The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 46

"Did I say something that strange?"

"So, you think that I only adore you because you're a child?"

The Empress summed up my words in a single sentence.

I couldn't answer.

Because... she was right.

Her eyes narrowed sharply, her expression unreadable.

"You're afraid that once you grow up, I won’t love you anymore."

Her voice carried a certain weight, pressing down on me. I hung my head low.

"You threw yourself into work, trying to become someone useful."

The pointed question burrowed into my ears.

"So that even when you're no longer a child, [N O V E L I G H T] you can stay by my side?"

Nod, nod.

Seeing me nodding, the Empress pressed her fingers against her forehead.

"How on earth did you end up thinking that—no, wait."

Shaking her head, she suddenly narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"If I see my brother next time, I'm going to kill him...."

Huh?

Startled, I jerked my head up.

The Empress took a deep breath, reigning in her temper before speaking.

"Let's say you had a younger sibling. If they grew up and became an adult..."

She paused, looking at me seriously.

"Would you stop loving them?"

"N-No! Of course not...!"

"Then it's the same for me."

Her firm voice left no room for doubt. I pressed my lips together.

"Look at me and my brother. I’m already an adult, but he still treats me as his little sister, doesn’t he?"

"...Your Majesty."

"And I'm the same."

The Empress’ lips curled into a gentle smile.

A warm, sunlit expression, like a spring afternoon.

"No matter how much you grow, even if you become an old grandmother, I will love you just the same."

"Ah..."

"Thinking of you as my younger sibling—that’s what it means."

The moment I heard her voice, something deep inside me stirred.

I bit my lip, trying to hold back my emotions.

Then, as if sensing my struggle, the Empress’ soft voice brushed against my ears.

"I like you no matter what. It's not because you're young."

...So that's what it was.

Suddenly, I remembered what Diamid had told me.

Liking someone isn't about having a reason...

"You should like someone simply because they are who they are."

He was right.

The Empress didn’t care about any conditions. She liked me just because I was Charles.

Warmth spread in my heart.

"Besides, I already promised you, didn’t I? That I would never abandon you. Do you not remember?"

"N-No! Of course I remember!"

How could I possibly forget something so important?

I blinked wide-eyed as the Empress gave me a strict look.

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"You received a direct promise from the Empress herself, yet you've been worrying about something so pointless."

She flashed a playful smile.

"Isn’t that a little disrespectful?"

"S-Sorry... I just...."

"If you're really sorry, then finish all the madeleines on this plate."

She gestured toward the plate of sweets.

I stared blankly.

What did apologizing have to do with eating snacks?

"These madeleines," she said in a conspiratorial whisper, "are enchanted with a special magic that makes worries disappear."

"...Huh?"

"So if you eat them all, every heavy thought weighing on your heart will be gone."

Speaking as if she were revealing a great secret, she lowered her voice.

I hesitated before picking one up.

Chomp.

The moment I took a bite, the sweetness melted on my tongue.

As soon as I finished one, the Empress reached over and dusted the crumbs off my cheek.

"Well? Don’t you feel better already?"

"Yes, I do!"

My eyes welled up, but I smiled brightly.

Only then did the Empress' expression finally relax.

I grabbed another madeleine.

As I stuffed it into my mouth, I swallowed the lump in my throat along with it.

Because I could stay by the Empress' side.

Because she told me she would always love me.

I'm really glad.

After my conversation with the Empress, I felt so much lighter.

Before I knew it, I was smiling like an idiot.

"Why are you grinning like that?"

Diamid frowned at me, unable to hold back his irritation.

I was sorting through freshly dried laundry when I glanced at him with an amused look.

"It’s my choice, why? Does it bother you that I’m happy?"

"No, that's not—wait."

He was about to say something when he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening.

"Wait, your way of speaking...."

"My way of speaking?"

"When did you start talking so clearly?"

Huh?

I blinked.

Oh. I wasn't lisping anymore.

"Wow, you finally sound like a normal person."

"...Excuse me? Are you saying I wasn’t before?"

"Well, more like..."

Diamid paused, thinking. Then, he grinned mischievously.

"You always seemed younger than your age."

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?"

"More like you didn't really want to grow up."

I stiffened.

Because his words hit far too close to home.

He plopped down next to me, picking up a dry towel as he continued.

"But that’s not the case anymore."

"Really? Then what do I seem like now?"

I asked playfully.

Diamid furrowed his brows slightly as he folded a towel.

"I don’t know about anything else, but..."

He shrugged.

"You definitely look more at ease."

"Do I? Really?"

I smiled.

Yeah.

Now that the pressure to stay young was gone, I felt free.

Maybe the reason I couldn't get rid of my lisp before was...

Was I subconsciously holding myself back?

I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head.

Well, whatever.

What mattered was that I felt better now.

As I stacked the neatly folded towels, I squinted.

Unlike mine, Diamid’s towels were a mess—crumpled and uneven.

...I might have to refold these.

I appreciated the thought, but honestly, he was making more work for me.

Maybe I should quietly fix them later...

While I was lost in thought, Diamid suddenly called my name.

"Charles."

"Yes?"

"In my opinion," he started, as if making a grand declaration, "people who like you...."

Huh?

I turned to look at him.

"They don't like you because you're young, or because you're pretty, or because you're good at your job."

...Huh.

That was kind of touching.

But...

I smirked and teased him, "Weren’t you the one who used to call me ugly all the time?"

"T-That was—"

"You told me not to smile because it made me look worse. And now you say this?"

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I raised an eyebrow at him.

Didn’t he have a criminal record when it came to this?

As I stared him down, Diamid started sweating, looking away awkwardly.

Hah. Payback complete.

I smirked.

"I was just joking."

"You—"

Diamid glared at me.

"Anyway, as I was saying..."

"And?"

"People like you just because you’re you."

His voice was so sincere that I couldn’t resist teasing him.

I leaned in and smirked.

"Oh? What about you, Your Highness?"

"Huh? Me?"

"Yeah. Do you like me just because I’m me?"

"...I suppose."

Muttering under his breath, Diamid quickly turned away.

I blinked.

The tips of his ears and the back of his neck had turned completely red.

...Adorable.

Just as I was basking in the moment, he suddenly spoke.

"I heard there was some trouble in the laundry room?"

"Oh, that..."

I instinctively glanced at him.

Did he already know about what Becky and the maids had said?

...I hope it didn’t upset him too much.

"Thanks for sticking up for me."

"Y-Your Highness! Don’t let what they said get to you—wait, huh?"

I blinked, confused.

Diamid frowned at me.

"What are you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"I don’t really care what other people think anymore."

He met my gaze directly.

"Because you’re with me."

"Ah..."

Clearing his throat, he added firmly,

"The only person I care about... is you."