The Evil Empress Adores Me - Side Story 12

The slightly humid and warm air envelops the body tenderly, like velvety foam.

 

And even the sweet scent of bath oils tickles the tip of the nose.

 

“Is the water temperature alright?”

 

“Yes, it’s perfect. Just right.”

 

Charlize’s response was lethargic, like a cat under the spring sun.

 

The various anxieties she had in the dressing room a while ago were momentarily forgotten.

 

Now, she was deeply immersed in the frothy bath.

 

‘After all, since we’ve entered this expensive hotel room, we should enjoy the amenities to the fullest, shouldn’t we?’

 

It was a simple thought, not befitting an empress, but that’s how her mind worked.

 

“Shall I massage your shoulders?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Charlize nodded vigorously like a child with an oversized head.

 

‘Strange, usually she treats me like a child.’

 

Now, she’s behaving like a child herself, isn’t she?

 

But…….

 

‘Still, my Charlize is adorable.’

 

Yes, that will do.

 

Damian accepted it with satisfaction and began massaging her shoulders.

 

As he was about to move his hands for that purpose…

 

“Um, what should I do with your hair?”

 

“My hair?”

 

Charlize turned to him with a puzzled expression.

 

Damian’s face showed a hint of difficulty.

 

Her long, thick locks made it difficult to place his hands on her shoulders.

 

After a moment of contemplation, he made a suggestion.

 

“I’ll braid your hair.”

 

“…Damian, you’re sure you know how to braid hair?”

 

But Charlize couldn’t hide her doubtful expression.

 

And understandably so, considering their past experience.

 

“You messed up my hair back then.”

 

About 14 years ago, when Charlize was a five-year-old junior maid.

 

There was a time when Damian braided her hair and fiddled with it for a while.

 

Just thinking about the mess Damian created back then…

 

“That was an insult to braided hair.”

 

In response to Charlize’s solemn declaration, Damian narrowed his eyes.

 

“I know that much.”

 

“And you’re still going to braid my hair?”

 

With a clear expression of mistrust, she questioned him.

 

And Damian defended himself with a voice tinged with injustice.

 

“I practiced afterward!”

 

“…Practice? Practice what?”

 

“Practiced how to braid hair!”

 

Charlize widened her eyes in surprise.

 

Really?

 

But Damian had already burst out with all the pent-up frustration he had been holding.

 

“Do you know just how much Countess Antes used to tease me? A lot!”

 

“Oh, Countess Antes…”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Charlize responded with a bewildered expression.

 

“Then please braid it for me.”

 

“Yes, I will. I should have done this earlier.”

 

Damian finally wore a satisfied expression as he gathered her hair in his hands.

 

A moment later.

 

Charlize couldn’t hide her astonished gaze.

 

“Wow, I almost can’t believe it… It’s braided so beautifully?”

 

Not a single strand of hair was out of place, intricately woven, and even twisted into a round shape. It was undoubtedly a skill of the highest caliber.

 

Damian replied with a proud voice.

 

“Well, as I mentioned, I practiced.”

 

‘…Indeed. Damian seems to excel at everything he practices.’

 

Whether it was practicing writing in the past or practicing braiding hair, he seemed to be the epitome of someone skilled in everything they do.

 

In the midst of it all, she let out a small smile.

 

“Why are you smiling?”

 

“Well, it’s because you said you were practicing even to the point of putting up with Countess Antes…”

 

She replied affectionately, nuzzling the hair Damian had touched.

 

“I don’t know. I just thought it was kind of adorable.”

 

In an instant, Damian’s face brightened up.

 

Why does she have the ability to make people’s hearts flutter like this?!

 

He quickly lowered his head and placed his hands on her shoulders.

 

“Turn around, I’ll massage your shoulders.”

 

“Okay!”

 

Fortunately, Charlize was so excited about the prospect of the massage that she didn’t notice his flushed face.

 

She turned around eagerly.

 

Damian gazed intently at the delicate curve of his wife’s back.

 

‘It’s a relief, but… why do I feel somewhat disheartened?’

 

Damian felt both relief and a subtle sense of unease as he firmly massaged her shoulders.

 

At the same time, a soft sigh escaped Charlize’s lips.

 

“Haah… How does it feel? Invigorating?”

 

“Yes, right there… right there.”

 

Under the firm pressure on her shoulders, she lightly trembled.

 

‘How is this amazing feeling even possible?’

 

After receiving such a wholehearted massage.

 

Charlize and Damian enjoyed a light snack and wine.

 

“Here, Damian, have a glass of wine too.”

 

“Hmm, thank you.”

 

…It’s not the first time they have been alone together.

 

The room was somehow tense, and Damian drank wine as if it were water, savoring it sip by sip. 

 

Charlize looked at him with a subtle expression on her face.

 

“Um, Damian.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“What if you end up getting drunk?”

 

“It’s fine; I won’t get drunk.”

 

Damian confidently replied. 

 

Charlize had a slight doubt in her expression, but she let it go.

 

Damian had spent a considerable amount of time mingling with knights and soldiers in the wilderness, so he had developed quite a tolerance for alcohol.

 

 

 

****

 

‘…It’s not okay at all!’

 

Charlize gazed at Damian with a stunned expression.

 

“What! You’re positive you won’t get drunk?!”

 

“Of course. Didn’t I say so?”

 

Damian replied with a playful voice. 

 

If one were to only listen to that voice…

 

He seemed completely sober. However…

 

“Could you please let go of my hand then?”

 

“No, I won’t.”

 

Well, why is he so adamant?

 

Charlize narrowed her eyes and looked down at Damian, who was slumping while holding her waist.

 

The situation was roughly like this.

 

Despite Charlize’s resistance, Damian continued to drink wine like water until the bottom of the bottle was exposed, and only then did he finally finish her glass.

 

Until then, he was perfectly fine.

 

Afterward, she pushed Damian outside and washed herself.

 

Wearing a fluffy gown, as soon as she opened the door…

 

“…Where on earth did you go?”

 

Damian asked her with a sorrowful voice.

 

Charlize stared at him with a bewildered expression.

 

“What?”

 

“Where did you go, leaving me alone?”

 

As if that wasn’t enough, Damian embraced Charlize tightly with both arms and led her to the bed.

 

If he didn’t do that, it felt like she would be taken away from him forever.

 

“Damian, I didn’t go anywhere. Please let go of me…”

 

“No, I won’t let go.”

 

Charlize tried to reason with her husband, but it was in vain.

 

Damian, now back in the present moment, said…

 

“Kiss me, please?”

 

Holding his wife tightly, he pleaded with an adorable desperation, like a dog meeting its owner after a long time.

 

Excuse me, why are you acting like this with alcohol involved?!

 

And to top it off, persistently asking for a kiss, completely ruining the atmosphere!

 

Charlize let out a deep sigh and patted Damian’s arm.

 

“Damian, since you’re my husband, it’s okay to initiate a kiss at a time like this.”

 

“No… How dare I even think of such a thing?”

 

“Um… pardon?”

 

“My wife is the most beautiful and precious person in the world.”

 

Damian spoke sharply as if cutting through flesh, spreading his arms wide.

 

“If I recklessly harbor such desires… what if I disappoint Charlize?”

 

With those words, Damian succumbed to the intoxicating effects of alcohol and fell into a deep slumber.

 

“Excuse me, Damian. Are you asleep?”

 

“Really? Asleep?”

 

Charlize raised her voice in frustration.

 

“If you’re going to fall asleep like this, at least release your grip on my arms!”

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

On that night,

 

Charlize had a dream.

 

Before her eyes, memories of “Lia” and “Carpel” were etched on a hill.

 

However, it was not the usual hill against the backdrop of a starry night sky, but rather a hill beneath the blue sky of midday.

 

The green leaves swayed in the breeze, reminiscent of the undulating sea.

 

And in the midst of it all, a boy sat down hesitantly.

 

The reason the girl approached the boy was purely out of curiosity.

 

– “Who are you?”

 

The cheerful question rang out.

 

A cheerful question echoed.

 

As the boy slowly lifted his head, he caught sight of the girl tilting her head.

 

– “You seem somewhat sad.”

 

– “Yeah.”

 

The boy nodded slowly.

 

– “I want to protect my family and friends, the people dear to me…”

 

He clenched his fist tightly.

 

– “But I lack the strength.”

 

– “To protect the people dear to you…?”

 

– “Yes. Don’t you have anyone dear to you?”

 

– “Of course, I am a noble being who needs no affection from anyone.”

 

The girl replied with a nonchalant expression.

 

She was the great goddess who maintained the balance of nature, and she was that existence.

 

But the boy wore a puzzled expression.

 

– “Then, aren’t you lonely?”

 

– “Lonely…?”

 

– “You don’t have anyone to care for and no one dear to you.”

 

The boy questioned her with a perplexed gaze.

 

– “Well, that means being alone, doesn’t it?”

 

Facing the speechless girl, the boy asked her another question.

 

– “My name is Carpel. What’s your name?”

 

– “I… I don’t have a name.”

 

The girl turned her head with a troubled expression.

 

– “Such things are for insignificant humans. I don’t need them…”

 

– “Then, how should I address you?”

 

– …What?

 

In that instant, the girl felt her words caught in her throat.

 

The boy’s gaze was simply speechless.

 

– “I… I don’t have a name…”

 

– “Still, I can’t just keep calling you ‘hey’ or ‘you’ every time I meet you, can I?”

 

– “But… does that mean you’ll come to see me again in the future?”

 

– “Well, it’s not that difficult, is it?”

 

The boy shrugged nonchalantly.

 

Then, as if he had come up with a brilliant idea, he sparkled his eyes and spoke.

 

– “So, do you mind if I give you a name?”

 

– …A name?

 

“Yes. A word that suits you perfectly.”

 

The boy smiled brightly.

 

– “Aurelia. It means ‘lovely’ in the language of humans.”

 

The girl froze, her shoulders stiffening.

 

As someone who had to treat all things in the world with fairness, she would forever lose the sacredness she possessed in valuing someone as special.

 

All of that, in this very moment, faded away in the presence of the boy’s smile.

 

She was simply…

 

– “Alright.”

 

She wished the boy would call her by her name.