The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 21
“Empress?”
Diomid slightly furrowed his brow.
The Empress.
Diomid, who was chewing on the word, sharply pressed me for an answer.
"Then, this is even more suspicious. Why would the Empress's maid come all the way here?"
"Gu, gueyo! Gureonikka...!"
"Aha, so you're the Empress's spy, huh?"
With that declaration, Diomid's eyes gleamed fiercely.
Ugh, can you just listen to the whole story for once?!
And how can an eight-year-old child be this scary?!
This is cheating! Seriously!
I raised my voice, almost in tears.
"No, I'm not a spy!"
"Then?"
"Gu, guryang gil eul ilheobeoryeotda...!"
I shouted the excuse I had prepared in advance.
But even with my best comeback, Diomid didn't waver in the slightest.
Rather, he looked at me with an expression of disbelief, then crookedly raised the corner of his mouth.
"These days, 'I got lost' is synonymous with 'sneaking into somewhere,' huh?"
"Ah, um...?"
"And crawling through a hole, that's pretty thorough, don't you think?"
Diomid asked, giving me a look as if daring me to say something if I had anything to say.
Naturally, I... had nothing to say.
I swallowed a sigh.
How can an eight-year-old be so good with words?
'At this rate, I’ll have no choice but to play the kid card and try to sweet-talk him.'
I tightly closed my eyes.
In fact, my child act worked with the Empress, but the palace operates on survival of the fittest.
Back when I was in the training hall, I was pushed around all over, right?
But there's no way that cold-hearted male lead would fall for my childish act...
But there's no other way!
"Actually, I... I wanted to go on an adventure..."
"...An adventure?"
I made a deliberate lisping sound, and Diomid didn't even try to hide his disbelief.
Well, whatever.
I decided to be a bit shameless.
After all, I look like I’m five, right?
According to the Empress, I’m the cutest girl she wants to bite!
And besides, kids my age usually like adventures!
"Yes. Back when I was in the training hall, they said there was a ghost living in this palace."
I desperately nodded while trying to sell the story of the training hall.
Diomid narrowed his eyes.
"So you came here to check if there really is a ghost... but you got lost, huh?"
Ugh, please just let this slide.
I cautiously glanced at Diomid while pleading in a pitiful voice.
"Sa, save me..."
"..."
"Huh? I’ll be good from now on..."
After a long moment of contemplation, Diomid sheathed his dagger with a doubtful expression.
I raised my hand and began rubbing my throat.
Did I... survive this?!
Diomid looked down at me with a look that was half disbelief, half disappointment.
"You're so calm for a maid. An adventure, huh..."
Really, I almost died at the hands of the male lead before the Empress could kill me! This is too much, isn't it?
Thinking that, I felt a brief sense of relief.
But then a tear dropped from my eye.
I fumbled at my eyes.
Huh, am I crying?
"...What, are you crying now?"
Seeing Diomid staring at me with that strange expression, I realized I really was crying.
As soon as I realized that, overwhelming sorrow flooded over me.
I softly murmured through my trembling lips.
"Ah, no..."
I couldn’t help it. I nearly died just now!
That blade almost cut my throat, I was just trying to protect Rose Unni!
My whole body trembled, making it hard to even stand properly.
I collapsed to the ground.
"Are you okay?"
Noticing my state, Diomid quickly stepped closer to me.
I wanted to say I was fine, but honestly, I wasn’t.
Even seeing the dagger in Diomid’s hand made me want to throw up.
"Ugh..."
No, I can't throw up in front of a stranger!
My human dignity!
I clasped my mouth with both hands.
Then, Diomid glanced down at the dagger in his hand.
I flinched.
Why, why is he looking at the dagger again?
Wait, you’re not planning to aim that at me again, are you?!
Fortunately, Diomid furrowed his brow and put the dagger in his back pocket.
"I’ve put the knife away, so don’t be scared."
"Ugh, ugh, ugh..."
I sniffled, trying to stop my tears.
Then Diomid muttered softly with a sigh.
"Well, no matter how much the Emperor lacks talented people... he wouldn’t send a kid like you as an assassin."
Yeah, that's a fair guess.
What, do I look like an assassin?
As I nodded while my eyes were all red, I suddenly froze.
Wait, assassin?
Diomid looked deep in thought.
"The ones they've sent so far have all been capable people..."
"...An assassin? Did an actual assassin come before?"
Looking up at him with tear-filled eyes, Diomid made a flustered face.
He muttered under his breath.
"Forget it."
"But."
"What am I even saying, with a kid like you in front of me?"
Hey, whether you’re five or eight, isn’t it the same?
At that moment, Diomid suddenly extended his hand.
"Here."
"Huh?"
"Grab my hand and stand up."
...Huh?
I blinked.
Am I hearing things?
But Diomid didn’t pull his hand back.
"I was wrong for suddenly drawing a dagger."
"Huh?"
"So stop crying, ugly. It’s making you uglier."
At that remark, I couldn't help but flare up.
Hey, who are you calling ugly?!
I’m the cutest girl in the world, according to the Empress!
Though the Empress is a bit infatuated, still!
"Won’t you get up?"
Diomid flicked his fingers.
I turned into a pouty face.
I wanted to get up, I really did, but...
"My, my legs..."
"My legs?"
"I can't move them..."
Diomid was silent for a moment.
I think I can understand a little of what’s written on Diomid’s face right now.
You’re thinking, “What a handful,” aren’t you?
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I puffed my cheeks and glared at him.
He clicked his tongue.
"I can’t help it. Then, hop on."
Hop on?
I couldn’t believe my ears.
But Diomid, apparently serious, turned his back toward me.
"I... I can’t! How could I ride on the crown prince’s back!"
I was so surprised, I shook my head furiously.
Then, Diomid turned back to me with a nonchalant expression.
"Then do you plan to keep sitting on the floor?"
"Gu, gugeon..."
Well, I can’t stay like this forever, right?
Eventually, I threw away my pride and climbed onto Diomid’s back.
An eight-year-old’s back... still felt wide for a five-year-old.
The warmth of his body loosened the tension in mine.
"Thank you."
"Whatever. It’s my fault."
I hugged Diomid's neck tightly.
I could feel the bones beneath his thin clothes.
I was a little surprised.
‘Diomid is so skinny.’
He’s the crown prince, yet he’s starving?
Seeing the child abuse happening before my eyes, I couldn’t hold back my disgust.
I ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) need to bring him some food next time.
Wait, but I shouldn’t just leave like this?
"I need to take that with me."
I pointed to the bundle of clothes lying on the floor.
Diomid gave me a grumpy look and asked back.
"...Are you ordering the crown prince around?"
"I-I’m not ordering you around..."
I responded sulkily.
Diomid shook his head and bent down to pick up the bundle.
"Thanks."
"Yeah."
Diomid straightened my body and began walking briskly.
I glanced at the bundle of clothes hanging from his hand.
I had even gotten candy from Weber Unni, so I had to do this task properly.
At that moment, my eyes widened.
Oh, right. The candy!
Should I eat it with Diomid?
"Crown prince."
"Yeah?"
"Do you like candy?"
People who give food are good people, right?
I decided to try to win Diomid over with snacks.
"Forget it, what do you think is in there?"
But all I got in return was a grumpy response.
Tch.
I pouted.
Seriously, he’s got some serious trust issues.
"Here, sit here."
After crossing the garden, Diomid set me down on a nearly falling apart bench.
Unlike the grumpy tone earlier, his hands were surprisingly gentle as he helped me sit.
I pulled out all the candy I had carefully stashed in my pocket.
"Really? You’re not going to have any?"
"I’m not eating it."
Were you a pumpkin in your past life, or are you just that stubborn?
I peeled off the candy wrapper.
At the crinkling sound, I felt Diomid’s eyes flicking toward me.
I proudly popped the yellow candy into my mouth.
"I’m not giving you any candy."
"..."
"Really? You’re not eating it? It’s really delicious."
