The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 120

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“Yes?”

“The blank check my brother gave you as a gift. When are you going to use that?”

At the Empress’s words, both Damian and I were flabbergasted at the same time.

After a while, I jumped up from my spot.

“Can I really use that?!”

“It was given to you to use, you didn’t think it was for decoration, now did you?”

The Empress asked me back, narrowing her eyes.

Oh no.

Can the most troubling budget problem we’ve had be solved so easily?

Blinking my eyes, I hurriedly waved both hands at the Empress.

“But it’ll be too much of a burden for the Duke. I don’t know how much it’ll cost.”

“Charlize, my brother’s pride would’ve been hurt if he heard you say that.”

“Ah-ha.”

I laughed awkwardly.

Well, the Rochester household has built the greatest wealth in the empire. 

I’m sure the Duke would have been straight-faced if he had heard me. 

‘Kid. You dare look down on the Rochesters?’

….I can already hear his voice snapping at me.

However, a financial burden is still a burden…

“Still, there’s no justification for the Rochesters to support Lebane.” 

“Oh? You think there’s no justification?”

The Empress looked back at me with a rather bewildered face.

What?

I panicked slightly. 

The Empress continued in an unusual tone.

“As you may know, public opinion about his Majesty hasn’t been very good as of late.”

Even though the Emperor was officially the Empress’s husband, her voice was rather sharp and scornful when speaking of him.

“And the Rochester household contributed the most to the Emperor’s ascension to the throne.”

“…that means.”

“It means if you were to do something wrong, the dissatisfaction with the Emperor may affect the Rochesters as well.” 

The Empress leaned back on the sofa and spoke leisurely.

“My older brother has been most wary of that problem lately.”

“So, now that things are like this, is he going to act independently of His Majesty, the Emperor?”

“My Charlize is smart as well.”

Seeing the Empress’s happy gaze, I blushed without realizing it.

At the same time, Damian widened his eyes and stared at me.

“You’re blushing over someone else when your fiancé’s right beside you…”

“Prince, you still think you’ve beaten me in obtaining Charlize’s affection?”

Damian was at a loss for words.

Wearing a victor’s smile, the Empress cast a single glance at Damian before continuing. 

“The Rochesters will support the Crown Prince’s rescue of Lebane, sparing no support from the rear.” 

The Empress’s tone of voice was quite proud. 

“The media will have questions though; the reporters are not fools.” 

“I guess so. Normally, I would have supported Lebane by voting on the budget.”

It would certainly be out of the ordinary.

Not only are the Crown Prince and the Emperor acting independently, but the Duke of Rochester, who’s expected to stand with the Emperor, is supporting the Crown Prince.

With a wicked smile, the Empress added. 

“Anyway, hasn’t His Majesty already used the media to slander you during the memorial service?”

It was as if she was subtly saying, ‘You thought I forgot that?’

The Empress’s voice was eerie as she muttered that.

Umm, I should never get on the Empress’s bad side. 

“Let’s just say this is a way of getting back at him.” 

The Empress, after having said so, smiled brightly.  

“Anyway, my brother and I will take care of this, so there’s no need to worry, Charlize.” 

“…thank you very much for the solution, Your Majesty.” 

Damian spoke in a gruff voice. 

“Will you let me join in on the conversation?”

The Empress cheekily responded to his protest sarcastically.   

“Oh, my gosh, Prince. You’re still here?”

Damian fell silent again.

I looked at Damian with a pitiful gaze.

Hey, Damian.

Even if you were to refine and hone yourself your whole life, I don’t think you can beat the Empress…

***

A few days later.

Damian and I went to Lebane.

“Oh, my god…”

I couldn’t hide my shocked expression.

The area where the typhoon passed was left in a dismal state. 

It wasn’t uncommon to see buildings damaged by heavy winds and rain, with shattered windows and collapsed buildings here and there. 

The land itself was completely overturned from the rain, hideously exposing soil and sand. 

And what’s worse was…

“It’s raining too much.”

It was still raining.

As I watched the downpour, I scrunch my forehead without realizing it.

Even though the typhoon had passed, the wind had barely subsided.

If this continues, secondary and tertiary damage may follow suit. 

“First, let’s get a report on the situation.”

At Damian’s behest, the major officials of Lebane City gathered at City Hall, which was still intact.  

Every official there was visibly worried. 

Several problems abounded.

Continuous rain and collapsed buildings were still lying around. 

The homeless and drifters required help. 

Excessive rain led to the dam’s rising water level. 

But the biggest problem by far was…

“…an epidemic, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

Officials couldn’t hide their disheartened expressions. 

Damian’s face hardened.

“As the rain fell, the sewage system stopped functioning. Finding clean water is like picking stars from the sky.” 

“We’re trying to avoid consuming contaminated water by all means, but clean water is in short supply.” 

Things are definitely not going well.

I glanced sideways at Damian. 

He narrowed his eyes and asked the officials.

“Have you tried communicating with the other lords or mayors around you?”

“We’ve already tried requesting help several times but the only response we receive is to ask for help from the imperial family…”

“Moreover, the city of Lebane is under the imperial family’s direct control, so the lords are more hesitant to interfere…”

The officials gave a negative response. 

Damian clicked his tongue.

“They only know the issues on the surface.” 

At the same moment, an intense expression began to take over the previously calm Damian.

“Go and ask them, ‘If an epidemic breaks out in Lebane in earnest, where will it go?’”

That’s right. 

I nodded slightly.

Lebane was a large city located in the center of the vast south and was a major transportation hub.

If an epidemic breaks out in Lebane…

‘It means it’s only a matter of time before it spreads to other nearby cities.’

Damian continued with a cold voice.

“Even if they argue that it’s not their concern to restore a destroyed city, infectious diseases are another matter.” 

“Yes, Your Highness,” acknowledged an official. 

“If the epidemic spreads to other territories, it’ll be too late.”

Damian’s voice gained strength.

“Please be aware that this could be a problem for the entire South, not just Lebane.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind, Your Highness,” responded the official. 

“However, I am not asking for free help.”

At those words, the officials suddenly raised their heads.

Their expressions brightened slightly. 

Damian gave a small nod as if telling them not to worry.

“We received support from the Duke of Rochester. I will also spare enough support.”

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the officials widened.

“So, please inform them that you can pay them enough compensation.”

“Y-You received support from the Duke of Rochester?”

The officials asking those questions had bright faces without knowing it. 

I knew very well what emotions were on their faces.

It was ‘Hope’.

The expressions on their faces were almost like they had witnessed a miracle. 

I softly bit my lip.

How many times had they been shunned by the Emperor…to the point, they reacted in such a way?

Damian also seemed to feel the same way as I did.

A look of pity was plastered on his face.

***

After the meeting.

Seeing the officials dispersing, I turned to Damian. 

“Now, you and I should each do our part.” 

“I should. But…”

Damian shook his head and looked at me with a hard expression.

“You won’t.”

“….what?”

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment.

However, Damian only continued with a determined voice.

“You should go back.”

“…what do you mean?”

I glared at Damian.

He met my gaze with a blank expression.

“There’s an epidemic going around.”