A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 171

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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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“What do you think about one wife, multiple husbands?”
There he goes spouting nonsense again.
Praha ignored Cyprus.
Brilliant ornaments sparkled from Praha’s wrist and earlobes as he entered without waiting for the Attendant to open the door.
Undeterred by the dazzling display that could blind one’s eyes, Cyprus continued speaking.
“To be precise, it’s not one wife, multiple husbands. It’s one wife, two husbands. What do you think about the one wife, two husbands system?”
“You’re not in your right mind.”
“I’m the very definition of sanity.”
“Go see a doctor.”
“Why would I go to a doctor? They come when I call.”
“Just do whatever it takes to get away from me.”
“Oh, so I can leave the Imperial Palace?”
“No.”
“Then what am I supposed to do!”
“Just stay over there.”
Praha rolled up his cumbersome sleeves and pointed toward the wide-open window with his raised arm. For reference, this was the fourth floor.
Today, Praha wore a laurel crown made of gold and green jade upon his head and draped a flowing white robe across his shoulders.
He looked like a beautiful Greek youth, but unfortunately, that beautiful youth was in a foul mood.
He had just finished taking tea with his Mother, the Emperor, and endured all manner of reproach.
“Did the Emperor scold you harshly?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Then tell me your thoughts now.”
“….”
The Emperor was a hero who had saved the nation from crisis and a great figure who had left behind numerous achievements, but unfortunately, he was terribly capricious.
And Praha lacked the thick-skinned nature to appease the Emperor’s moods and slip away through clever maneuvering.
Had Yusara witnessed the conversation between these mother and son today, she would have warned Praha, “Be careful or you’ll end up locked in a wooden chest.”
But unfortunately, Yusara was not present.
Returning in a thoroughly dissatisfied state, Cyprus continued to be an irritating presence beside him.
Click.
Praha removed the earring he was wearing and set it on the desk, then turned to regard his friend with cool eyes.
“What do you want?”
“Your opinion on the one wife, two husbands system.”
“I have no opinion.”
“Why do you have no opinion….”
Grumbling, Cyprus lifted his body, which had been sprawled across someone else’s sofa like laundry.
Cyprus confirmed something.
“I heard your next appointment begins in thirty minutes. So you’re resting now?”
“I suppose so. I was dismissed earlier than scheduled.”
“Perfect timing. I had something important to tell you.”
Cyprus sprang up from the sofa and gestured to Praha, who was just removing his bracelet and placing it in a drawer.
“Come with me. You need to go too.”
Praha offered counsel to Cyprus, who was beckoning with his index finger as if calling a dog.
“I don’t know what you plan to say to the Emperor, but if I go, it’ll backfire.”
“You know Aspara, right? Yusara’s Younger Brother.”
“That trash?”
“Yeah. He got caught trying to sell Yusara to cover his gambling debts.”
“…What?”
Crunch.
The bracelet crumpled in Praha’s hand.
The Attendant, who had silently entered to tidy up the shed skin Praha had removed, let out a soundless scream upon seeing the mangled bracelet.
‘That was expensive!’
Cyprus, who winked at the flustered Attendant, continued.
“Of course, the Minor Duke’s plan failed. It was never viable to begin with. Rather, because of this incident, Yusara…”
“…Still, she must have been hurt.”
“She must have been.”
“….”
“Praha, do you remember?”
“Remember what?”
“When we fled from the zombie horde that appeared at the Villa and returned, you sent me to Yusara. To comfort her. You said I was the person she needed right then.”
“…You’re right.”
How could I forget?
I had forcibly roused Cyprus, who was reduced to a pulp by exhaustion and irritation, even lent him clothes before sending him off.
I thought I should comfort Yusara, but at that time, I myself didn’t clearly understand why I cared so much.
Cyprus, reading Praha’s expression, smiled bitterly.
“Now the situation is reversed. The person she needs right now isn’t me—it’s you.”
“….”
“If I report this incident to the Emperor now, he’ll issue a temporary order suspending the current Duke’s authority.”
I’ll have the Imperial Attendant hear it and process the other documents, Cyprus continued.
“My role ends there. You stay by the Emperor’s side, and once all the documents are processed, take them to the Duke’s Residence.”
She’ll be delighted if you deliver them, Cyprus added.
Praha narrowed his eyes and asked.
“What about you?”
“I step back. That’s my place.”
“…Are you really sure? This is your revenge too, isn’t it?”
Revenge against the Duke who took his father and caused his mother’s death.
Yet Cyprus remained composed.
“Watching is enough for me.”
“…You won’t tell her you tried.”
“Of course not. Weren’t we rivals? I didn’t tell Yusara back then that you sent me either.”
“Good. I won’t have to feel guilty about it.”
“Yeah. Let’s not feel guilty about it and just be petty.”
“Agreed. …Tangerine, are you out there? Bring me that magic potion that turns hair ash-gray. I’m going to pour it on Cyprus’s head.”
“Hey!”
* * *
Yusara, a third-year office worker, speaks.
[Life Pro Tip!] Three things 99% of Koreans already know must be hidden at work.
1. My salary.
2. The fact that I’m preparing to change jobs right now.
3. My true feelings about coworkers I get along with reasonably well.
(Why do they live like that? Why do they work so badly? They’re really stupid. I can’t believe I work at the same company as someone like this. That I’m at that level. Ugh. I absolutely have to change jobs.)
Yusara, a ball attendee who’s already changed in and out of her dress three times today, speaks.
[Life Pro Tip!] Three things you must bring when attending a ball.
1. A long blade.
2. A short blade.
3. A blade that can be hidden in your sleeve.
“Make sure the hair ornament has a sharp point. So I can stab with it if needed. The gloves should be sturdy and durable. I’d prefer it if a dog’s teeth couldn’t pierce them.”
Just in case, I’ll also pack a few red stones in my pocket.
“And the necklace… I’d prefer something that could protect my neck instead.”
“Your Highness… are you going to war?”
“Isn’t a ball a battlefield where you compete with words? That’s what the Head Maid said.”
“But listening to what you’re asking for now, it seems like you’ll be waging war with your body rather than words…”
The morning of the ball.
The Blonde Head Maid, who’d grown closer to me in the meantime, muttered beside me.
An opportunist who volunteered to be my closest aide faster than anyone after Mother and Aspara were driven out to the Southern Region.
I like people who are sincere about securing their own rice bowl, so I pretended not to notice and left her be.
“Then at least these earrings…”
“Never mind.”
I stopped the Head Maid from adding various ornaments and picked up Mascarpone’s bracelet instead.
A silver-blue bracelet woven with diamonds and sapphires.
“This is pretty enough.”
“Indeed! There are times when simplicity is the greatest beauty! With the blue and silver, you look like a fairy of the silver moon!”
“I didn’t say all that…”
She really knows how to flatter.
I should learn from her.
“No high heels. I can’t run in those.”
“But Your Highness! The Crown Prince, who will be attending with you, is so tall that you really should wear heels of this height so your eyes are level!”
“Even if I wear them, our eyes won’t be level anyway. If there’s a need to make eye contact, the Crown Prince will lower his head. What’s there to worry about?”
“Wamma ya.”
Suddenly the Head Maid covered her mouth.
Her face turned red on its own, and she started slapping the maid next to her on the forearm repeatedly, causing a commotion.
“Then just this one last thing….”
“That’s enough. Do you plan to keep the Crown Prince waiting?”
He arrived quite some time ago and has been waiting downstairs.
By the way, Yujein left earlier this morning in a carriage that Mascarpone sent for her.
Before attending the ball, the two of them stopped by the Laboratory first.
They were both thrilled after discovering a tool that could amplify Yujein’s lightning magic up to tenfold.
‘My first ball as a Grand Duke.’
If anyone tries to annoy me, I’ll crush them with my authority.
Everyone will bow to me.
With that resolve, I put strength into my shoulders and stepped onto the staircase leading downward.
“…The house seems unusually sparkly. Am I imagining things?”
“The Crown Prince brought Imperial craftsmen with him. They’re here to repair the house that was damaged by Yujein’s lightning the other day.”
“Ah. I left it broken because I couldn’t afford the repairs.”
“Since they’re from the Imperial Palace, they said they won’t accept payment. And the Crown Prince also mentioned that a reward will be delivered to you soon.”
“A reward?”
“He said it was compensation for accompanying him on this journey….”
“He said? Don’t be vague—finish what you were saying.”
“Actually, when the Crown Prince visited today, he brought twelve boxes of Eastern Mountain diamonds. I wasn’t sure where to put them….”
“Twelve boxes?!”
Is he insane?
I need to hurry downstairs.
That’s when I noticed Praha, who should have been sitting quietly in the Reception Room, was already waiting at the foot of the staircase.
When our eyes met, Praha’s widened dramatically.
“…!”
“…!”
Praha….
Why that expression?
He’s not unconscious with his eyes open, is he?
[Duke’s Residence]
– Yusara, Praha (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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