The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 6
"At least you know that there’s no chance you'll be assigned to the Empress’s Palace, right?"
I... why didn’t I realize this?
I looked at Unni with a face full of despair.
No, honestly, maybe I already knew.
Her red hair flowing in waves, and her vibrant, dark green eyes.
Her beauty, as bright as a rose, was the most noble in the empire and was even recognized as the villainess in the original story...
This beauty was only allowed to the Empress.
But I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to believe that this kind, affectionate Unni would someday be the villainess Empress who would try to kill me.
But...
Thinking of her as the Empress, everything falls into place.
‘Her freedom from the maid duties and her strangely confident attitude. Everything.’
I bit my lip until it bled.
It felt like there was a huge hole in my chest.
Rose Unni, no, the Empress, took a step forward.
"Apologize to Charles."
"...What?"
"From the way you spoke to me earlier, it seems your hearing is fine."
The cold, dark green eyes of the Empress glared at Becky.
Without a word, the Empress coldly snapped at her.
"Why can’t you understand me?"
"Your, Your Majesty!"
"Don’t call me that so casually. When did I ever give you permission to speak to me like that?"
The Empress’s gaze grew sharper in an instant.
The people around us tensed, feeling the intensity of her stare.
"How dare a mere trainee maid talk back to the Empress?"
"No, no, I didn’t mean...!"
"If you didn’t mean to, are you pretending to not understand to provoke me?"
Becky, now pale, shook her head.
Panicking, she turned to me and hastily apologized.
"S-sorry, Charles."
"...It’s alright. I must have upset you, too, Becky..."
Honestly, it was clear that her apology was forced, but still, it was an apology.
I nodded half-heartedly.
Truthfully, I was so shocked by the revelation that Rose Unni was the Empress, that I couldn’t care less about Becky’s apology.
But then, the Empress interrupted with a displeased expression.
"Hmm, I don’t like the way you’re apologizing."
"What? But..."
"I know. I understand you can’t show your true feelings outwardly. So..."
The Empress looked at Becky as if she were something filthy, scanning her from top to bottom.
Her alluring lips parted.
"Shouldn’t you at least show some sincerity by putting your forehead to the floor?"
"Y-your Majesty. I’m fine."
I stepped in to stop the Empress.
Hearing the title "Your Majesty" made the Empress flinch slightly.
A moment later, she looked at me.
Her beautiful face was filled with sorrow.
‘...She looks like she’s been hurt.’
But why?
I clenched my fists.
The one who deceived me was the Empress herself.
The Empress, who had been about to say something, sighed deeply and shook her head.
"No, I’m the one who’s not alright."
Her voice was complicated.
She narrowed her eyes and turned to Becky.
"If you don’t want to be immediately thrown out of the palace, you better apologize in a way that satisfies me."
"..."
"..."
Thrown out of the palace?
For a moment, I forgot my feelings of betrayal toward the Empress and gaped.
If she’s not leaving voluntarily, would any other noble family even take her in?
"I-I’m sorry! I was wrong, please, not being thrown out...!"
Becky, now a ghostly pale figure, collapsed at the Empress's feet.
But the Empress, with a gaze colder than the north wind, turned away from her.
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"That level of apology won’t satisfy me, let alone Charles."
"Your Majesty...!"
"Do you not realize that giving you this chance to apologize is already me showing mercy?"
It felt like a cold breeze was blowing.
Becky, now face-down on the ground, was almost in tears.
"Charles, I’m truly sorry. I was wrong."
"..."
"Please, forgive me, okay?"
Becky, now crawling on her knees toward me, begged with a desperate voice.
Her eyes, which had always been fierce, were now filled with tears.
I looked down at her, overwhelmed with an indescribable feeling.
After everything she had put me through, after I had begged and pleaded to no avail, she was apologizing just like this because of the Empress’s words.
At that moment, the Empress called my name.
"Charles."
"Huh?"
I looked up at her in surprise.
The Empress spoke in a soft voice, like spring.
"What should we do with that trainee maid?"
"I-I can’t possibly decide for Your Majesty..."
"No, I want to do what you want."
The Empress shook her head.
...What I want?
My mind suddenly became complicated.
I frowned, unsure.
Honestly, just throwing her out seemed too harsh.
In the end, both Becky and I are just commoners with nowhere to turn.
But to just let it slide...
‘...I don’t want that.’
How could I just let Becky’s actions go unpunished?
No way!
I hesitated before speaking.
"W-well then..."
"Well?"
The Empress’s gaze was so warm that I felt my heart tighten.
But the Empress isn’t my Rose Unni anymore, is she?
I swallowed the growing lump in my throat and spoke.
"One year."
"Eh?"
"For the next year, Becky, the trainee maid, will be in charge of cleaning the corridors by herself."
Becky suddenly looked up, surprised at the light punishment.
I continued.
"And cleaning the corridors and the work she’s been assigned are separate. She’ll have to do both clearly."
"Are you sure that’s enough?"
"Yes."
I nodded slightly.
The Empress, staring at me intently, then gave an order to the head maid.
"Carry out Charles’s decision, but reduce her salary for the period by half."
At this, Becky’s eyes trembled like a trembling aspen leaf.
But the Empress coldly added,
"And delay her promotion to a formal maid for three more years."
Becky, hearing this, turned pale as if ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) she were about to collapse.
Indeed, the salary of a trainee maid is already paltry.
If it were halved, anyone would look like that.
And then her promotion would be delayed for three whole years...
‘And she was so close to being promoted.’
The reason Becky was exempt from the trainee maids' punishment regarding the laundry incident was because her promotion to a formal maid was so near.
The Empress concluded in a stern voice.
"This is punishment for daring to create a hierarchy among fellow trainees by meddling with training."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
The head maid bowed deeply.
The Empress glanced at Becky, then spoke.
"What are you waiting for? Get out of my sight, now."
"...I-I will leave."
Becky staggered to her feet and left.
An uncomfortable silence lingered.
Not knowing what to say, I bit my lip in frustration.
Then, the Empress called my name again.
"Charles."
"Yes?"
I slowly lifted my gaze.
The Empress looked at my hand with tender eyes.
"Your hands are all cracked from touching the soapy water for so long..."
"It’s fine."
The Empress frowned at my response.
Had I said something to upset her?
Just then, the Empress grabbed my hand unexpectedly.
Startled, I reflexively pulled my hand away.
"..."
"..."
The Empress didn’t try to forcefully hold my hand.
She only looked at me with a sad gaze.
After a deep breath, the Empress spoke.
"Why do you always say you’re fine?"
"..."
"It’s clearly not fine. Your hands are so damaged..."
With a sorrowful voice, the Empress looked at my wounded palm.
I silently lowered my eyes.
If this were before, that kindness would have made my heart flutter.
But now...
"...I’m sorry if I worried you, Your Majesty."
I responded, hiding my hand between my clothes.
The Empress, who had opened her lips as if to say something, bit her lower lip and lowered her head.
Looking at the Empress’s broken expression, my mind became full of confusion.
‘Please stop making that hurt expression.’
Why does the Empress make that face?
Wouldn’t it be better to just mock me as a foolish little girl who couldn’t even recognize the Empress of the Empire?
When she makes that kind of sad face...
‘...It makes me feel upset, too.’
My chest tightened, and I bit my lip tightly.
After a moment, the Empress spoke in a quiet voice.
"Then I’ll see you again tomorrow, Charles."
"Yes? Yes, understood."
I nodded absentmindedly.
