The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 62

“But your self-study through books can only go so far without a teacher to help.” 

“It’s okay. I don’t want to burden your Majesty any further.”

The Empress hearing that answer looked at Damian with a mixed expression. 

How would one describe that look? 

Should it be described as feelings of pride and pity mixed together?

After a while, the Empress nodded.

“Very well. I’ll go disturb the Imperial library later on.”

“What?”

The Empress’s unconventional statement took Damian by surprise. 

At the same time, the Empress took a deep breath. 

“I’d like to help find a teacher for you but it’ll be difficult, to say the least.”

Obviously, the Emperor will attempt to interfere. 

Unfortunately, even if I do find a teacher, there’s no guarantee that the Emperor’s influence hasn’t reached any if not all the teachers.

But that’s pessimism talking, there’s- 

Damian interrupted the Empress’s train of thought with a reply. 

“Thank you, I really appreciate your consideration, Your Majesty,” said Damian with a bright smile.

“You don’t have to thank me so much. Your Highness is the heir to the throne.”

The Empress resolutely shook her head and commented. 

“It’s rather unfortunate that you never had an opportunity to receive an education until now.”

“I agree with Her Majesty.”

The Duke, who had been watching the situation silently, inserted himself into the conversation. 

Huh? I don’t remember the Duke being friendly with Damian. Doesn’t the Duke dislike him?

I glanced at the Duke. 

“By the way, Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“About the advice to use public opinion to pressure the Emperor into supporting Margrave Antes.”

Damian stiffened his shoulders slightly. 

“Did Your Highness come up with this on his own?”

The Duke had posed his question in a calming voice to prevent any insinuation of putting him on the spot.

“……Yes I did, is there a problem?” 

“No, it’s not a problem.”

The Duke’s eyes which were focused on Damian, for a moment stood out with a certain distinction.

“It’s rather that not only I but Her Majesty, the Empress as well owes you a great debt.”

“Without your advice, the dinner with Margrave Antes could have taken a toll for the worst, not to mention the threat of the magical beasts at the frontier if the Emperor didn’t give his support….but I digress.”

“Your idea was pivotal to the success of our dinner with Antes. Thank you, Your Highness.”

Yep, that’s my boy, Damian! He’s so smart!

I feel proud of him, like a mother proud of her child.

Damian, who wasn’t accustomed to receiving compliments from others, scratched his cheek with a shy look.

Then he turned and looked back at me. 

…Why is he looking at me all of a sudden?

“By the way, Charlize.”

“Hm?”

“Since it’s my birthday, that reminds me….when is your birthday?”

Oh, dear. 

Why did it have to be that? 

I’m embarrassed now that the Duke’s and Empress’s gazes are fixated on me and I don’t see any way I can change the subject. 

Well on the bright side, it’s not a difficult question to answer. 

I opened my mouth without hesitation. 

“I don’t know.”

“….Huh?”

At my unexpected answer, Damian made a bewildered face.

I kindly added an explanation. 

“If I don’t even know the faces of my parents, how would I know about small details like my birthday?”

“Now that you mention it, I remember Charlize’s records, particularly her date of birth being stated as ‘unknown.’”

After the Empress said that, the atmosphere somehow felt all serious, leaving me a bit confused. 

The Empress had narrowed her forehead in thought.  

The Duke also squinted his eyes at me. 

…..Not to mention, Damian too. 

Suddenly, Damian opened his mouth. 

“Alright, let your birthday be May 7.”

May 7? Why randomly pick May 7? 

I looked at Damian with a puzzled look. 

“It’s the day, the day you and I first met,” Damian added in a firm voice. 

“I-Is that so?”

Wow, he remembered that? 

Unlike me, who was embarrassed, Damian’s demeanor remained unchanged. 

“I’ll make sure to remember your birthday from now on.”

“……That won’t do. Charlize’s birthday should be on May 28.”

The Empress interrupted with a voice full of envy.

Really? Do I have to choose between May 7 or May 28 now?

This could get out of hand. Where did the date May 28 even come from? 

Worried, I tried to speak but-

Are they?

“Why should Charlize’s birthday be the day she met the crown prince?”

The Empress clenched her fists. 

“If that’s the case then Charlize’s birthday should be on the day she and I met!”

….Well, this is happening. Ugh, how did things turn out like this…

At the absurdity of it all, I stood there, watching the rivalry that somehow sprung up between the Empress and Damian. 

“I said it first!”

“No, there’s no law that says you can designate a day just because you said it first?!”

The Empress and Damian didn’t give each other a single inch of ground when it came to my birthday. 

And the Duke……

“…..that’s my sister, there she is acting in such a way.”

It’s so childish. 

The Duke shook his head, his emerald-colored eyes becoming dim. 

It was like he was reflecting on the past and how the Empress, the sister he cherished, came to this.

Regardless, the quarrel between the Empress and Damian intensified with every waking moment. 

“Let’s do this instead.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why don’t we ask Charlize to choose, instead of arguing between ourselves?”

The Empress’s expression upon saying that was one of confidence, completely sure of victory. 

At the same time, the two glanced at me. 

“Charlize, when do you want your birthday to be?”

The Empress’s gentle voice made me tear up inside. 

Why are you making me do this?!

The Empress spoke again with a tender voice. 

“There’s no need to feel pressured. Just say what day you want it to be.”

…..no, how can I not be pressured in this situation? The two people I cherish the most want me to pick between them…

I-I am a maid of the Empress’s palace, should I side with the Empress or Damian?

I was plunged into deep agony. 

Damian however nudged me and spoke with a sullen tone. 

‘I still haven’t received a proper birthday present from you yet.”

“…..pardon?”

“If your birthday becomes the day we first met, I’d be very happw….”

Damian glanced at me with a wistful look, his speech blurring near the end. 

The Empress watched what transpired, her face contorting slightly. 

W-well you can’t say no to that!

I then averted my attention to the Empress with my mind made up, giving her a long-awaited answer. 

“I’ll make my birthday on the date set by the crown prince….”

The Empress widened her eyes upon hearing my answer, directing her gaze to Damian. 

“Prince, that was a dirty move!” 

The Empress protested but my choice was made and the smile on Damian’s face was definitely one of a winner. 

I’m sorry, Empress. 

But today is Damian’s birthday, isn’t it? He should have at least one proper gift from me. 

The Empress, who protested for some time, suddenly pushed the tip of her lips. 

It was a wicked smile. 

“Your highness, you know what? The world can be very cold.”

“…….What do you mean by that?”

“If it’s to win Charlize’s heart, I’ll try my very best.”

The Empress raised her nose at Damian and declared proudly. 

……Hey, are you two still not done yet? How long are you both going to argue?

On a side note, the Duke seemed to have given up all hope in correcting his sister’s actions. 

Nevertheless, he continued to watch the competition between the Empress and Damian. 

I guess it’s not his problem.

The Empress bowed to meet me at eye level, asking a question in a voice as sweet as honey. 

“You know Lize. Is there anything you want?”

“What…I want?”

“Yup. I’m thinking of getting you a present for your birthday.”

Huh, is this her attack strategy?! 

At the generosity the Empress showed me, I unknowingly blushed. 

But, apart from that…..

“I’m sorry but it’s not my birthday yet?” I replied with embarrassed laughter. 

However, the Empress responded by shaking her head firmly. 

“Your birthday’s been uncelebrated five times so far, hasn’t it?

“Yes?”

“Even if it’s unlikely to celebrate all five, I’d like to celebrate your birthday at least once.”

The Empress was determined to not let this go. 

I quietly read the room. 

Then if the Empress insists….

“Well, there is something I want.”

“Yes, Lize. Just tell me anything! If you want, I’ll even pick a star from the sky for you!”

The Empress spoke with great enthusiasm. 

Even if the male protagonist of a romance novel were to appear before me, nothing can be as exciting as this.

“I too…..I want to study like the crown prince.”

“Study?”

Her eyes widened in surprise upon hearing my answer.

I nodded my head slightly. 

“I want to be a maid who the Empress is not ashamed of.”

My inability could burden the Empress.

On top of that, I’m taking care of Damian, the crown prince of the empire who will someday rule. 

Compared to the nobility of the people I served, my rank was that of an ordinary woman. 

And the generally recommended knowledge for women in the palace is being able to read and write. 

Of course, it’ll be a little different when you reach the level of senior maid…..

‘Would it mean that I couldn’t be a high-ranking maid?’

No, it just means that I have to start studying if I want to be more than just a normal woman. 

“……Lize.”

Still lost in thought, I slowly raised my head. 

The voice of the Empress, as she called to me, was full of emotions. 

“You want to be a maid I’m not ashamed of…..”

“Your Majesty, the Empress?”

“It’s really touching that my Charlize thinks of me so much.”

“Charlize, you think of me so much, I’m really touched. Your birthday present is supposed to be for your benefit but you want to better yourself for me…”

The Empress couldn’t withhold her emotions and embraced me tightly, lifting me up a bit.

Well, uhm. As long as the Empress is happy…..

I quietly embraced the Empress for what seemed like forever. 

“I’ll see that you get a teacher.”

“Really?” 

“Yes. Just don’t forget, you’re perfect Lize.”

Having said that, the Empress placed me down, and acted playfully, winking one of her eyes mischievously. 

I reciprocated with a broad smile, that is until I felt a cold energy emanating behind me that sent chills up my spine.