The Evil Empress Adores Me

A faint voice spoke.

Dont say that.

Huh?

You dont have to blame yourself for everything.

At the unexpected words, the child took a deep breath.

The only person wholl treat you best is yourself.

Um, sister.

No matter what others say, you have to take care of yourself and love yourself.

..yes.

Feeling a bit emotional, the child buried her head in Charlizes arms.

Charlize, as she patted the child tenderly on the back, asked the child a question.

Whats your name?

Its Ellen.

Okay, Ellen.

Charlize added firmly after repeating the childs name.

You have to be strong in the future. Understand me? If youre going through a rough time next time, write a letter.

At those words, the startled child raised her head.

Wait, I can write a letter to you? Really?

Really.

Charlize nodded gently.

The childs cheeks were stained rosy red.

***

The spring tea party came to an end.

The townhouse, after everyone had left, had a leisurely atmosphere.

Ugh, todayhas been a really long day.

If it werent for Lady Bennet, I would have been saved from half the hassle.

Just what happened back there?

I feel sorry for the kids and what they had to go through.

While grumbling inwardly, I stretched a well-earned stretch.

As I did, Sienna came up to me.

I smiled brightly at Sienna.

Viscountess Antes! You worked really hard today.

Lady Charlize did great too. Thank you so much for today.

Im glad to have hosted this spring tea party with you, I said.

That was no lie, it was completely honest.

Perhaps realizing my sincerity, Sienna widened her eyes.

Hmm, I think weve already said everything we wanted to say to each other.

I glanced at Sienna sideways.

Since she was the host of this tea party, I figured Sienna had a lot on her plate right now.

Thats what I thought, but she didnt leave in a hurry and kept hesitating about whether to leave my side or not.

She probably had something to talk about.

If you have something to say, feel free to do so.

Well, its.

After hesitating for a while, Sienna carefully chose her words.

Theres something Ive been meaning to ask

Yes? About what?

Well, weve been through plenty of things together, right? Like what happened today and how you helped me at the memorial service

why is she starting off with such a long introduction?

I blankly blinked my eyes.

Siennas words continued endlessly.

To be honest, I didnt get along well with my people in the north, they found me odd as I always spent my time hunting beasts.

Really?

Yes. Im a bit shy and wary of strangers because of thatso, um, I.

Sienna, paused for a moment, closed her eyes, and then asked me firmly.

So, can I consider you a friend from now onward?

Unlike her usual confident voice, this time Sienna spoke diffidently.

A friend?

My eyes became the size of dinner plates.

Joy and guilt flooded in at the same time.

I was very happy that Sienna thought of me so intimately.

But .

Frankly, the reason Ive been nice to Sienna wasnt purely out of goodwill.

More so, it was If I could be held in high regard by the female lead in the original novel, wouldnt that be helpful to me later?

But Sienna was sincere with me.

and because of that, Ill be too. Ill treat Sienna wholeheartedly because its the right thing to do.

Sure, of course.

I smiled brilliantly at Siennas tense face.

You know what? I havent had any friends my age until now.

Wait, seriously? Sienna asked.

Its how things were. Ive lived as a maid at the Empresss palace since I was young.

I shrugged lightly.

This makes you the first friend my age.

I see. Your first friend

Sienna mulled over my words briefly before smiling broadly.

Sienna and I were enjoying the warm moment when-

Charlize!

From far away, I heard Damians holler as he searched for me.

Siennas expression immediately turned pouty, and she made a remark.

His Highness, the Crown Prince, isnt a child anymore, he just doesnt seem to notice when Lady Charlize is with someone else.

Ahaha

I couldnt help but laugh an embarrassing laugh as I agreed with what she said.

On the other hand, I was a little puzzled.

Damian told me that he had asked for an engagement because marriage with a commoner would be beneficial politically.

But why

Found you. You were here this whole time, Charlize?

Damian smiled brightly upon finding me, quickly standing next to me.

Sometimesoccasionally

Occasionally I feel like Damian sees me as a woman.

Or is it just me being too self-conscious?

Am I over-interpreting Damians behavior because I want him to?

My mind went all over the place.

I narrowed my eyebrows without realizing it.

Evening came as the sun set.

Damian and I were finally able to return to the Crown Princes palace.

As soon as Damian set foot in the palace, he sat down next to me and voiced his displeasure.

Really, it hasnt been long since I returned.

He leaned his head on my shoulder and pouted his lips like a grumpy child.

Charlize was so busy, I think I might have even forgotten her face.

Your Highness, you and I are together every day, are we not?

This is coming from the person who learned puppetry just to attend the spring tea party?

I narrowed my eyes.

Damian locked eyes with me and quietly asked a question.

Come to think of it, Charlize.

Yes?

Did you enjoy being with Sienna today?

I did.

Upon hearing my stern reply, Damian had a somewhat glum expression.

He then asked another question.

More than me?

Your Highness, you know youre acting very childish right now, right?

I scolded him for a bit before switching topics.

Still content after the spring tea party, I told Damian what happened earlier.

You know, Viscountess Antes asked me if we were friends.

she did?

Yeah. I have never had any friends until now.

Theres probably a broad smile etched across my face right now.

To be honest, I was really happy.

Unlike me who acted in self-interest when interacting with Sienna, Sienna treated me with sincerity.

Because Sienna said that.I was delighted.

After that, I let out a short yawn.

Maybe because I was out all day long, I felt drowsy.

I fell asleep without saying anything but a few words.

***

Damian stared down at his finances sleeping countenance.

As Charlize pursed her lips and smiled in her slumber, Damian wondered what kind of dream she was having.

The rosy color on both her cheeks was very lovely.

How are you pretty even now?

For some reason, he felt a bit mischievous and unconsciously twisted Charlizes nose.

Hmph, hpmh

Hearing Charlizes whimpers, Damian narrowed his eyes.

I really, really like you, so Ill endure it for now.

Well, honestly

Its true that Charlize looked happy with Sienna.

Her eyes would sparkle as she participated enthusiastically in each conversation. I saw it today for the first time.

Maybe thats the power of friendship between women.

Damian couldnt help but pout.

Haaa

Just then, Charlize muttered a little in her sleep.

As if listening to the sweetest music, Damian listened intently to Charlizes sleep.

After a while.

Damian burst out laughing.

Thats hilarious.

Mmmm.

Because youre so prettyI keep on bothering you.

Contrary to what he said, the way his hand wrapped around Charlizes shoulder and caressed it was very soft.

Later that evening.

Ellen, who had just finished washing up, dried herself with a tower after ending up in tears.

It was because the bandage Charlize wrapped around her hand was soaking wet.

The gauze, I need to change it

Its been some time since Sister Charlize treated me.

Ellen removed the bandage with a saddened face.

And.

What?

Ellens eyes widened.

A teacher nearby asked Ellen a question.

Whats the matter, Ellen?

Oh? No, its just

Ellen rubbed her eyes and looked down at the back of her hand once more.

It appeared to be the case, there was no sign of the scratch Lady Bennet gave her. It had completely vanished.

The injury on the back of my hand is gone.

Is that so?

The teacher responded nonchalantly due to being occupied taking care of the other children.

Ellen puffed up both cheeks sullenly.

Its true

Okay, okay. You should still go to bed earlier, all right?

The orphanage teacher gave Ellen a light pat on the back.

Ellen cupped the back of her hand and climbed onto the bed.

Wow, how could the scratch heal so perfectly?

Looking down at the clean back of her hands, Ellens eyes twinkled.

Sister Charlize is amazing.

Didnt she also stop the frightening lady from scolding her and then treat my injury?

I have to write a letter to my sister later. As soon as my sister treated me, the scratch healed..

Ellen crawled into the duvet with her cheeks flushed.

A soft smile appeared on the lips of the child who slept soundly that day.