The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 19

"However, I want to respect your wishes as much as possible."

"Ah..."

"Personally, I really don't want to assign you any tasks, but..."

The Empress muttered something under her breath.

As I looked at the Empress, I felt warmth spreading from deep within me.

I gave a wide grin.

"Then, I'll work hard! So I can be recognized by everyone!"

"...Alright, Charles, if that's really what you want."

Though she looked a bit displeased, the Empress eventually nodded.

And at that moment, I seized the opportunity with the sharpness of a hawk.

Yes, right now!

The Empress's demeanor softened toward me!

Now’s my chance to get some information about the Crown Prince, Diomid!

"Your Majesty, the Empress, there’s a gloomy palace nearby..."

"Hmm? Ask me anything."

The Empress gazed at me with a smile on her face.

Good, the atmosphere is perfect.

I put on a naive expression and asked.

"Next to Your Majesty’s palace, there’s a dark, ghostly palace, right?"

"Ah... why do you ask about that?"

"I heard that the Crown Prince lives there?"

As soon as I spoke, the Empress's face clouded over.

Huh? Why does she look like that?

I was taken aback.

"Why are you asking about the Crown Prince?"

"Well, it seems like everyone avoids the Crown Prince..."

When I answered like that, deep lines appeared between the Empress's brows.

With an innocent face, I threw out another question.

"Do you... not like the Crown Prince?"

"No, that's not it."

Eh?

I tilted my head in surprise at the unexpected answer.

After a brief pause, the Empress added more.

"The Crown Prince... he's actually a pitiful child."

"Pitiful?"

"Yes. Honestly, that child was practically robbed of his rightful claim to the throne by the Emperor."

Gasp, but the Emperor is still the Empress's husband.

Is it okay to say he's 'a bad man' so coldly?

"Is it okay to say that... like that...?"

"Well, I'm not making things up... I’ve heard that people talk bad about the Emperor when he's not around."

The Empress shrugged lightly.

Is that how it is?

I became cautious without realizing it.

"But doesn’t the Emperor... dislike the Crown Prince?"

"What does that have to do with me? The Emperor and I don’t have to always think the same."

The Empress answered indifferently.

As she lowered her eyes, her green pupils barely visible under the shadow of her lashes.

A complicated emotion passed over the Empress's face.

It was... guilt.

"Could it be that the Empress... feels sorry for the Crown Prince?"

I swallowed nervously.

In fact, if the Empress were a reasonable person, it would make sense for her to feel sorry for the Crown Prince.

After all, she imprisoned the rightful heir and took his place.

And the Empress I know... is a very reasonable and kind person.

After a moment, the Empress continued.

"From the beginning, I didn’t really want to come to a place like the Imperial Palace."

Her voice was filled with deep regret.

Now that I think about it, the Emperor and Empress hadn’t been married for long.

To be exact, the current Emperor took the throne through a coup and then married the Empress.

If that’s the case, maybe the Empress... didn’t want this marriage from the start?

The subtle differences from the original story made me feel strange.

"By the way, Charles, you asked about the Emperor before, didn’t you?"

At that moment, the Empress raised her head slightly.

Her beautiful face was tinged with a deep sense of regret.

"Come to think of it... you seem to be quite interested in the Emperor."

Well, of course I am—I'm doomed to be killed by the Empress!

I’m going to become the Emperor's favorite and take her place as the Emperor’s consort!

But I couldn’t answer that way, so my pupils began to tremble.

"But Charles, the Emperor..."

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

The Empress faced me firmly.

She locked eyes with me and spoke clearly.

"He’s an old man."

"...Huh?"

"He’s an old man."

I fell silent.

The Empress didn't hide the disgust on her face as she waved her hand dismissively.

"There’s no reason for you to have any interest in a man who’s twenty years older than you."

Ah, of course!

The person I’m interested in is the Empress, not that old man, the Emperor!

Do I really have to keep emphasizing this?!

I silently gazed at the Empress.

I raised my voice sweetly.

"Rose Unni."

When I switched to calling her "Rose Unni," the Empress's eyes widened in surprise, like a startled rabbit.

"Charles doesn’t care about the Emperor."

"......"

"Charles thinks Rose Unni is the best in the world!"

I gave a sly glance at the Empress as I spoke, and she quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

"Because the Emperor is Rose Unni's husband, I’m just curious..."

Now I needed to look sad.

I slouched my shoulders and asked the Empress.

"...Does Rose Unni dislike me asking about this?"

"No, I don’t mind!!"

The Empress tightly clasped her hands over her chest and shouted.

It seemed she wanted to hug me, but the table was in the way, so she couldn’t.

Instead, the Empress spoke sincerely.

"Actually, I was worried that our Charles might end up showing interest in him!"

...Huh? Showing interest in the Emperor?

Wow, that's such a cold view, isn’t it?

Only someone with their eyes on the floor would show interest in the Emperor!

"Well, I totally agree with that sentiment."

As I was thinking this, my eyes widened.

The Empress stood up abruptly and came over to me.

It seemed like she was itching to touch me since she couldn’t do so freely.

"I don’t understand why ladies are so interested in the Emperor, he’s just a regular man."

My assumption turned out to be right. The Empress picked me up and sat me on her lap.

"Hmm, normally I should stop the Empress from acting this way..."

But since I’m in Charles mode now, I’ll just stay quiet.

I leaned against the Empress.

"I’ve advised other ladies many times."

"Advise?"

"Yes, I told them that getting involved with the Emperor is just a waste of time."

Though she was grumbling with a frown, her hand gently stroked my head.

"But instead of listening to me, they misunderstood and thought I was just trying to drive away other ladies."

Ah, so that’s...

I was absolutely shocked.

Was this where the setting from the original story came from, where "the Empress, who loved the Emperor, drove away every other woman"?

I’ve always thought it was a bit strange.

The Emperor was bringing in concubines, after all.

Even in the original story, the Empress was the most beautiful woman, so there was no need to obsess over someone like him.

"Anyway, I’m glad that our Charles has normal views."

The Empress said in a sweet voice.

Her fingers gently caressed my cheek.

"You have to give me more attention and affection from now on, alright?"

"Yes!"

I quickly answered.

The Empress smiled brightly at my response.

Her smile was as bright as sunshine.

And a few days later.

Someone must have come, because the outside seemed a bit busy.

"What’s going on?"

I glanced out the window.

Some workers were coming and going, so it seemed like they were bringing in some goods.

Well, it’s not something I need to worry about.

"Charles."

...The head maid suddenly came to find me.

"Yes, head maid!"

I had been so absorbed in dusting the shelf that I quickly looked up.

"You called for me?"

As I ran over to the head maid, I suddenly tilted my head.

There was a trolley next to her that I had never seen before.

"Huh, was there such a small trolley?"

It was much smaller than a normal trolley.

It looked like a miniature version of an adult trolley, almost as if it was designed for a child.

"What’s this trolley?"

"It’s for you."

"...For me?"

My eyes widened in surprise.

The head maid smiled brightly.

"The Empress personally ordered it for you."

What? What does this mean?

I opened my mouth in shock.

The head maid continued with a soft tone.

"She thought it looked dangerous when you were pulling the trolley around."

Ah...

I blinked in confusion.

So, the Empress ordered this trolley?

Just for me?