The Evil Empress Adores Me

Its becauseI was wondering why his Highness isnt at the banquet.

Damian was the crown prince and without a doubt, has the right to attend.

However, I was worried he couldnt attend the banquet because of the Emperors bad mood.

Seriously, the emperor of a country should be able to be bolder/better than that.

The Emperor doesnt have to be that petty, right?

Damian thankfully shook his head with a relieving smile.

Didnt I offend the Emperor with todays blessing?

Well, you did but

So. For the time being, its better to lay low and stay away, Damian advised in a low voice.

Laying low isnt that bad compared to getting on the Emperors bad side.

I mean Damians already on his bad side but we dont want to make him angrier, right?

While nodding my head casually, I remembered Damians blessing earlier.

Oh, I have one more question.

What is it?

Back in the courtyard, how did you handle the power so well?

Damian had suffered from a fever before because he struggled to control the power of the divine beast.

Recalling the time when Damian collapsed to the floor, my heart became cool like I had just swallowed a large chunk of ice.

I remembered his body temperature that was scorching hot, and his face that was as pale as a ghosts

Damian shrugged his shoulders.

I dont know how exactly, I just somehow had this feeling I could do it.

wait, your Highness. Did you take that risk just because you felt like you could do it?

I looked at Damian with a dazed expression.

His Highness doesnt know how precious he is! Why does he throw himself in harms way?

Unable to bear my constant judging gaze, Damian slinked his gaze away.

The feeling back thereI was. I was confident I could do it.

Where did you get that confidence from?

You.

Me?

I was confused.

Damian narrowed his brow slightly.

He muttered to me, divulging his thoughts.

Because you were by my side, I felt like I could do it.

What, youre saying Im the reason? That cant be right!

But what if its true?

Damian looked at me with a saddened expression.

After a while, he sighed and continued.

To tell you the truth, I dont think I can do it again.

But havent you done it once already?

That was thenI dont even know how I did it, so I dont know if Ill be able to do it again.

Damian seemed pretty frustrated with himself, so I struggled to suppress the desire to hit him over his recklessness.

*Sigh* Dont beat yourself up over it, Damian.

Damian grumbled and pondered for quite a while. Then he glanced at me.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Buw

He slurred his speech trying to say something.

But?

Looking at you gives me peace of mind.

Yeah, that is hard to get out, isnt it?

I stared at him pitifully.

Indeed, in the original novel, there were very few people who awakened the power of the divine beast.

Among the few who had awakened the power, only one had succeeded in awakening the power of purification.

So to say its difficult is an understatement.

Just as I was about to convince myself.

It may come off as weird, but when Im with you everything feels like its going to be okay.

.Yep, that sounds really weird.

I didnt mean to, but I reacted immediately with a somewhat disgusted expression.

Noticing my disapproving reaction, Damian continued with a downcast face.

Dont make that face, please, pleaded Damian.

Okay, Ill try.

I struggled to push the tips of my lips upwards. (Smile)

It was then Damian changed the subject.

About the fever.

Are you feverish?

No. Ever since Ive known you, Ive never had another fever.

Damians words left me feeling strange.

Come to think of it

Hes right.

The first and last time Damian was sick was when he was eight years old.

Hes changed since then. Hes such a strong boy, it completely escaped my mind!

And about todays harvest festival.

Yes?

Honestly, the Emperor hurt my self-esteem at first, but I was still with you.

Before I knew it, Damian recollected what happened with a faint smile.

He ended that note tenderly.

I knew it would turn out well.

His frank words came out of nowhere, I was speechless for a moment.

He slowly turned the other way.

His golden and scarlet eyes stared out the window, into a distant place I couldnt figure out.

Do you remember what her Majesty said?

What about it?

On the day of the harvest festival, I mean the real festival outside the palacetheres a lot to see and do.

Oh, she did say that.

I nodded slightly.

She also said there would be a lot of snacks and fun things to do.

Especially the sight of endless floating lanterns, like a Milky way flowing on the ground from far away.

I want to see all that scenery with you.

will that day ever come? I unknowingly asked in a skeptical voice.

Perhaps because I was born in the palace and only lived in and around the palace grounds, I couldnt imagine leaving this place very well.