The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 66

Ugh. There’s no point in thinking like this. 

I’m the Empress’s maid and I aim to make today’s tea party a success. 

“If you do anything to hamper my efforts in front of the Empress’s view, I’ll tear your hair out. Understood?!”

Lady Bennett who threatened me fiercely, suddenly turned her back indicating she was done talking. 

With an arrogant gait, she walked away. 

Well, that was something. 

‘How did she even get into the palace?’

The tea party hasn’t even started yet.

I tilted my head. 

Did they let her in early because she was a relative of the Empress? 

While contemplating, I came to my senses. 

‘Ah, shoot. I was supposed to head to the kitchen!’

Seriously, I just had to waste my time on her, didn’t I?!

I grumbled to myself and started walking at a brisk pace.

***

I last saw Head maid Hayden in the small banquet hall where the previous tea party was held. 

Though she’s not here. I’ll just have to tell one of her maids. 

I walked up to one of Hayden’s maids, giving her my report. 

“Madame, please tell Head maid Hayden that the kitchen is finished with their food preparations.”

“Already? Alright.”

All seemed to go according to schedule until-

The eyes of the maid I was speaking to, suddenly widened at the sight behind me. 

‘Huh?’

I too was surprised when I turned around. 

There she was, Lady Bennett, sitting at the small banquet table with a prideful look. 

“Would you bring me more ice, please? It’s quite hot today.”

…Even the maids of the Empress’s palace were unsure of how to react as she beckoned them to fulfill her request with her chin. 

Hayden’s maid who still had a surprised look then asked me a question.

“Lize, who is that young lady?”

“That’s Leona Bennett, she’s a distant relative of the Empress.”

“Oh, she’s the daughter of Baron Bennett? So you let her in early?”

“What? No, I didn’t. Didn’t you let her in?”

The maid and I exchanged puzzled expressions. 

In just a brief moment, the maid concluded what happened. 

“Then that means she entered the palace without anyone’s permission…”

With a rare stern voice, I said what was on my mind. 

“I think I should report this to the Empress.”

I glanced at Lady Bennett. 

She’s not small enough to pass by unnoticed. 

How could she just enter the palace without anyone’s permission?

Just then, Hayden’s maid tapped my shoulder, disrupting my thoughts. 

“By the way, Charlize. It’s almost tea time. Go and receive the ladies.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for you or Head maid Hayden to go and receive them instead of me?”

“Not this time. I think it would be more comfortable for the guests since you’re about the same age as them.”

“Alright, I’ll go.”

I nodded and took a short moment to tidy up in front of a mirror.

Fixing my tangled hair and straightening out the wrinkles in my maid uniform, I was ready.  

Suppressing the butterflies in my stomach, I walked out of the Empress palace to greet our guests. 

***

“Welcome. Welcome to the Empress’s palace.”

The ladies with their brightly colored dresses entered the palace one by one. 

They looked fifteen to sixteen years old and were probably just as nervous as I was, judging from their faces. 

I greeted them in the most nonchalant way possible 

“My name is Charlize. I’ll be with you today as Her Majesty’s maid of honor.”

Having said that, I bowed my head. 

They gave me various reactions. 

“Is she the kid?”

“Oh, you mean the girl the Empress is fond of?”

“I’ve heard the rumors too. She’s much smaller than I thought.”

Erm, ladies. 

No matter how much you lower your voice, you know I can still hear everything right? I mean, I’m right in front of you. 

I smiled awkwardly, ignoring their comments.  

“If you head inside, the maids will show you to the banquet hall.”

“Splendid,” said one lady. 

“Yes, very well,” said another.

After my explanation, the ladies nodded and teased each other along the way. 

I followed suit as they entered the banquet hall. 

As soon as we entered the hall, the first person to stand out was….

“Everyone, do you know I’m the Empress’s sixth cousin?”

Sure enough, it was Lady Bennett. 

As she stood in front of them with her nose raised, the ladies couldn’t hide their shocked demeanor. 

“Ah, yes….” said one lady. 

“I see…” answered another. 

….there was no lady seemingly brave enough to talk back to Lady Bennett.

I mean who would?

She’s a relative of the Empress. Who would dare to reprimand her?

Even though today’s tea time will be attended by the Empress herself, I don’t think anyone wants to take that risk.  

“Your Majesty, the Empress.”

Then at that moment.

Head maid Hayden announced our host’s arrival. 

At the same time, the Empress gracefully entered the small banquet hall. 

Standing next to her was Damian who was spotless. Well dressed too.

However, the Empress. She almost looked divine…

Her face glistened so brightly, that it made Damian’s face glisten too! 

‘Well, that’s to be expected. After all, she is the Empress. I just didn’t expect to be so beautiful!’

I was a little moved by the fact that the Empress and Damian had entered the hall together.

Their actions showed that the Empress considers Damian to be equal. 

The ladies in the hall quickly rose in succession from their seats and bowed before the Empress. 

“I see you, Your Majesty.”

“A pleasure to meet you all,” said the Empress as she nodded and smiled gracefully. 

That smile tugged at my heart as I grabbed my chest unknowingly. 

How can our Empress be so pretty? 

Even among the many ladies, her ethereal beauty was unmatched. 

If a newly bloomed rose were to become a human, wouldn’t it look like her? 

I fixed my eyes on the Empress, mesmerized. 

“Oh, my god…”

I heard a soft voice from among the ladies. 

The person who spoke was none other than Lady Bennett. 

Lady Bennett’s eyes upon seeing Damian shone with a soft tremulous light. 

Damian who noticed her strong gaze felt uncomfortable and looked in another direction. 

She was so blatantly transfixed by Damian that the other ladies began to stare at her. 

Without realizing it, I opened my mouth. 

‘Wow, Lady Bennett must have grown up so loved at home.’

Even when in front of other people, she doesn’t care about her facial expressions….

At that moment, Lady Bennett snapped out of it and began to call out to the Empress.

“Your Majesty, I’m so happy to see you like this! It’s Leona Bennett!”

Even though she might be a relative of the Empress, is it acceptable to address her without formality?

Perhaps it’s just me being biased since she threatened me not a while ago. 

Just when I thought Lady Bennett’s behavior wasn’t acceptable-

A stern voice rang out. 

“Leona Bennett, I heard you were here.” 

The Empress looked at Lady Bennett with cold, unfeeling eyes. 

“Just because you’ve inherited a part of the Rochesters’ blood, does that entitle you to appear before me in such a way?”

“W-What?”

“What made you think you could set foot in my palace and then attend this tea party without my permission?”

In an instant, the atmosphere became heated. 

Lady Bennett’s face turned pale as things weren’t going the way she expected. 

The Empress continued.

“I know about everything.”

“Y-Your Majesty, the Empress?”

“The guards around the palace have already recounted to me what you’ve said, that’s all.” 

Lady Bennett looked like she had been hit hard in the back of the head when she heard that. 

“You told the guards you were my relative and that if you weren’t let in, you would fire everyone? 

“Hey, that’s not it!”

“They said you left them no choice but to let you into the palace.”

Perhaps with nothing to say, Lady Bennett licked her lips. 

The Empress in turn raised the tip of her lips. 

“You even made an excuse that you had been invited in advance…..how strange is that.”

The ridicule coming from the Empress was sharper than broken glass.

“I never even said that,” denied Lady Bennett. 

A deafening silence engulfed the hall. 

No matter how trivial it may have seemed, impersonating the Empress’s orders was a grave felony. 

“Who are you to fire people who serve at this palace?!” asked the Empress rhetorically. 

“Your Majesty, Empress! I am, I mean-!”

Under pressure, Lady Bennett hastily raised her voice. 

The Empress proceeded to stare at Lady Bennett with piercing intensity. 

But then she let out an annoyed sigh. 

“Fortunately for you, his Highness, the crown prince is here so I’ll endure you for now.”

“T-Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“But if something else goes against my wishes….”

Any warmth that was left in the Empress’s voice vanished as she gave a warning. 

“…I will hold you and your father, Baron Bennett accountable. Do you understand?”

Lady Bennett gave a quivering nod as she froze in fear.  

As quickly as the Empress said so, her expression changed as she turned around and addressed the guests with a gentle smile. 

“I’m sorry if I startled everyone.”

“Ah, of course not. Your Majesty.”

“Don’t say that, your Majesty.”

Faint smiles appeared on the lips of the ladies, who shook their heads to hastily refute what the Empress thought. 

I fully understood what they were thinking. 

The way the Empress scolded Lady Bennett, I honestly felt relieved just like them. 

Even if you are related to the Empress, that doesn’t give you the right to abuse or bully the ladies of other noble families. 

‘If you were to remove the label of ‘The Empress’s relative’, she would be the lowest-ranking lady among all our guests.’

‘Actually, I don’t like really like comparing statuses…’

But in my defense, Lady Bennett was the first one to mention statuses and titles. 

Raising my head slightly, I glanced at her.

She remained silent, biting her parched lips. 

…I think it’ll be quiet for a while now. 

After what just happened, I had a smug look on my face.