The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 58

I swallowed my laughter. 

“Oh my, did you use tea cups as vases?”

Whether the Emperor had noticed it or not, the Empress had been observing the flower decorations keenly and with curious intent. 

Every tea table was adorned with tea cups filled with flowers. 

The flower-filled tea cups were arranged into a neat rectangular formation, resembling if small lovely flower beds had been placed on the table. 

“It’s a fresh idea. The flowers are beautiful.” 

“It’s all thanks to the Empress who taught this little maid well,” the Empress dowager replied with a chuckle.

“Pardon?”

The Empress opened her eyes wide in response to the Empress dowager’s laughter-mixed reply.

“Charlize was responsible for decorating these tea tables.”

“Oh, really?”

A bright smile appeared alongside the Empress’s warm gaze.

I reacted by strengthening my shoulders. 

Wow, am I really deserving of all this praise I’m getting today? 

I recalled what happened earlier. 

‘If there aren’t enough vases and not enough flowers….’

I’ll have to use as few flowers as possible, we still need to find something that can replace the vases….

So what I came up with was to use the chipped teacups instead.

It wouldn’t seem out of place because it’s tea time but the real advantage of using something small like tea cups to replace the vases….

‘…was that just a small amount of flowers could look like so much more and give us what we need to decorate each tea table in flowers abundantly.’ 

Other than that, a half-empty wine glass was used and I put a couple of flowers inside. The largest out of them all. 

I thought only tea cups would look a little boring so I tried to complement them with something else. I couldn’t find anything though. 

That is until sunlight reflected from a wine glass caught my eye. The way it sparkled in the sun…..

‘Maybe I have a talent for interior design?’

Feeling proud of myself, I suddenly felt an ominous piercing gaze, looking at me from the side. 

Eek! Who could that be? 

I involuntarily turned my head.

I found myself making eye contact with the Duke who also looked at me with a surprised look. 

‘No, why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?’

I touched my cheeks to check for a quick second but-

As soon as our eyes met, the Duke turned his head, not a single word. 

What? Really? That was awkward. 

I pouted my lips.

Anyway, the distinguished guests took their seats. 

For a while, there was what you could describe in a certain way as harmonious tea time. 

It was that way at first. 

“By the way, mother,” addressed the Emperor to her Majesty as he structured his next words slowly.

“Tell me something.”

“Recently, I heard that you left the palace and met with Margrave Antes.”

The Emperor opened his mouth with a prickly attitude.  

“I didn’t know my mother to be so interested in outside activities.” 

In an instant, the atmosphere froze in silence. 

The nobles sitting in their seats looked at each other, sensing his Majesty’s disapproval. 

The Emperor crossed his legs and continued to speak. 

“As your son, I do hope you don’t overdo it. You don’t want something terrible to happen now, do you? I know my heart wouldn’t bear it.”

“Not at all. The Emperor must be having a hard time managing state affairs.”

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, said so with an air of confidence as she shook her head, dismissing the Emperor’s words. 

“If I had not attended the banquet, the Emperor’s reputation might have been tarnished.”

“…..You went in my stead, for me? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes, I obviously had to.”

At the gentle voice, the Emperor’s forehead furrowed. 

“It was said that the Emperor had neglected the Lord who visited the palace. As such, this mother of yours couldn’t stand that such rumors were circulating,” the Empress clarified.

Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager placed her hand on her chest and bowed her head slightly.

“It was a great honor to be able to attend the dinner on behalf of His Majesty, the Emperor.”

As expected of the Empress dowager, she cleverly took control and turned things around just by speaking! 

I felt relieved, the butterflies in my stomach disappeared as if I had just taken digestive medicine. 

“Oh my, Your Majesty, Empress dowager. The tea smells great.”

The Empress intervened at just the right moment, cutting the conversation short. 

I swallowed the laughter that was about to burst out. 

Because that tea was sent by the Empress, right? 

At the Empress’s compliment, the Empress dowager nodded with a gentle smile. 

“I’m so happy to hear that the Empress herself likes it.”

But that’s when. 

The Emperor’s eyes glinted. The way he looked at the Empress dowager conveyed a cunning and sly intent. 

“Come to think of it, mother.”

Ugh.

I sighed inside, just what does the Emperor want now?

Seriously, whenever His Majesty opens his mouth, my heart sinks.

The Empress dowager probably felt the same way, her brow narrowed slightly.  

“It’s been a long time since I’ve come to say hello to my mother, so I couldn’t come empty-handed.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her Majesty carefully scrutinized the Emperor’s expression and responded in a calm and collected manner. 

“You’re my son, Your Majesty. You’re welcome to visit us at any time.”

“Even as the leader of the royal family, I can’t help but be polite,” boasted the Emperor. 

I was stunned. 

Unbelievable, if you’re going to act all polite, fix the Empress dowager’s palace first and those manners! Then come back to me!

I was ticked off but still needed to be calm. I shudder at the thought of the Emperor coming to visit. 

…..Other than that, just what is the Emperor trying to get at? 

As I remained puzzled, the Emperor kept going without missing a beat. 

With exaggerated movement, the Emperor lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. 

Then, one of the attendants came forward silently and placed a large wooden box on the table. 

“Take it. It‘s lecitan, a fruit native to the southern part of the empire.” 

The wooden box was filled with orange fruits the size of a fist. 

The sweet aroma unique to ripe fruits permeated the air. 

“In the past, whenever lecitan was brought into the Imperial Palace, didn’t you enjoy it?”

The Emperor smiled as if he was the world’s greatest son.

“Reminded of that, I decided to bring it so that my mother can have a taste.” 

Wow……Emperor. 

She’s your mother, did you really have to stoop so low? 

I managed to keep my brow from scrunching in front of the guests. 

These fruits, it’s lecitan?!

Lecitan is a tropical fruit, a very rare one at that. It’s only found in the southern islands and is occasionally cultivated there. 

The fruit is sweet, juicy, and has a rough texture. 

But….

‘It’s very tough to chew.’

On top of that, because it’s a difficult fruit to come by, it’s rare to see it even in the Empress’s palace.

The one time the Empress ate one, I took a bite and I have to say…..

‘It was incredibly delicious. I’m even salivating at the thought of it.…wait no!’

I came to my senses.

I knew Her Majesty has trouble eating hard foods, her teeth can’t chew anything tough.

From what I saw last time, the Empress dowager felt discomfort because of her weak teeth.

I don’t like this situation one bit. 

On one hand, isn’t it weird to give hard fruits to someone as a gift especially when you haven’t seen them in a long time?

The Empress Dowager clenched her fist tightly as she spoke to the Emperor. 

“…..Thank you. It feels like more than five years have passed since the last time I ate lecitan.”

“Oh, my. Has it really been that long? I should take care of you more often from now on.”

The sense of imminent victory was just around the corner in the eyes of the Emperor. 

“Still….those years won’t change the taste of lecitan. I hope it still suits your taste. In fact, why not try one?”

The Emperor who spoke mockingly beckoned me. 

“You there, come here.”

M-Me, me?

Trying to show a calm demeanor, I walked up to the Emperor at a normal pace. 

“Go prepare these lecitan.”

With that said, the ridicule on the Emperor’s face was apparent. 

His expression said it all, he clearly was enjoying every second of it. He then concluded by mentioning everyone. 

“So that all the distinguished guests can eat together.”

* * *

When I reached the kitchen, I stood there looking down at the lecitan for what seemed like an eternity, feeling troubled. 

‘I don’t think I can prepare the lecitan like any fruit I usually would….’

Even if I were to cut the fruit, the Empress dowager still wouldn’t be able to eat it. 

Of course, the Emperor would be thrilled to see that. 

I however don’t want to see that happen. I can’t let it happen. 

I agonized over what I should do.

‘Should I try to cut it into fine small pieces and present it?’

But for the Empress dowager to eat it properly, I would have to cut it as small as spoonful portions. 

…..Not that I can’t do that, the problem is it comes off as too disrespectful in front of people who value politeness. 

Perhaps that’s what the Emperor wants. 

Her Majesty would be ashamed in front of all the guests if I did so. 

At a time when I couldn’t come up with a solution, a clear glass cup caught my attention. That’s when it clicked. 

‘Ah!’

I jumped up in glee. 

* * *

Standing in front of the tea table, I held my hands together and bowed politely.

“The lecitan you requested.”

At the same time, the maids placed the plates quietly on the table. 

Each plate was covered with beautiful slices of fruit.  

“Oh God, I never thought I’d be given a chance to taste this exquisite fruit,” whispered one of the nobles.

“Lecitan, this fruit is hard to come by even in the south,” said another noble.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” 

The nobles who knew nothing of Her Majesty’s condition, eagerly expressed their gratitude to the Emperor as their palates became wet with anticipation for lecitan. 

The Empress and the Duke, who understood the situation, quietly surveyed the venue’s atmosphere. 

Meanwhile Her Majesty, the Empress dowager looked down at the plate with a discouraged look. 

The Emperor who observed her Majesty eventually pushed the tip of his lips forward and announced.

“Everyone, let’s eat.”

As if he was the organizer of this tea time, the Emperor had proudly offered the fruit to everyone.

I opened my mouth like it was nothing. 

“And here is the juice made from lecitan with ice.”

As I said that, the maids put down a glass of juice for each of the distinguished guests. 

In an instant, Her Majesty widened her eyes in surprise as she looked back at me. 

I added to my words with modesty. 

“I thought everyone would be thirsty, so I prepared this.”