The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 42

The maids’ faces twisted with discomfort, as if I had struck a nerve.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is His Majesty the Emperor’s only nephew."

I swept my cold gaze over them.

"And he is also under His Majesty’s protection."

Only then did the maids seem to realize whom they had been gossiping about. Their shoulders flinched in unease.

I continued in a detached tone.

"His Majesty acts as regent in place of the Crown Prince, which means..."

Gulp.

The maids swallowed hard.

Straightening my posture, I locked eyes with them.

"...His Highness the Crown Prince is the very figure who legitimizes His Majesty’s rule."

Diamid had explained this to me once before.

The reason the Emperor continuously tormented him, sent assassins after him time and time again, yet never completely got rid of him.

It was because if Diamid were to disappear entirely...

‘The Emperor would lose the very justification for holding onto the throne.’

Of course, in truth, he was practically itching to get rid of Diamid, but...

I narrowed my eyes.

As the maids exchanged uneasy glances, I drove my point home.

"And yet, you’re all casually calling him a dethroned prince and belittling him...?"

"......"

"......"

"Aren’t you afraid of His Majesty’s wrath?"

I smiled slightly as I posed the question.

The maids’ pupils quivered.

At that moment—

Stepping forward as if to speak on behalf of the group, Becky snapped at me.

"A-Are you threatening us right now?!"

"Of course not. I’m merely stating facts."

I tilted my head slightly.

Becky bit her lip, struggling to come up with a retort.

"If my words feel like a threat... then doesn’t that mean there’s something you feel guilty about?"

"G-Guilty?! Watch your mouth! Who do you think you are to speak to us like that?!"

"Oh, I wasn’t thinking of it as a threat at all."

No one spoke in response to my words.

On the outside, I kept my expression composed, but inside, I let out a sigh of relief.

Phew, following the Head Maid and Senior Maid around had paid off.

As soon as I imitated their mannerisms, I was able to take control of the situation so easily!

"And besides, Her Majesty the Empress is Windsor’s Empress Consort and His Majesty’s one and only legitimate wife, isn’t she?"

"Who doesn’t know that?!"

"Oh, I thought you didn’t."

I deliberately widened my eyes.

"Otherwise, surely you’d know it’s only natural for Her Majesty to look after His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Wouldn’t you?

I smiled even more.

Hmm, I must look really annoying right now.

"Instead of learning from Her Majesty’s grace, you’re standing here gossiping behind her back?"

"You— You think you can lecture us?!"

"Well... there’s no reason I can’t, is there?"

Just then, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.

The rose quartz brooch pinned to my chest reflected the light, gleaming.

Wow, what perfect timing.

Puffing out my chest, I finished confidently,

"After all, I am a full-fledged maid of the Empress’s Palace."

At my words, Becky’s eyes shook violently.

Hmm, I could more or less guess what she was thinking.

‘How could I lose to that tiny brat? No way!’

...Something like that, probably.

She might even try to slap me.

"You— you little—!"

At that moment, Becky raised her hand high.

I reflexively shut my eyes tight.

Yeah, I was wondering when she’d finally raise her hand.

‘Honestly, it might be better to just take a hit here.’

The palace was a strict hierarchy, and for a trainee maid to lay a hand on a full-fledged maid was a punishable offense.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

As much as Becky’s slaps stung, if I could secure concrete grounds to report her, I could endure it.

"......"

"......"

But the pain never came.

Instead, a sharp groan rang out.

"Ugh, let go...!"

Startled, I snapped my eyes open.

At the same time, a cold voice pierced my ears.

"Am I really witnessing a subordinate defying her superior right now?"

The owner of the voice was a man with strikingly elegant features, as if painted with a brush.

However, despite his delicate, almost fragile appearance, he was gripping Becky’s wrist firmly.

"L-Let go...!"

Becky writhed in pain, trying to break free from his grasp.

"Oh? You want me to let go?"

The man raised an eyebrow.

"If that’s what you want, I’ll comply."

And with that, he ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) released Becky’s wrist as if discarding filth.

Becky collapsed to the ground like a broken rag doll.

"Ack!"

The man gazed down at her with an icy stare.

"You sure know how to scream loudly."

"......!"

Becky, pale with fear, looked up at him.

The man gave a dazzling smile.

"That mouth of yours is quite useful."

"I-I..."

"You scream well, gossip about your superiors without knowing your place, and chatter endlessly."

His voice was lighthearted, but his eyes were devoid of warmth.

"Slamming insults left and right."

"T-That’s not..."

"Not just about His Highness the Crown Prince, but about Her Majesty the Empress as well."

Becky was now trembling like a leaf.

Listening to his slow, deliberate words, I felt as if I had swallowed a chunk of ice.

It was because his red hair and vivid green eyes reminded me of someone I knew.

That person was...

"D-Duke Rochester!"

A woman’s voice, almost a shriek, rang out.

It was the Head Maid of the laundry room.

Wait— Duke Rochester?!

I gawked in disbelief.

Glancing around, I saw that the other maids had the same stunned expressions.

I-I had thought he resembled Her Majesty a bit, but...

‘He’s really Duke Rochester?!’

Mathias Rochester.

The head of House Rochester and the leader of the Noble Council.

Those grand titles alone proved that he stood at the very peak of the empire’s nobility.

And he was...

The Empress’s older brother.

Which meant...

"D-Did our trainee maids commit some offense?"

...Not just Becky, but all the maids who had insulted Her Majesty were finished.

The Head Maid looked stricken as she turned to Duke Rochester.

His smile deepened.

"These maids and this trainee maid mocked His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress."

His words were succinct, yet they carried immense weight.

And he wasn’t finished.

"Not only did a maid speak informally to a full-fledged maid, but she even attempted to intimidate her...."

How amusing.

His voice was devoid of warmth.

The Head Maid, now pale as a sheet, stammered,

"Y-Your Grace, I..."

"It seems the trainee maids and junior maids need to be re-educated."

Duke Rochester’s reply was merciless.

The Head Maid’s face turned ghostly white.

At that moment, Becky scrambled on her knees and clutched at the Duke’s pant leg.

"P-Please, Your Grace! I-I’m truly sorry! This... this was just...!"

"If you’re truly sorry, then you should humbly accept your punishment."

With that, he effortlessly shook her off with a graceful step.

"Your Grace, please...!"

"I have no intention of letting this matter slide."

At his resolute words, Becky’s body slumped.

She sat there, utterly defeated.

"I’ll be reporting this incident to both Their Majesties personally, so look forward to the verdict."

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Duke Rochester then shifted his gaze to me.

H-Huh? Me? Why?

A chill ran down my spine.

Excuse me, I didn’t do anything wrong...?

Then, in a detached tone, he asked me a question.

"You. You said you were a maid of the Empress’s Palace."

"Y-Yes, sir! I am Charlize."

His green eyes narrowed, seemingly dissatisfied with my wobbly pronunciation.

"Are you returning to the Empress’s Palace?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Then go."

With that, Duke Rochester strode ahead.

Scrambling to follow him, I instinctively glanced back.

Becky and the maids were staring blankly at our retreating figures.

I would likely never see them in the palace again.

"......"

Lost in thought, I turned my head forward— and flinched.

Duke Rochester was already far ahead.

Was he showing off his long legs or something?

Why was he walking so fast?!

Nearly running, I barely caught up and managed to gasp out,

"Th-Thank you... for helping me."

I panted.

Duke Rochester looked down at me with a frosty gaze.

W-What? Could I not even thank him?

Just as I shrank back, he spoke in a tone that left no room for argument.