The Evil Empress Adores Me - Side Story 6

Afterwards.

 

Charlize, the Empress, and Sienna exchanged a few words.

 

The topic of conversation was, unsurprisingly, ‘Damian’.

 

“That Crown Prince ought to be grateful for Charlize’s willingness to marry and live with him for the rest of her life,” stated the Empress.

 

“Yes, no matter how much I think about it, Charlize is a hundred times, no, a thousand times more precious,” added Sienna. 

 

Listening closely to their voices, Charlize felt a flutter in her heart.

 

“Nevertheless, I’m truly thankful. The two of them are probably just doing this to release the tension in their lives.”

 

Of course, I’m sure there’s no shortage of tense moments when it comes to Damian…

 

Knock, knock. 

 

Just then, a short knock sounded, and a woman stepped into the room.

 

It was Hayden.

 

“It’s time for you to go to the coronation.”

 

“All right, let’s get up.”

 

At the Empress’s nudge, Charlize and Sienna rose to their feet.

 

A hint of tension crossed Charlize’s face.

 

“Charlize.”

 

Noticing her dear friend’s stony expression, Sienna called out to Charlize.

 

“Don’t be so nervous, Charlize, you’ll be fine.”

 

“Of course.”

 

The Empress and Sienna reassured her in unison.

 

Only then was Charlize able to smile a little more.

 

***

 

 

 

The Empress and Sienna entered the coronation hall first.

 

Charlize walked to Damian, who was waiting for her.

 

He was already dressed in the Emperor’s attire, bereft of only the title of ‘Emperor’ alone.

 

“Charlize.”

 

“Damian.”

 

Charlize strode to his side.

 

Naturally, she held out her arm for an escort, and Damian smiled brightly.

 

“You look beautiful today.”

 

“Aren’t I usually beautiful?”

 

Charlize joked, hoping to break the tension, and catch him off guard.

 

Damian blinked his eyes blankly and replied, “Ah, I misspoke.”

 

Then he shrugged nonchalantly.

 

“You’re always beautiful, but today you’re exceptionally stunning.”

 

Charlize, who was giggling hysterically, replied with a snort.

 

“Well, someone helped me get ready.”

 

“Oh, so we’re talking about Her Majesty even up to the day of the coronation?”

 

Damian squinted his eyes before nudging her.

 

“Let’s go in.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Charlize nodded resolutely.

 

But unable to control her nervousness, she unconsciously held onto his arm.

 

Feeling her grip, Damian turned to look at her.

 

“Don’t worry too much.”

 

Then he continued speaking with a sincere voice.

 

“On the contrary, the people of the empire should be grateful to have such a magnificent and compassionate empress like you.”

 

“Damian, you truly…”

 

Charlize glanced at Damian tenderly.

 

But her expression had relaxed a bit without her realizing it.

 

After confirming this, Damian commanded the attendants standing on both sides.
“Open it.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

The attendants bowed their heads, each grasping a door handle.

 

The doors to the coronation hall swung open.

 

“Ah.

 

Charlize swallowed hard.

 

The coronation hall, meticulously prepared by the Empress and the Empress Dowager, was not just extravagant but rather exuded a majestic atmosphere.

 

The flags symbolizing the Winsor Empire and the blue banners representing the divine aura were stretched out in various places.

 

In the center, a long red carpet was laid out.

 

It led to the thrones, where the emperor and empress would sit.

 

Amidst the solemn national anthem being played, Charlize and Damian crossed the carpet.

 

As they moved forward, the nobles deeply bowed their waists.

 

Their movements resembled the undulating waves.

 

“Oh my, His Highness, the Crown Prince and Lady Charlize are entering together?”

 

“The two of you walking together at the coronation is unheard of.”

 

“To think that the two of them would move together even in the coronation ceremony is an unprecedented event.”

 

The nobles whispered in hushed voices.

 

But their murmurs didn’t last long.

 

Suddenly, the Rochester siblings and Sienna stared at the nobles with stern eyes, causing them to fall silent.

 

‘If I make even a single mistake here, my head will roll.’

 

‘I have to be careful!’

 

And the nobles clamped their mouths shut.

 

The Duke, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Sienna finally watched the coronation with satisfied faces.

 

“Hmm… Lady Charlize looks quite majestic today.”

 

“For once, my brother’s thoughts align perfectly with mine.”

 

“Lady Charlize, you look truly splendid today.”

 

However, although the three treated the crown prince as almost invisible, they couldn’t deny it.

 

Except that the three of them were treating the crown prince almost invisibly.
They gazed at Charlize with affectionate eyes.

 

Damian and Charlize, without realizing it, had reached the end of the long red carpet.

 

Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, casting a colorful glow.

 

And as that light enveloped them, Damian came to a stop in his place.

 

Charlize quietly swallowed her breath.

 

‘Damian.’

With the emperor’s cloak draped over him, Damian surveyed the nobles with an impassive gaze.

 

From him, emanated an aura reminiscent of the legendary founding emperor, Carpel the Great.

 

‘Well, it’s true that Damian was once Carpel…’

 

Somehow, Damian felt unfamiliar to her, as if for the first time.

 

The Damian she knew had been a playful young man, adorned with mischievousness just moments ago.

 

“…Now, he truly resembles an emperor.”
A being naturally elevated above all others, majestic, noble, and sacred.

 

Such a person…

 

My lifelong lover.
Who has sworn eternal love to me, ‘My one and only.’

 

Feeling her heart overflow with emotion, Charlize pulled her lips together and bit them to keep still.

 

But right at that moment…

 

“Ah.”

 

Damian lowered his gaze toward Charlize.

 

As soon as she came into his line of sight, a radiant smile, like sunlight, spread across his previously expressionless face.

 

In addition, he firmly held Charlize’s hand, which had momentarily slipped away while walking.

 

Charlize trembled slightly as his hand held hers.

 

Hmm, the way Damian looks at me with such warm eyes…

 

Of course, it makes me happy, but…

 

……Damian, you aren’t paying attention to the coronation at all, are you?

 

“Damian, um.”

 

Charlize, unable to have this exchange continue, called out in an embarrassed voice.

 

“The priest is waiting for you, Damian.”

 

“Oh, right.”

 

Damian turned his gaze briefly.
The priest, who had to witness the awkward exchange between the prospective emperor and his bride-to-be, struggled to hide his troubled expression.
“How dare he show such uneasiness in front of my Charlize?”

 

Is he not self-conscious? He keeps staring at his feet.

 

Damian’s gaze suddenly became sharp.

 

Without even considering what he had done prior, Damian murmured in a low voice.

 

“Aren’t you going to proceed with the coronation?”
“Priest, finish this quickly so that Charlize and I can spend some time alone.”

 

Today’s schedule is already overwhelming.

 

Damian grumbled with a surly look.

 

Charlize felt a headache coming on from his tone, as if he were making a subtle threat.

 

Really, Damian.

 

He can be quite ill-tempered, can’t he?

 

“Ahem.”

 

The priest, unable to withstand Damian’s gaze, cleared his throat a few times and composed his expression.

 

“Damian Carpel de Winsor.”

 

At that call, Damian swiftly rearranged his expression. 

 

If the previous incident had never happened, even the officiating priest, who was the main participant, would think he was a perfect crown prince.

 

“Oh, right.”

 

The priest opened his mouth with a dumbfounded expression but quickly shut it like a flash, as Damian’s gaze turned fierce once again.

 

‘Shall we proceed quickly?’

 

It was a strange occurrence indeed.

 

Although the crown prince was keeping his lips sealed, why did he seem to hear such a request?
“At this very moment, the one who will become the new sun of Winsor stands before the empire.”

 

And so, the priest hurriedly spoke.

 

“The Emperor, who is the father of the empire and has the duty to protect the lives of the people.”

 

Then, a solemn question fell upon Damian.

 

“Will you swear, in the name of the divine Aurelia, to fulfill that responsibility at the cost of your own life?”
Responsibility.
It was an ordinary word, yet it held a special significance for Diadem.

 

His golden gaze grew chillingly calm.

 

Suddenly, the image of the former Emperor came to mind.

 

His uncle, who abandoned all responsibility and duty, focusing solely on his own desires.

 

‘…I will never tread the path of the former Emperor.’

 

With such a firm determination, Damian turned to Charlize.

 

Quite literally, the divine being who had dedicated her body and soul to protect the empire stood by his side.

 

“Yes, I swear.”

 

At her resolute declaration, her lilac-colored eyes shook with intensity.

 

“Then, the Emperor’s regalia.”
Damian knelt down.

 

The priest carefully lifted the regalia placed on a velvet cushion and placed it upon Damian’s head.

 

He fell silent for a moment.

 

The regalia symbolizing the Emperor was as weighty as the responsibilities it held.

 

After a while…

 

“…In the name of the divine Aurelia, I swear to fulfill the Empress’s responsibility at the cost of my own life.”
Charlize’s voice rang out clearly, wearing the Empress’s regalia as she looked at Damian.

 

‘We can do this well.’

 

Her eyes seemed to say so.

 

We will continue to be together, facing any hardships, and relying on and supporting each other.

 

‘Isn’t that right?’

 

In response to that unspoken question, Damian nodded happily.