The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 24

"Don't make that face. I'm not trying to attack you, okay?"

"Th-then...!"

"I'm just trying to tell you why you shouldn't eat this food."

At those words, Diamid thrust the dagger into the roasted chicken.

Wait, what is he doing to that delicious-looking chicken?

A moment later, Diamid pulled the dagger out.

And the tip of the dagger...

"...It's black, isn't it?"

It was stained black.

Wha—what is this...?

I swallowed dryly.

Diamid let out a cold laugh.

"This dagger is made of silver."

"..."

I lost my words.

Silver, you say?

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So, it's the silver that detects poison?

"Then... all of this food...?"

"Probably what you're thinking is correct."

Diamid replied casually.

Poison?!

I was shocked to the point I almost fainted.

Hey, how are you so calm about this? There's poisoned food right in front of you, aren't you scared?!

I involuntarily raised my voice.

"Then why don't you just throw it away, why are you still carrying it on the table?!"

"These are the dishes His Majesty the Emperor personally granted me, you know?"

Diamid asked in a calm voice.

'The Emperor personally granted dishes.'

I froze for a moment.

That means... my uncle gave poisoned food to his nephew...?

"If I dare to throw away such precious food..."

Contrary to my shock, Diamid’s expression remained calm.

He slowly lifted the corner of his lips.

"It’d be lucky if I don’t end up being hunted by an assassin. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"..."

I was speechless.

The fact that such a young boy was talking about assassins as if it were an everyday occurrence.

"Well, the Emperor probably doesn't expect me to eat that food in peace."

Diamid shrugged his shoulders and faced me.

His scarlet eyes, like a setting sun, looked tired and drained.

"He’s just mocking me."

"Mocking...?"

"Yeah. You're trapped here, unable to resist even when I hand you poison, a powerless existence."

How many life-threatening crises had Diamid gone through to speak so calmly?

Before I knew it, I was clenching my fist.

My nails were digging painfully into my palm.

"Honestly, just giving up and eating the food, dying and collapsing, wouldn't be so bad."

How many lives is that Emperor ruining?

Not only the Empress, who never wanted the marriage in the first place, but even Diamid, his nephew...

They're all suffering because of one person—the Emperor.

Diamid finished his words with an oddly calm tone.

"...Well, I suppose that’s the meaning of it."

Diamid locked eyes with me.

His fragile body, despite being a boy, made my heart ache.

I opened my mouth.

"Then... what do you usually eat?"

"The Emperor is so generous, he provides me with just enough food so that I don’t die."

Diamid sneered as if to make sure I’d hear it.

Just enough food so I don’t starve to death...

As I pondered those words, I suddenly felt an odd sense of discomfort.

Why did he say 'food' instead of 'meals'?

"Well, it's inconvenient if the rightful heir to the throne dies from starvation, isn’t it?"

"Th-then...?"

"Poisoning? Well, they could just say I died of illness, and cover it up."

Diamid’s sneer deepened.

"Starving to death, though, would be too ridiculous, right?"

Diamid then pointed to the corner of the dining room.

"If you want to see it, then look."

I opened the drawer of the pantry slightly, and I lost my words.

The ‘food’ in the drawer... was so pathetic that it hardly deserved to be called food.

Dry, shriveled carrots, wilted greens, and a handful of bug-eaten barley.

Not even cooked.

Is Diamid saying he’s been eating things like this until now?

‘This is too much! How can anyone give something like this to eat?!’

Even when I was at the training facility, the food there was much better than this!

I instinctively looked around.

There were no seasonings, no cooking utensils—just a bare, empty kitchen.

"..."

I stood up and began inspecting the oven and stove.

Seeing them spotless, it looked like the Emperor hadn’t even provided fuel to start a fire.

'Now that I think about it, Diamid was first confined five years ago.'

So he’s been living alone in this vast palace for five years?

Since he was three years old?

Enduring the Emperor's mockery, contempt, and threats to his life?

"This... this isn't right."

I muttered without realizing it.

Diamid raised an eyebrow slightly.

The sharp question came back to me.

"What isn't?"

"Nobody... deserves this kind of treatment."

I pulled my lips back tightly and asked.

Was it because of the time I was bullied at the education facility that I wanted to help Diamid?

Or was it because Diamid is actually the main character of this world, and I need to make a good impression on him to protect the Empress?

Honestly, it didn’t matter why.

I just didn’t want to see Diamid living like this.

Barely hanging on to life, struggling day by day.

That’s not a normal life.

And I wanted to see Diamid live a normal life.

"The Crown Prince and I..."

"Why?"

"I’ll come every day from now on."

I said resolutely.

Diamid looked at me with a strange expression.

How should I interpret that face?

At least it was clear that there was a mixture of doubt, gratitude, and guilt in his expression.

"I’ll make sure to bring you meals every day, so just eat those."

I added firmly.

Diamid’s eyes trembled slightly.

He asked in a low voice.

"Why... are you doing this for me?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

Honestly, anyone would act like I am if they saw Diamid in this state.

"If it’s a person, anyone would do the same as I am."

"...A person?"

"Yes."

I smiled brightly.

It was sincere. If it’s a person, they would surely feel sympathy for Diamid in his current state.

"..."

Diamid remained silent.

It seemed he didn’t know what to respond with.

I walked up to him and looked up at Diamid.

I saw light in his golden-tinged scarlet eyes.

His eyes, filled with every emotion, were so beautiful that they almost blinded me.

"Let’s eat bread together."

I reached out and tugged at his sleeve.

Diamid didn’t push my hand away, nor did he pull it off.

He just looked at me with a face full of uncertainty, almost like a little boy.

"I also brought milk and apple jam, okay?"

"...Alright."

After a moment, Diamid responded in a locked voice.

I casually added.

"The weather's nice, so it might be good to eat outside and get some sunlight."

I didn’t want to leave Diamid in this harsh place any longer.

I asked again in a warm voice.

"What do you think about that, Your Highness?"

"Y-yeah, that’s fine."

Diamid stuttered, rarely.

I firmly slung the bag with bread and milk over my shoulder.

Alright, let’s go.

Then, at that moment, Diamid’s hand gently brushed my shoulder.

Huh?

I turned around, my eyes wide, only to find him removing the bag from my shoulder.

He took the bag and said.

"I’ll carry the bag."

"Thank you!"

I quickly replied, and Diamid turned his head sharply, his cheeks red.

We then headed outside.

The Crown Prince’s palace, where hardly any sunlight entered, so we chose the sunniest spot to sit.

"Now, Your Highness, let's eat."

I ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ took the white bread, sliced it in half, and generously spread apple jam on it.

Diamid looked down at the bread with unfamiliar eyes.

He carefully held the bread with both hands and gently stroked the soft surface.

"I haven’t eaten food like this in a long time."

"..."

I felt my nose tingle.

Why is he so pitiful and sad?

It’s just bread with jam, why does it make his eyes shake like that?!

I looked at Diamid with a sympathetic gaze.

Diamid bit into the bread with a small sound.

"...It’s sweet."

"Is it? Is it too sweet? Does it taste bad?!"

I was startled.

I mean, I did spread a bit too much apple jam, but...

Diamid twitched his eyebrows and chewed the bread hungrily.

Then, he raised his head proudly and responded.

"I didn’t say it tastes bad."

"R-really? I’m glad."

But hey, you’ve got jam on your mouth.

Without thinking, I took a handkerchief and wiped it off his lips.

Diamid flinched and quickly turned his head away.