The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 98-1

Damian and I were engaged. 

Even if we show a somewhat intimate display, it doesn’t matter much. 

……but no, we’re not like that. 

“Why would you suddenly lift someone up without telling them first?!”

“Oh, you were surprised?”

“I was surprised and shocked…most of all, embarrassed in front of everyone!”

I narrowed my eyes, looking daggers at Damian. 

For a moment, Damian’s eyes softened. 

“Are you still embarrassed?”

…..huh? 

I was slightly perplexed.  

Those scarlet eyes staring directly at me, somehow….

“I hope you’ll get used to Lize, even if it’s embarrassing.”

…..his gaze was like that of a ‘man’ looking at a ‘woman.’

With a whisper, Damian pulled me close into his arms.  

As he closed the distance between us in an instant, I held my breath. 

“Because I want everyone to know clearly.”

“K-Know what?”

“That…..”

An alluring voice tickled my ear. 

“That I care so much for my fiancee.”

At the same time, the music came to an end. 

Damian released me from his embrace and gave me a refreshing smile. 

‘…..really, I shouldn’t have liked that.’

I placed my hand on my chest. 

My heart was beating rapidly, testifying to how I felt at the moment. 

I liked him. 

I was still attracted to Damian. 

****

After our first dance. 

People began to enjoy the ball party in roughly two ways. 

First, people who came to dance. 

In that case, a lady and gent would proceed to the dance floor hand in hand. 

And second, people who aimed to build connections and relationships with the influential people present. 

These people tried their luck in striking up a conversation with a certain powerful man….

‘I think most people went for the latter, didn’t they?’

Wow, Damian’s popularity was no joke. 

I watched wide-eyed, the people flocked to Damian, surrounding him on all sides. 

Without a doubt, Damian is the star of this ball party and a hero, who achieved outstanding accomplishments. 

On the other hand, I was a commoner and a maid of honor who happened to become the crown prince’s fiancee….

‘*Sigh* I’m an outcast. I don’t get along with anyone here.’

No one paid any attention to me.

Well, of course. Why would they? 

Just as I was thinking about that, I saw a familiar face. 

‘Hey, is that person who I think it is?’

Could it be, Lady Bennett?

Lady Bennett was staring at Damian, covering her mouth with her fan. 

I’m already starting to feel tired. 

‘Lady Bennett looks great too.’

But no matter how long ago that was, you don’t forget someone pouring tea on your head. 

After such a situation, was it even rational for me to catch up with someone like that? 

With that line of thinking, I decided to back away. 

In any case, I want to avoid entanglement with Lady Bennett as much as possible. 

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, it’s an honor to meet you like this.”

Lady Bennett’s characteristically high-pitched voice could be heard. 

“I knew that his Highness would return with such a grand achievement.”

“Thank you, Lady Bennett.”

Damian politely drew the line at their conversation. 

Lady Bennett’s face became creased at this, she was upset he wanted to end it there.

But then. 

A man interrupted their conversation. 

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, what a pleasure it is to meet you like this.”

“Wait. I’m talking to his Highness!” chastised Lady Bennett.

She stared at the man fiercely. 

But the man scrunched his brow and shot back at Lady Bennett. 

“What? Did Lady Bennet monopolize the Crown Prince?”

“Well, I’m not…”

“Then please don’t be rude.”

Then the man looked back at Damian and smiled as friendly as possible. 

“You’re the cleanser of beasts. You are incredible! I mean….”

I watched with enthusiasm as Lady Bennet was taken down a peg or two and pushed back on her attitude. 

That said, it’s truly been a while since I’ve seen Lady Bennett. 

She seemed to be self-conscious for a time because of what happened during the Empress’s tea time in the past, though it didn’t last long.  

Perhaps because of the status she had as the empress’s relative, Lady Bennett was  inflated with self-importance, so much so that she wasn’t aware of her hubris. 

However, one thing to note is that she wasn’t as active as she was eight years ago. 

First of all, the Bennett family was not very powerful. 

Not to mention, the ugly ignominious incident she had with the empress. 

I heard she’s been dragging around young ladies with her lately, acting as an empress among them….

Suddenly. 

Cheers erupted among the crowd. 

“Heavens, it’s Viscountess Antes!”

The people’s gaze turned to the side. 

Sienna’s here?

I turned to look as well. 

Sienna looked dumbfounded and was frozen in place. 

‘Um, I guess Sienna tried to enter without attracting much attention…’

Looking back, Sienna in the original story wasn’t accustomed to these kinds of large-scale ball parties. 

Sienna smiled shyly, probably because the numerous gazes directed at her were a bit much to handle. 

“Ah, I didn’t want to interrupt everyone from having a good time.”

“Interrupt, how could that ever happen?”

“Alongside the Crown Prince, Viscountess Antes is a hero of the empire.”

“Come this way, please!”

Sienna was given a hearty and warm reception. 

Well, their attitude was very different towards me, wasn’t it?