The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 8

“What are you all doing?”

 

“Maid Hayden!”

 

The maids were startled. I apprehensively turned towards the shout.

 

‘Oh, that’s her! The Empress’ court lady from yesterday!’

 

My eyes widened at her sudden appearance.

 

“Which maid is being jeered at?” she interrogated as she came closer.

 

‘I didn’t expect her to come here!’

 

“Oh, no. That’s not it…”

 

“I don’t need excuses. Everybody, get back to work!”

 

The court lady raised her voice.

 

The maids scattered like a crowd of frightened sheep at the reproach.

 

They were already far when I managed to react, leaving me alone in the middle of the entrance.

 

Leaving only their whispers in my ears as they dispersed.

 

‘All the other maids said that it was unbefitting of me to be transferred into the Empress’ Palace…

 

…what if the court lady also thought of me like that?’ 

 

I felt my mouth go dry from nervousness.

 

“Is your name Charlize?” Her tone was mild and gentle. Free from any judgment.

 

Relieved at her consideration, I bowed.

 

“Hello! I’m the maid-in-training, Charlize!”

 

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

 

“I’m new to the Imperial Palace, so please take good care of me!” I wanted to speak as clearly as possible, but my tongue seemed to have no intention of following my will.

 

‘Ugh, when will this body grow up?”

 

Then, the court lady ordered, “Raise your head.”

 

I carefully glanced up. 

 

The court lady looked at me with kind eyes and spoke, “We met yesterday, didn’t we?”

 

“Yes…” I felt uneasy at the question.

 

‘Yesterday was a disaster, wasn’t it?’

 

She just laughed.

 

“Don’t be nervous, it was just hard to forget a maid as young as you.”

 

Well, even the youngest maids in the imperial palace were usually over 15 years old. My mother, who was a maid of the Imperial Palace, abandoned me there. That’s why I was a maid-in-training at such a young age.

 

The court lady spoke, “Her Majesty the Empress has asked me to take good care of you.”

 

“…me?” I muttered incredulously at her words. 

 

“Yes, Her Majesty told me to help you adapt well to the Imperial Palace.”

 

‘Empress, why are you so compassionate towards me?’

 

Drowned in an indescribable mood, I subtly nodded my head.

 

“By the way, is that all your luggage?”

 

“Yes, this is all.”

 

I shook the bag in my hand a couple of times.

 

Although it was heavy for a five-year-old, it was a fairly light bag for an adult.

 

The court lady’s expression sank at my response.

 

“You have been living in the palace for five years, but that’s all of your personal belongings?”

 

“Yes, these are my only personal belongings!”

 

‘Well, how many more things could a person who’s lived her whole life as a maid have?’

 

I had never even seen my pay since the palace deposited the maids’ salaries directly to their bank accounts.

 

“How can someone live with only their clothes and shoes? Don’t you have any other possessions?”

 

“Um, do I need other things? The palace pays for the meals and provides me a place to sleep.”

 

When I tilted my head in confusion, Hayden released a sigh. 

 

‘Did I say something wrong?’

 

“How come you never ran out of clothes or boots? How many pairs do you have right now?”

 

“Two pairs!”

 

The court lady gaped at my reply.

 

“Then don’t you have to wash your clothes as soon as they get dirty? Isn’t that too much of a hassle?” she questioned me.

 

 “It’s okay, I’m good at doing laundry and ironing!” I answered as I tried to appeal about my ability as a maid, but instead, her face darkened at my reply.

 

The court lady finally declared in a determined voice, “Don’t worry, I can get you enough clothes in the future.”

 

“Thank you for doing that…”

 

‘Yeah, it’d be good if I have another outfit.’

 

Although I was surprised at the sudden offer, I accepted it gratefully.

 

At the same time, she stretched out her hand.

 

“I’ll hold the bag for you. Can you give it to me?”

 

”’No, I can hold it. Thank you for the offer.”

 

“You are carrying a bag as big as your body, how can I just let you be?” 

 

“How can I leave my bag to a court lady?”

 

In the midst of our banter, someone’s footstep closed in to the entrance.

 

“Charlize,” hearing the melodious voice. My head tilted back in a daze.

 

Standing before me was the Empress.

 

My mind couldn’t help but freeze, taking in the beautiful sight of Rose in her luxurious gown, it was a shocking difference with the usual Rose in the maid outfits. 

 

I quickly bowed my head as I forced the greeting that I had practiced saying over and over again. 

 

“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress, the benevolent mother of our land, the noble moon of the Empire.” 

 

People should always assume the worst case scenario.

 

To prevent any mistake, I had studied formal greetings to the royal family in the past. Of course, I never desired to be assigned to the Emperor nor the Empress’ palaces, but I still took precaution in case I met them. My wish was not to use these greetings for the rest of my life.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard such a formal greeting. I didn’t think you’d know about it.” the Empress answered in a complicated tone.

 

I lowered my head, avoiding her gaze tinted with sadness.

 

‘I never thought I’d have to say such greetings in my life either.’

 

At least towards Rose, the only person I held dear.

 

“…”

 

“…welcome to the palace.”

 

The Empress, who looked at me, turned away, leaving only those four words.

 

I stared at her departing back.

 

I bit my lips when I remembered her upset expression.

 

“Charlize, let’s go in,” Hayden called me.

 

“Oh, yes.”

 

The court lady took the lead. 

 

I followed behind quietly, swinging the bag in my hand.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The further I went in, the more astounded I was. 

 

The interior of the Empress Palace, which contrasted from the garden, was even more breathtaking. All of the furniture was elegant, and the wall was covered with luxurious wallpaper. 

 

It reflected its owner’s refined taste”Let’s put your luggage in the room first. 

 

“After this, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the maids.”

 

“…yes? Oh, alright.”

 

As I was enthralled by the palace’s architecture, my answer was a bit late.

 

‘I must’ve looked like a fool.’

 

As I had guessed, the court lady looked back at me when she heard no response. As soon as she saw my dazed face, she couldn’t help but laugh.

 

‘Ugh, this is so embarrassing!’

 

I had wanted to look smart for my first impression.

 

‘…but I looked like a fool instead.’

 

I shouldn’t have looked around.

 

Mortified at the little mistake, I tried to put on a carefree expression.

 

The court lady suddenly stopped in front of a door.

 

“This is your room from now on,” she said as she pushed the door open.

 

A beautiful view beyond the door unfolded before my eyes. 

 

“…wow,” my mouth let out an unintentional gasp at the panoramic view.

 

I looked back at the court lady with twinkling eyes.

 

“This room… is it really mine?”

 

‘Well, how could I get such a nice room?’

 

 The white lace curtain fluttered gently as a light breeze blew through. A marvelous walnut-wooden table and wardrobe with a side drawer for organizing things stood next to a desk stand. Even the floor was covered with a fuzzy rug and in the middle of the room laid a single bed with an all-white bedding.

 

The cloud-like blanket looked so soft that I couldn’t resist the urge to run my hand over it.

 

Hayden smiled as she nodded, “Of course, all the handmaidens use this room.”

 

“Oh… I see,” the court lady’s reply felt like a pass for me. I couldn’t help the burning desire to jump onto the fluffy bed right away.

 

‘Now I know why everyone wanted to be promoted to full-time maids.’

 

You could live in such a nice room just by being promoted.

 

Just before I was swept away by the wave of emotion, I noticed something strange in what she had just said. 

 

‘Did she just say handmaiden?’ 

 

“But… I’m not an official maid yet…?”

 

I tried my best to hide my disappointment, though the sadness in my tone was quite obvious.

 

‘Handmaiden’ usually meant a formal maid.

 

But I was still a maid-in-training.

 

‘Didn’t that mean I couldn’t use this room?’

 

‘No way…’ I grumbled at the misfortune inside my mind.

 

The court lady shook her head.

 

“No, Charlize is an official maid from now on.”

 

‘…huh?’

 

‘What is that supposed to mean?’

 

I blinked my eyes in dismay, yet Hayden returned it with a gentle smile instead.

 

“Since you were assigned to the Empress’ Palace, the Empress had promoted you to a handmaiden.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“So this is Charlize’s room.”

 

‘Oh, my God!’ 

 

Happiness bubbled inside of me.

 

‘This is my room!’

 

She pleasantly smiled at my jubilant face.

 

“You can change your clothes and take a quick break here.”

 

“I can change my clothes?”

 

“Of course. Now that you’ve become a full-time maid, isn’t it time to throw away the maid-in-training’s attire?”

 

‘Oh, that’s why you said I would get plenty of clothes!’

 

I nodded with excitement.

 

“I’ll introduce you to the others later in the evening.” 

 

“Yes, I understand!”