The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 68

‘Does Lady Bennett have any idea?’ 

 

Unknowingly as I looked at Weber, my eyes widened. 

 

‘Senior maid Weber…..why is your face so pale?’

 

Then. 

 

A voice full of derision poured out from Lady Bennett’s lips. 

 

“Still, do what you must so that Viscount Weber can pay off all the debts owed to my family. That’s fitting for you, isn’t it?” 

 

There was silence. 

 

All of the ladies’ attention was fixed on senior maid Weber. 

 

Weber tried all she could to pretend to be calm but the bulging from her clenched fists said otherwise. 

 

“She’s already become the senior maid of the Empress’s palace, and still she can’t pay off all her debts.”

 

Lady Bennet scoffed at Weber. 

 

I see. 

 

I bit my lips. 

 

When Weber said she had circumstances she didn’t want to disclose, this is what she meant. 

 

I heard her family was going through rough times but…..

 

Weber asked in a trembling voice, “After this month, w-won’t the remaining debt be settled?”

“This month isn’t over yet. You know that, yes?”

 

Lady Bennett looked at Weber, her watery eyes shimmering. 

 

“If you wanted to be confident in front of me, shouldn’t you pay off your debts first?”

 

Goodness, does Lady Bennet have no heart?

 

Lady Bennett even giggled as if this was funny. 

 

Unable to hide her embarrassment, Weber’s face was flushed red with shame. 

 

The ladies looked on at Weber with sympathy. 

 

Ever since the topic of her family was brought up, Weber’s self-esteem has been in tatters. 

 

‘…to have everyone know this way is embarrassing.’

 

I gnashed my molars in irritation. 

 

But Lady Bennett herself isn’t without flaws. 

 

However, if Weber were to argue with Lady Bennett that would just worsen her situation and give a negative impression no matter how right she is. 

 

‘I don’t want senior maid Weber being treated like this.’

 

But I….

 

I remembered the kindness she showed me all the time I was with her. 

 

I can’t let this continue. Thus, acting on instinct, I took a step forward. 

 

“Lady Bennett, this is the Empress’s palace.”

 

“…what?”

 

Lady Bennett scowled as she eyed me. 

 

I spoke as calmly as possible. 

 

“I am well aware that you’re a relative of the Empress but shouldn’t you be more mindful of what you say?”

 

Lady Bennett’s face looked like she was about to explode. 

 

Weber, on the other hand, was at a loss on what to say as she tried to hold me back. 

 

“Lize, don’t….”

 

“You want me to be mindful? How about you be mindful and remember I’m a guest of her Majesty!”

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

Gently pushing away Weber’s hand, I nodded to reassure her as I confronted Lady Bennett. 

 

“Just because you are a guest of her Majesty, the Empress, you have no right to treat the maids of the Empress’s palace in such a disrespectful way.”

 

“You dare? You’re a commoner, who are you to tell me what I should do!”

 

“Although I am a commoner, I am her Majesty’s maid of honor.”

 

At those words, Lady Bennett was taken aback. 

 

I looked at her unfazed. 

 

Honestly, it’s okay if I’m ignored. 

 

It’s true that I’m a commoner maid. I’m lucky enough to have received the Empress’s affection. 

 

But the Empress’s family is a different matter. 

 

Head maid Hayden, who’s strict but friendly, and Senior maid Weber, who’s kind and playful. 

 

And all the maids of the Empress palace, they are all near and dear to my heart. 

 

“Also, to reveal someone’s flaws in front of distinguished guests and to do it in an intentionally humiliating and insensitive way.”

 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a guest or even a relative of the Empress…..

 

I clenched my teeth. 

 

It’s intolerable for anyone to speak hurtful words as she did. 

 

“Isn’t that inappropriate for a lady from a noble family, someone who should always strive to be virtuous?” 

 

“Are you trying to teach me right now?!”

 

“I’m not trying to teach you, I’m just telling you the truth.”

 

In front of the agitated Lady Bennett, I lightly shook my head. 

 

“Besides, didn’t the Empress give you a serious warning not long ago?”

 

Adding that, I raised the tips of my lips. 

 

“Don’t act like an Empress just because you have some of the Rochesters’ blood in you.” 

 

“Y-You brat!”

 

In an instant, Lady Bennett’s eyes widened in anger. 

 

She rose from her seat with a full teacup in her hand. 

 

“How dare you insult me with that mouth of yours!!”

 

Lady Bennett, as she said so, swung her hand wildly. 

 

Splash!

 

Lukewarm tea was splashed all over my face. 

 

The terrified maids and ladies jumped up from their seats.

 

“Oh, my God!”

 

“Lady Bennett! What have you done?!”

 

“Lize!”

 

Even Damian ran towards me, his face pale from shock. 

 

Oh, God. 

 

I blinked just as the tea was about to get into my eyes. 

 

My hair, face, and neck were drenched in tea. 

 

Tea water dripped from my chin. 

 

As I wiped my face with my sleeve, I raised my gaze. 

 

“Lize, are you okay?! Are you hurt?!” whispered Damian in urgency. 

 

I nodded my head slightly. 

 

“Yes, I’m alright.”

Despite my answer, Damian only became relieved after examining my face and neck carefully. 

 

Really, I should worry a lot more. 

 

I gave Damian a faint smile. I was glad he took care of me.

 

Fortunately, there weren’t any burns. 

 

I poured the tea quite a while ago so I was thankful it had cooled down by then. 

 

If I had done it a few minutes later, I could have been badly hurt. 

 

Still, Lady Bennet wasn’t finished. She gave no quarter as she barraged me with questions. 

 

“Are you still going to talk back to me? Is that what you use your commoner education for?!”

 

Suddenly, scarlet eyes lit up in front of me. 

 

“Wait a moment, Lize.”

 

Damian took his hand off my shoulder, stood up, and started walking. 

 

Huh? 

 

I watched him keenly.  

 

Damian was standing in front of Lady Bennett, looking down at her with a stern gaze.

 

Then. 

 

Splash!

 

“Aaaaa!”

 

Lady Bennet let out a sharp scream as tea cascaded onto the top of her head. 

 

“Hey, hey!” puffed Lady Bennett. 

 

At the same time, Damian with an elegant motion set the teacup he took back down on the table. 

 

Clink. 

 

As soon as that sound was heard, everyone gasped as if they had seen something magical.

 

“I didn’t expect the crown prince to go that far.”

 

“Far? She deserved it. Lady Bennet was more than just rude.”

 

The ladies who had watched attentively, whispered in each others’ ears. 

 

Lady Bennet, teary-eyed, directed her attention to Damian. 

 

“Your Highness, the crown prince!”

 

It was a voice reprimanding Damian. 

 

Damian shrugged his shoulders at first and then asked her. 

 

“Why did you call me in that voice?”

 

“Your Highness, you know why. Look at what you did to me!”

 

“What do you mean? I returned the favor,” Damian responded as he smiled indifferently to her reaction. 

 

His expression, cold and distant, made Lady Bennett wince. 

 

“Why are you making that face?” Damian asked in an expressionless manner. 

 

“It’s natural to do to others what they do to you.”

 

Saying that, Damian took one step forward. 

 

Thump. 

 

The sound of his footsteps resounded in the hall. 

 

As Damian drew nearer, Lady Bennett began to waver and falter. 

 

“You don’t like it? You don’t like experiencing what you put others through?”

 

“Your Highness!” she exclaimed. 

 

Lady Bennett’s eyes began to well up with tears again. 

 

She looked pitiful but there was no warmth left in those scarlet eyes of his. 

 

A voice mixed with laughter followed. 

 

“And to belittle Charlize’s education.”

 

The cracking in his voice as he said so exerted a strange pressure on its listeners. 

 

“It’s like finding fault with how her Majesty has taught Charlize.”

 

Lady Bennett couldn’t catch a break as her face went pale and she gasped for air as if someone was strangling her.  

 

“….So I’ll ask you. Is that what you think?” said Damian as he slightly tilted his head. 

 

Lady Bennet, on the other hand, froze. 

 

“Well, I. I….”

 

“I, what?” 

 

Lady Bennett was suddenly cut off by a voice. 

 

The Duke of Rochester?

 

I swallowed my saliva. 

 

The Duke surveyed the mess before him. 

 

‘When did he enter the banquet hall?’ I wondered. 

 

Damian, without skipping a beat, asked a question. 

 

“When did you get here, Duke of Rochester?”

 

“Come now, Your Highness. You’re a shrewd one.”

 

The Duke narrowed his brow. 

 

“I know you’ve been aware of my presence for a while now.”

 

“Well, I might have not known,” Damian said jokingly as he quivered. 

 

The Duke then turned his attention to Lady Bennett. 

 

“First of all, Lady Bennett.”

 

“Yes, yes! Duke of Rochester!”

 

Color returned to Lady Bennett’s face with the thought of the Duke taking her side. 

 

The Duke opened up with a cold voice. 

 

“In the presence of all these guests, you insulted the Empress’s senior maid.”

 

“…..w-what?” muttered Lady Bennett under her breath. 

 

“Did you really do this without realizing you disrespected the Empress?”

 

Lady Bennett’s eyes flickered in fear. 

 

White-faced and trembling, her previously brightened face had all but disappeared.