The Evil Empress Adores Me - Side Story 11

He couldn’t fathom what mindset he had to have come this far.

 

Charlize, walking down the splendid corridor, glanced briefly at Damian from the corner of her eye.

 

They had just finished their meal.

 

Damian casually mentioned, “I have reserved a room,” and all of a sudden, they found themselves moving together.

 

“Ah.”

 

In an instant, their eyes locked.

 

Damian, with a puzzled expression, asked her a question.

 

“Charlize, did something stain my face by any chance?”

 

“Yes, um, yes?”

 

“No, it’s just…”

 

Charlize hastily lowered her head, avoiding Damian’s curious gaze.

 

The pink diamond ring adorning her left ring finger entered her field of vision.

 

“How can I be so nonchalant when receiving such an extraordinary item?”

 

Charlize swallowed a dry gulp.

 

The pink diamond scattered a brilliant radiance, as if mocking her.

 

At that moment, Damian asked her with a contented voice.

 

“So, do you like the ring?”

 

“It’s really, truly beautiful.”

 

Charlize cautiously opened her mouth.

 

“To be honest, receiving a jewel from the royal family feels a bit overwhelming…”

 

“…Does that mean my affection is overwhelming?”

 

Huh?

 

Why did his logic suddenly veer in that direction?

 

Charlize couldn’t hide her bewildered expression.

 

“No, not at all…”

 

“Otherwise, there wouldn’t be any reason to reject it so vehemently.”

 

Her husband was wearing that characteristic endearing expression of his.

 

If she were to describe it, it would be ‘the expression of a puppy denied a walk.’

 

“In any case, you are the Empress of this empire, and all the possessions owned by the imperial family are yours.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

…Somehow, it feels like a significant step has been omitted in the process of presenting the logic.

 

Moreover, what on earth is that conclusion?

 

But Damian seemed to have no intention of retracting his words at all.

 

“If it’s not that, then accept it.”

 

“But, still…”

 

“I want to give it to you, no matter what.”

 

As he spoke with such determination, Charlize couldn’t bring herself to refuse once again.

 

She nodded silently.

 

Simultaneously, a gentle smile spread across Damian’s face.

 

“It suits you perfectly, that ring.”

 

“Oh?”

 

Charlize, who had been silently watching Damian, suddenly spoke up.

 

“Damian.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Please only smile like that in front of me.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Taken aback by her unexpected words, Damian tilted his head.

 

“Of course, it’s not intentional, but what if another lady sees you and becomes enthralled by your smile?”

 

Charlize pressed her lips together, trying not to appear upset.

 

Isn’t it true?

 

Ever since I was very young and grew up with Damian, my heart flutters whenever he smiles like that.

 

What about other people?

 

Meanwhile, Damian’s eyes sparkled with an adorable expression upon hearing her words.

 

“Alright, then I’ll only smile in front of you.”

 

“It’s a promise.”

 

“Very well.”

 

Damian nodded and let out a chuckle.

 

Charlize glared at him as if caught off guard.

 

“I clearly told you not to smile.”

 

“But you’re in front of me now, aren’t you?”

 

“Even so…”

 

Charlize, who had been needling Damian for no reason, subtly caressed the ring on her finger.

 

A shy smile had unknowingly graced her lips.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

The room that Damian had reserved in advance was the finest royal suite in the hotel.

 

“Wow…

 

Its dazzling and splendid appearance even elicited admiration from Charlize, who had lived in the palace for a long time.

 

Charlize widened her eyes and turned to Damian.

 

“To stay overnight in such a room… one must be of the highest nobility or royalty, isn’t that right?”

 

“…Charlize, you are now the Empress of Winsor, remember?”

 

“Oh, right.”

 

Charlize’s expression turned sheepish.

 

Perhaps because she had lived as a lady-in-waiting for too long, she would often forget her current status.

 

Damian removed his cravat from his neck and looked at his wife.

 

“Anyway, would you like to freshen up first?”

 

What? Freshen up?

 

Usually, one would freshen up in a place like this.

 

In that instant, Charlize’s face turned bright red.

 

“W-wash up?!”

 

“Why such a surprised reaction?”

 

However, Damian narrowed his eyes and playfully questioned her.

 

“I haven’t even washed up in front of you once or twice.”

 

…Um, well. There’s not much to say when you put it that way.

 

What, was I the only one who got excited?

 

Charlize felt a little prickly.

 

“I understand. Then I’ll go wash up.”

 

“Ah, wait a moment.”

 

But right at that moment.

 

Damian, who had suddenly changed into a casual shirt, smiled at her and closed his eyes.

 

“Could you wait a little longer?”

 

“Why?”

 

“I’ll change my clothes and help you with your bath.”

 

“…What?”

 

Ah…

 

Charlize felt her face heating up.

 

Did Damian intentionally plan to make my heart burst today…?

 

“I-I don’t want to!”

 

“Don’t want to?”

 

“Yes! I want to leisurely, by myself, take a bubble bath!”

 

Leisurely, by myself!

 

Deliberately emphasizing her words, Charlize exclaimed, causing Damian to shrug his shoulders.

 

“Then, all you need is a bathing set?”

 

“A bathing… set?”

 

“Yes, a bathing set.”

 

Damian teased her as if luring a mischievous child.

 

“All you have to do is sit in a nice, warm tub.”

 

“I’ll run errands for you, feed you snacks, and bring you something to drink too.”

 

“I won’t lift a finger. Oh, right.”

 

As if he had just remembered, Damian added a word.

 

“I was planning to give you a massage too.”

 

A massage?

 

In an instant, her eyes sparkled.

 

Charlize had already come to trust Damian’s massage skills through several experiences.

 

That’s how perfect his massages were.

 

Damian once again coaxed his wife gently.

 

“How about it? Don’t you think I could be quite useful?”

 

And Charlize, in the end, succumbed to his ploy.

 

“Uh, alright.”

 

Charlize nodded meekly.

 

At the same time, Damian’s smile deepened a little more.

 

And…

 

“Eek!”

 

Unbeknownst to herself, Charlize let out a surprised squeal.

 

It was because Damian effortlessly lifted her up in his arms.

 

“D-Damian! Why…!”

 

“To take you to the bathroom.”

 

“I can walk there by myself!”

 

“I can walk by myself!”

 

“I’m well aware that you have two legs, too.”

 

Damian looked down at Charlize in his arms with a mischievous expression on his face.

 

“But we made a promise, didn’t we? That I would not lay a finger on you.”

 

“This isn’t exactly better!”

 

“Well, whatever.”

 

Damian shrugged nonchalantly, as if he were teasing her.

 

‘Excuse me, but isn’t he interpreting the words according to his own whims?’

 

However, Damian continued to stride confidently towards the dressing room.

 

“Um, huh?”

 

Before she knew it, Charlize found herself sitting in front of an intricately carved dressing table.

 

At the same time, Damian placed his hand on the ivory buttons that adorned her back.

 

“I can undress this…for you.”

 

“Really?”

 

Charlize lost her words.

 

‘Oh, why did I have to wear a dress with buttons on the back!’

 

Damian chuckled mischievously.

 

“I’ll only unbutton the back.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

With words of gratitude, Charlize commenced a fierce battle of gazes with her reflection in the mirror.

 

It was a desperate effort to not focus too much on his movements.

 

But…

 

“How can I not pay attention?!”

 

She lamented inwardly.

 

His firm fingers, accustomed to wielding a sword, gently caressed her back.

 

Click, pop, click. 

 

The faint sound of buttons being unfastened continued to tease her senses.

 

Occasionally, as the buttons were undone, his fingers brushed against the bare skin between the fabric.

 

Charlize had to exert immense self-control to avoid flinching every time.

 

“There, all done.”

 

Finally, his hand withdrew.

 

A slightly cool breeze seeped through the opened fabric.

 

Damian took a step back and affectionately addressed her reflection in the mirror.

 

“Alright, go change and come out slowly. I’ll have prepared the bathtub for you.”

 

“Uh, I’ll do that.”

 

Charlize nodded hastily.

 

Thunk.

 

The door closed.

 

At the same time, she let out a long sigh.

 

“Ah…”

 

Truly, every little gesture of Damian’s fills me with excitement.

 

He acts so nonchalantly, but he’s fully aware of the effect he has on me.

 

If this continues, I won’t be able to resist him!

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

Damian stepped quickly into the bathroom and began filling the bathtub with water.

 

Attentively adjusting the temperature, he let out a deep sigh and plopped down in his seat.

 

“Phew…”

 

I wonder if Charlize knows.

 

Just how much effort is he exerting to feign nonchalance in front of her?

 

“He probably has no idea.”

 

We’re already going to spend the night together, so why is she wearing such an innocent expression?

 

What if, perhaps…

 

She doesn’t perceive me as a man anymore, is that it?

 

Damian felt a burning sensation inside himself.