The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 88

“Aside from that, Viscountess Antes!”

No, out of all the topics I could have chosen, why must it have been about Sienna!”

Inwardly, I felt like my whole body was aching at the thought of her. 

But outwardly, my mouth faithfully praised her. 

“She’s a much nicer person than the rumors.”

“Viscountess Antes?”

“….am I out of the loop? Why mention her?”

Damian narrowed his brow. 

To have to say the name ‘Sienna’ in a friendly way again. 

I bit my cheek as her name left a bad taste in my mouth. 

‘It’s just a name, nothing more,’ I thought. 

So I shouldn’t be so engrossed by these trivial things. 

….and it shouldn’t have any sway over me. 

“Oh, well she and your Highness rode on horseback for your triumphant return earlier, right?”

“We did. But why bring this up all of a sudden?”

“Um, just by looking at you two…I thought you two got along very well….”

At this point, I was speaking senselessly. 

Damian’s forehead became wrinkled. 

“Are you interested in Sienna?”

“What?”

“The answer’s no. I won’t be introducing you.”

Damian shook his head resolutely. 

Hey, did I ever ask you to introduce me to her?

What would be the point of introducing me to Viscountess Antes in the first place?

“Listen, Lize.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I don’t want other people to have your attention.”

Damian made an obstinate declaration. 

Huh? 

I blinked my eyes in bewilderment. 

“Even more so, I’m saddened that Her Majesty is number one for you…”

The way he spoke to himself in a faint voice had connotations of being treated unfairly. 

…..no, just what is he talking about?

Oh, shoot. It’s late.

Well, time’s up. 

I got up, sighing deeply. 

“Your Highness, I think you should be going now. You have a busy schedule for tomorrow.”

After reminding him, I decided to get up. 

I couldn’t exactly do that though. 

‘What can’t I-’

Damian was holding onto my skirt, not letting me get up!

“I’m fine, stay with me a while longer.”

“But it’s already late.”

When I met up with Damian, the moon was just above the horizon, now the moon was right above our heads. 

Damian, on the other hand, was headstrong. 

“No, don’t go.”

“….are you going to whine about this?”

“Yes, I’ll whine.”

Damian answered bluntly. 

I’m speechless. 

To be honest, I knew that Damian could be shameless when he needed to be….

I just didn’t think he would go this far. 

“Fine. How dare I disobey the orders of his Highness, the crown prince?”

I licked my lips and sat back down. 

“I’m nothing more than a powerless maid of the Empress’s palace.”

“A powerless maid of the Empress’s palace…..mmm.”

Damian pondered those words of mine with a heavy voice. 

Wait, wait. 

Did I say something wrong?

I took a quick peek at Damian, looking into those scarlet eyes. 

“How long do you think you’ll remain a powerless maid in the Empress’s palace?”

Huh? 

I was bewildered once again. 

Damian looked at me and gave me a peculiar smile. 

“No, it’s nothing.”

Hold on! What were you going to say? Tell me!

Don’t you know that leaving someone hanging in the middle of a conversation is one of the most irritating things ever? 

I tried to get Damian to open up by asking more questions. 

….I was going to do so until- 

“Say, Lize?”

It was until Damian slightly tilted his head to the side, locking gazes with me. 

Beneath that flowing hair of his, intense scarlet-colored eyes sparkled enchantingly. 

And to my misfortune….he was really good-looking. 

I felt my face turn red, burning up like I had a fever. 

You, you’re using your good looks on me?!

“I look healthy, don’t I?”

Of course, he’s as healthy as ever. 

I nodded enthusiastically with a red face. 

Damian then whispered to me in a honeyed voice that melted my ears. 

“Then I kept my promise to you?”

“Oh, a promise?”

“Yes. A promise to come back healthy and with a smile.”

Oh right. 

I made such a promise. 

Damian’s eyes were glistening as he looked at me. 

He resembled a puppy looking for praise. 

…I don’t know if it’s okay to compare the crown prince to a puppy but that’s what he looks like right now.  

“That’s right. Well done, your Highness.”

Since I could tell what Damian wanted so I complimented him. 

Damian followed up my compliment with a smile. 

A very alluring smile in fact. 

“So it’s your turn….keep the promise you made to me.”

“Pardon? The promise I made with your Highness?”

“You promised to call me by my name.”

Wait? Your name? 

Erm, I’m positive I said that but…

“Your Highness, that’s a bit…” 

Recovering from the initial surprise, I looked at him with a puzzled expression. 

Yeah, I might have been intoxicated by the atmosphere back then and made that promise. 

But no matter what, am I not a maid and he, a prince?

It’s inappropriate. 

However, Damian seemed unwilling to concede this. 

“Ahem, I’m not ‘His Highness’ or ‘Crown Prince’.”

Damian said so with an aura that exuded determination. 

“I just….I just want to be called ‘Damian’.”

“But if there are other people watching….”

“If that sort of thing bothers you, then just say my name when it’s just the two of us.”

Umm, if you put it like that then.  

I cleared my throat. 

Even though I’ll just be saying his name, I couldn’t help but feel a tingly feeling in my heart. 

Taking a deep breath, I slowly said his name. 

“Damian.”

At that moment, Damian smiled broadly. 

He was beaming as if all the happiness in the world had entered him. 

“Thank you.”

“Wha…”

Feeling a bit embarrassed for some reason, I averted my gaze. 

Just as I did so. 

Damian suddenly got up and pulled out his hand. 

“Okay. I’ll take you back to the Empress’s palace.”

“What? I can get back by myself.”

“I want to walk you back.”

Damian waved his hand in front of me, insisting I grab it. 

I closed my eyes tightly for a second. 

Really, there’s no way I’ll refuse that hand. 

Eventually, I slowly placed my hand in his.

Those scarlet eyes gently widened. 

 

***

 

After some time. 

We finally reached the front of the Empress’s palace. 

“Thank you for accompanying me.”

I thanked him in the most nonchalant way possible but the truth is-

I can’t help but feel…lonely. 

If we split up again, will we ever see each other?

Damian had just returned to the imperial palace. 

So…I’m sure he has a lot of things to take care of. 

Just by spending time with me, I knew that Damian cared a great deal but…

‘….I’m a bit down.’

That’s when I slumped my shoulders. 

Damian lowered his head, whispering into my ear. 

“Good night, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

At those unexpected words, I widened my eyes. 

Huh? You’re coming back tomorrow? 

But I’ll be visiting the Empress dowager tomorrow and, I know for a fact you’ll be busy.

Despite thinking that in my head, I answered before I knew it. 

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

Damian turned around, parting with a final smile. 

I stood there as if glued on the spot, unable to move as I watched Damian disappear into the night.  

Then. 

“Ah.”

That was the only word that left my slightly opened mouth. 

Come to think of it, I forgot to ask Damian more about that one subject. 

‘How long do you think you’ll remain a powerless maid of the Empress’s palace….’

What does that mean?

Later that evening. 

I had a dream from long ago. 

‘Carpel.’

Countless stars shone as if they were about to fall from the sky. 

And below those stars, was a woman who had a pale appearance. 

‘I will keep my promise. So you do the same……’

She gazed at the man who seemed to slumber peacefully, her tears were endless. 

‘….keep the promise you made to me.’

As that whisper became fainter and fainter till it eventually became inaudible, I woke up. 

‘What, why am I having that dream again?’

I raised my hand, gently wiping the tears from my face. 

Ever since Damian first used his purification power, I never had that dream since. 

The contents of the dream remained the same. 

A woman who says to ‘keep the promise’ and a man who looks oddly like Damian. 

I would have cast that dream to the side as I did at first but having the same dream a second time? I’m starting to get concerned. 

‘What on earth did the man promise?’

I tilted my head in thought. 

The woman’s sorrowful expression flashed in my mind. 

And to add further…she mentioned ‘Carpel’. 

Carpel, the first emperor who established the Winsor empire…

I pouted my lips, still concerned. 

That’s it. No matter how much I mull my mind over this, I just get frustrated in the end. 

Besides that….

I should focus on something else…a certain someone else. 

‘Damian.’

I pulled my quilt, bringing it close, and laughed quietly. 

Damian’s back. He’s back after so long!

The realization started to finally kick in. 

That fact alone made me feel blissful.