The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 73

The Empress had many people who would love her even without me.

But if I disappear, Diamide will truly be alone in the world.

Even though Sienna is here, it will be a long time before Sienna comes to Diamide.

If I leave, Diamide will have to be alone until then.

I didn’t want to be so cruel to him who barely regained his smile.

Above all, I... ... .

‘I know very well how sad it is to be alone.’

Just as I was saved through the Empress, I wanted Diamide to be saved through me.

While tying the knot of the bandage, I asked Diamide in a mischievous voice.

“Surely, Your Majesty, do you really want me to... ... become the Princess of Rochester?”

“Oh, no. That’s it.”

Diamide moved his lips with a rare look of bewilderment.

I reached out and held Diamide’s hand.

Diamide stiffened his shoulders, but didn’t pull his hand away.

I added playfully.

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

“Your Majesty, if I wasn’t here, you would cry every night because you missed me.”

Upon hearing that, Diamide carefully raised his head.

Her slightly wet, crimson eyes looked at my face longingly.

Why, why are you looking at me like that?

Embarrassed.

Just as I was rolling my eyes, Diamide suddenly opened his mouth.

“... ... That might really be true.”

“Huh?”

What kind of nonsense are you talking about?

You’re not a child, why are you crying?

I opened my eyes wide.

At that moment, a small whisper tickled my ears.

“Thank you so much, Charles.”

“... ... Your Majesty?”

“There’s nothing I can do now, but someday I will.”

Before I knew it, Diamide’s eyes were shining with determination.

He continued to speak clearly.

“I will make you a position much more noble than the Princess of Rochester.”

Your Majesty, aren’t you making too many promises?

I was about to ask that, but eventually I smiled and nodded.

So what?

If only Diamide could regain his motivation, I would be satisfied with that.

* * *

After the wounds were all treated, Diamide and I went out to the living room where the Empress was waiting.

“Crown Prince, are you finished with your treatment?”

“Yes. It’s thanks to your concern.”

Diamide answered the Empress’s question politely.

Then the Empress smiled as if she was happy.

“Then, I guess I’ll be punished for making Charles cry?”

“... ... .”

I felt that Diamide was slightly nervous.

Hey, what are you nervous about?

Our Empress is like an angel who fell from the sky.

I told you that she is completely different from the Emperor.

The Empress continued.

“This time, when the Crown Prince takes on the role of a pageant, the pageant that will be with him will be Charles.”

Huh?

My eyes widened at my name that suddenly came out.

Diamide also looked a little surprised.

“Yes?”

“Because I decided that my pageant would be Charlize.”

“I-Is that true?”

“Yes. That is my punishment.”

Then, the Empress narrowed her eyes and glared at Diamide.

She asked him coldly.

“You’re not saying that you don’t want [N O V E L I G H T] to stand as a page together with Charles because he’s a maid, are you?”

“No, that’s not possible!”

Diamide shouted urgently.

The Empress folded her arms.

Diamide hesitated for a moment and then continued.

“... ... Thank you for your consideration.”

“Ha, but Your Majesty the Empress.”

At that moment, I interjected in confusion.

No, I’m the Empress’s page?

How can a mere maid become a page for the harvest festival?

“How could I dare to be a page together with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Why, is there a problem?”

Unlike when she spoke to Diamide, the Empress asked me in a tone as gentle as the spring breeze.

“That’s... ... I’m too low of a status to be a page.”

I answered cautiously.

Honestly, isn’t that right?

The role of the Harvest Ceremony ... But the Crown Prince doesn’t seem to care that much?”

“But, but... ... .”

Countless words were spinning around in my mouth.

The fact that Diamide decided to become the Emperor’s page was enough to make others see ‘the Crown Prince bowing down to the Emperor.’

In that situation, the page standing next to Diamide was just a maid, a swindler.

And even the Empress, is it okay for me to become a page?

No matter how much the Empress cherishes me, a page and an Empress are not the right status... ... .

But then.

“Charle.”

I suddenly raised my head at the calm voice calling me.

Diamide was looking straight at me.

“If you don’t really want to, I don’t want to force you to be the page.”

“... ... Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“But if your status is lower than mine, or you don’t fit in with me, then... ... .”

I clenched my fists at the words that seemed to see right through me.

Diamide finished speaking.

“I hope you don’t reject this offer.”

I bit my lip.

Honestly, I knew it too.

The fact that I was the pageant at the harvest festival was a great opportunity for me.

The pageant of the empress was a position that even noble ladies couldn’t hold.

Everyone gathered at the harvest festival would know that I was favored by the empress.

The gazes that had been secretly ignoring me until now would disappear completely.

That’s why the empress and Diamide were all... ... .

‘... ... They’re deliberately sending me out as pageant, even though I’m not worthy of the title of empress and crown prince.’

I felt like crying at the affection between the two.

At that moment, Diamide quietly added.

“Honestly, Charles, if you become Her Majesty the Empress’s page... ... I think I’ll feel a little better.”

“But.”

“Everyone will be gossiping about me becoming the deposed crown prince, so I need at least one person on my side. Don’t you think so?”

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

As he said that, Diamide smiled playfully.

The Empress tried to comfort me.

“I don’t even want to see His Majesty the Emperor’s face, so what would I do if our Charles wasn’t around?”

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

“We might end up fighting during the harvest festival. Shouldn’t we at least prevent that?”

At the Empress’s joke, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

The Empress patted my head.

“Will you be my page, Charles?”

“... ... Yes, I will.”

I nodded slightly.

The Empress’s eyes narrowed softly.

I continued to speak with strength.

“Thank you, I will try my best so as not to bring shame on Her Majesty the Empress’s name.”

“It’s good to work hard, but don’t overdo it. Okay?”

The Empress spoke affectionately.

How can our Empress be so angelic?

I smiled brightly.

“Yes!”

* * *

A few days passed like that.

I wrote a letter to the Duke of Rochester, saying, “I refuse the adoption,” as politely as I could.

And that night.

The Empress suddenly came to see me.

“Charles.”

Oh, why is our Empress so gloomy?

I was lying in bed, just getting ready to go to sleep, when I jumped out of the blanket like an arrow.

“Empress, what’s wrong?”

“That... ... .”

The Empress licked her lips several times while sitting in front of me.

After waiting for a long time, she continued speaking in a hoarse voice.

“My brother proposed adoption to you, but you refused... ... .”

“Oh, that... ... .”

I unknowingly trailed off.

I sent a letter of refusal today, but I didn’t know the Empress would hear the news so quickly.

The Empress cautiously asked me a question.

“... ... Are you still not interested?”

“I’m sorry for giving you such a good opportunity, Your Majesty.”

I bowed my head and glanced at the Empress’s expression.

The Empress looked so sorry that she wanted to stamp her feet.

I’m sorry about this.

After a while, the Empress tried to act calm and answered me.

“No, it’s okay. You may not want to be adopted. However... ... .”

However?

I tilted my head.

The Empress, who had been biting her lips, asked me resolutely.

“Can you tell me why you refused?”

The Empress’s eyes held a fierce desire.

As if she were to find out why I refused, she would change the reason and try again... ... .

“That’s... ... .”

I smiled vaguely.

Because the reason I refused was not something that could be changed no matter how hard you tried.

“If I become the Princess of Rochester, I would have to leave the palace, right?”

I’m not even a member of the royal family, so I can’t stay in the palace.

I shrugged and continued.

“Then I won’t be able to see Her Majesty the Empress as often as I do now, right?”

“But Charles, if you are adopted by Rochester, you will be my brother.”

The Empress continued with emphasis.

“If you wish, you can come to the Empress’s palace every day. I will make it happen.”

The Empress clenched her fists tightly.