The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 74

Hearing that from the Empress warmed my heart. 

However. 

I shook my head. 

“I can’t, it’s a burden on her Majesty.”

“Lize!”

“Even so, the Duke’s at the center of the aristocracy, the Duke attracts the attention of everyone including those who don’t approve,” I stated calmly.

The Empress’s forehead wrinkled but she couldn’t refute me. 

“If we do something wrong, we need to be given some space.”

“Space?”

“Yes, space to think and redo things. I think it’s better if her Majesty does not favor me too much and give me numerous privileges.” 

“It doesn’t matter at all. You’re still ten years old. To be thinking that way…

“I’m sorry but I am a part of this.”

With a bitter smile, I continued. 

“Your Majesty, you’ve chosen me as your candidate for this festival, turning down plenty of ladies from good families.”

“That’s, I mean…”

“It’s all right. It’s her Majesty’s right to choose a candidate of her choice. “

The Empress looked at me with sunken eyes. 

“But no more.”

“I don’t want her Majesty to be misunderstood by others, all because of me.”

I added my next words resolutely. 

“I want to be of help to her Majesty, not be a burden.”

I thought it over and over again. This is the best I can do. 

Even before, the ladies from the tea party recognized me as ‘The Empress’s maidservant’. 

In a situation like that, what would happen if the Duke of Rochester adopted me?

People would be proven right in their judgment of me and the Empress. 

If I was adopted, the Duke would also have to shoulder the same burden. 

“And…”

I took a deep breath, finishing on a high note. 

“I can’t leave the crown prince alone.”

There was silence. 

The Empress ruminated on what I had to say, eventually giving me a quiet nod. 

“I see. The crown prince is precious to you…”

A heavy voice rang out. 

“Then I’ll respect your wishes, Lize.”

“Thank you.”

“Just promise me.”

The Empress placed her hand on my cheek, gently caressing it.”

“I won’t be greedy, hogging you all to myself and I won’t ask to be the most precious person in your life.”

“…your Majesty, the Empress.”

“But whenever you’re going through a rough time or having problems, lean on me and we’ll discuss it.”

The Empress’s gaze was as endearing as ever. 

“Just as you want to be my strength, I want to be your strength as well.”

“….I will, thank you.”

I gave an energetic nod. 

The Empress smiled a bittersweet smile as she and I embraced tightly. 

Somehow I felt like I was going to break into tears so I nuzzled myself into the Empress’s arms, shedding tears. 

The Empress’s embrace is so comforting…it was heartfelt. 

***

Time passed since then. Today is the day of the harvest festival. 

The Empress palace has been functioning non-stop since morning. 

It wasn’t just because the Empress would be performing the rite herself but being a candidate, I had to dress up too.

After I finished getting ready, I stood in front of the mirror. 

Instead of a maid uniform, I wore a colorful dress commonly worn by candidates which included beautiful ornaments for my braided hair. 

Well, this is the first time ever I’ve worn such luxurious clothes. 

‘I really…I’m really going to the harvest festival as the Empress’s candidate.’

I have to do well. 

I fixed my mind on that alone.

The reason I became a candidate was because of the Empress’s and Damian’s consideration. 

Don’t make a mistake. 

I put on a determined face and checked my clothes for anything out of place. 

“Lize, are you having a snowball fight with the mirror?”

Just then. 

A voice that just couldn’t contain their laughter was heard. 

Oh, this voice!

I looked back in amazement.

It was the Empress.

“Your Majesty!”

Attired in a silver-white robe that symbolized the divine beast, the Empress was pure as a white rose. 

I grabbed my chest. 

Our Empress, she is the most beautiful person in the world today!

“In hindsight, I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you, Charlize, in anything else other than a maid uniform.”

The Empress observed me closely, closing her eyes as she prepared to say something. 

It was sincere. 

“…really, you’re so cute, you know?”

“Thank you.”

Hehe. I giggled embarrassed. 

I’m no one special but when someone compliments me, I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

The Empress’s eyes sparkled as she clenched her fists and spoke to me with an eager look. 

“My hands are itching to give you a hug, whatever shall I do?”

“Hey, please bear with it for now…” I tittered nervously. 

I actually want to be hugged by the Empress right now but….

Considering all the time and effort I went through to prepare, I couldn’t do that. 

What if my makeup or dress gets ruined?

“Yes, I’ll hold it in. We can’t go ruin Charlize’s cute appearance, now can we?”

“…yes?”

“If you can’t control a fleeting desire, you’ll end up like the Emperor.”

The Empress murmured without hesitation. 

….That makes me wonder, how does the Empress view Emperor? 

Maybe the Emperor ranks lower than a beast? 

The Empress gave me a kind reminder. 

“Furthermore, if there’s anything that makes you uncomfortable, just say so.”

“It’s okay. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

“Yes. However, Lize, you aren’t nervous?”

“I’m nervous…but I can pull through, I have to do well,” I answered, strengthening my shoulders. 

It’ll be fine. I memorized everything about the harvest festival. 

Candidates, it turns out don’t play a big role. 

I won’t have to do too much. I only have to help the Emperor and the Empress as they perform the rite, it’s not overwhelming. 

The Empress patted me on the back, her smile exuding an air of confidence. 

“Well, my Charlize can do anything she puts her mind to. I believe in you.”

I felt a whirlwind of emotions as I looked up at the Empress. 

The Empress has so much confidence in me, how can I ever let her down when she believes in me? 

Trust me, I’ll be the best candidate yet!

“Your Majesty, the Empress.”

A handmaiden approached us, announcing her presence. 

I widened my eyes in excitement when I saw her. 

The Empress is so benevolent to have Damian’s preparations be done directly at the Empress’s palace. 

Even the handmaid who was supposed to aid the Empress was instead assigned to Damian.

Setting the Empress as someone evil, author are you out of your mind?

…ah well, it doesn’t matter. 

The handmaiden is finally here!

“The crown prince is all set. Shall I bring him to you, your Majesty?” inquired the handmaiden. 

That means Damian’s preparations are complete!

I’ve been looking forward to it all day!

Frankly, people might not know his personality but his beauty alone is outstanding, isn’t it?

He was pretty even when he was in a dirty state but as a candidate how handsome will he look after he’s had a good scrubbing?

“Go ahead.”

The Empress nodded. 

The maid left for a bit before returning. 

Knock. Knock. 

Light thumping could be heard. 

“Your Majesty, it’s Damian.”

“Come on in.”

Click! The door opened. 

Damian stepped into the room. 

Wow. 

My eyes flickered in awe. 

To be honest, I never thought that a person prettier than the Empress could exist in the world. 

The Damian in front of me was like a work of art that God poured all his heart into. 

Like, is it unfair to be so beautiful?

I mumbled to myself unconsciously in a somewhat enchanted tone. 

“…your Highness. You’re really, really pretty today.”

“You dolt, you’re supposed to say handsome, not pretty to a man.”

Damian might have scolded me at the same time but he wasn’t hung up on it. And it certainly came from a face I couldn’t hate. 

Though I must say, couldn’t he have been nicer about it?

But then. 

The Empress called my name with a strangely dissatisfied expression. 

“Lize.”

“Yes?”

“Am I prettier or is the crown prince prettier?”

The moment she finished that question, the Empress and Damian looked at me intently. 

Trapped by their eager gazes, I felt like I had an upset stomach. 

But women are loyal to each other!

I opened my mouth. 

“Her Majesty of course!”

“Did you hear that, your Highness?”

The Empress looked back at Damian with a triumphant expression. 

I could only smile awkwardly at a disappointed crown prince. 

I’m sorry, Damian. 

Although I’m responsible for you, I am still the Empress’s maid. 

“Well, come to think of it, your Majesty!”

“Huh?”

“How was the harvest festival last time?”

It was crushing to be under Damian’s resentful gaze, so I quickly changed the subject. 

“Hmm, the harvest festival last time…”

“We held the ritual at the imperial palace. Was it conducted outside the palace?” 

As the Empress recounted, I took a peep at Damian’s countenance.

Damian tried to act uninterested but I could see him prick up his ears, listening intently. 

After quite some time, the Empress shook her head. 

“No, the rituals aren’t conducted outside the palace.”

“Oh really?” I uttered. 

“The festival is usually held for a total of three days. That includes the day of the harvest. 

“Whoa, three days?”

Damian was all of a sudden staring at the Empress with fascinated expression.

Did I just succeed in changing the topic?

I breathed a deep sigh of relief.  

The Empress continued to explain about the festival. 

“Lots of scrumptious food are sold and there’s a lot more to see during the festival.”

“That sounds like so much fun! Did Her Majesty regularly attend the harvest festival?”

“I use to before coming to the palace.”

Before coming to the palace…hum. 

Does the Empress miss those days?