The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 71

And just as I expected—my prediction was completely right.

"Oh, hardly flattery."

The Emperor's eyes gleamed like a snake’s.

The sight of it sent a shiver down my spine.

"I hear you've already gone through several instructors because you surpassed them too quickly."

At those words, Diamid tensed ever so slightly.

It sounded like a compliment, but there was a blade hidden beneath it.

And if Diamid had been the type to miss that blade, he would have long since found himself buried in a grave.

The Emperor spoke in an easy, leisurely tone.

"If you've achieved such excellent results, you deserve to be rewarded."

"......."

"So, I have prepared a small gift for you."

A gift?

That’s a word I never would have associated with the Emperor.

I narrowed my eyes.

But surprisingly, he did indeed produce a gift.

A long, thin box, slightly larger than a grown man's hand.

"Thank you. I will cherish it."

Diamid took the box without hesitation.

The Emperor, now wearing a curious smile, issued another command.

"Why don’t you open it here?"

"Pardon?"

Diamid blinked at the unexpected request.

The Emperor's smile deepened.

"Since I am giving you a present, I’d like to see your face light up with joy."

"......Understood."

Diamid masked his suspicion and began undoing the elaborate ribbon.

The lid of the box lifted.

"This is..."

He carefully pulled out the item inside.

A pair of black leather gloves, sleek and polished.

The kind worn to protect one’s hands during sword training.

The Emperor added, as if bestowing a great favor.

"You wouldn’t want to injure your hands while training, would you?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your generosity is immeasurable."

"Hmm, if you are truly grateful."

For a moment, the Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

He lowered his head slightly and stared straight into Diamid’s eyes.

"Why don’t you try them on?"

...Huh?

A strange feeling of unease crept up my spine.

I swallowed dryly.

Why was he insisting that Diamid put them on right here?

The Emperor's voice slithered out, low and insidious.

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"I did not have your exact hand measurements taken, so they might be too tight or too loose."

"Your Majesty's thoughtfulness alone is more than enough."

"No, but it would put my mind at ease to see you wearing them."

The Emperor spoke with the insistence of a spoiled child.

What is wrong with this man?

I watched the tense standoff between Diamid and the Emperor, feeling my own nerves tighten.

"If that is Your Majesty’s wish, then I shall do so."

In the end, Diamid nodded.

The Emperor watched intently as he slipped the gloves on.

Then, Diamid’s shoulders stiffened slightly.

Huh?

I frowned.

Why did he pause?

But after a brief hesitation, Diamid continued and finished putting them on.

They fit perfectly, as if custom-made.

That fact alone made my skin crawl.

'...It’s like he had Diamid's exact measurements beforehand.'

Diamid clenched and unclenched his fists once.

Demonstrating that they fit well.

"They fit perfectly. Thank you, Your Majesty."

At that, the Emperor’s expression twisted into something truly satisfied.

Like a snake that had just swallowed its prey.

He asked,

"They suit you well. Do you like them?"

"If it is a gift from Your Majesty, I will gladly accept anything."

"...I see."

The Emperor nodded slowly.

Diamid met his gaze with calm politeness.

Ugh, people say you can't spit on a smiling face, but the Emperor sure makes me want to try.

I shuddered slightly.

"It seems I have kept you occupied for too long."

"Not at all. I am simply grateful to have had the honor of seeing Your Majesty."

"Diamid, it pleases me to hear you say that. I shall take my leave now."

With that, the Emperor turned his gaze toward the Empress.

Wait, why is he looking at her now?

"Will Her Majesty see me off? It has been a long time since you last did so."

The Empress’s expression tensed ever so slightly.

But only for a brief moment.

"Yes, I shall."

Rising gracefully, she turned to the noble ladies with a polite farewell.

"I will return shortly."

With that, the Emperor and Empress strode out of the banquet hall.

After they left, the tea party continued peacefully.

Except for one thing that kept nagging at me—Diamid was still wearing the gloves.

"By the way, why are you still wearing them? It must be uncomfortable."

A lady finally voiced the question, her gaze filled with curiosity.

Diamid smiled radiantly.

"A precious gift from His Majesty himself, is it not?"

Lifting his hand for all to see, he gently stroked the back of his gloved palm.

"I am simply so overjoyed that I cannot bear to part with them."

His smile was dazzling, overwhelming in its sincerity.

The kind of smile that erased all doubt.

"O-oh... I see..."

The lady who had asked turned bright red.

Meanwhile, I squinted at Diamid, unimpressed.

‘It’s a gift from that detestable Emperor. What’s so special about it?’

Well, if he’s trying to avoid conflict by keeping up appearances...

That might make sense.

I let out a small huff and dismissed the thought.

Finally, the tea party ended.

The long day was coming to a close.

After seeing the noble ladies off, I hurried over to Diamid.

"Your Highness!"

"Ah, Charl."

Diamid finally let out a relaxed smile.

I, on the other hand, glared at the gloves still on his hands.

The ladies were gone now.

So why was he still wearing them?

Ugh, keeping something from that nasty Emperor is bad luck!

"Why haven’t you taken those off yet?"

"...?"

For a brief moment, a troubled look crossed his face.

Huh?

Why is he hesitating?

I pressed again.

"You don’t need to wear them anymore. The ladies have all left."

"She’s right, Your Highness. Take them off."

The Empress had returned just in time to join me.

But Diamid made no move to remove the gloves.

"No, I..."

"You’ll be staying indoors anyway, won’t you? Keeping them on must be uncomfortable."

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Did he really like them that much?

I tilted my head.

That couldn’t be it.

I had clearly seen the way his face twisted when he first opened the box.

There’s no way he trusted anything from the Emperor.

"Just take them off. I’ll keep them safe for you."

"Charl, it’s not that..."

Ugh, forget it!

I’ll just do it myself!

I grabbed his hand.

And at that moment—

"...Ugh."

A suppressed groan escaped Diamid’s lips.

Startled, I looked up at him.

"Your Highness, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?"

What’s going on?

I didn’t grab him that hard.

At the same time, the Empress’s expression darkened.

She strode over, took his wrist, and pulled off the glove.

"...Crown Prince."

Her eyes widened in shock.

Diamid’s hand—was a mess.

His fingertips were covered in blood, as if they had been pricked by dozens of needles.

I froze.

All he did was wear a pair of gloves.

So why were his hands like this?

"Wh-what happened?!"

My voice trembled.

The Empress, her face cold, pulled off the other glove.

Examining them closely, a deep crease formed between her brows.

Her voice turned sharp.

"Why did you put these on without question?"

"......."

"There are needles embedded in the fingertips."

Needles?

I sucked in a breath.

I suddenly remembered how Diamid had hesitated when putting them on.

Taking the gloves from the Empress, my hands trembled as I turned them inside out.

Tiny, sharp needles lined the fingertips.

And yet, even while drinking tea and conversing with the noble ladies...

Diamid hadn’t even flinched.

How...?

"I am fine, Your Majesty."

Despite his bloodied fingers, Diamid merely smiled.

Fine?

How could he say that when his hands were in such a state?

Without thinking, I # Nоvеlight # grabbed his hands.

There was no way he was fine.