The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 69

Contrary to the Duke, senior maid Weber stood nervously as she voiced her thoughts. 

“From what I heard, if something like this were to happen again then the Empress…well… Duke. It’s…” 

“She said she would hold the Bennet family accountable, didn’t she?” surmised the Duke. 

No way…..

Weber’s lips twitched in response. 

I couldn’t hide my astonished face either. 

Not just anyone, the Duke of Rochester himself is siding with maids instead of his collateral family? 

“Maybe the Duke of Rochester should hold Baron Bennett accountable,” suggested Weber. 

“Oh, if it’s about her Majesty…”

Lady Bennett tried to make excuses but the Duke simply shook his head and stopped her mid-sentence. 

“Of course, any disrespect towards her Majesty, the Empress must be repaid in full.”

“But what I want to ask you right now is…..”

As the Duke spoke, his dark green eyes looked my way. 

Erm, why is he looking at me?

I was folding up my wet sleeves when I locked gazes with the Duke. 

I have no idea what the Duke is thinking about but he seems strangely happy. 

“How you will compensate for pouring tea on this child.”

“O-Oh! But she’s just a maid, isn’t she?!”

Lady Bennett seemed hesitant at first but relented as she attempted to reconcile. 

“It’s only a matter of handing out a few silver coins!”

“First of all, aside from the issue of whether it is appropriate to call the Empress’s favored maid as ‘just a maid.’

The Duke spoke in a composed manner. 

“If this child were to become a princess of Rochester, there would be a dispute between the Rochester family and the Bennett family.” 

“…yes?”

“Lady Bennett, you dare to behave in the way you did because you’re ready to assume responsibility for your actions. Correct? Otherwise, why flaunt?” 

The Duke had just dropped a bombshell into our small banquet hall like it was nothing. 

At that previously unexpected statement by the Duke, everyone could not believe what they just heard.

There was a brief moment of silence before the hall was sent into an uproar. 

What?!

My eyes flickered in disbelief. 

Come again?! Who is going to be a princess of Rochester?!

“What do you mean a princess of Rochester?!” shouted one lady.

“Wait, you’re not saying you’re going to adopt that maid, are you?!?!” exclaimed another lady. 

It wasn’t only me but most of the ladies were in complete shock.

Even Damian was fixated on the Duke as his wide-open eyes trembled. 

Eventually, those same scarlet-colored eyes turned to me. 

Damian’s expression resembled a child on the verge of being abandoned. His gaze felt so desperate, that I felt guilty even though I did nothing.

Look, Damian.  

Even if you look at me like that, how am I supposed to know what’s wrong or what you’re thinking of? 

“Of course, she’ll be the one to make that choice.”

Only the Duke remained calm amid the uproar as the small banquet hall was thrown into chaos regarding the subject. 

I could only roll my eyes despite the Duke’s oddly soothing voice and his attempt to put the guests’ minds at ease.

Whether I become a princess of Rochester or not….it’s really up to me?

But then. 

“Charlize.”

“Y-Yes!” I responded. 

At the Duke’s voice calling me, I snapped out of my constant thinking.

The Duke beckoned to me. 

“Let’s leave first.”

“Pardon?”

“You can’t be wearing that wet uniform.”

“Ah, yes….”

Well, he’s right about that. 

I followed the Duke out the door. 

Just as I closed the door, I caught a glimpse of Damian moving his lips.

‘Go ahead…’

He then turned his gaze elsewhere, preventing any further eye contact. 

Those scarlet-colored eyes of his conveyed a message of resignation. I couldn’t help but be reminded of a puppy being left alone. 

A puppy that has accepted its owner won’t return. 

“Your Highness-”

Thud. 

The door closed. 

Damian couldn’t stand to look at me till the end.

Seriously, what’s the matter with him?

I haven’t done anything wrong but now this feeling that it’s my fault bothers me!

***

The Duke walked ahead of me with those long legs of his. 

To keep pace with the Duke, I took as many quick steps as possible. 

“Hey, what did you mean back there in the banquet hall? You want me to be a princess of Rochester?”

“In a literal sense, it means I’m willing to adopt you.”

The Duke answered bluntly. 

I narrowed my brow. 

But why, why would the Duke offer me something so unconventional…

I have no clue. 

“Then you’ll be my little sister.”

“…I’m going to be your little sister?”

I was perplexed. 

There’s no way this is happening, right?

Just thinking about it, the backlash from his family will be tremendous.  

However, the Duke with a sullen face questioned me. 

“What? You don’t think the Duke of Rochester isn’t capable of adopting a single child at will?”

“No, I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that….”

I shook my head, mindful of what I should say next before talking. 

“I’m just worried you’re overdoing things because of me.”

“No, there’s no need to worry about that.”

The Duke was quick to dismiss what I said as he shook his head. 

“Why, do I look disgustingly incompetent that I can’t handle some backlash or scathing remarks?”

“Oh, no. T-That’s not what I meant.”

“If I was, I would have lost my title and position as a Rochester long ago.”

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment as the Duke said those words with such firmness. 

While I was embarrassed, the Duke added his next words with frankness. 

“Actually, I’ve thought about adopting you for a long time now.”

“….pardon?”

I blinked blankly when I heard that. 

What does he mean by a long time?

“It was a while back. The day we celebrated the crown prince’s birthday together. Remember?”

“Yes? Ah…..I remember.”

I nodded. 

That was when I was five, wasn’t it?

“Since then I considered bringing you into my family.”

At that revelation, I was shocked. 

EH, SINCE THEN?!

You’ve been thinking about that for so long and you didn’t even say a single word?!

“At that time, you said you wanted a family.”

“…..um.”

I was left speechless for a moment. 

‘Of course, I always wanted a family.’ 

‘If I had a family, I would always be kind to them and cherish them.’

Yep, I definitely said that back then. 

Still, though, it was just the ramblings of a child and could be disregarded. I didn’t think anyone would take it seriously. 

…..but the Duke still remembered those useless words. 

Feeling my heart pound, I bit my lip. I was touched. 

“This child takes good care of others and yet, she doesn’t have the knack at caring for herself.”

The Duke lightly shook his head.

“I thought what can I do? I should take care of this little kid.”

“Oh, Duke….”

“Since this kid is prone to mistakes, shouldn’t I be concerned for her?”

…..yeah, that would have sounded better if he better-phrased it. 

I was touched before now I’m slightly peeved. 

The Duke added a brief but ambiguous remark. 

“And just so you know, this proposal has been talked about with Rose.”

Wait, the Empress?

I opened my eyes wide. 

Before I knew it, the Duke had a weary expression on his face upon reminiscing.  

“When I asked her about adopting you, she was blissful to such a point I worried she would faint.”

No, she’s still Her Majesty, the Empress. 

Couldn’t you speak of her with formality? 

“Rose mentioned she wanted to get closer with you but she didn’t know how.”

“Ah….”

“So with that in mind, I thought why not give you a chance to be Rose’s sister.”

As expected, the Duke cares very much about the Empress. 

I looked at the Duke with delight, telling him. 

“Thank you, Duke.”

“What?”

“Believe it or not, I thought you didn’t like me much.”

Honestly, didn’t it seem that way?

From the first time we met, you looked at me like I wasn’t supposed to be here, and ever since, you haven’t exactly been friendly. 

“But I’m very moved that for a long time you thought of adopting me.”

“….hey, kid.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s because the Empress cares so much for me but I’m really happy nonetheless.”

I smiled brightly as I said that. 

Especially when the Duke remembered what I said on Damian’s birthday, all those years ago. It was touching. 

The Duke however reacted with a stunned expression as he looked at me for a very long time. 

….why is he looking at me like that?

After a while, the Duke with a frown on his face spoke. 

“….Do I have to explain myself with words?”

“Yes?”

“If I didn’t like you, why would I go through the hassle of adopting you?”

The Duke who spoke in that way sped up and quickly outpaced me. 

His face was bright red as he passed me. 

I was a little bewildered. 

Could that mean that the Duke likes me too?

While I was dazed, the Duke reached the front door of my room ahead of me. 

Then he turned to face me. 

“I’m leaving the palace, kid. Change your clothes and then head back to the small banquet hall.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you for your concern.” 

I nodded half-heartedly, still dazed. 

As I entered the room and turned to say goodbye, the Duke was gone.