The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 83

Eight years later. 

 

To the Crown Prince. 

 

Are you in good health?

 

I’ve been studying hard lately. 

 

I’m learning literature, the etiquette for a lady, musical instruments, and ballroom dance. Sometimes the Empress dowager and the Empress teach me directly when they have the time. 

 

Isn’t it amazing?

 

However, I want to learn something I can use anywhere. 

 

Then anyone who sees me will know I’m a lady who’s going to debut in the social world. 

 

Honestly, no one will always be in a banquet hall for the rest of their life.

 

So, it’s all about learning as much as possible. 

 

As the days get colder and colder, I keep thinking about you. 

 

The north must be freezing compared to here, right?

 

No matter what happens, take care of your health first, okay? 

 

Have a nice day. 

 

With affection, from Charlize.

 

***

 

Dear Charlize. 

 

You’ve been studying hard lately?

 

That’s great. 

 

By the way, with the time you spend studying, doesn’t any of it go to practicing handwriting?

 

Needing your letter to be decrypted like a ciphertext so that it’s readable is a bit too much of an ask, isn’t it?

 

Anyways, like you said it’s pretty cold here. 

 

Still, everyone’s nice to me, so I don’t think there’s much you have to fret about. 

 

Since coming down here, I can see how hard things have been so far in the North. 

 

But Margrave Antes has done a great job of defending it. 

 

Oh, I met a girl my age today. 

 

Says her name is Sienna Antes, the only daughter of Margrave Antes. 

 

I’m told she handles bows very well. 

 

They say she’s already dealt with mountain animals several times. 

 

Isn’t that great? 

 

Just so you know, I’m heading to the Kier plains tomorrow for the first time. 

 

I’m a little nervous but I’m confident I’ll do well. 

 

Stay well until we meet again. 

 

I’ll send another letter soon. 

 

Damian. 

 

***

 

To the Crown Prince. 

 

Oh my God, what happened on your expedition to the Kier plains?

 

You didn’t get injured, did you?

 

You are outstanding in martial arts so that gives me relief. 

 

Still, be careful.  

 

I’m sure you haven’t forgotten your promise to return unharmed. 

 

And….I’m glad Lady Antes is with you there. 

 

I heard that Lady Antes is a very beautiful and intelligent woman. 

 

Since you two are about the same age, I think it’d be nice if you got along with her. 

 

Do you think the two of you will ever get married? 

 

If you do tie the knot, your Highness will have a family. 

 

Oh, speaking of family, that reminds me. 

 

At the crown palace, Meow….oops. Meow is the name I randomly picked out for the cat near the crown palace.

 

Anyway, Meow gave birth to a litter of kittens. 

 

There are three of them and in my eyes, the yellow kitten that resembles her mother is simply the cutest!

 

I’m glad that Meow has a family now. Isn’t it swell?

 

But I don’t think I’ve seen Daddy cat, I wonder where he is?

 

Oh, I’ve been up for too long. 

 

I should head to bed now. 

 

Sweet dreams, your Highness.

 

With affection, from Charlize.

 

P.S.

 

Some people might not be able to write well!

 

You’re calling my writing ciphertext?

 

Your Highness, are you implying that you’re better at writing? 

 

You’ll see! I’ll meet a man who writes better than you!

 

***

 

Dear Charlize. 

 

Charlize, how are you?

 

It’s been some time since I’ve come back from the Kier plains, so I’m a little late in replying. 

 

It was my first time seeing beasts, basically they’re large and dangerous. 

 

The way they look….I can’t find the words to describe it. 

 

They look crazy. 

 

Six legs, eyes on the back of its head….

 

I know my explanation is probably confusing you more than clarifying, but it’s true. 

 

Still, I feel like I’m helping out in my own way, I’m happy, to say the least. 

 

By the way, why do you care so much about the Sienna Antes? 

 

I don’t like how a third of your letter was about her. 

 

The only girl I’ll get along with is you. 

 

How about showing a little more interest in me, instead of talking about Sienna? 

 

Or let me know more about how you’re doing. 

 

Cats are cute, of course, but I want to hear more about you. 

 

Please keep that part in mind for the future. 

 

Oh, also. 

 

Aren’t you sending too few letters?

 

I hope to get letters at least three times a week from now on. 

 

It may be a lot but even if it’s three, you can write one every two or three days, right?

 

If you happen to be really busy then just let this slide. 

 

I have to go on another mission tomorrow, so that’ll cut down the number of letters. 

 

Good night. Happy dreaming. 

 

Damian.

 

P.S. 

 

You’re going to meet a man who can write better than me?

 

Well, you do know it’s next to impossible to find such a man?

 

Because I’m going to continue practicing my handwriting. 

 

 

Weeks and months and years they passed like flowing water. 

 

After many seasons, winter where one’s breath forms a fleeting misty cloud has returned. 

 

It may have been cold but the atmosphere around me was warm. 

 

It was because the Empress and the Empress dowager were having tea time in the greenhouse. 

 

“Thank you for inviting me.”

 

“You’re welcome. It’s frustrating to be alone in the palace all the time.”

 

The Empress responded with a bright smile at the Empress dowager’s appreciation. 

 

I quietly listened as they conversed and sipped tea. 

 

As they continued, I slowly raised my head. 

 

The lilacs were in full bloom and contrasted with the snowy backdrop. They were easy on the eyes. 

 

Looking at these lilacs…

 

‘Damian comes to mind.’

 

The night I last saw Damian face to face. 

 

I remembered Damian smiling tearfully at the handkerchief I gave him. Those lilacs really were poorly embroidered. 

 

“….” 

 

‘I’ll definitely come back. To see you again, I’ll make sure of it.’’

 

….right, that’s what he promised. 

 

But despite that promise, I still have yet to meet Damian. 

 

“It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since Damian’s left.”

 

At the Empress dowager’s stirring words, I smiled bitterly. 

 

‘Wow, it’s been eight years already?’

 

What will Damian look like now?

 

Has he gotten taller?

 

Come to think of it, before he left, his gaze was above mine. 

 

If we ever see each other again, I might need to look up just to look at him properly. 

 

I was immersed in my thoughts for quite some time. 

 

But the Empress’s soft voice pulled me back to reality. 

 

“I know, time flies.”

 

The Empress said so as she glanced back at me with a look that was graceful as always. 

 

“My Charlize has already grown up so much, the crown prince will have grown up a lot more.”

 

“Right. Still, when will I get to see Damian…”

 

After sighing deeply, the Empress dowager beckoned to me. 

 

“Charlize, you don’t have to stand like that. Come sit with us.” 

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

“Oh, refusing Her Majesty’s orders now are you?”

 

With a teasing remark, the Empress dowager smiled with an impish expression. 

 

However…I don’t think it’s polite of me to do so. 

 

I glanced over to the Empress for any glimmer of hope. Surely, she would back me up. 

 

The Empress did nothing but smile and nod her head. 

 

“Yes, come here and sit down.”

 

To add further, they offered me a seat. 

 

‘Ugh, okay.’

 

In the end, I gave a curtsy and sat down. 

 

Actually, this isn’t the first time I’ve had tea time with the two of them…

 

‘But I feel a bit nervous.’ 

 

Even the Empress casually pushed a basket of scones towards me.  

 

‘Would you like some clotted cream to go with that? What about jam? Do you want apricot or orange marmalade?”

 

“Oh, thank you. I don’t mind, either one is good.”

 

At the same time, a hand out of nowhere poured tea into my cup. 

 

It was the Empress dowager. 

 

“You must be thirsty, have some tea while you eat.”

 

“Um, thank you.”

 

….gee, this is a bit much. 

 

With pleased looks coming from two directions at me, I didn’t know what to do. 

 

They sure do like watching me eat, don’t they?

 

They’re like a mother happily watching their child eat. 

 

The Empress took it a step further. 

 

“Are you short on snacks? Shall I ask for more cake?”

 

“No, this is enough!”

 

I shook my head hastily. 

 

Of course, I’m happy that they like me but….

 

‘When I’m together with the two of them, they end up taking care of me.’

 

Really, I don’t know if it’s okay to do this. 

 

Feeling embarrassed, I spread jam and cream onto my scones. 

 

As I did so, her Majesty, the Empress dowager spoke in a playful tone. 

 

“Our Charlize gets prettier and prettier as she grows up.”

 

“No, you’re exaggerating, your Majesty.”

 

“Perhaps. Even when she was a kid, I thought she was remarkably cute, but she becomes more and more so with each passing day. Beautiful would be the more apt word now.”

 

The Empress dowager who commented that stealthily leaned her head closer to me. 

 

“I hear you’re very popular with servants and knights, aren’t you?

 

Ahaha….

 

I let out an awkward laugh. 

 

How should I respond in such a situation?

 

Fortunately, the Empress answered on my behalf. 

 

“Well, I’m not going to give Charlize to anyone I don’t like.”

 

In the eyes of the Empress who said so, she saw someone too young for that. 

 

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager shrugged her shoulders. 

 

“Yes, that’s true.”

 

“Of course, she’s my maid.”

 

The Empress nodded with a determined face. 

 

“What if a wolf-like man drags away a lone Charlize?”

 

….I don’t think that’s what the person who took me in when I was five would say.