The Evil Empress Adores Me - Side Story 18

That evening.

 

As Damian heard the news from Charlize, his eyes narrowed with a mischievous smile.

 

“Oh? Wember is with child? The Duke’s child?”

 

He then smirked ominously.

 

“Moreover… before they even got married? Talk about taking things too quickly.”

 

Suddenly, Damian had a triumphant gleam in his eyes, as if he had caught a weakness to play with.

 

Charlize widened her eyes.

 

“Surely, you’re not thinking of toying with the Duke about this… right?”

 

“Why, of course, I am and will.”

 

Damian faced Charlize with a face that seemed to express that this course of action was only to be expected.

 

“I’ve had my fair share of exchanges with the Duke. Can’t I seek revenge on this front?”

 

No, when you put it like that, there’s nothing I can say.

 

Charlize felt a bit unsettled.

 

Indeed, Damian had endured much under Matthias’s command.

 

“But is it permissible to toy with them when they’re expecting a child?”

 

As Charlize delved into deep contemplation, it was right at that moment.

 

“Enough; don’t say anything.”

 

Damian smirked lightly.

 

“Duke Rochester didn’t personally tell me, so I won’t casually bring it up, okay?”

 

Wow, it seems like our Damian has finally matured…

 

Charlize looked at her husband with a face full of admiration.

 

At the same time, Damian furrowed his brow.

 

“Of course, I am tempted to do so.”

 

What? He just turned the admiration I was giving him on its head.

 

Charlize’s face became sour.

 

However, her musings didn’t last long.

 

Damian suddenly stretched out his arms and firmly pulled her into an embrace.

 

“W-What is it?”

 

Startled, she looked at her husband.

 

“Just that, the Duke, who hasn’t even married, already has a child.”

 

“Eh?”

 

Damian, who left a kiss on her flat belly, looked at her with a mischievous gaze.

 

“I’m just wondering what I’ve been doing.”

 

Thump.

 

Charlize inadvertently swallowed a gulp of saliva.

 

The golden eyes that stared through her, at first glance, seemed the same as usual.

 

‘…No, they’re different.’

 

Charlize, who couldn’t recognize the simmering passion deep within those eyes, wasn’t herself.

 

A slow smile bloomed on her lips.

 

Every time Damian looked at her with such eyes.

 

Every time she realizes that he always ‘desires her’…

 

‘It feels good.’

 

It’s so exhilarating that her whole body tingles.

 

Charlize impulsively leaned forward.

 

“Damian.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Close your eyes.”

 

Even though it might sound sudden, Damian obediently closed his eyes.

 

Unbeknownst to her, Charlize held his cheeks in her hands, as if they were precious pearls.

 

The smooth forehead, the lightly disheveled navy hair above it,

 

The sharp nose that seemed as if a god carefully sculpted it,

 

The neatly trimmed shadow of his eyelashes and the petal-like lips were tightly closed.

 

“…You belong to me, don’t you?”

 

Damian nodded without hesitation.

 

“Well, then.”

 

As soon as she heard his answer, Charlize pressed her lips against his.

 

Breath mingled with breath, and her whole being was drawn towards him.

 

And finally.

 

“…Ah.”

 

When their lips parted, Damian sat up.

 

His gaze, tilted slightly, looked down at her.

 

Charlize calmly met his gaze.

 

She felt trapped within his pupils, unable to move.

 

Nonetheless, she wasn’t afraid.

 

On the contrary, right here and now.

 

“…Will you keep staring at me like that forever?”

 

Charlize raised her upper lip like an arrogant empress.

 

“I don’t want to be kept waiting.”

 

In an instant, Damian’s pupils lit up with vivid color.

 

As if her body had tumbled backward, Charlize suddenly found herself lying on the bed.

 

Damian engulfed her, accepting everything she offered.

 

The surging pleasure was so intense and dense that it felt like her consciousness was fading away.

 

Charlize willingly surrendered herself to that sensation.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

The Rochester ducal family chose a small-scale wedding with only a few close friends attending instead of a lavish ceremony. 

 

Rumor has it that the Duke wanted to give his future Duchess a more splendid wedding than anyone else, but…

 

“Lady Wember, no, Duchess Weber refused.”

 

Since she was pregnant and wanted to minimize the fuss, or so they say.

 

Nevertheless, the guests attending this wedding were as splendid as ever.

 

Not only the Emperor and Empress but even the Empress Dowager, who rarely engaged in external affairs, were present. 

 

The younger sister of the Duke of Rochester, Eloise, naturally attended as well.

 

In addition, there were carefully selected guests from the Rochester side who were close to them, all distinguished nobles who gladly gathered.

 

“Ugh, I dislike this.”

 

Damian, who was sitting in his seat, paled.

 

“It feels like I’m attending a cabinet meeting…”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Charlize burst into a chuckle.

 

Well, from Damian’s perspective, it was understandable.

 

All the guests filling the surroundings were the highest-ranking nobles discussing the empire’s major and minor affairs.

 

“More importantly, the weather is lovely, isn’t it?”

 

The sky was so blue and the breeze blowing through the mountains was refreshing. 

 

It was truly a day that perfectly matched the adjective ‘clear.’

 

Charlize looked around.

 

“This is my first time attending an outdoor wedding, and it’s incredibly perfect.”

 

“Well, isn’t it even more perfect because the Empress herself decorated it?”

 

“Well, I can’t say it’s entirely because of that…”

 

Charlize shrugged her shoulders.

 

Of course, if it were something the Empress did, she would applaud it no matter what. However…

 

“Even if I exclude the affection I hold for the Empress, objectively speaking, it’s  magnificent, isn’t it?”

 

The Empress’s meticulous decorations were objectively mesmerizing.

 

Unlike the fully bloomed roses and dahlias, she added a touch of freshness and elegance using silk ribbons.

 

Above all, the reason for Charlize’s rational perspective was…

 

“Goodness, the garden is absolutely splendid, isn’t it?”

 

“Who do you think decorated it?”

 

“If they were entrusted with the work by the Rochester ducal family, they must be highly skilled florists, don’t you think?”

 

“I would like to hire them myself.”

 

It was the fact that the connoisseurs among the noblewomen spared no praise in such matters.

 

“Look at that; even the other noblewomen are going crazy over it, aren’t they?”

 

Charlize raised her nose as if she had personally decorated the garden.

 

“Do you know how exquisite the aesthetic sense of these noblewomen is?”

 

Endless compliments followed.

 

“Since you are on par with the Empress herself, you can acknowledge the noblewomen’s praises.”

 

“Yes, you’re right. The Empress is an exceptionally remarkable person.”

 

Damian nodded, his face seemingly enlightened.

 

Finally, Charlize smiled contentedly.

 

Afterward, the wedding ceremony proceeded.

 

“Matthias Rochester, do you accept Lisa Wember as your wife, to respect and love her for life?”

 

“I do.”

 

“Lisa Wember, do you accept Matthias Rochester as your husband, to respect and love him for life?”

 

“I do.”

 

The two voices answering the priest’s question were firm and unwavering.

 

Charlize whispered to Damian.

 

“Don’t they look perfect for each other?”

 

“Yeah, they do.”

 

Damian nodded his head.

 

However, the Empress frowned with a stern expression.

 

“Hmph, what’s so perfect about them being together?”

 

Then she continued speaking in a disdainful tone.

 

“Lisa is much too good for him.”

 

“Ahaha…

 

And so, amidst the blessings of the guests.

 

Matthias and Lisa became a married couple.

 

The priest smiled and urged the newlywed Rochester couple.

 

“Now, please throw the bouquet.”

 

Usually, a wedding concludes with the bride throwing her bouquet to the guests.

 

It symbolizes sharing the happiness of the newlywed couple.

 

Lisa clenched her fists, her cheeks blushing, and gave it a strong throw.

 

Swoosh!

 

The splendid bouquet traced a large parabolic curve through the air.

 

And the bouquet’s whereabouts…

 

“Ah.”

 

Charlize looked down at the bouquet that had landed in her arms, her face flustered.

 

“Oh my, Your Majesty, you caught the bouquet!”

 

“Well, isn’t there a superstition about the wedding bouquet?”

 

“Yes, if you adhere to the superstition, you should have a child within a year…”

 

The noblewomen whispered in hushed tones.

 

Upon hearing that, Charlize’s face turned crimson.

 

Of course, she was aware of the superstition surrounding the wedding bouquet.

 

If an unmarried lady catches the bouquet, she must marry within that year, and if a married lady catches it…

 

‘…she will have a child that year.’

 

Damian and I, having a child?

 

Feeling somehow embarrassed, Charlize absentmindedly held onto the soft flower petals.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

After the wedding ceremony, a banquet was held.

 

Matthias and Lisa were busy greeting the guests.

 

Amidst that, the sight of Matthias attentively taking care of Lisa stood out.

 

‘Your Grace, it seems you are going to be a doting father.’

 

As Charlize watched that scene, she couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

 

“By the way, it hasn’t been long since you two got married, right, Charlize?”

 

The Empress sitting beside her, subtly threw a question to the couple.

 

“Even that stoic Duke has had a child, but how come you two still haven’t shared such news?”