The Evil Empress Adores Me - Side Story 22

“Who knows? Our child might be fond of puppet theater someday.”

 

Charlize smiled mischievously, her eyes twinkling.

 

Damian swallowed a dry gulp nervously.

 

Our child.

 

How sweet that word was as if a mouthful of candies were taken.

 

“So, about the puppet show…”

 

“I, I’ll do it!”

 

Damian vigorously nodded his head.

 

He seemed completely captivated by the word ‘Papa.’

 

The Empress, the Duke, and Sienna looked at him in surprise and amusement.

 

‘Well, I must admit, I don’t have the most endearing qualities. But I should listen to Charlize’s words.’

 

‘If one heeds the words of their spouse, even my dreams will be as sweet as cakes at night. Absolutely splendid.’

 

“Your Majesty, it feels as if you are completely in the palm of Charlize’s hand… With utmost reverence to my sworn lord, I must express a somewhat irreverent observation,” Sienna spoke, finally breaking the silence.

 

“Leaving that aside, the fact that Your Majesty will personally perform the puppet show…” With a hint of a smile, Sienna continued, “You can rest assured, I will attend it, Your Majesty.”

 

Damian frowned.

 

“There’s no need, Countess Antes, you don’t have to come.”

 

Of course, Damian vividly remembered what had happened at Sienna’s spring tea party.

 

Sienna had relentlessly teased him, saying, ‘So, you really like Charlize, huh?’

 

“Oh my, why do you say such mean things?” Sienna replied as she did not bat an eye in front of her Emperor. 

 

“I, Countess Antes, am the future ruler of the Northern territories. Not to mention, a sponsor for the orphanage.”

 

“…And?”

 

“As countess, I must carry out my responsibility of ensuring the well-being of the children in the Northern territories.”

 

A smooth voice followed.

 

“A sponsor of the orphanage should, no obligated to take interest in the proper functioning of the orphanage, you see.”

 

With impeccable reasoning, Damian’s brow furrowed.

 

“When I combine those two facts, I have more than enough reason to visit the orphanage… “

 

Sienna momentarily blurred her words, then spoke spitefully, “The way you’ve spoken, telling me I don’t have to come, reveals that Your Majesty should broaden your perspective a bit more.”

 

Damian glared at Siena with a sharp, indignation-filled gaze. 

 

Of course, Sienna paid no attention to Damian’s glare in the slightest.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

As the time became dusk, the Empress, Sienna, and the Duke left the Empress’s palace.

 

As they walked down the long corridor, the Empress suddenly spoke.

 

“Truly, it’s exasperating.”

 

“What makes you say that?”

 

“Our Charlize is worth a hundred times, no, a thousand times more than that.”

 

The Emperor, who saved the world in his previous life, how could he just abruptly take away our Charlize like that…

 

The two women, who often gossiped about Damian, sighed heavily simultaneously, without anyone prompting them.

 

But then, at that moment, the Duke, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Still, isn’t it enough that the little one is happy?”

 

Instantly, the two women gave the Duke a piercing gaze.

 

He seemed slightly taken aback by their intense eyes.

 

A moment later, the Empress mumbled and spoke.

 

“Oh, dear brother.”

 

“Uh, yes?”

 

“Do you recall that Lady Rochester, your wife, was my previous head maid I deeply cherished?”

 

The Empress pursed her lips slightly.

 

“What would happen if I were to somehow, accidentally slip up and say, expose some faults of yours to the Duchess…”

 

“…I was wrong.”

 

“Mmm-hmm.”

 

The Empress, after glaring at her brother for a while, abruptly jerked her head away.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

And a few days later, at an orphanage in the capital.

 

“The cat that finally got the magic boots…”

 

On stage, the puppet show was in full swing.

 

Children with twinkling eyes were fully immersed in the puppet show.

 

The Empress and Countess Antes of the Northern Territories were also present among the young audience.

 

The Empress had a very contented expression and didn’t take her eyes off the puppeteer performing the show.

 

‘Damian certainly has a talent. He can capture people’s attention anytime, anywhere. It’s not a talent anyone can simply pick up.’

 

As the Empress overturned her preconceived notions about Damian, Sienna tilted her head towards Charlize and whispered.

 

“Hey, Charlize.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Is His Majesty acting the way he is now towards me as of late because of something that happened in the past?”

 

Hmm, what is this nonsense?

 

Charlize looked at Sienna with a puzzled expression.

 

Sienna looked lightly pained as if something was pricking her.

 

“Well, he’s calling me ‘Countess Antes’ frequently.”

 

“What…?”

 

“When someone suddenly starts referring to you with honorifics instead of your name, you’d think they are upset, angry even… but, what exactly was it did I do?”

 

Instantly, Charlize’s pupils dilated slightly.

 

There was a point that struck a chord.

 

‘…The night of the Harvest Festival.’

 

The night when Damian and I first truly connected.

 

Charlize had undoubtedly spoken these words.

 

‘Honestly, it bothered me before how Damian would call Sienna by her name rather than by her title.’

 

“Hmm?”

 

“It truly troubles me.”

 

As Charlize reminisced about that conversation, she gently pressed her lips together.

 

Somehow, deep in her heart, there was a tingling sensation like a feather brushing against it.

 

And so, after the puppet show ended.

 

The Emperor and Empress, along with Countess Antes, greeted the children.

 

The first child to run up to Charlize was, of course, Ellen.

 

“Charlize, no, Your Majesty the Empress!”

 

Perhaps conscious of the eyes around her, Ellen hurriedly changed her form of address.

 

Charlize smiled brightly.

 

“I told you it’s okay to call me Charlize, didn’t I?”

 

“Well, the teacher said we shouldn’t address you that way…”

 

“It’s fine when it’s just us.”

 

Only then did a bright smile appear on Ellen’s face.

 

Charlize reached out her hand and gently stroked the child’s head.

 

“Have you been well?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Ellen vigorously nodded her head.

 

Then, as if revealing the most important secret in the world, she lowered her voice and spoke confidentially.

 

“You know, Charlize…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I want to study hard from now on… I want to go to school.”

 

School?

 

Charlize’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Ellen clenched her fists tightly and continued speaking.

 

“The teacher said that Charlze made a school where girls can enroll.”

 

Ellen declared confidently.

 

“I made a promise with my friends. We’re determined to enroll in that school.”

 

Then, she pursed her lips and added.

 

“Well, Peter used to tease us that girls couldn’t go to school.”

 

“Was that so?”

 

“That’s what happened. But now, we can go to school too.”

 

Ellen, locking eyes with Charlize, folded her bashful gaze.

 

“So, I wanted to thank you, Charlize.”

 

…So that’s how it was.

 

Feeling a slight pang in her heart, Charlize quickly wore a smile on her face.

 

“I also want to see you enroll in that school, Ellen.”

 

“Yes! I will study diligently!”

 

Ellen’s head hung low as she spoke.

 

Charlize felt her heart swell.

 

What she had accomplished had become someone’s aspiration, inspiring dreams of a better future.

 

That alone was enough fuel for her to continue her path forward.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

Months later, Charlize entered the stable period of her pregnancy.

 

“Now, it seems appropriate to announce that you are with child,” said the physician after closely examining Charlize.

 

And so, after the news spread throughout the entire empire that the Empress was expecting.

 

Charlize unexpectedly received a thoughtful and humble gift from someone.

 

That person was none other than Lady Bennett.

 

 

 

‘To the Mother of the Empire, the Empress.’

 

 

 

Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress.

 

I hope this letter finds you in good health.

 

It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to write to you, Your Majesty.

 

I recently came across the joyful news about Your Majesty’s auspicious development while reading the newspaper.

 

In celebration of it, I would like to express my belated gratitude as well.

 

Thanks to the grace of both Your Majesties, I am leading a peaceful life.

 

Though it hasn’t been a long journey, it feels like the first time I have experienced such a leisurely period in my life.

 

When I first arrived in the province, I felt incredibly empty inside.

 

I felt like I had wasted my life trying to fit the mold my father desired for me.

 

Why did I try so hard to prove myself to him?

 

He never once loved me as his daughter.

 

But upon further reflection, I realized I still have a long time ahead of me.

 

Moreover, that remaining time now belongs entirely to me.

 

If it weren’t for the kindness bestowed upon me by Your Majesty, I would never have regained control of my life.

 

That’s why from now on, I want to focus on myself and live my given life to the fullest.

 

That’s why I wanted to express my gratitude in this way.

 

Congratulations on your blessed pregnancy as well.

 

May happiness fill the future of Your Majesty, and from afar, I send my well wishes.

 

With gratitude, Leona Bennett.”