The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 52

As the banquet came to an end—

The Empress was about to step outside when she suddenly paused.

"Oh dear, the sky was clear when the banquet began..."

At some point, rain had started to fall.

It wasn’t a torrential downpour, but it wasn’t light enough to ignore either.

Just as the Empress furrowed her brows—

"Empress."

Startled by the unexpected voice, she turned around.

The Dowager Empress was approaching her.

"Yes, Your Majesty the Dowager Empress."

The Dowager Empress cleared her throat before speaking.

"I should have thanked you earlier, but in all the commotion, I am only saying this now."

"...Pardon?"

"I hear that you have been looking after Diamid."

With those words, the Dowager Empress bowed deeply to the Empress.

"I was also told you assigned him a personal maid. I was far too late in expressing my gratitude."

"Oh my, how could Your Majesty bow to me—"

Flustered, the Empress hurriedly tried to stop her.

"For nearly five years, I did nothing for him, fearing that my involvement might bring him harm."

"...Your Majesty the Dowager Empress."

"But thanks to you, I am deeply grateful."

Her voice trembled ever so slightly, burdened by emotion.

The regret of watching her younger son seize the throne from her grandson.

The powerlessness of being unable to protect him.

A flood of emotions filled her chest.

And then—

"No."

The Empress shook her head and took the Dowager Empress’ hands in her own.

"As the Empress of the Empire, as a member of the Imperial Family, and as... an adult."

She gently but firmly squeezed the Dowager Empress’ hands.

"I have a duty to care for the Crown Prince, who is still just a child."

The resolute words made the Dowager Empress’ gaze tremble.

"And given Your Majesty’s circumstances, I am simply acting in your stead."

"...Empress."

"So please, do not say such things again. Understood?"

The Empress reaffirmed her stance.

At last, the Dowager Empress’ expression softened as she smiled.

It was a bright, sunlit smile.

"Your Majesty the Dowager Empress, I have come to escort you."

Right on cue, the head maid of the Dowager Empress’ palace approached, holding an umbrella.

Nodding, the Dowager Empress looked back at the Empress.

"Then, I shall take my leave first, Empress."

"Please, travel safely, Your Majesty ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the Dowager Empress."

Once the Dowager Empress had departed—

Matthias approached his sister.

"Your Majesty the Empress."

"Oh, Brother."

Perhaps because they were in public, Matthias made sure to address her formally.

It felt strangely unfamiliar, and the Empress chuckled a little.

As he watched the Dowager Empress disappear into the distance, Matthias suddenly spoke.

"Inviting the Dowager Empress to the banquet today."

"Yes?"

"It was a very wise decision."

Oh?

Even her difficult-to-please brother was offering praise?

The Empress widened her eyes in surprise.

"If Her Majesty had not attended, Antes Margrave would have been far more furious."

"Hmm, is that so?"

"Regardless of the circumstances, grand lords have immense pride."

Then, Matthias abruptly asked a question.

"But how did you come up with the idea of inviting Her Majesty?"

"Pardon?"

"It was a suitable occasion for the Dowager Empress to attend, but..."

Matthias studied her with narrowed eyes.

"Until now, she has refrained from participating in any external affairs."

"Well, that is true."

"So, how did you manage to invite her?"

At that, the Empress’ face lit up with pride.

"Well, last night, our dear Charles came to see me."

"...That child again?"

That child. Again.

Matthias instinctively furrowed his brows.

The Empress, however, continued with enthusiasm.

"Charles asked me something."

"And what did she say?"

"Well..."

Recalling the events of the previous night, the Empress smiled warmly.

"Your Majesty the Empress."

With tiny steps, Charles had approached, looking up at her with wide, expectant eyes.

"Hm? What is it, Charles?"

"I have a question."

"Ask me anything."

Spreading her arms open, the Empress welcomed her.

Charles wriggled her way onto the Empress’ lap and wrapped her small arms around her neck.

"I was watching Your Majesty look troubled earlier, and I suddenly thought of something."

"Oh? And what was that?"

"Her Majesty the Dowager Empress is just as great as His Majesty the Emperor, isn’t she?"

"...What?"

The Empress had not expected that.

Her hand, which had been stroking Charles' back, momentarily halted.

Then, with a childlike innocence, Charles posed her next question.

"So, couldn’t Her Majesty the Dowager Empress attend the banquet in place of His Majesty the Emperor?"

For a split second, the Empress’ eyes sharpened.

Yes. There was still the Dowager Empress.

Charles had likely asked out of simple curiosity.

But for the Empress, it had been an unexpected stroke of inspiration.

After recounting the story, the Empress beamed.

"Isn’t Charles just wonderful?"

"To me, it simply sounds like a child asking a thoughtless question."

"How could you say that?"

Glaring at her indifferent brother, the Empress put extra emphasis into her gaze.

"In the end, she helped me tremendously!"

"Well... If you put it that way, I suppose that is true."

Matthias’ reluctant agreement left the Empress staring in disbelief.

"Brother, did you just say I was right?"

"...Is that so shocking?"

Matthias furrowed his brows.

"Just what kind of person do you think I am?"

"Hmm... For the sake of sibling harmony, I shall not answer that question."

The Empress smirked playfully.

At that moment—

Charles came running toward them.

Her face lit up instantly.

"Charles, you’re here!"

"Yes! Your Majesty the Empress, here’s an umbrella!"

Charles opened the umbrella and tiptoed, trying to hold it over the Empress.

But realizing she wasn’t tall enough, she dejectedly drooped her shoulders.

The sight was so adorable that the Empress couldn’t help but smile.

"Hand it over, dear."

"No, it’s fine! I’ll hold it instead!"

Just then, Weber, the head maid, spoke up.

But the Empress shook her head.

"No, I want to share an umbrella with Charles."

"Pardon? Your Majesty would personally hold the umbrella?"

"That’s what I’d like to do. Come here, Charles."

The Empress had already made up her mind.

Opening the umbrella, she gestured for Charles to come closer.

I’d love to scoop her up in my arms, but...

There were too many eyes watching.

Instead, she simply held Charles’ hand firmly.

"Did you come all this way just to bring me an umbrella?"

"Yes! I’m a maid of the Empress’ Palace, after all!"

Charles declared proudly.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

The Empress looked down at her, practically on the verge of fainting from how adorable she was.

"She’s just too cute and precious..."

Her murmuring voice was filled with warmth, leaving Charles a little flustered.

Ah, this is embarrassing...

Anyone would recognize that as blatant doting.

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And in that moment, there was only one person capable of disagreeing with the Empress.

That one person, Duke Rochester—

...Admittedly, without the child, resolving this so smoothly would have been difficult.

He was beginning to understand why the Empress adored Charles so much.

Of course, the main credit still belonged to the Crown Prince.

Diamid’s solution had been incredibly effective.

But without Charles, that solution would never have reached Matthias in the first place.

No wonder Rose is always fussing over her.

He had assumed it was just because she was an adorable child.

But perhaps there was more to it.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Matthias scowled.

No, no.

Strictly speaking, the child had merely relayed the Crown Prince’s words.

Just because things turned out well this time didn’t mean he should be hasty in his judgment.

And yet.

"..."

Lifting his gaze, Matthias quietly watched the two figures ahead.

For some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off the child’s small back.

A few days later—

I hummed a cheerful tune as I made my way to the Crown Prince’s quarters.

In my hand, I held a rolled-up newspaper.

"Charles, did something good happen?"

Apparently, my face was so bright that passing maids couldn’t help but ask.

Well, something had happened.

And that something was—

"Your Highness, look at this!"

I spread the newspaper wide in front of Diamid’s face.

Diamid flinched.

"Whoa—what is this?"

"Just read it first!"

I flapped the newspaper in front of him.

Frowning slightly, Diamid started reading.

And then—

"...Is this real?"

His eyes widened in shock as he looked back at me.

"His Majesty actually agreed to provide support to Antes?"

"That’s right! Oh, and I overheard something interesting, too."

I leaned in close, whispering into his ear.

"The newspapers went crazy about how His Majesty abandoned his duty to protect the citizens."

"Really?"

"Yep. And I heard His Majesty was absolutely furious about it."

I grinned slyly.

"Totally satisfying, right?"

"Hmm, I know I shouldn’t agree with you, but..."

Diamid frowned for a moment—then let out a small laugh.

"Yeah. Totally satisfying."