The Evil Empress Adores Me

She first appeared in the novel when Damian turned 15.

The story goes something like this.

Damian, who had fled from the Crown Palace, headed north, where the Emperors hand could not reach.

Then, because of accumulated fatigue, he lost consciousness on the streets

It would be Sienna who saved the fallen Damian.

The only daughter of Margrave Antes, she was a beautiful young lady about the same age as Damian.

She was also a strong warrior and the successor to Antes, who had been a warrior for generations.

So, it would be nice if Sienna saved Damian.

Damian, however, had so much distrust in people because of his long imprisonment in the Crown Palace, couldnt even realize his love for Sienna.

Their story would end in catastrophe, but .

No, thats just the flow of the original.

I pondered about it.

Ive been working hard to change Damians distrust of others, havent I?

Only Margrave Antes has appeared so far, yet there will be a day when Damian will really meet Siena.

So, if Damian falls in love with Sienna as the flow of the original story goes .

Then Damian will Damian will be happy.

So lets not be sad for no reason.

Im only thinking about Damians happiness.

I brushed off any complicated thoughts and headed out.

I often walked to the Crown Princes palace.

Only this time it was different, I was carrying large and heavy baskets, one in each hand.

Your highness!

Oh, hey Lizewhat! Whats in these baskets?

Damian freaked out and snatched the baskets from me.

I started by explaining little by little.

This is your lunch for today, and the one wrapped in this wrapper can be eaten for dinner. And this is

Hang on. Why are you giving me so much food all of a sudden?

As he cut me off, Damian asked back in a gruff voice.

I shrugged.

Ah, I dont think I will be able to visit the Crown palace until tomorrow afternoon.

Why? Whats going on?

Thats because tomorrow evening theres a dinner scheduled with Margrave Antes. Ill have to prepare for it.

Margrave Antes, you mean that person who came to the Imperial Palace?

I explained the whole story.

It wasnt enough for the Emperor to neglect Margrave Antes invitation but hes also refusing his request for support.

Because of that, the Duke and the Empress are racking their brains.

Understood? Its a big deal, I clarified to Damian.

Meanwhile, Damian, who had been listening to me, couldnt hide his serious expression.

Antes is the forefront for holding back the beasts. If that place falls, the damage to the people of the empire will be significant.

So the Duke and her Majesty, the Empress are obviously very concerned.

I nodded with a heavy face.

Damian thought about something for a while, then beckoned to me.

Lize, could you lend me your ear for a second?

What?

Ugh, why are you whispering when its just us?

What are you going to talk about?

Choosing to trust him, I tilted my head closer and listened to Damian.

Damian whispered in a cautious manner.

Thats what Im saying

After a bit.

My eyes were wide open.

I could see why Damian wanted to whisper in my ear.

It was such political and sharp advice.

No, but .

How could an eight-year-old kid even think like this?

I looked at Damian with astonished eyes.

Can he be the main character of this world because his brain works this well?

Damian received my gaze with a confused face.

What? Why are you staring at me like that?

Thats because your Highness is unexpectedly smarter than I thought.

Excuse me, unexpectedly?

Damian widened his eyes. In fact, his eyes seemed to shine at this unexpected opportunity.

Hey, Lize! Am I really smart?

Yes, yes. Of course, your Highness is the smartest person in the world.

Damian narrowed his brow, annoyed at her answer.

You treat me like a child sometimes but dont forget that I am three years older than you.

Damian couldnt hide his irked expression.

But to see him angry, he really is like a child, I thought to myself.

To not annoy him further, I stopped laughing.

Damian, who now had a resentful look, sighed and reminded me.

Anyway, make sure to deliver what I said to Her Majesty and the Duke of Rochester, okay?

Yes, I will. Oh, by the way!

I, who nodded without much thought, raised my voice without realizing it.

Startled, Damian asked me back.

Whats wrong? Is there something else you want to talk about?

Yes. I have a question for your highness.

When I left the Empresss palace, I was going to ask Damian for his opinion about the matter.

I totally forgot though. What was I going to ask?

Was it? No. Wait. Hrmmm. Wait..now I remember.

As I licked my lips, I continued to talk.

Hey, I heard that during dinners, theres a certain rule of conduct when it comes to treating distinguished guests.

Yes, there is. So when you invite a distinguished guest, you have to treat them according to the dignity of the distinguished guest, replied Damian.

That means anything else doesnt matter as long as I treat the distinguished guest with the befitting dignity, right?

Damians expression became subtle.

Ill have to rephrase that.

I asked the question again.

Anyway, all I have to do is show that the imperial family respects the Margrave, right?

Well, thats true. But its a matter of how you show respect, correct?