The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 124

“Well, I can’t just stay lying down like this anyway. Let’s go.” 

“Wait, where do you think you’re going?”

“Don’t we have a city to clean up? Oh, by the way, what happened to the sick patients?”

“What?!”

For a moment, Damian’s face contorted greatly. 

“You!”

“Y-Yes?!”

“It’s only been a while since you came to your senses and you’re already talking about work!”

“But…”

“No buts! Lie down and stay still, if you take so much as one step, I’ll get angry!” 

…no, you’re already angry, even now you’re throwing a tantrum. 

Damian, having raised his voice, stood up from his seat. 

Then, he strode toward the door. 

“You’re leaving?”

“Well, you are awake and-” 

Damian glanced at me.

“I need to feed you.”

At the same time, the door closed with a thud.

I stared at the closed room door with a puzzled feeling.

Is he worried about me or mad at me? 

Or maybe both? 

 

***

 

After that.

I was forced to rest under Damian’s vigilant watch.

Damian treated the situation as if I would die the second I set foot on the floor. 

“Who told you to get out of bed?!” 

‘Hey, I won’t die just from walking a few steps.’

‘But I couldn’t say that now, could I?’

Damian was not having it. 

“Why aren’t you lying down right now?!”

‘…yeah.’

And just like that, a few days went by as my body grew comfortable but my mind was uncomfortable…

Eventually.

“I think you put your mind at ease now.” 

With Mrs. Mayna’s affirmation, I was finally freed from Damian’s intense gaze.

“Are you sure she’s okay?” Damian questioned. 

“Why would I lie to His Highness, the Crown Prince?”

No matter what or who it was, Mrs. Mayna answered the Crown Prince without blinking an eye. 

Oh, that strong personality deserves to be emulated.

It wasn’t until Mrs. Mayna gave a second more definitive answer, did Damian breathe a sigh of relief. 

“Then I’ll be off.”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to oversee the reconstruction of the collapsed buildings. There are also a few other things I need to look into.”

Ah, he couldn’t do his job properly because I was sick.

That made me a little somber.

“Have a safe trip,” I said to Damian. 

“Don’t even think about wandering around the room needlessly. Not until you’re fully recovered. Okay?”

“Hmph.”

Damian made his request, trusting me right before he left the room. 

I pouted my lips.

No, I wanted to take a walk outside! This is so frustrating!

Sadly, Mrs. Mayna was on Damian’s side on this. 

“His Highness is right. Rather than overdo it, it’s best to take a break for a while.” 

Ugh, it’s times like these I remember the saying, “Your sister-in-law is more annoying than your mother-in-law who scolds you!”

They might mean well but they’re not helping me by keeping me stuck here! 

Besides, it’s not like me to give up.  

I put on the most pitiful expression I could and said to Mrs. Mayna.

“But I’m here to help Lebane, it’s a little embarrassing to be lying down all the time.”

“The person who stopped the dam from overflowing doesn’t have to.”

…my god, hers was an iron wall stronger than Damian’s.

What can I say that’ll be enough for her to let me go?

I can’t back down. 

I took a deep breath and looked at Mrs. Mayna with the most puppy-dog eyes look possible.

“Mrs. Mayna, will sitting in my room really help me recover?”

“…what kind of sophistry are you talking about?”

“Isn’t the pain of the heart just as important as the pain of the body?”

I spoke in a mournful voice.

“If I stay stuck in your room like this, it’ll get stuffy and my health might get worse!”

“Proper sunlight and exercise greatly help recovery, right?!”

You won’t let me go even after I said that?!

I strained my eyes as I looked at Mrs. Mayna.

After a while.

Mrs. Mayna relented, letting out a long sigh and nodding.

“A short walk should be harmless.”

“Wow, really?”

“However, I must accompany you.”

“Of course that’s fine! Thank you!”

What’s the problem with just going outside?

I got out of bed with joy.

 

***

 

The whole city was bustling with activity. 

Workers were busy moving and restoring the collapsed buildings.

Women were cooking and serving hot stew in large pots.

The children were also helping the adults with their errands.

‘I’m really glad it ended well.’

At this rate, it seems that Lebane’s recovery will be completed without a hitch.

I was happily taking in the scenery of the city when I heard someone call my name. 

The child’s eyes widened upon finding her. 

“It’s Lady Charlize!”

Huh?

Why call me?

As soon as that call rang out, people began turning to me with surprised expressions!

What’s with everyone?

I’m nervous now!

I hesitantly took a few steps back.

Loud cheering erupted.

“Charlize! Charlize!”

“The saintess who performed a miracle and saved Lebane!”

“The saintess, she’s here!”

…a saint?

My jaw dropped. 

What’s the meaning of this?!

I quickly turned to Mrs. Mayna.

Mrs. Mayna looked at me with a very calm demeanor.

“Hey, those people, what they called me just now…”

“Yes, the people in the city have been calling Lady Charlize a saint lately.”

No, this has to be a joke, right?!

Me, a saint!

How did that title even come about?!

Just when I couldn’t hide how awkward I felt, Mrs. Mayna calmly added another comment. 

“Come to think of it, everyone who had the contagious disease also happened to be cured as well.”

“Wow, all of them?”

For a moment, I forgot the awkwardness and looked at Mrs. Mayna with an amazed expression. 

Is it really like infectious diseases to be remedied so quickly?

In any case, I’m ecstatic!

But then.

‘Huh?’

The corners of Mrs. Mayna’s lips slanted upward.

“Yes. This is probably…”

I stared at Mrs. Mayna with a subtle gaze.

Was it just me or was her tone rather mischievous?

“It’s thanks to Lady Charlize, a saint taking care of the people. Yes?”

“You too, Mrs. Mayna!”

I was going to freak out. 

Really, even you’re calling me that?!

I’m afraid I’m going to die of embarrassment!

Alas, I can’t live!

 

****

After walking around, I went to finally see Damian. 

He said was going to oversee the reconstruction of the collapsed buildings earlier…

‘What’s this?’

I was moving briskly, but I came to a halt.

I chanced upon Damian. 

However…

“Not that way!”

“No, if you hold onto the foundation like that, you’ll fall over!”

Damian wasn’t just supervising the workers, he was in the thick of it, moving building materials himself while listening to the orders of other managers. 

Usually, I would simply observe Damian with a proud feeling in my chest while exclaiming, ‘My boy’s grown up well!’ Only this time though…

‘Oh, my god.’

I couldn’t afford such admiration now.

‘Damian, why are you taking your top off?!’

I covered my mouth with both hands and involuntarily fixed my eyes on Damian.

He piled a mountain of building materials onto his shoulders and moved with great stride. 

Those large well-toned muscles flexed alluringly. 

It truly was a sight for sore eyes, a statue created by masterful craftsmen come to life. 

I gulped. 

No, obviously, I knew from the start that Damian had a great body. 

I could still remember how firm his chest was through his clothes when he picked me up during the ball. 

‘Wow, just wow. It’s such a gorgeous view.’ 

Ah, am I being too blatant in my appreciation of his body?

No, that can’t be. 

I wasn’t the only one, all the women around me couldn’t take their eyes off Damian. 

Even the composed Mrs. Mayna had her eyes fixed on Damian!

But then.

“Charlize?”

As soon as those scarlet eyes landed on me, they embraced a new terrifying light.

“You! I told you to rest quietly back in the room!” 

Oops.

I was so enamored with Damian’s figure, I missed the opportunity to make an excuse first!

“But it was so frustrating!”

I exclaimed hastily.

Of course, there’s no way that Damian’s ferocious momentum will subside with such words.

So, I cunningly added Mrs. Mayna into the mix as well.

“Besides, Mrs. Mayna said that a short walk would be fine!”

That should stop him, right?

Isn’t that what she said?

It seemed that Mrs. Mayna conveyed something with her eyes but he paid no attention to Mrs. Mayna. 

Despite my desperate efforts, Damian’s menacing aura did not disappear at all.

“A short walk, huh!”

Damian, who approached me, raised his hand and placed it on my forehead.

“Look at this, you’re burning up again!”

Um? A fever?

I blankly blinked my eyes.

It may have seemed like Damian was dealing with a troublemaker but there was an unconcealable worried look in his eyes. 

“Your face is so red!”

“No, that’s not it…”

I couldn’t overcome my embarrassment and closed my eyes tightly.