The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 71

My prediction was dead-on.

“No, far from it.”

The Emperor’s eyes gleamed. 

As I looked into those serpentine-like eyes, I felt goosebumps all over. 

“How many teachers have already been replaced because you surpassed their skills?”

That question made Damian stiffen slightly.  

At first, those words seemed to praise Damian’s achievements but contained sharp blades hidden underneath. 

If Damian hadn’t been so adroit, he wouldn’t have noticed it. His adroitness kept him alive for so long and prevented him from going into an early grave. 

“You’ve achieved excellent results and should be rewarded,” remarked the Emperor. 

“Therefore, I’ve prepared a small gift for you.”

A gift? 

The word gift is not synonymous with the Emperor. 

I narrowed my eyes. 

Whether it was actually a present or not, the Emperor surprisingly pulled out a box. 

It was a thin but long box, slightly larger than an adult man’s hand. 

“Thank you, I’ll cherish it.”

Damian received the box, holding it in his hands.

After gifting the box to Damian however, the Emperor gave an order.

“Don’t be like that, open it now,” he insisted with a suspicious smile. 

“What?”

Not expecting that, Damian flinched. 

The Emperor’s smile deepened and he continued to speak. 

“Since I’ve given you a present, I want to see your reaction on your face.”

“….all right.”

Damian untied the colorful ribbons that wrapped around the box, concealing his frown as he did so.

The lid was removed.

“This….”

Damian slowly revealed the contents of the box. 

They were leather gloves meant to protect their wearer during swordsmanship training. 

Black in color, the gloves glistened. 

The Emperor added an explanation as if he had just done him a favor. 

“It’ll be a major problem if you were to injure your hand during training.”

“Thank you. Your Majesty’s consideration is much appreciated.”

“Hmm.”

In an instant, the Emperor’s eyes lit up. 

“If you want to properly thank me then-”

The Emperor came closer to Damian, staring at him with his eyes peered upward from beneath his eyebrows as he lowered his head. 

“Why don’t you try on the gloves here and now?” 

…..huh? I feel something ominous. 

I swallowed my saliva. 

Why is he asking him to wear the gloves now? 

The Emperor whispered to Damian. 

His whispers were like a snake hissing. 

“Since I didn’t have the measurements to match the size of your hand, the gloves might be too small or too large.”

“The devotion shown by your Majesty is more than enough.”

“No, I think I’ll be reassured once you try on those gloves,” muttered the Emperor, his hand on Damian’s shoulder.

The Emperor would not take no for an answer. 

What’s wrong with him?

I watched the confrontation between Damian and the Emperor intensely. 

“If that is his Majesty’s wish, then I will.”

Damian relented, finally nodding. 

The Emperor observed Damian’s every move. 

Damian stiffened his shoulders as he put on the gloves. 

What? 

I narrowed my brow. 

Why is Damian stalling?

It took a moment but Damian quietly donned the gloves. 

As if it had been tailored to Damian’s size in advance, the black leather gloves fit snugly onto his hands. 

And that itself was horrifying. 

‘….it was as if research had been done on Damian beforehand.’

Damian clenched and opened his fists to show how well-fitted the gloves were.

“It fits my hands perfectly. Thank you very much, your Majesty.”

Upon hearing that, the Emperor had a satiated expression on his face like a snake having devoured its prey. 

The Emperor then followed up with a question.  

“It suits you. Do you like it?”

“As long as it is granted from His Majesty, I’ll gladly accept anything.”

“….yes, very well.”

The Emperor nodded his head. 

Damian politely returned the gesture. 

Ugh, it’s often said it’s hard to get angry at someone’s who smiling. (you can’t spit in a smiling face)  

But the Emperor is making it all the more so enticing to do so.

I shuddered discreetly. 

“Maybe I’ve kept you occupied for too long.” 

“Not at all, I’m happy to be able to see his Majesty’s presence like this.”

“Damian, it’s nice of you to say that. I’ll be on my way.”

The Emperor then turned his attention to the Empress. 

Wait, why is the Emperor looking at her?

“Will the Empress see me off? It’s been a long and exhausting party.”

The Empress’s forehead wrinkled slightly. 

However, those wrinkles quickly disappeared. 

“Yes, I will.”

The Empress rose from her seat elegantly, politely excusing herself. 

“I’ll be back soon, everyone.”

The Empress and the Emperor quickly left the Empress’s palace. 

After that, cordial tea time resumed. 

The only thing that bothers me is that Damian is still wearing those gloves….

“By the way, why haven’t you taken off those gloves yet? They must be uncomfortable to wear after a while.”

By coincidence, a lady with a curious look asked the same question I had in mind for Damian.

Damian though simply smiled. 

“But this is the precious gift given to me by the Emperor himself,” he answered as he raised his hand, gently stroking the gloves. 

“It’s why I’m so happy….I don’t want to take these gloves off one bit.”

Having said that, Damian smiled again. 

It was a radiant and breath-taking smile that eluded any more questions directed towards him. 

“Oh, I see…”

The lady’s face just by looking at that smile of his, flushed red. 

Meanwhile, I could only look at Damian with a sorrowful expression. 

‘It’s a gift from that annoying Emperor, why are you so enthusiastic about wearing it?’

Or, maybe you don’t want to show you’re at odds with the Emperor….

It could be that but- 

I pouted my lips in dismay and let my thoughts run wild at that point. 

***

At last, the tea party was over. 

The long day was at an end.

After seeing off the ladies, I ran to Damian. 

“Your Highness, crown prince!”

“Oh, Lize.”

It was only then, did I see Damian become more laid back as he loosened the stiffness in his shoulders and even chuckled. 

But my eyes widened, fixated on the gloves Damian was still wearing. 

Come on, all the ladies have gone home already, haven’t they?

Why are you still wearing those hideous-looking gloves?

If you wear them any longer, I’m gonna get worried!

“Why aren’t you taking those gloves off?”

“Sorry?”

An awkward look appeared on Damian’s face. 

Hey, why did he do that?

I pressed him again. 

“You don’t need to have them on all the time. The guests are all gone now.”

“Please, crown prince. Take them off.”

At the most convenient time, the Empress also came to help me. 

But Damian still refused to take off his gloves. 

“No, I…”

“You’re going to be indoors anyway, isn’t inconvenient to wear gloves?”

Does he like those gloves that much?

I tilted my head, my eyes musing on Damian. 

That can’t be true. 

When he opened the box earlier, I was sure I saw his fearful expression, didn’t I?

There’s no way I can’t be suspicious of what the Emperor gives. 

“Please take them off. I’ll look after the gloves for you.”

“Lize, it’s not…”

Ugh, this is frustrating! I’ll take them off myself. 

I grabbed Damian’s hand. 

Just then. 

“You-umph.”

A suppressed groan escaped Damian’s lips. 

I looked at him in surprise, slackening my grip. 

“Your Highness, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

What happened?

I didn’t hold onto him that hard. 

Just as I said that the Empress’s face hardened. 

She immediately walked up to Damian, grabbed him by the wrist, and took off a glove. 

“…….prince.”

The Empress’s eyes widened and flickered at what she saw before her. 

Damian’s hand finally exposed to the outside world was truly a dreadful sight to see. 

The tips of his fingers were smothered in blood as if they had been pierced by countless needles. 

I froze on the spot. 

He was only wearing leather gloves. 

How is his hand like that?

“H-How did this happen!?”

I cried out in a faltering voice. 

With a rigid face, the Empress took off another glove without hesitation. 

Her forehead became deeply wrinkled as she carefully scrutinized the gloves. 

She then probed Damian with a perceptive question.

Why were you so keen on keeping these gloves on?”

“These gloves have needles embedded in the fingertips.”

Needles?

I swallowed my breath. 

It then occurred to me that Damian had already stopped wearing the gloves.

I took the gloves from the Empress, ripping them open with a white face. 

Just as the Empress said, they indeed had sharp needles embedded in them. 

The entire time, Damian was drinking tea and chatting with the gloves on….

Damian didn’t even curl an eyebrow. 

How is that possible?

“I’m fine, your Majesty.”

Damian smiled calmly, hiding his bloodied fingers behind his back. 

You’re fine? By the looks of it, you’re hurting a lot!

I unconsciously reached out and clasped his hand.