The Evil Empress Adores Me - Side Story 13

The next day, on an early morning bathed in warm sunlight.

 

“Sorry!”

 

Damian kneeled before her with an expression as if he deserved to be sentenced to death.

 

Charlize crossed her arms and cast a disdainful glance at him.

 

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

 

“Of course I do!”

 

Damian shed tears inwardly.

 

Normally, drinking the amount he did would be a breeze, so why did he have to end up so drunk last night?

 

After glaring at him for a while, Charlize let out a deep sigh.

 

“I’ll let it slide just this once.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Because… I had a very, very beautiful dream.”

 

Damian couldn’t hide his bewilderment, but Charlize didn’t explain further.

 

Instead, she added unexpectedly.

 

“And you can be a bit ambitious.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Ahem.

 

Charlize cleared her throat and turned her gaze discreetly.

 

“A kiss, when the mood is right… you can do as you please.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Oh, were you just deceiving me?”

 

When Charlize got annoyed, Damian gently pulled her into his arms.

 

“Charlize! You’re truly an angel descended from heaven!”

 

Hearing his voice filled with emotion, Charlize couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

 

Anyway, her husband, who followed her like a puppy, was quite adorable.

 

It wasn’t so bad after all.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

And so, at last, the imperial couple returned to the palace after their short honeymoon.

 

Although they had planned to rest for a day or so, considering the distance they had traveled…

 

“Did you have a pleasant journey, Your Majesty?”

 

Unfortunately, Damian was not granted any rest.

 

It was because the Duke was waiting for him with a fierce expression, resembling a tiger.

 

“Why is the Duke here?”

 

Damian asked in astonishment, as if he were about to faint.

 

The Duke replied without batting an eyelid.

 

“Well, Your Majesty has some ‘urgent matters’ to attend to immediately.”

 

“Even so, isn’t it the first day after returning from the trip?”

 

Upon Damian’s exasperated outcry, the Duke firmly shook his head.

 

“Of course, relieving your fatigue is important, but Your Majesty, you are the father of this empire.”

 

“While Your Majesty was taking a brief respite, the people of the empire were eagerly awaiting your return.”

 

In response to his bone-chilling tone, Damian couldn’t help but be struck by an overwhelming gaze.

 

However, the Duke had already shifted his attention away from the emperor.

 

“Well then, Your Majesty,” the Duke glanced at Charlize discreetly. 

 

The harsh look he had towards Damian had vanished without a trace. 

 

Like a gentle breeze on a spring day, the Duke spoke with a soothing voice, “Allow me to escort His Majesty for a moment.”

 

“Uh, well…”

 

 Charlize glanced at Damian, a pleading look in his eyes. 

 

‘Charlize, please! Can’t we spend just one day together?’ 

 

Damian gazed at her with desperate eyes and silently pursed his lips. However…

 

“To become a legendary emperor who will be remembered in history, Your Majesty mustn’t disregard the lives of your subjects.” 

 

In response to the Duke’s cutting words, Charlize finally surrendered and conceded, “You are right.”

 

“It seems even the Empress agrees with those words.” 

 

The Duke, filled with a triumphant air, posed a question to Damian.

 

“What will you do, Your Majesty?”

 

But even if it was the Duke or his beloved wife speaking to him in such a manner, Damian couldn’t bear it any longer. 

 

“I will go. I will go, alright!” And so Damian was dragged away to his office.

 

Charlize watched her receding husband’s figure with a wistful gaze. I

 

‘I’m sorry, Damian. The Duke is as unyielding as an iron wall…’

 

After Damian left like that, Charlize went to visit the Empress Dowager and the Empress. 

 

Since she had returned from her honeymoon, she had brought them small gifts.

 

“This is a gift for the Empress Dowager, and this is something I bought for the Empress.” 

 

Charlize explained in a gentle tone, placing various items on the table.

 

The Empress and the Empress Dowager, their eyes sparkling, eagerly picked up the gift packages. 

 

“May we open them?” “Of course!” Charlize nodded vigorously.

 

The two imperial figures eagerly tore open the gift wrappings, completely forgetting their usual composure and reveling in delight. 

 

The Empress Dowager’s gift was a beautifully crafted glass bottle filled with candies, while the Empress’s gift was a silk fan adorned with embroidered red roses.

 

“Her Majesty does occasionally enjoy indulging in sweet treats, does she not?”

 

“Oh, my! You even remembered such details?”

 

“Of course! I have been serving Her Majesty for several years now. I tried those candies myself, and they were incredibly delicious.”

 

Charlize, with a bright smile, turned to the Empress.

 

“And as for the Empress’s gift, just by looking at those red roses, I couldn’t help but think of Her Majesty, the Empress For a moment, I felt a pang of nostalgia.”

 

Charlize’s expression suddenly turned gloomy.

 

Both the Empress Dowager and the Empress exchanged looks that seemed to convey their heartfelt appreciation. 

 

They showered Charlize with compliments without hesitation.

 

“My dear Charlize, you remembered me with the red roses, didn’t you?”

 

“To recall my taste and choose a gift accordingly, truly shows your thoughtfulness.”

 

Ah, ha-ha…

 

Charlize, who had been awkwardly laughing, brought out another gift box.

 

“This is a present for Duke Rochester… but oh dear.”

 

Charlize opened her mouth with a regretful expression.

 

“I should have given it to him personally when I met the Duke earlier, but I was so flustered that I forgot.”

 

Well, it was understandable, considering Damian was being dragged away to his study, facing a crisis.

 

“Could Your Majesty kindly pass on the gift in my place?”

 

“Why did you bother preparing a gift for my brother?”

 

The Empress frowned.

 

“Instead of doing that, my dear Charlize could have bought something for herself.”

 

“Oh, please don’t say such things. I wanted to do this.”

 

“Goodness, my Charlize is just too adorable and lovely!”

 

The Empress felt the urge to embrace Charlize tightly, her arms twitching with the desire, though she managed to maintain a minimum level of dignity.

 

“Anyway, how was your trip?”

 

“Oh, it was incredibly enjoyable.”

 

Charlize’s eyes sparkled like those of a child.

 

“Rochester Estate is an incredibly vibrant city. It seemed to lack nothing when compared to the capital.”

 

“Oh? Come to think of it, it has been a long time since I visited Rochester Estate.”

 

“When’s the last time you’ve visited your hometown, Your Majesty?”

 

At that moment, the three individuals engaged in lively conversation.

 

Knock, knock.

 

A gentle knock resounded.

 

The person who revealed themselves from within was Wember, the chief maid, pulling a trolley with tea and pastries.

 

“Your Majesties, I have come to greet you.”

 

“Ah, Chief Maid Wember!”

 

A wave of joy spread across Charlize’s face.

 

Likewise, Wember had a bright expression.

 

“Empress, I have received the gifts you sent. Thank you so much.”

 

The gifts for Hayden, the chamberlain, and Wember had been prepared and sent separately in advance.

 

With a sense of fulfillment, Charlize beamed with a smile.

 

“How do you like them? Are they to your liking?”

 

“Of course. Hayden was so moved that she shed tears.”

 

“Oh, I should have witnessed that myself!”

 

Charlize burst into laughter.

 

Wember skillfully arranged the tea and pastries on the tea table.

 

But right at that moment…

 

The Empress let out a sigh.

 

“Come to think of it, this reminds me of something else.”

 

Yes?”

 

“My brother, isn’t he turning thirty-five this year?”

 

In an instant, Wember’s busy hands came to a halt.

 

Clank.

 

The teacup collided with its saucer, producing a faint sound.

 

However, the Empress was too preoccupied with criticizing her brother and failed to notice Wember’s unusual behavior.

 

“Even though the marriageable age has long passed, he still shows no interest in marriage.”

 

“You mean he has no thoughts of marriage at all?”

 

“That’s right! I wonder when he will grow up?”

 

As the head of a prominent family, it was expected for the heir to continue the family line.

 

Moreover, the Rochester family was not just any noble family but the only one in the empire with the prestigious title of Duke.

 

The Empress spoke with a grimace.

 

“Our Charlize got married, and yet my dear brother remains unmarried. Can this be considered reasonable?”

 

Certainly, Charlize had married at a relatively young age compared to her peers.

 

However, even considering that, the Duke’s situation was far from normal.

 

“I have no intention of meeting another man ever again. I just want my brother to be well.”

 

The Empress narrowed her eyes.

 

“Shall we arrange a match for him?”

 

Clank, clink.

 

As soon as the Empress’s words fell, the teacup and saucer collided, creating a loud noise.

 

Unlike before, the sound was so loud that it couldn’t go unnoticed.

 

“Hmm?”

 

Charlize looked up at Wember with a puzzled expression.

 

The chief maid’s pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

 

“Lisa, why are you like this?”

 

The Empress stared at the chief maid with a bewildered expression.

 

“Are you feeling unwell? Your face is flushed…”

 

“No, no, that’s not it.”

 

A rarely flustered Wember hesitated, shaking her head vigorously.

 

In an instant, the Empress’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Now that I think about it, Lisa, you rejected my proposals of marriage multiple times, didn’t you?”

 

“Well, that’s because I wanted to serve Your Majesty for a long time…”

 

“…Is that really true?”

 

The Empress persisted, her voice insistent.

 

“Did you truly reject them only out of such intentions?”

 

Oh, well… Um…”

 

“Could it be that your remaining unmarried all this time has something to do with my brother?”

 

Wember froze at that question.

 

Meanwhile, the Empress’s expression grew increasingly grim.

 

“I don’t believe it could be true, but could my brother possibly have used his status to make you uncomfortable…?”

 

“Oh, no!”

 

Wember’s voice grew louder as she became teary-eyed.

 

“I have unrequited love for the Duke of Rochester!”