The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 84

The Empress clenched her fists tightly.

"She's only just come of age, right? She's still so young."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. If I think about all those knights and attendants who were leering at her before she even came of age..."

The Empress raised her voice, obviously very worked up.

Hmm, well...

I rolled my eyes.

It’s true that I’ve received several proposals even before I became of age.

Of course, every time I received such proposals...

"Because the Empress glared at them so fiercely, I couldn’t even exchange a few words with them properly."

At this rate, I feel like I’m going to live my entire life without knowing a thing about men, much less ever finding a husband.

I was lost in these thoughts when...

"Still, Charl is eighteen now, isn't she?"

The Empress Dowager spoke with a voice tinged with amusement.

"Such a lovely age. Don’t you think she should experience a bit of romance? Shall I arrange something?"

"No, I’m fine."

I smiled and shook my head.

Honestly, I wasn’t really interested in romance.

Besides, I already have the Empress.

"I just want to stay by the Empress's side and live with her."

"Did you hear that? Our Charl is so wonderful!"

The Empress proudly raised her chin.

She then shot a strange look at the Empress Dowager.

"By the way, is it really okay to arrange a man for Charl?"

"Pardon?"

"What if the Crown Prince gets angry? How will you handle that?"

"Ah."

In that moment, a playful glint appeared in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.

"Well, that’s true."

Without any hesitation, both the Empress and the Empress Dowager burst into laughter.

What’s going on? Why are they laughing like that?

I couldn’t hide my confused expression when, after laughing for quite some time, the Empress wiped away the tears in her eyes and spoke.

"By the way, Empress Dowager."

"Please, go ahead."

"I actually have something to tell you today, hence I brought you here."

Something to tell her? What could that be?

The Empress Dowager and I tilted our heads in unison. At that very moment, the Empress dropped a bombshell.

"The Crown Prince will return."

"...Is that really true?!"

The Empress Dowager completely forgot her usual calm demeanor and raised her voice in shock.

I, too, couldn’t hide my astonishment, matching the Empress Dowager’s reaction.

I even forgot for a moment that I was in the presence of the Empress and the Empress Dowager, my eyes wide open.

The Empress spoke calmly, continuing.

"It’s true. There will be a ceremony soon."

"A ceremony? Did the Emperor approve of this?"

"Well, there’s no situation where he could say no."

The Empress shrugged indifferently.

"The Crown Prince has achieved so much, after all."

At her words, a proud smile spread across the Empress Dowager’s wrinkled face.

Indeed, the accomplishments were truly remarkable.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

During Diamid’s eight years in the North, the absolute number of monsters was reduced by almost 80%.

For at least several years, the threat of monster invasions would no longer be a concern, right?

"Objectively speaking, there is no one in the Empire who has more support from the citizens than the Crown Prince."

"Really? That much?"

"Of course. Would I ever lie to you, Empress Dowager?"

The Empress gently patted the Empress Dowager’s hand.

"Everyone in the Empire ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) is watching to see how the Emperor treats the Crown Prince."

"That means..."

"The Emperor must hold a ceremony for the Crown Prince without fail."

I glanced at the Empress subtly.

Hmm, somehow... I get the feeling that the Empress is quite enjoying this.

As if proving my guess right, the Empress narrowed her eyes mischievously.

"If the Empire’s hero is neglected, the entire North, not to mention the Empire itself, will rebel fiercely."

At those words, the Empress Dowager’s face brightened as though a light had been switched on.

I felt the same way.

Oh, Diamid.

You’ve grown so well!

I placed my fluttering heart in my hands and cautiously asked.

"Then, who will represent the Crown Prince at the ceremony?"

"I heard it’s going to be Crown Prince Diamid and Count Antes, probably?"

My heart sank immediately.

"...Count Antes?"

"Yes, Siena Antes. She’ll be coming up as the representative of the North."

The Empress kindly explained.

"She was a count’s daughter, but she recently became the heir to her family and was granted the title of countess."

"I... see."

I swallowed dryly and cautiously asked.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"But... why isn’t Count Antes himself coming?"

"Well, what better occasion than the ceremony to introduce Siena Antes to the system?"

The Empress answered as though it were an obvious question.

"To get familiar with the central politics and to firmly establish her position as countess. It’s a good opportunity."

I nodded slightly, quickly lifting my teacup to hide my face.

...I see.

So at this ceremony, I’ll see Diamid and Siena standing side by side.

Am I finally going to meet the female lead?

I forced myself to control my expression and set the teacup down.

I should cheer for them. That’s what I truly think, but...

"...."

Somehow, the aftertaste of the black tea felt bitter.

Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was the day of the ceremony.

As though celebrating Diamid’s victory, the weather was bright and clear.

Petals in every color and pieces of colored paper fluttered in the bright blue sky.

Joyful music filled the air, mixed with the sound of a large trumpet.

Thunderous applause shook the entire world.

The citizens, who had gathered in the streets, cheered.

"Long live Windsor!"

"Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Long live! Long live!"

The people’s faces were all full of joy.

The Emperor and Empress Dowager stood in front of the Imperial Palace, waiting for the knights to enter.

I, too, followed as one of the Empress’s personal maids.

Everyone was filled with excitement, but the only one whose expression was dark was the Emperor.

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

‘What’s with that face? Looks like he’s chewing on a stone. Is Diamid’s success really that hard to stomach?’

I glanced at the Emperor sideways, muttering quietly in my mind.

Then, just then...

"Waah-!"

A loud cheer erupted.

The Emperor, who had been frowning, turned his gaze toward the direction of the cheer.

"The Crown Prince is coming!"

"The hero of the Empire who purified the monsters!"

"Long live! Long, long live!"

I slightly raised my head.

The knights were entering in formation toward the Imperial Palace.

It was a majestic sight.

Among them, there was one person who stood out especially.

It was none other than...

‘Diamid!’

I widened my eyes.

Diamid, riding a huge black horse, looked like a living statue.

The little boy I had sent off was nowhere to be seen; standing in front of me was a handsome and strong young man.

His deep navy-blue hair fluttered softly above his forehead.

His scarlet eyes, resembling the sun, gazed steadily forward.

‘...He’s really grown up a lot.’

I had occasionally wondered.

What would grown-up Diamid look like?

I was sure that when he became an adult, he would look incredibly handsome.

And the Diamid standing before me completely exceeded my expectations.

An indescribable wave of emotion surged inside me, and I froze in place.

But then...

‘Huh?’

At the same time, a woman on a pure white horse approached Diamid.

She spoke to Diamid with a gentle smile on her face.

In an instant, my expression fell apart.

An instinctive realization hit me like a punch to the heart.

‘That’s Siena.’

Siena Antes.

The female lead of this world, and the one who claimed Diamid’s love.

Unlike the frail noblewomen in the system, Siena was tall and slender, a beauty with an elegant figure.

Her short, grayish-blond hair was cut to show off her ears.

‘...I think she cut it that way to avoid it interfering with battle.’

And Diamid fell even more in love with Siena after seeing her strong-willed appearance.

I stared at the two of them quietly. Diamid, confidently leading his horse, and Siena were such a perfect pair.

I would probably never be able to become like Siena, no matter how much I tried.

‘This feels... a little strange.’

It felt as though a tiny thorn had pierced beneath my nail.

It wasn’t very painful, but it was bothersome every time I moved my hand.

What was this feeling?

Was it because the only friend I had is now growing distant from me?

For some reason, I felt small, and I unconsciously hunched my shoulders.

Diamid looked around with a strange feeling.

He was a completely different person from the one who had left for the North.

The area was filled with people praising Diamid as the "hero of the Empire."

Even with the enthusiastic reactions, Diamid didn’t feel pride or joy.

The atmosphere welcoming him... it just felt unfamiliar.

‘...Before I achieved anything, no one even looked at me.’

The moment he had slowly suffocated in the deepest, darkest corner of the Imperial Palace was still vivid in his mind.

Of course, it wasn’t the fault of the Empire’s citizens.

It was solely the Emperor’s fault.

Even knowing that well, the feeling of deep disgust couldn’t be avoided.

As Diamid unconsciously furrowed his brow...