!”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager smiled brightly and I decided to just be satisfied with that smile.

After cleaning up, the Empress dowager and I shared the remaining cakes and had a chat.

“By the way, I had no idea it was the Crown Prince’s birthday.”

“Oh my, Damian didn’t tell you?”

“Yes, how could he not even tell me?”

Feeling disappointed, I pouted my lips a little.

“Still, I am the Crown Prince’s exclusive maid.”

“Maybe it was because he didn’t want to burden you.”

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, speaking in a soothing voice, looked at me with delighted eyes.

“More than that, Damian’s in good hands.”

“Pardon?”

“Because a loyal maid like you is by his side.”

Loyal maid.

Somehow, my conscience was stung, so I unwittingly avoided the gaze of the Empress dowager.

Right? For me to just accept that compliment honestly…..it just stung my heart…..

‘You shouldn’t have feelings for Damian.’

Of course, I’m determined to raise Damian well and send him to Sienna, the heroine.

But apart from that, what can I do if it keeps bothering me?

Come on, let’s stop thinking about that for starters.

“Your Majesty, Empress dowager.”

“Go ahead, say it,” said Her Majesty, detecting my hesitation. 

“You know, I….”

I had already made up my mind to stop thinking about it.

But my mouth was moving on its own and before I knew it.

“…..I heard that Margrave Antes has a daughter.”

Ugh, why am I asking this question?!

Feeling pathetic about myself, I stopped and closed my eyes tightly.

“Now that you mention it, I think someone comes to mind. I saw her once when she was very young.”

“Oh, did you meet her in person?” I responded with my eyes open. 

“I did. The name of Margrave Antes’s daughter was probably…..Sienna if I remember correctly?”

Sienna.

I tried to hide this sinking feeling in me. 

“She was a pretty cute kid. Completely different from the rugged-looking Margrave Antes.”

Recalling the memories, the Empress dowager continued to speak.

“Come to think of it, Damian and Sienna met once before.”

“Wait, really?”

“Since the two children were of the same age, I and Antes met to have them see each other…..”

My eyes lit up the moment I heard that. 

Did you? What happened?

Did she spark love between the two of them from a young age? 

“……Sienna, as a young girl crawled up to Damian and grabbed his hair, I think she even tried to yank his hair?”

“What?” I gasped.

“Really, the grip strength that Antes’s child had was no joke.”

At the unexpected development, I was a little stunned.

Well, of course, Sienna would have superior physical abilities.

If you want to grow into an outstanding warrior who will face the beasts in the future, then that’s expected….. 

Meanwhile, Her Majesty burst into laughter.

“Damian really cried a lot and even threw a short tantrum.”

“Oh, really? Did he cry so hard?” I asked. 

“Yes. Well, he was a one-year-old baby. You don’t know how hard it was to appease a child.”

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, who shook her head slightly, added in a faint sentimental voice.

“At that time, we were half joking and half serious, thinking about getting our two children engaged…..”

What? Engagement?!

I started freaking out on the inside but remembered I was still in Her Majesty’s presence.

What, how am I hearing this for the first time?

This didn’t even appear in the original!

It’s like a secret that only the author knows, I’m against it!

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, who had been immersed in memories of the past, looked back at me with a puzzled face.

“By the way, why are you suddenly asking about Margrave Antes’s daughter?”

“What? Well, I was just curious.”

“…..About Margrave Antes’s daughter?”

“That’s…..Margrave Antes came to the Imperial palace last time, right? That’s why I was curious!”

I made excuses in a hurry.

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, looked a bit bewildered but did not ask much.

“By the way, I’m not sure if I can really send this cake to Damian.”

“What do you mean?”

“I…..actually, I’m a little worried,” answered Her Majesty with a heavy tone.

To be exact, she had so many thoughts in her mind that she couldn’t pay attention to my crude excuse.

“I haven’t contacted Damian in five years and only now I show up….”

Her Majesty’s gaze slowly traced the cake topped with fruit and chocolate decorations.

“Only now I’m acting as a grandmother, I don’t want to make that child’s heart ache for no reason…..”

“That’s not true,” I replied. 

“……Huh?”

“His Highness, the Crown Prince is also very concerned about your Majesty, Empress dowager.”

I added strength to my words.

“Also, he misses the Empress dowager very much.”