Chapter 80.2

There was bitterness in the Empress’s voice. 

The Empress thought of Charlize and her puffy eyes. 

After Damian’s decision to leave, Charlize cried all day long. 

Charlize couldn’t hold back as she muttered the words ‘don’t leave,’ continuously all while trying to suppress her sadness to no avail. 

‘It’s better for me to make a move than continue watching Charlize cry her eyes out.’

The Empress sincerely thought so.

But right then. 

Damian spoke in a calm voice. 

“I’m very grateful her Majesty has given me such an offer.”

The Empress’s eyes widened a bit. 

It was because Damian’s tone implied rejection. 

A childlike but collected voice followed. 

“Buf if the Empress were to do that, there’s going to be a lot of trouble for the Duke of Rochester.”

“The crown prince doesn’t need to worry about that.”

“No, I have to be worried.”

Damian faced the Empress, his head upright. 

Those scarlet eyes were unwavering, undeterred as they gazed back at the Empress.

“Charlize is her Majesty’s official maid.”

For a split second, the Empress was caught off guard. 

“She’s not an ordinary maid either.”

“….your Highness.”

“It’s clear Charlize is now favored by both her Majesty and the Duke of Rochester.”

Favored to the point of receiving an adoption offer from the Duke.

Saying that Damian’s smile widened. 

It was a smile that revealed how his heart was set on this. 

“But me, I’m a prince who’s worse than a scarecrow. I don’t have that support base.”

“But your Highness, that’s…”

“Your Majesty is supported by the Duke of Rochester. So rather than me….Her Majesty and the Duke of Rochester should….”

Damian’s smile became somewhat pained when mentioning the Duke again. 

The Empress clenched her fists. 

Damian concluded with a request. 

“…please keep Charlize safe.”

The Empress was silent for a long time. 

Damian whom no one ever had ever believed in until now, was breaking down all walls and boundaries for the first time by speaking candidly. 

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All that honesty was to protect Charlize. 

His sigh rang out. 

“Instead of opposing his Majesty, the Emperor by telling him I’m not going…”

“It may be better to leave the imperial palace for a while,” expressed Damian

Realizing the crown prince had truly made up his mind, the Empress bit her lip. 

She couldn’t say anything. 

Moments later, the Empress spoke in a voice that was emotionally crushed. 

“….it may be far more dangerous than the crown prince anticipates.”

“It’s all right.”

“It’s not something you can so easily brush off.” 

The Empress stared at Damian. 

“You do know what you’re getting yourself into, yes? The Kier plains are infested with demonic beasts.”

“I do. I’m also someone who hasn’t fully awakened the power of the divine beast.”

Damian gave a mischievous smile. 

“But this is a wake-up call for me. And because I’ve partially awakened the power within me, I’m not going to all of a sudden fall over and die.”

“But, that’s…”

“So your Majesty shouldn’t worry excessively over me,” added Damian with courtesy. 

Unable to overcome the mix of complicated emotions, the Empress bit her lips. 

After a while. 

The Empress offered an apology.

“I’m so sorry, your Highness.”

“What? What are you sorry about…”

“Didn’t I tell you? As an adult and empress, protecting the crown prince is my responsibility.”

The Empress’s face was guilt-ridden. 

She really did mean it. 

For Charlize, the Empress was determined to do what she could to protect the crown prince. But in the end, there was nothing the Empress could do. 

“Let’s face the facts, I can’t stop you from going. I just wished I had done more for you.”

“No. I know that her Majesty has already done so much to help me.”

Damian answered with a solemn tone. 

He remembered the times when he slowly suffocated in the darkness, shunned by everyone in the palace.

Charlize was the first one to approach him. 

And though there was Charlize…the Empress was also there to show him how to be ‘mature’ with responsibility. 

They were the ones who showed him kindness and rekindled the warmth in him. 

“When I become someone who Charlize can lean on, I’ll come back.”