The Evil Empress Adores Me

“I don’t think so…”

“Oh my, don’t you believe me?”

The Empress chortled as she nodded her head at me. 

Well, that’s not the point. 

What I’m trying to say isn’t about brownies and ice cream. 

I opened my mouth with resolve. 

“Anyway, what I want to say is!” 

“Yes, what do you want to say?”

“Your Majesty is so beautiful today, I think I will fall in love with you.”

Empress, please believe me. 

I’m telling you nothing but 100% of the pure truth! 

Hearing that, the Empress’s eyes fluttered.

Um, did I say something wrong?

I tilted my head. 

“…well, that’s what my Charlize would say. Still, it was worth going through the trouble of dressing up for.” 

The Empress’s cheeks appeared slightly blushed mentioning that. 

Oh, no way. 

Is the Empress embarrassed now?

Wow, our Empress is so adorable!

Just then. 

“Aren’t you headed to the banquet?”

A hoarse voice interrupted our conversation. 

Oh, wait a second. That voice?

I glanced behind me. 

It was Damian with his makeup removed and a fresh set of clothes on. He stood behind me with a sullen expression. 

“Why are you jealous that Charlize is going to fall for me?” teased the Empress as she poked fun at Damian with a victor’s smile. 

Red-faced, Damian protested. 

“Why should I be jealous over a small thing!”

“If it’s really how you say it is, then why don’t you look so good?” 

…I know I’ve heard a similar conversation from somewhere, haven’t I?

I squinted my eyes, recalling a hazy memory. 

Oh, I remember!

When the Empress lied to Damian!

I think it was the same scenario when she said she slept in the same bed as me.

Damian curled his lips and said. 

“I was just worried her Majesty would be late for the banquet.”

“Uh-huh, is that so?”

“Yes. I wasn’t aware of Charlize at all-”

“You know what, prince?”

The Empress raised her chin, cutting Damian mid-sentence. 

That mellow voice rang out. 

“Strongly denying something can be considered as strongly affirming it.”

Perhaps hitting the nail on the head, Damian bit his lip. 

The Empress added a sharp remark.

“Anyway, I was going to be on my way even if his Highness hadn’t urged me.”

“Oh, you’re leaving now?”

“It’s almost time. If I’m late for the banquet, I won’t hear the end of it from the Emperor…”

The Empress got up and gave a pat on my head with a gentle touch. 

Her Majesty’s smile widened. 

“I think I’ll be back late, don’t wait for me, and go to bed early, Charlize.”

I was stunned by that. 

Did the Empress emphasize ‘Don’t wait for me?’ She did, didn’t she? 

“My Charlize always waits for me, I feel so bad when I return late at night.”

Oh, that’s why. 

…to be precise, all the maids of the Empress palace, not just me, wait for her to return. 

But I wasn’t in a mood to explain that. 

I glanced over to Damian, smiling awkwardly. 

He was looking at the Empress with a defeated expression. 

With a victorious voice, the Empress dealt the final blow.

“There’s no need to go out of your way to see me off. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Ah, yes….have a good time, Your Majesty.”

I waved a fond farewell. 

The Empress exited the room with an elegant gesture. 

Click.

The door was closed. 

Damian immediately turned to face me. 

“Lize.”

“Y-Yes?”

“When Her Majesty comes back late. Do you stay up and wait for her?” He asked with a fire in his eyes.

“Well, yes but…” 

Damian became even more ill-tempered when he heard that. 

I hurriedly opened my mouth in an attempt to defuse the situation. 

“Since I am the Empress’s maid, isn’t it obvious I would wait for her to come back?”

“But aren’t you also my maid?”

“But the crown prince has no business staying up late…”

Coming up with these haphazard excuses, I wanted to cry on the inside. 

Why are you both doing this to me?

***

Throughout dinner, I had to pacify and soothe a sulky Damian. 

My persistent efforts started to pay off, and Damian was less grumpy by the end of the meal. 

“By the way, your Highness, the crown prince.”

“Yes?”

Damian looked at me as he put down his cutlery. 

I asked him carefully. 

“…is everything all right?” 

“What?”