The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 98-2
Sienna greeted Damian.
“I see you, Crown Prince.”
“You’re here, Viscountess Antes.”
Perhaps because mindful of others watching, Damian called Sienna, ‘Viscountess Antes.’
No, why?
My shoulders drooped a bit.
I despise myself for liking how he didn’t call her ‘Sienna.’
“How’s the ball?”
“It’s my first time attending a ball party of this magnitude, it’s insane.”
Sienna smiled softly.
The two had a friendly conversation.
I was captivated by the conversation between them.
I thought about it before, but those two….
‘They suit each other. They’re like peas in a pod.’
In the original story, they were lovers who couldn’t live without each other.
I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought so too.
“The two of them get along well with each other.”
“You’re right.”
The people standing around me spoke in hushed voices so that Damian wouldn’t overhear them.
Some glanced at me while some stared at me.
“Come to think of it, Viscountess Antes, she’s the heir to inherit the North, right?”
“Yes. Out of all the unmarried ladies of the empire, none are nobler than her.”
“There are no princesses and there aren’t any princesses of Rochester to boot.”
Hearing those whispers, I was reminded all over again of the sheer difference between me and Sienna.
*Sigh* Hearing remarks like those.
I tried to walk away.
“Actually, I thought the Crown Prince would marry Viscountess Antes….”
“It seems like the Crown Prince cares a great deal for that Charlize lady, but how long will that last?”
“Agreed, their difference in status is hard to turn a blind eye to.”
….my feet stopped on their own.
Well, it’s only natural that everyone thinks that way.
I myself didn’t understand at first. Why would Damian choose me?
Of course, I understood this was an engagement out of necessity.
The people’s chattering continued unabated.
“By the way, there are rumors that Lady Charlize was able to become the Crown Prince’s fiancee because she charmed him with her beauty….”
“Well, she’s definitely beautiful. She’s worth sticking around for.”
“She used to serve the Crown Prince as a dedicated maid, right?”
Then without receiving an answer to his question, the man glanced at me.
He looked at me, his gaze went down then up like he was evaluating appetizing food….
‘This is very bad luck.’
I furrowed my brow.
The men made a racket as they talked to each other.
“If you’re so curious about her, why not invite her to dance?”
“Ah, no. Viscountess Antes is standing there, so why bother…”
One of the men waved his hand to dismiss the suggestion and the rest burst into laughter.
Seriously, guys?
What makes you think I want to dance with you either?
My eyesight is perfectly normal.
Damian’s my fiance and not anyone else’s, you guys are hideous with a capital H and will never catch my eye!
…..there’s no way I can snap at them like that.
I took a deep breath to calm my mind.
Because if I didn’t control myself, my emotions would have gotten the better of me and I would have ended up saying more than I should.
But then.
“Honestly, I haven’t been able to say a word to the Crown Prince…”
Someone spoke to herself in a downhearted voice as she strode along.
It was Lady Bennett.
The other ladies next to her attempted to reassure and comfort her.
“Hey, don’t beat yourself over it.”
“There were just too many people, the Crown Prince couldn’t afford to pay attention to everyone.”
“Yeah, I think so too!”
“More than that, Lady Bennett is the relative of the Empress herself, right?”
With all the consolation and warmness shown, Lady Bennett seemed to have gone back to her usual self.
“….is that what it was?”
Seeing her big smile was enough for me.
I hope she’s found solace.
I also wouldn’t want to be stressed out all my life.
But the problem was, trouble came flying at me like an arrow going in the wrong direction.
“Sure, no matter how often he says he has a fiancee…his fiancee’s status…”
“…it’s laughable, isn’t it?”
The ladies burst into laughter with no regard for a so-called fiancee.
Well, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
If I stick around her any longer, I’ll find myself annoyed and in a pickle!
I tried to depart furtively.
But-
“….oh, who might this be?”
Ah, drats!
There’s no need for me to make eye contact with her, right?!
I was shedding tears on the inside.
