A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 165

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Two days later in the Costume Room.
(So you’re asking if Praha ended up sitting on my bed that night? That’s a secret.
I’ll just say there was something I’ll remember until the day I die.)
Anyway, two days later in the Costume Room.
“Mascarpone!”
“Wow, it’s been forever!”
“Right? How long has it been!”
“Yujein, it’s been so long!”
“It’s been a while, Mascarpone!”
“Have you been well? How was the Capital while we were away?”
“Always the same. A life lived in constant dread, never knowing when corpses might flood the streets. Plagued by nightmares at all hours, and since the root cause remains unresolved, no amount of medicine or medical examination helps at all.”
“Ha ha.”
Mascarpone’s cynical nature hadn’t changed one bit.
“So what about your work with the Investigation Team? I saw the report you two submitted to the Emperor, but I’d like to hear more details beyond that.”
“There was really so much that happened….”
“Don’t leave anything out. Come on, let’s go inside.”
Mascarpone, whose hair had grown noticeably shorter since I last saw her, led us into the Costume Room.
Eyes dark as death beneath them, cheeks hollowed out, pupils gleaming with an unsettling fervor.
When I asked if she hadn’t been sleeping and was having a hard time, she said it wasn’t that—she’d just been rolling around in the Research Laboratory so much.
“Remember? I went into the Research Laboratory to find the cause of the zombie outbreak.”
“Of course.”
So that was why the aura of servitude had been subtly surrounding her all this time.
You’ve become quite the dedicated graduate student.
“I wanted to set up a separate appointment to meet, but things have been busy lately. Besides, if all three of us are going to attend the Ball, we need to get our dresses fitted anyway, right? I thought it would be nice to see each other here and kill two birds with one stone.”
“That’s true. I was thinking exactly the same thing. But how did you manage to book this place?”
Isn’t this the Costume Room that’s supposedly the hardest to get reservations at in the Capital these days?
I heard that prominent nobles have their maids do opening-day rushes every morning.
And I heard the staff here are quite arrogant too.
But such rules apparently didn’t apply to Mascarpone, for the three of us sat alone in a private space on the third floor of the Costume Room.
At my question, Mascarpone lifted her chin.
“I own this building.”
“Ah. Oh.”
I’m truly envious.
“Originally, I wanted to invite Dazling too. I’ve been keeping in touch with him steadily.”
“And?”
“Well, he said he’s working overtime…. The Crown Prince ordered him to strengthen security in the Capital.”
“That’s only natural. There still isn’t a single Temple in the Capital.”
Mascarpone’s expression darkened as she wondered what the Emperor was thinking.
Her voice was kept deliberately low, as if afraid someone might overhear.
I lowered my voice in turn and asked.
“Dazling, you’re getting overtime pay, right?”
I love Praha, but I cannot associate with a man who fails to properly compensate his subordinates for their extra hours.
This is a matter upon which workers of all nations must unite.
“Oh, I’m getting plenty. The problem is I have no time to spend it.”
“What a shame.”
Before us, mannequins dressed in complete ensembles—dresses, hats, and gloves—were wheeled in and out in succession with a soft rustling sound.
Mascarpone complimented me upon seeing my hair gathered high and bound.
“That hair ribbon is lovely.”
“Oh? Yes. I received it as a gift.”
“What about the bracelet I gave you?”
“Here. Actually, when I’m out and about, I’ve kept it carefully in my bag more often than not, fearing I might lose it. But I wore it today. Should I return it?”
“Don’t be silly. I didn’t give it to you just to keep in a bag. Wear it always.”
“Really? Thank you.”
“So, magic actually worked against the God of Light’s curse? Tell me the details from the beginning.”
“Yes. I cannot divulge all the circumstances, but… I definitely witnessed Yujein’s magic working against it.”
“I-I saw it too!”
“As expected.”
Mascarpone nodded.
“Is this information helpful to your current research?”
“Yes. Very much so.”
Before an array of exquisite dresses that would make anyone who understood fine taste lose their mind, the three of us focused on conversation rather than shopping.
‘Of course.’
If we were throwing a celebration after cleanly resolving the zombie crisis, that would be different, but as things stand, none of us three have much desire to attend the ball.
I would rather spend that time putting our heads together and solving problems.
The Emperor simply decided to hold a ball, and since we need to attend and curry his favor to obtain what we want, we were forced to come dress shopping.
In a little while, I planned to select something practical and reasonably priced, then simply have the measurements adjusted.
What does a dress matter?
We are discussing the future of the nation.
“Oh, and speaking of that man Smoothie who recently applied for the Imperial Tax Collector Position—do you happen to know him? The Crown Prince himself recommended him.”
“Oh, Smoothie! How do you know him, Mascarpone?”
“I tried to recruit him as an accountant for our trading company, but I failed.”
“What!”
“Even though I promised him double the salary he receives as Imperial Tax Collector, he remained unmoved, saying he had to honor his loyalty to you, my lady.”
“Gasp.”
“What on earth happened between you two?”
Smoothie…
Even while I had completely forgotten about him, he had been steadfastly honoring his loyalty to me.
There was no need for that.
He should have simply gone where the money was better.
I of all people believe that company loyalty is the most useless thing in the world!
“Aspara also returned with the two of them, or so the rumors say.”
“Ah, that rumor’s already spread?”
“Of course it has. Everyone in the Capital’s social circles knows the Minor Duke gambled himself into serious debt. After he disappeared, people were saying he’d probably died somewhere.”
Mascarpone took a sip of tea and gestured for the Costume Room staff to leave.
“Show me dresses that are more comfortable to move in and have pockets. Focus on those.”
“But Mascarpone, dresses like that are relatively less beautiful….”
“Your job is to make those kinds of dresses beautiful and show them to me.”
“Understood.”
As the staff left, she leaned her upper body toward Yujein and me, asking subtly.
“If things go this way, couldn’t we take the Minor Duke’s successor position for our side?”
Our side? Me?
“…You’re saying the exact same thing Cyprus said.”
“The Grand Duke mentioned this too?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s not just some baseless thought of mine. Think about it seriously.”
Mascarpone’s eyes gleamed.
“While the Minor Duke was gambling and destroying the family, who was the one rolling around everywhere trying to save the nation? Who was the one without military training going out to face corpses? Who should rightfully inherit the family?”
“But….”
“There are no buts!”
Mascarpone struck her chest in frustration.
“Think about it! Just imagining sitting down ten years from now discussing state affairs with a pathetic fool like the Minor Duke makes me so irritated I can’t sleep!”
“I understand. I’ll think about it.”
“You’re not hesitating because you’re afraid of making your mother and brother your enemies, are you?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then that’s fine. Think about it a lot. Think positively.”
….
Me inheriting the Grand Duke title.
It’s certainly a possibility I’ve never considered before…. But I.
I was trying to go back.
And yet, if I became the Grand Duke?
Like someone throwing a stone into still water, creating ripples, I rubbed my chest as the feeling spread through me.
We talked until the sun set, but choosing the dress was quick.
Whether the head designer’s pride was wounded by Mascarpone’s prodding or not, the dress she brought back on the spot looked comfortable at first glance.
There were pockets hidden between the pleats of the skirt, it looked good even with flat shoes instead of heels, and it was beautiful.
Unsatisfied even with that, Mascarpone offered to cast lightweight and body-temperature-maintaining spells on the dress before sending it.
I was incredibly grateful, but.
“Then I’ll go with this one.”
My heart ached at the thought of having to buy a dress when I didn’t even have money.
“Is there an interest-free installment plan?”
“Pardon?”
“No.”
When you wear a pretty dress and look in the mirror, you naturally look beautiful, so of course your mood improves.
You feel like you’ve become a princess.
But what I truly want isn’t a dress like this….
‘Seoul Yongsan-gu Hannam-daero 91….’
Or perhaps the same district, Doksseodang-ro 111….
“Oh! Now that I think about it, Cyprus said he’d buy me a house.”
“The Grand Duke said that?”
“Yeah. It was just something he said in passing…. But still, he’s a Grand Duke, so he wouldn’t say it lightly, right? He really will buy it for me, won’t he?”
“Ah, well. Of course.”
Then suddenly, an untimely male voice cut in.
“Ahhhhh!”
Crash!
Startled, I knocked over the plate in front of me.
Mascarpone, just as shocked as I was, hurled her teacup, and Yujein unleashed a bolt of lightning.
I threw a knife the way Praha had taught me yesterday.
The elegant private room became a complete mess in an instant.
Someone came through the window, deftly dodging every single attack.
A massive frame. Bright blonde hair.
“The Grand Duke?!”
“Cyprus?!”
Ever since yesterday, Praha and Cyprus have been taking turns startling me!
“Why, why, why are you coming through there?!”
I shouted while gathering up the broken plate shards I’d picked up for a second attack.
“How did you even know we were here!”
“More importantly, how did you get up here?! This is the third floor!”
“That crazy bastard Praha!”
Cyprus shouted at the empty air with a voice twice as loud as our startled accusations.
[Costume Room]
– Yusara, Cyprus, Yujein, Mascarpone (Alive)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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