The Evil Empress Adores Me

“Anyways, how about it?”

After a momentary silence, Damian responded politely.

“…..If it’s really what you want, I won’t say no.”

Huh, you’re going to fight?

I clenched my fists. 

Honestly, I thought the instructor would have better sense. 

He’s only thirteen years old, he could end up hurting him with that sword, even if it is made from wood. 

But….should I underestimate Damian? 

‘After all, Damian’s the hero of this world!’

Meanwhile, the instructor who heard Damian’s answer nodded his head. 

He still has that eerie smile. 

“All right. Let’s wrap up today’s training, Dalian.”

The two men stood facing each other. 

Woo-hoo, go Damian! 

Wipe that blatantly disrespectful smile off his face!

I cheered enthusiastically for Damian in my heart. 

As I did, I heard a soft voice. 

“Dalian, I’ll let you go if you yield to me.”

The man that uttered those words wasn’t even holding his wooden sword properly. 

He held the weapon in a limp way, conveying how much he looked down at Damian. 

A forced smile formed on Damian’s face. 

“Thank you but no thanks.”

As soon as those words left his lips, Damian dashed at the instructor. 

……What, how can a person be that fast?

I rubbed my eyes, repeatedly blinking in astonishment. 

Klunk!

It was the sound of wooden swords clashing against each other. 

The instructor who frantically lifted up his wooden sword barely blocked Damian’s strike. 

The man let out a hard groan. 

“Gah!”

But far from stopping at that groan, Damian continued on the offensive. 

Klunk, Klunk!

The sound of clashing wooden swords rang constantly. 

I swallowed my saliva as I watched them intensely. 

I can’t believe that the sound of wood slamming into each other could make noises so sharp. 

The instructor who had been recoiling and taking slow steps backward shouted in a strained voice. 

“W-what is this…..ugh!”

And with that, the sparring was over. 

Thwack!

As the instructor backed up, he was caught off guard by a protruding stone behind him, causing him to stumble and fall backward with a heavy thud. 

Damian stood over him, pointing his sword at the man’s jugular. 

I heard Damian’s cold voice. 

“You said today’s lesson would end with this, right?”

“……what the hell!”

“I learned a lot today. Thank you.”

It was a calm voice without any hint of emotion in it. 

However, it seemed to have only worsened the shame the instructor felt. 

His face was redder than a tomato. 

He vanished without saying a single word. 

Ha, this is wild!

I jumped up from where I was sitting and ran over to Damian. 

“Your Majesty, you worked so hard, here’s your towel!”

“Oh, Lize. Thanks.”

I handed the towel. 

As he wiped off his sweat with the towel, he smiled bitterly, murmuring something to himself. 

“I was going to be patient and just put up with all he said…..but I couldn’t.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“The instructor, he won’t be coming to the imperial palace anymore.”

Damian glanced in the direction the man had disappeared to. 

Why does that matter?

I tilted my head. 

“This isn’t the first time. At this rate, the Emperor will be in complete disgust.”

Damian let out a deep sigh. 

Welp, on that note, I don’t have anything to say. 

I rolled my eyes. 

“……well, won’t be the first time. There’s no escaping that.”

It’s no surprise. Damian already had three of his teachers replaced so far. 

In addition to the talent he had and the effort he gave, it was almost instantaneous to overwhelm the knights appointed by the Emperor. 

At least through this, it’s enough to show he’s the protagonist of this world. 

Then, Damian called me in a voice mixed with laughter. 

“By the way, Lize.”

“Yes?”

I unwillingly looked back, wrinkling my forehead inadvertently. 

Damian reached out, pressing the top of my head with his hand. 

“So, when will you get taller?”

At that mischievous tone, I got irritated. 

“Hmph, well if his Highness keeps pressing my head, I’ll grow less! That doesn’t mean I haven’t grown up any less though! I grew a lot!”

“But you’re still a lot smaller than me, aren’t you?”

“Your Highness. Don’t you think it’s a bit unfair to compare the height of a woman with that of a man?”

After I shot back, I pulled myself away from Damian’s reach. 

“On top of that, Your Highness, don’t you remember I’m ten years old now? 

“Meaning?”

“It means that it’s already been five years since I’ve been promoted to a full-time maid.”

I declared so with pride, my hands on my waist and head raised up high. 

Damian gave a subtle smile as he looked at me. 

“So please think about my dignity.”

“Hold on, you have dignity as well?”

“Absolutely! Do you know how many maids are under me?”

I spoke to Damian, my nose slightly raised at him. 

Can’t I ask for at least this much?