The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 61

"...Please, have some dignity."

Duke Rochester pressed his temples with his fingers, as if a headache was coming on.

At that moment, Diamid stepped forward and carefully greeted them.

"Thank you very much for celebrating my birthday, Your Majesty the Empress. And also..."

Taking a deep breath, Diamid spoke clearly.

"Duke Rochester, it is truly a pleasure to meet you."

The duke, who had been looking down at Diamid with unreadable eyes, returned ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the greeting with a polite nod.

"I greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

"I did not expect you to come all the way here. I’m truly glad."

Well, I was surprised too.

I nodded absentmindedly but then suddenly made eye contact with the duke.

His brow furrowed deeply.

"Kid, why do you keep sneaking glances at me?"

"Ah, it's nothing!"

Ugh, why did our eyes have to meet again?

At that moment, the Empress shook her head and teased,

"Brother, really. You came all this way because you felt guilty about Charl, so you should at least be nice to her, shouldn’t you?"

"W-when did I say that?!"

"You did, didn’t you? The first time you met her, you said you might have been too harsh..."

"Your Majesty!"

The duke suddenly raised his voice.

Wow, his face was as red as a ripe tomato.

Wait, he thought he had been too harsh on me?

What was that supposed to mean?

I blinked in confusion.

Avoiding my gaze, the duke quickly turned back to Diamid and spoke.

"Your Highness, truly, happy birthday. Let’s take our seats."

"Ah, yes..."

Diamid nodded awkwardly.

And with that, his surprise birthday party officially began.

The food on the table was so abundant that it looked like the table legs would collapse under its weight.

Ugh, my mouth keeps watering!

"Your Highness, come sit here!"

I pulled out a chair and gently pushed Diamid into it.

He did his best to maintain a composed expression.

But he couldn’t completely hide the excitement of a boy sitting in front of his birthday feast.

"What's wrong? Are you so moved that you’re about to cry?"

At my playful jab, Diamid jumped in alarm and shot back.

"N-no, it’s nothing like that!"

"Really? Are you really sure?"

With my sly grin, Diamid’s cheeks turned bright red.

Oh dear, my little Diamid! You’re just too cute!

But I still had one more surprise left.

I placed a cake box on the table.

"Tada!"

"...What’s this?"

"A birthday cake!"

Hearing my answer, Diamid looked at the cake box with curious eyes.

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With a proud voice, I added,

"This was made by me and the Grand Empress Dowager."

"...Halma-mama?"

For a moment, Diamid froze.

I smiled brightly.

"Yes. She insisted that I give it to Your Highness personally."

"..."

Diamid bit his lip.

With trembling fingers, he ran them over the surface of the box and fiddled with the slightly messy butterfly ribbon.

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Seeing his expression—like he was about to cry at any moment—made my heart ache a little too.

"Go on, open it."

"...Ah, yeah. I should."

Only after I spoke did Diamid carefully open the box.

Inside was a whipped cream cake, heavily decorated with fruit and chocolate.

Objectively, it wasn’t the prettiest cake.

But...

"...Thank you."

Still staring at the cake, Diamid finally murmured in a tight voice.

At least he seemed happy with it.

Just then—

"Charl."

"Yes?"

"I just realized... I’ve never baked a cake with you before."

The Empress spoke with a pout.

I was at a loss for words.

...What was I supposed to say in response to that?

"U-uh, then let’s bake one together next time."

"'Next time' is too vague."

The Empress shook her head firmly at my attempt to dodge the question.

"Tomorrow."

"What?"

"Tomorrow, you’ll bake with me."

"O-oh... okay."

Well, if the Empress insists...

I nodded reluctantly.

Then, my gaze drifted over to the duke standing across from us.

"..."

The duke was looking at the Empress with an utterly dumbfounded expression.

A deep sigh escaped his lips.

"I can’t believe my sister is this childish..."

...It seemed like his image of the Empress had just completely shattered.

Rather than getting involved in the sibling squabble, I decided to focus on Diamid instead.

"This is for you, Your Highness."

I placed the first slice of cake in front of him.

"The strawberry on top is the best part."

"Ah, thank you."

Following my advice, Diamid stabbed the strawberry with his fork.

With a hap, he popped it into his mouth.

"It’s good, right?"

"Yeah."

A rosy blush spread across his cheeks.

I watched him chew happily, feeling proud.

Our little Diamid is just too adorable!

But then—

I suddenly felt a sharp gaze piercing my side.

"Charl."

"...Yes?"

The Empress’ pouting voice caught me off guard.

W-what now?

She stared at me with a sulky expression before dramatically turning her head away.

"Well, I suppose... today is the Crown Prince’s birthday, after all..."

"......."

"......."

I was speechless.

Was she seriously sulking because I gave Diamid cake first?

Oh, for heaven’s sake.

I quickly slid a plate toward her and exaggerated my reaction.

"Your Majesty, please try this cake!"

"Charl."

The Empress met my gaze with a deliberately pitiful expression.

"I’d like you to feed it to me."

"...Huh?"

"My hand hurts from signing too many documents today."

That was utter nonsense.

The problem was—her downcast lashes and the way she massaged her wrist made her look...

"Too breathtakingly beautiful!"

Completely entranced by her beauty, I instinctively cut a large piece of cake.

The Empress took it without hesitation.

Phew, how can our Empress be this cute?

As I clutched my chest—

"......."

"......."

I felt an intense stare and turned around.

Diamid and the duke were both staring at me, eyes practically burning with intensity.

W-why?

"Feed me too."

Diamid declared boldly.

I gave him a dry look.

"Your Highness, you’re not a baby. Why should I—"

"So you’re saying you only fed Her Majesty because she’s a baby?"

Diamid asked with a completely straight face.

W-well, when you put it like that... I had no argument.

At that moment, the duke silently reached out and cut himself a slice of cake.

"I can eat just fine on my own."

He took a large bite with his fork.

An awkward silence fell over the room.

"......."

"......."

My jaw dropped.

Wait—Duke!

Just a moment ago, you were looking at the Empress like she was pathetic!

Where did your previously composed, intelligent demeanor go?!

At the same time, the Empress scowled as if deeply disappointed.

"Ugh, this idiot."

"Your Majesty, I don’t think you have the right to say that."

The duke shot back with a lifted chin.

The way they glared at each other was so intense it was like watching a hawk and a tiger in battle.

I was at a loss.

W-wait... weren’t they a sweet sibling pair just moments ago?!

Somehow, the meal finally came to an end.

...We had only eaten, yet I felt utterly exhausted.

As I slumped into my chair, the Empress turned to Diamid.

"By the way, Your Highness, what would you like as a gift?"

"A gift?"

Diamid blinked.

The Empress leaned on her hand and asked again.

"Of course. I have my dignity as an Empress—how could I not prepare a gift?"

"I..."

After hesitating for a moment, Diamid finally spoke in a resolute voice.

"...I would like books."

"Books?"

The Empress' eyes widened at his unexpected request.

I was surprised too.

Wouldn’t most kids his age want toys or something?

Diamid looked tense as he continued.

"Yes. It’s embarrassing to admit, but ever since I was confined, I haven’t had a proper chance to study."

"......."

"......."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Even the usually indifferent duke looked taken aback.

Well, the Emperor was always scheming to get rid of Diamid.

Keeping him isolated, ensuring he had no opportunity to learn... it made perfect sense.