The Evil Empress Adores Me

“Isn’t it good?”

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“Mmm-hmm.”

Damian’s cheeks were cherry red. 

He was munching on the strawberry with a pleased expression when I looked at him. 

Oh, Damian, you’re so cute!

But right then. 

I felt a piercing gaze sting the side of my face. 

“Lize.”

“…..Yes?”

The Empress’s unhappy tone had me perplexed. 

What could it be?

Is something wrong? 

The Empress, who had been looking at me with a sullen face, turned her head away. 

“Well, it is the crown prince’s birthday today….”

I’m speechless. 

Is the Empress upset at me for taking care of Damian first? 

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Gosh, I can’t have a moment to breathe. 

I pushed the next plate towards the Empress and deliberately made a fuss about it. 

“Your Majesty, try this cake!”

“You know, Lize.”

The Empress looked at me with an envious but also pitiful expression on her face. 

“I want Charlize to feed me herself.”

“……What?”

“I must have signed too many documents today, my hands are so sore.”

That’s ridiculous.
There’s no way I do that. 

Unfortunately, there was one teensy problem.
The Empress with her long eyelashes and her hand cupping her face….

‘She’s so beautiful!’

Enthralled by the Empress’s beauty, I cut a large slice of cake without a second thought.

The Empress ate the cake from my hand without hesitation. 

Haa, how can the Empress be so pretty?

I grabbed my chest so I wouldn’t squeal and calmed down. 

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It was then I felt another fierce gaze.
When I turned back, this time it was both the Duke and Damian squinting at me.

Argh, what now?

“Feed me too,” Damian boldly demanded. 

I looked at Damian with a cold gaze.

“Your Highness, you’re not a baby.
Why are you….”

“In that case, did you feed Her Majesty because she’s a baby?”

Damian replied with a fixed expression. 

Well, I can’t say anything to refute him. 

But then, the Duke reached out and cut for himself a slice of cake.

“I can eat well by myself.”

He proceeded to further cut the cake with his fork and eat. 

The atmosphere grew silent. 

It was like there was an intrusion just begging to happen at any moment and sure enough…

No, Duke!

You looked at the Empress pitifully just now, didn’t you?

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Where’s that cool-headed and intelligent Duke you showed us earlier go?

At the same time, Her Majesty frowned as if she were dying of pity.

“Hey, that’s enough,” said the Empress. 

“Your Majesty, I don’t think you should say anything.”

The Duke shot at her as he raised his chin, his posture slightly more upright.

The way they stared at each other with scowls, it was brutal like hawks or tigers fighting. 

I ended up getting frustrated. 

Hmph, apparently they were friendly at first? And to think they were siblings that got along well with each other…

****

Eventually, after so many twists and turns, lunch was finally over. 

……I had just finished eating but somehow I felt tired. 

Slouching on a chair, I overheard the Empress call for Damian. 

“By the way, what kind of gift would his Highness like to receive?”

“A gift?”

Damian blinked his eyes, unsure of what to say. 

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The Empress rested her chin in a casual position and added.

“Of course.
As the Empress, I have a reputation to maintain, how could I leave without passing on a gift?”

“I would…..”

Damian licking his lips, spoke out with a determined voice.

“……I want a book.”

“A book?”

At the unexpected answer, the Empress’s eyes widened.

It’s somewhat surprising. 

Usually, kids his age want toys or something like that, what could have inspired this?

Damian continued with a strained face. 

“Yes.
I’m ashamed, I haven’t had a chance to properly study since I was imprisoned.”

Those words made the atmosphere solemn. 

Not only was the Empress caught off guard but the Duke who had been indifferent the whole time shared the same reaction.
He wore a slightly shocked face. 

After all, the Emperor is always anxious about not being able to completely contain Damian.  

At a time when Damian was deliberately quarantined, it was impossible to give him the opportunity to receive an education.