The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 81

Damian’s voice heightened as if reinvigorated. 

 

Although he now has to entrust her protection to the Empress, he wanted to protect Charlize himself one day. 

 

Perhaps picking up on the smallest of details, the Empress’s mind seemed to be occupied elsewhere. 

 

“So please, take care of Charlize while I’m away from the imperial palace.”

 

“Don’t worry about that. His Highness doesn’t even need to ask, I’ll take good care of Charlize.”

 

The Empress who gave a sharp reply glanced sideways at the clock. 

 

She waved her hand as if telling him to go. 

 

“Oh, I’ve taken up too much time. Go ahead, Charlize is waiting.”

 

“Well, excuse me, your Majesty.”

 

Damian got up. 

 

He gave a final nod and left the room. 

 

The Empress stared at the closed door for a long, long time before gazing elsewhere. 

 

Beyond the window, in the distance lies ahead the garden of the Empress dowager. Waiting for the conversation between the Empress and Damian to finish, I stood in the garden. 

 

The moonlight shined on everything down below, causing fallen red and yellow autumn leaves to gleam. 

 

The surrounding landscape was serene but my mind was a complete mess. 

 

‘Damian will leave after today.’

 

That thought made me tear up. 

 

I blinked repeatedly to get the tears out. 

 

No, today’s the last time I can see Damian. 

 

So I have to send him off with a smile. 

 

At the same time, I heard the sound of grass being stepped upon. 

 

I took a deep breath. 

 

A friendly voice called me.

 

“Lize.”

 

“….your Highness, the crown prince.”

 

I smiled and looked back at Damian. 

 

Damian looked like he was observing me when he suddenly blurted out. 

 

“Why do you look like that?”

 

“Huh? Look like what?”

 

“You look like you’re about to cry.”

 

The moment I heard that my breathing became rapid and shallow. 

 

I bit my lip until it bled. 

 

No. 

 

I made a decision not to cry. 

 

But the sadness kept creeping in. 

 

Did you really have to read me like a book, Damian?

 

“Your Highness, it’s really bAD…”

 

My voice abruptly cracked up at the end. 

 

Damian with a bewildered face rushed over to me. 

 

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make fun of you…”

 

“When you go…I want to send you off with a smile.”

 

The sadness in me shot up. 

 

“…do you know how hard I’m trying?”

 

I inadvertently raised my voice. 

 

“Your Highness, are you really okay?”

 

Am I the only one who’s upset? 

 

Damian, are you all right with going?

 

I can’t imagine how rough and dangerous Antes’s lands will be. 

 

I’m also certain the Emperor will emplace all sorts of obstructions to prevent Damian from returning to the palace. 

 

If he leaves, I don’t know when he’ll be back…

 

I was so lost in thought, that I forgot the person I was worried about was right in front of me. 

 

I snapped back immediately, saying what came to mind. 

 

“There’s no guarantee that we’ll ever meet each other again!”

 

“Why can’t we meet each other?”

 

Damian responded back with a resolute tone. 

 

Wow, that’s a surprise. 

 

I blinked my eyes at his unexpected answer. 

 

“I said I’ll come back.”

 

“But…”

 

“You believe in me, don’t you?”

 

….well, not really. 

 

Damian’s expression became complicated. 

 

After a while. 

 

Damian opened his mouth with unflinching determination. 

 

‘Well, you don’t have to think that way.”

 

“What?”

 

“I don’t have the strength yet so I can’t keep you completely safe…”

 

W-Why are you blaming yourself all of a sudden?

 

I was puzzled. 

 

Damian continued with determination. 

 

“But, when I come back…that won’t be the case.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I’m going to be someone who you can trust and depend on.”

 

I looked up at Damian, enchanted and lost in the moment. 

 

Perhaps being older by three years was a blessing in disguise, Damian’s a little taller than me. 

 

Amazing. 

 

Damian has always been a little boy to me. 

 

‘Right now though…he’s like an older brother.’

 

The moment I thought that my face lit up.

 

What am I thinking?

 

This is ridiculous, really!

 

“T-This is a gift.”

 

Trying to dispel those useless thoughts, I handed a gift box to Damian. 

 

Damian’s eyes widened. 

 

“What’s this?”

 

“Open it,” I said after I shrugged. 

 

I shrugged my shoulders

 

Damian with a puzzled expression unwrapped the ribbon around the gift box. 

 

And…

 

“A handkerchief?”

 

Damian looked at the handkerchief tucked in the box.

 

The corners of the handkerchief were embroidered with light purple lilacs. 

 

“You’ll be far away, what if you leave without a gift?”

 

“….Lize,” muttered Damian who was touched.

 

“Every time you use that handkerchief, it’ll remind you of me every day. Okay?”

 

I tried putting on a cheerful smile.

 

Damian gazed intently at the handkerchief for a while as if taking in all its details. 

 

And then with a voice full of emotion, he asked me…

 

“…these grapes, did you embroider them yourself?”

 

“They’re not grapes! Look again, you can clearly see they’re lilacs!”

 

I lost my temper. 

 

Grr, he says they’re grapes? They’re lilacs!

 

Damian pressed further but with a slightly humbled face. 

 

“….lilacs? These?”

 

“Of course they’re lilacs! Your Highness, are you in dire need of glasses?!”

 

It was almost unbelievable, the tears I cried were nearly dried up. 

 

Before I could fully process that, Damian nodded his head like he was convinced. 

 

“Somehow, I don’t doubt this is your embroidery. I know you handiwork anywhere.”

 

Is he for real?

 

I widened my eyes, shooting out my hand to snatch my gift from Damian. 

 

“Arr, fine! Give it back to me then.”

 

Damian quickly grabbed the handkerchief from the box. 

 

“No, it’s mine.”

 

The corners of Damian’s lips were now soaring, forming a blissful smile. 

 

“You’re taking it away after giving it to me?”

 

Well, how about showing some gratitude when accepting something!

 

I was a bit miffed. 

 

In contrast, Damian smiled brightly. 

 

“I’ll use it, thank you.”

 

“After all those harsh comments, now you go on and say that…”

 

“You know what, Lize?”  

 

Damian asked me out of the blue. 

 

I was about to say more but stopped and stiffened my shoulders. 

 

It was because Damian’s hand wrapped around mine. 

 

…h-hold on.

 

What’s going on all of a sudden?

 

At that moment, the previous playful atmosphere evaporated in an instant.

 

In its place, a gentle and soft atmosphere permeated, surrounding us.  

 

I blinked my eyes blankly. 

 

“Because you’re by my side…I can say life is fun for the first time.”

 

“….what?”

 

“Really. Ever since I met you, every time I go to bed at the end of the day, I think of ‘tomorrow.’ I always look forward to it.”

 

Damian whispered in a gentle voice. 

 

“Cause I can get to see you again.”

 

Hey, what is he talking about?!

 

His face became flushed in an instant. 

 

He bit his lip and stated.

 

At the same time, Damian took a step toward me. 

 

“So, I want to leave with a promise of ‘tomorrow’.”

 

“….a promise of ‘tomorrow’?”

 

“…”

 

Oh. 

 

Damian nodded his head slightly, reached out and drew closer to me. 

 

“Honestly, I didn’t want to hear other people call me Damian…”

 

Damian ran his rough fingers through my long loosely tied hair. 

 

With each stroke, my silver hair fluttered. 

 

“But as long as it’s you…I don’t mind if you want to call me by my name.”

 

….um?

 

My eyes widened. 

 

It was because Damian, lifting the fringe of my hair, landed a short kiss. 

 

W-what?

 

What the heck was that?

 

Damian placed his lips on my forehead, lowering his gaze slightly until his gaze met mine. 

 

I heard a voice sweeter than honey. 

 

“So….see you next time.”

 

“Y-Your Highness?”

 

“Call me Damian, not your Highness or crown prince.”

 

As I slowly raised my head, Damian looked straight down at me. 

 

Blink. 

 

Bluish indigo eyelashes fluttered. 

 

His golden scarlet eyes were right in front of me. 

 

Like a sun rising out of the deep darkness of dawn, they were noble and brilliant. 

 

I was the only person reflected in those eyes of his. 

 

“Can you promise me?”

 

I was speechless. 

 

Usually, I would have taken a step back and said, ‘How could I call the crown prince by his name?’

 

This time I couldn’t do that. 

 

My mind was blank, I couldn’t think of anything to say. 

 

Meanwhile my heart was racing like it was going to explode. 

 

I’m afraid he’ll hear the thumping. 

 

….but why is my heart beating like this?

 

I tried to hide my confused look but to no avail.

 

“….I-I promise.”

 

But before I knew it, my lips moved on their own. 

 

After hesitating for a while, unsure of what to say, line after line came out. 

 

“Then promise me one thing.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“It’s okay to return late. Also, I’m confident I’ll manage.”

 

I continued to speak without faltering. 

 

“So instead…come back with no injuries, stay healthy.”

 

Damian’s face slowly became crinkled as he listened to me. 

 

And then I ended it on a high note. 

 

“You have to come back with a smile.”

 

It was then Damian took my hand, placing it in his.