The Evil Empress Adores Me - Side Story 1

A heavy charge. 

Damian has been deeply distressed lately.

As to what that distress was….

‘Somehow, I’ve gone these past days without seeing Charlize.’

Due to being overwhelmed with work, Damian was at risk of forgetting what his lovely fiancée looked like.

After returning from his meeting with Sienna in the North, Damian’s schedule was flooded with work.

He would routinely return to the Crown Prince’s palace near dawn due to the tremendous workload.

Of course, this level of work was to be expected.

Given the former emperor’s mismanagement of state affairs, Damian was left to deal with the consequences.

Besides that, there was one more fundamental problem.

However, there was another significant issue: the empire was much more susceptible to invasion by beasts without the divine beast’s protection.

So, he reinforced the empire’s defenses and increased support for parts of the North facing the beasts directly.

‘If I continue like this, I’ll die of overwork before the coronation ceremony.’

Damian looked at the pile of papers on the desk with a grimace.

Honestly, I can understand having my hands full with the responsibilities I have. 

My duty as emperor keeps me busy. 

But I’m frustrated that I can’t even spare time with Charlize and…

‘Why on earth was the Duke of Rochester waiting in front of the Crown Prince’s palace!’

Damian recalled what had happened this morning and involuntarily gritted his teeth.

The situation went like this.

‘Charlize.’

Damian, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, woke up to find Charlize sitting beside him.

‘Ah, Damian.’

His eyes widened when she called him. 

How long has it been since I’ve seen Charlize’s face?!

For some reason, Damian felt like he was on the verge of bursting into tears.

‘Charlize, I don’t want to go to work.’

For the first time in a long time, Damian rested his head on Charlize’s shoulder.

‘No, do you want to be a future emperor that’s negligent in state affairs?’

Although she looked at him sternly, Charlize’s lilac-colored eyes showed concern for Damian.

‘…By the way, are you that busy?’

‘No, honestly, I don’t think I need to be this busy…!’

Damian involuntarily raised his voice.

Yes, I am busy. 

It’s only natural that the emperor, who looks after the livelihood of his people, will be busy. 

Still, I should give my own fiancée time to chat!

Damian buried his face in Charlize’s arms like a fawning cat.

‘Charlize, I want to have breakfast with you. It’s been so long.’

‘Well, I’d love to, but…’

Charlize, who would normally have responded readily, this time hesitated by awkwardly looking away. 

Damian felt a chill run down his spine.

‘…What’s wrong?’

‘Well, it’s because the Duke of Rochester is waiting for you.’

‘What?!’

Startled, Damian jumped up with a surprised expression.

No, why is he waiting for me?!

Charlize continued in an apologetic tone.

‘He said there were a lot of urgent matters that needed to be dealt with by this evening.’

‘No, I can’t! I’m supposed to be with you today!’

‘He said it’s very urgent…’

Charlize patted Damian on the shoulder as if comforting a child.

Damian was saddened by the turn of events. 

No, I just want to spend some time with Charlize!

Why can’t I be happy?!

Meanwhile, Charlize seemed to have interpreted Damian’s depression in a different way and was busy trying to console him.

‘Don’t worry about eating. I’ll tell the maids to take care of it.’

‘…It’s not like that.’

‘Hmm?’

‘Do you think I am the way I am right now because I couldn’t have a meal? I’m…!’

Damian, who was in a fit of anger, finally sighed deeply.

*Sigh* What do I get from getting mad at Charlize? It’s pointless.

I’m the one who wanted to become the emperor in the first place despite the great cost…

With that realization, Damian got dressed and was lead by Charlize to the waiting room. 

In the distance, I saw the Duke reclining leisurely on the sofa.

‘The Duke of Rochester.’

The Duke stood up and slightly bowed his head toward Damian.

‘Greetinngs, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. And…’

Unlike when he addressed Damian, when he addressed Charlize, the Duke’s eyes were very soft.

‘Kid—No, should I call you, Your Highness, the Crown Princess now?’

‘It’s all right. We haven’t even had the coronation yet, and this is a private affair.’

Charlize gave a bashful smile.

The Duke, who was initially smiling along with her, looked back at Damian with a serious expression. 

‘Besides that, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.’

‘What?’

‘How can the monarch of country show such weakness?’

The Duke narrowed his eyes and continued. 

‘I don’t know where your dignity as crown prince has gone because that expression of yours tells me you don’t want to work.’

‘Hey, Duke of Rochester.’

Damian objected the Duke’s assertion and was disgusted by it. 

‘Do you think the dignity of a crown prince is of any importance to me right now?’

The despairing rant that followed from Damian was truly devastating. 

‘Must I really relinquish the opportunity to have breakfast with my fiancee like this?’

The waiting room was filled with the reverberations of his anguished voice.

‘Even the smallest worker ant doesn’t work as hard as I do! Where have my human rights gone?’

‘Oh, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.’

However, the Duke did not bat an eyelid even when faced with Damian’s desperate words. 

‘There is no such thing as human rights for those who are responsible for a country.’

‘….What?’

‘How dare you even consider spending time alone with the kid and having fun while ignoring shirking your duties?’

The Duke asked Damian in a somber voice. 

‘My eyes are open, are yours open? You’re blinded, aren’t you?’

Damian looked at the Duke with a bewildered expression.

…Hey, Duke of Rochester.

Was the Duke speaking plainly about his sincerity?

‘Well, let’s get going. There’s a lot of work that needs finishing.’

The Duke quickly straightened his expression and grabbed Damian, dragging him to the office. 

To Damian, Charlized smiled mischievously. 

‘Your Highness, don’t overwork yourself, okay?’

‘Okay….’

Damian was shedding bloody tears on the inside. 

At the same time, the Duke interrupted the brief conversation with a sullen face. 

‘What about me, kid?’

‘What?’ Charlize responded. 

‘It’s like you’re not worried about me overworking.’

Damian’s mouth hung wide open. 

The Duke of Rochester, who had no pained expression, seemed to lose his shame when it came to matters involving Charlize.

However, Charlize only looked at Duke with a concerned gaze.

‘Well, of course I’m worried for the Duke too!’

She then clenched her fists and nodded.

‘Both of you make sure to work carefully so you don’t hurt yourselves. All right?’

‘All right.’

It was only then a happy smiled formed on the Duke’s face. 

….Indeed, it certainly was a happy smile. 

Damian took several deep breaths. 

It was because if he didn’t, this feeling of indignation in him wouldn’t go away.

“No, why are all the people around me eager to take Charlize away from me?!”

Charlize is my fiancee!

It’s like anyone who see Charlize, thinks that they have her all to themselves!!

But just then.

Knock. Knock.