The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 67
After that, nothing particularly eventful happened.
The Empress continued the conversation in her usual gentle manner.
At first, the ladies had been tense, but gradually, their stiffness melted away in response to Her Majesty’s warmth.
Ah, as expected of our Empress.
I gazed at her with eyes full of admiration.
Meanwhile, Diamid seemed to be blending in well with the ladies.
Most of all...
‘With a face like that and such impeccable manners, who could possibly dislike Diamid?’
I watched with satisfaction as he chatted with the ladies.
Even though they maintained reserved expressions, none of them could take their eyes off him.
Otherwise, why would they burst into laughter every time he spoke?
And his jokes weren’t even that funny.
Clearly, it was his face that was amusing them.
‘Oh my, our Diamid is quite the popular one!’
I chuckled quietly.
Even Lady Bennet, who had been sulking earlier, was sneaking glances at Diamid whenever she thought no one was watching.
Ah, dear people of the world, I raised this amazing young man!
Was this what a mother felt like watching her son thrive?
Just as I was basking in my pride, clenching my fist with a sense of accomplishment—
‘Huh?’
I blinked.
At that very moment, Diamid happened to turn his gaze toward me.
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‘Oh, we made eye contact.’
And then, he smiled.
It was a radiant smile, as if the first bloom of spring had just unfurled before my eyes.
W-why are you smiling like that? That’s dangerous, you’ll make someone’s heart race!
“......”
But then—
Lady Bennet’s eyes flicked back and forth between me and Diamid.
Her expression was... difficult to describe.
It looked as if she had just watched the man she had a crush on get stolen right before her eyes.
‘Oh.’
Feigning innocence, I straightened my posture and averted my gaze.
But Lady Bennet’s sharp glare clung to the side of my face, relentless and unwavering.
As if I had committed some grave offense.
‘Why do I have to feel guilty?’
Honestly, it wasn’t as if she and Diamid were dating.
I was just stewing in my annoyance when the Empress rose to her feet.
“Ladies, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
The ladies looked at her in confusion.
She smiled softly.
“The state council meeting should be concluding right about now, so I thought I might check in with my brother.”
“Oh my, are you referring to Duke Rochester?”
“Is His Grace visiting the Empress’s palace today?”
The ladies’ eyes sparkled with excitement and curiosity.
The Empress’s voice took on a playful lilt.
“Well, he is a very busy man, so I can’t make any promises.”
“O-oh, I see.”
“But personally, I believe tea parties are always more enjoyable with more guests.”
With that teasing remark, the ladies’ faces lit up with joy.
“Oh my, Duke Rochester!”
“I heard that he rarely attends social gatherings...”
“I hope he comes!”
One lady, unable to contain her excitement, placed a hand over her chest and let out a deep sigh.
Well, it made sense.
Duke Rochester was the most distinguished noble in the empire.
Who would turn down the opportunity to meet him in person?
I nodded ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ in understanding.
“I’ll do my best to drag my brother over. In the meantime, please enjoy yourselves.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“I’ll also leave Chief Lady-in-Waiting Weber here, so if you need anything, please ask her.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Leaving behind a final smile, the Empress gracefully exited the hall.
Silence settled over the room.
“......”
“......”
Hmm. I glanced around.
Now that the Empress—who had been guiding the conversation—was gone, things felt a little awkward...
“Kyaaa, did you hear that?”
“Of course! Duke Rochester might be coming!”
...Never mind. Not awkward at all.
Now that they had a common topic of interest, the ladies were chattering like excited birds.
“M-my cousin once saw Duke Rochester in person...”
“Yes? Yes?! And??”
“She said he was incredibly handsome! Just like Her Majesty!”
Kyaa! Kyaaah!
Shrieks of excitement rang out again.
I watched the ladies with a look of mild exasperation.
Well, to be fair, Duke Rochester was good-looking.
So good-looking that he could ask, "Are you staring at me because I'm handsome?" and no one would be able to refute him.
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Ugh, I hate admitting this, but fine—I acknowledge his beauty.
That said, in my eyes, Diamid was far more handsome.
Thinking that, I glanced at Diamid.
And at that exact moment, our eyes met.
His scarlet irises scrutinized my expression with an unreadable gaze, and I stiffened.
Why was he looking at me like that?
‘Stop staring at me and focus on your conversation!’
I mouthed silently.
Diamid, making sure the ladies weren’t watching, moved his lips in response.
‘Do you also think Duke Rochester is that handsome?’
‘...What are you even talking about?’
‘Answer me.’
‘Well, objectively speaking, yes, he is good-looking.’
I nodded with a bewildered look.
Personal preferences aside, I couldn’t exactly deny it—he was dazzlingly handsome.
After all, he was an exact male version of the Empress.
“......”
At that, Diamid scowled and abruptly turned away.
...What the heck was that reaction?
What did I do wrong this time?
I was utterly baffled.
Meanwhile, the ladies’ discussion had shifted to the upcoming Harvest Festival and the question of who would be chosen as the royal attendant.
“Who do you think will be selected as Her Majesty’s attendant this year?”
“Well, obviously, it’ll be me.”
One lady spoke with hopeful eyes, only to be shot down by Lady Bennet.
“And who else but me could possibly be Her Majesty’s attendant?”
She lifted her chin haughtily, radiating absolute confidence in her claim.
Then, a lady replied dryly.
“Well... but Lady Bennet, didn’t you just incur Her Majesty’s wrath?”
“W-what?!”
Lady Bennet’s face turned red, then blue.
I widened my eyes.
Wow, I didn’t know a person’s face could change colors like that.
And the lady wasn’t done speaking.
“You’re not even part of the main Rochester family, and yet you constantly drag Her Majesty’s name into everything. Isn’t that odd?”
Her tone was laced with mockery.
“How could you lie just to sneak into the Empress’s palace?”
Lady Bennet flinched.
Sensing an opportunity, the lady pressed further.
“Perhaps, Lady Bennet, you should reflect on your actions.”
“Exactly. Does Baron Bennet and his wife even know you behave this way?”
Another lady chimed in with a sneer.
Lady Bennet’s eyes flared with anger as she glared at them.
“Are you finished?!”
Uh-oh.
What if this escalated into an actual fight?
I anxiously observed the scene.
“Well, I could say more if you’d like.”
“WHAT?!”
Lady Bennet’s voice shot up an octave.
I tensed, preparing to intervene if necessary.
Just as the atmosphere was turning razor-sharp—
“Greetings, ladies. I am Lisa Weber, the Chief Lady-in-Waiting of the Empress’s palace.”
A soft knock accompanied the entrance of Weber, the Chief Lady-in-Waiting.
She furrowed her brows slightly and glanced at me.
I mouthed a warning.
‘The mood is bad.’
‘Ah...’
Weber swiftly grasped the situation, smoothing her expression into one of calm professionalism.
“For your comfortable tea time, Her Majesty has sent me to assist you.”
The ladies, who had been heated moments ago, now fidgeted awkwardly in their seats.
After all, their behavior just now had been anything but "comfortable."
“If there is anything you require, please do not hesitate to ask. Also—”
But before she could finish, Lady Bennet cut her off.
“Well, if it isn’t Lisa Unni.”
For a split second, Weber’s face stiffened.
Meanwhile, Lady Bennet smirked.
“I heard the Weber Viscounty has fallen on hard times lately. I never expected to find you here of all places.”
“......”
“You must be suffering so much, Lisa Unni.”
I frowned.
Why wasn’t Weber responding?
As the Chief Lady-in-Waiting of the Empress’s palace, she outranked most of the nobles here.
Lady Bennet had no right to look down on her.
So why was Weber staying silent?
