The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 2

The only person who indulges my childish behavior in the palace is Rose Unni, so I end up acting even more like a child whenever I'm around her.

Rose Unni, you know I love you, right?

After a while, Rose Unni stopped laughing and spoke to me affectionately.

"I missed you so, so much, Charles."

"Really?"

I blinked my eyes wide.

She met my gaze and gave me a shy smile.

"Of ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ course! I count the days until I can see you, Charles."

"...That's a lie."

I pouted my lips, but deep down, hearing Rose Unni say that made me feel happy.

If Rose Unni hadn’t been here, could I really have survived the harsh life in the imperial palace?

A moment later, Rose Unni asked me a question.

"Has anything been difficult lately?"

As soon as I heard that, I remembered the task Becky had given me to clean the fireplace.

But I quickly shook my head and pushed that thought away.

I hadn’t seen Rose Unni in a while, I couldn’t worry her now.

"No, not really."

"Really? Didn’t the other trainee maids say they were bullying you?"

Her deep green gaze fixed on me.

I swallowed hard, caught by her serious stare.

The thing is, Rose Unni wasn’t just beautiful—she was extremely intelligent as well.

I had once overlooked that fact and complained to her before.

‘As a fellow trainee maid, why does she always make me carry the laundry...?’

It had happened like this.

I was a trainee maid, and trainees usually took care of the menial tasks.

So, at least among the trainee maids, the work should’ve been divided equally, but unfortunately, it didn’t work that way.

The older trainee maids, seeing me as the youngest, treated me like an easy target.

As a result, all the most annoying laundry tasks were dumped on me.

"Charles, take this to the laundry room."

"Charles, bring the laundry that’s done."

"Charles, go to the laundry and wash this again."

"Charles, Charles..."

The thought of it still makes my head spin.

Exhausted from all the work, I ended up clinging to Rose Unni, unknowingly making a sad face.

Just hearing the word "laundry room" felt like I might die.

The only person who ever listened to me seriously was Rose Unni.

She gently rubbed the back of my hand as she spoke.

"Don’t worry, things will get better soon."

That’s how I managed to get comfort from her.

When I returned to the palace afterward, I was shocked to find that the head maid had stepped in and began distributing the work!

She had spoken to us sternly.

"It’s absolutely unacceptable to dump all the work on one person."

"Head maid..."

"I’ll personally check the tasks from now on. You’d better not try to deceive me."

After the head maid intervened, my workload had definitely become easier.

The trainee maids who had dumped the work on me were mostly reassigned elsewhere.

I heard they were transferred to the laundry room, one of the hardest places to work in the palace.

To be honest, it felt like justice was served...

‘But... as a result of that incident, the other trainee maids hated me even more.’

One of them was Becky.

Becky, who was lucky enough not to be transferred to the laundry room, had since been subtly bullying me.

Just like how she pressured me to clean the fireplace earlier.

I didn’t want to cause any more trouble, so I obediently followed Becky’s nasty orders...

But it was definitely getting tiring.

‘Besides, I’m no fool.’

As soon as I vented to Rose Unni, the head maid stepped in and solved my problems.

If I thought that was just a coincidence, I would be a complete idiot.

So, I had been thinking about Rose Unni’s true identity...

‘Maybe Rose Unni is a high-ranking maid who has influence over the head maid?’

Well, it’s a reasonable guess.

I nodded.

Even though Rose Unni might have influence over the head maid, I really didn’t want to see her exerting herself too much.

So I thought I should be extra careful with my behavior...

Just then, Rose Unni spoke up.

"Charles, what are you thinking so hard about?"

"Mm?"

"Give me some attention, Charles. I get so sad if you don’t think about me."

She looked at me with a wistful gaze.

I clung to her and confessed my feelings.

"I was thinking about you...!"

It was true. Even now, I was still thinking about Rose Unni!

Then, Rose Unni gave me an overwhelmingly beautiful smile and patted the top of my head.

Her sweet voice, like sugar, made my ear tingle.

"Really? Then I must be the happiest person in the world."

"Really?"

"Of course. I hope you’ll think of me a lot, very, very much from now on."

Sigh, how is Rose Unni so beautiful?

Her heart is as smooth as silk, and her face is beautiful too!

This isn’t just a figure of speech.

Rose Unni is truly a lady more beautiful than a freshly bloomed red rose.

Even as a woman, I feel like I might fall for her!

What does it matter if we’re the same gender? Our Rose Unni is just that beautiful!

‘So, just like the villainess Empress described in the novel...’

Unknowingly, I thought that, and then I stiffened my shoulders.

No, how could I possibly compare our beautiful Rose Unni with the villainess Empress who would eventually kill me?

Well, of course, in the novel, the villainess Empress was described as ‘like a single red rose’...

Ugh, no more ominous thoughts.

I threw my arms around Rose Unni’s neck.

"Unni."

"Mm, what is it?"

"Have you ever met the Empress?"

"......"

At that question, Rose Unni went silent.

Huh? Did she flinch just now? Did I imagine that?

"Well, I’ve never met her."

"I see..."

I nodded.

After all, the Empress is the Empress of the Empire, right? She’s someone neither a trainee maid like me nor even a maid like Rose Unni could just meet easily.

But just then, Rose Unni asked nervously.

"Why do you ask about the Empress?"

"Mm? Just curious."

In truth, the Empress is the one who might eventually kill me, so I’m trying to avoid her as much as possible... but since you seem just as beautiful as she is...

I couldn’t explain it that way, so I just smiled awkwardly.

‘...But something feels strange.’

I tilted my head.

Though there are many beautiful women in the palace, I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as Rose Unni.

How could the Emperor, who always gives attention to beautiful women, not have noticed Rose Unni yet?

Could it be that the Emperor might make a move on her?

"Charles, your face suddenly went pale. What’s wrong?"

Rose Unni asked with a worried expression.

I grabbed the collar of her clothes tightly.

No, Emperor!

"Well... Rose Unni, have you met the Emperor?"

Keep our Rose Unni safe! What if the Empress finds out about this?!

At my question, Rose Unni made a strange face. She gently placed her hands on my shoulders and looked directly into my eyes.

"Charles."

"Mm?"

"Honestly, compared to the Emperor, I think you’re much more precious."

...I’m so relieved that Rose Unni isn’t interested in the Emperor either.

But what is she misunderstanding?

I stared at her in shock.

Clearing my throat, I spoke seriously.

"Unni, you know..."

"Mm?"

"Compared to the Emperor, Rose Unni, you’re way more precious."

At my words, Rose Unni let out a soft laugh.

I flopped onto her lap. The sunlight pouring through the green leaves dazzled my eyes.

I just want to live quietly from now on. I hope I never meet the Emperor or Empress, and I hope I can continue getting along with Rose Unni.

"Charles, after your trainee maid period is over, where do you want to go?"

Rose Unni asked casually, shielding me from the sun.

Well, that’s already decided.

I cheerfully exclaimed.

"To the palace where you’re working, Unni!"

As soon as she heard my exclamation, Rose Unni’s expression melted.

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She hugged me tightly.

"Charles, you’re the best. I love you!"

"I love you too, Unni!"

We both burst into laughter.

The sound of our bright, clear laughter spread far into the sky.

It was a sunny spring afternoon.