A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 189

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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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Chapter 2. And So It Continues
Time flows onward, ever onward.
A pristine spring without the undead.
The day of my wedding to Praha.
‘At last, this day has arrived.’
In a few hours, I will become the Empress of this Empire.
No longer “Your Highness”—now it’s “Your Majesty.”
My name will be inscribed in history books (though I’ve already earned a line as the hero who ended the zombie plague), my portrait will hang in the Imperial Palace corridors (though Praha’s chambers already display five of them), and this vast Empire will bend to my every word.
But most importantly….
‘I’m becoming Praha’s wife.’
Originally, the wedding was supposed to coincide with Praha’s coronation, but there were so many loose ends to tie up—territorial disputes and such—that we postponed it somewhat.
Praha was unusually adamant about it, insisting that ‘the wedding must be perfect.’
There had to be enough flowers, the lighting had to be just right, taxes needed to be reduced, and children were to be employed to distribute white bread with Cheese and Southern Region wine throughout the entire Empire, and so forth….
Normally he eats whatever is given and wears whatever is provided, yet he was remarkably specific about every detail of our wedding ceremony.
So we decided to hold it in spring, since we were already delaying it.
The weather had to be perfect too, he insisted.
‘He pestered the mages and university professors for months to predict the day with the finest weather.’
Thanks to that, today’s weather is brilliant—the sky is perfectly cloudless.
It will remain clear throughout the day, both during the street procession following the ceremony and during the ball that will continue all night.
But I had a worry gnawing at me.
What was it?
‘What if nobody likes me?’
No matter that I’m one of the heroes who saved the Empire!
My notoriety has been far too high!
People hated me so much! Even rural children would automatically say ‘Oh, that bad one?’ when they heard my name!
Will that really change overnight?!
Later, after the wedding, when Praha and I ride out of the Imperial Palace in a carriage, what if people don’t cheer my name at all and only cheer for Praha?!
What if petals and confetti fly only toward Praha, and people cheer when he waves but fall silent when I wave?!
What if the moment I appear, everyone just goes quiet—?!
Silence alone would be a mercy.
But what if they boo?
Shouting things like ‘Get out, you sorceress who bewitched the Emperor!’!
What would I do then?!
The public doesn’t lie!
Now I’ll finally know what people truly think of me!
“Ugh….”
I was never a celebrity, just an ordinary office worker—when have I ever stood exposed before the masses like this, awaiting their judgment?
I’m genuinely anxious.
My blood runs cold.
Just thinking about the crowd’s reaction.
“What if I just step outside the Imperial Palace and the people’s reaction is… cold? Can I turn the carriage around and come back?”
“That won’t happen.”
Cyprus chuckled beside me as I lay sprawled out, unable to eat breakfast and fretting with worry.
For reference, Praha isn’t here. I haven’t seen him since yesterday evening.
We’re not supposed to see each other from the night before the wedding until we meet at the ceremony.
Anyway, that’s why Cyprus is my escort for today.
“Don’t worry so much. You have plenty of friends. Mascarpone, Consomme, Yujein… they’ll have their household servants cheer and throw flowers. That should secure at least a hundred people.”
Kiriel, who was accompanying me today as a member of the Imperial Family, chimed in from beside us.
“That’s right, Your Majesty. And we also have the attendants we brought from the Southern Region. They’ll be cheering for both of you on the streets today.”
“So basically, only my friends are going to support me!”
“Your Majesty! You mustn’t touch your hair!”
It took three hours to style! the Head Maid cried out in alarm from beside me.
My apologies. I quickly folded my arms.
Cyprus, who had been snickering, rose from his seat.
Today Cyprus wore formal robes in blue. Not white, not black. Clearly not the groom’s attire. In that outfit, he glanced at the mirror and muttered to himself, “Hmm, quite handsome,” before striding toward me with long steps.
Cyprus extended his hand.
“It’s fine. Even if many Empire citizens dislike you… once they see you today, they’ll be too busy cheering.”
“…”
“You’re truly beautiful today, Yusara.”
* * *
“…”
“…”
“…Praha?”
I brought my face close to his, silently asking if he was alright.
I wanted to wave my hand in front of his eyes, but everyone was staring at us.
The Imperial Ceremonial Hall, located on the highest hill in the Capital.
The place where coronations, weddings, and funerals of successive emperors were held.
That was Praha’s reaction upon seeing me after sixteen hours apart.
Frozen.
He stopped blinking and stood perfectly still, staring. His lips slightly parted.
I mean, my makeup is a bit heavy today, but not enough to warrant such a vacant stare…!
I’m genuinely embarrassed!
“Come to your senses…”
I gritted my teeth and whispered under my breath.
We need to proceed. Everyone is watching only us.
Only then did Praha seem to snap back to reality, taking my hand.
As we walked forward, he kept turning his head to look at me. Making no effort to hide it—the Emperor stood there openly entranced, and the nobles filling the hall exchanged knowing glances with one another.
The Former Empress waiting at the far end laughed, shaking her head with amusement.
“So my son can make such an expression.”
Regardless, Praha saw only me.
I opened and closed my lips repeatedly, flustered, before finally speaking after a long pause.
“…I thought you were a fairy. No, not that you look small like a fairy. There’s light behind you. You always shine. So…”
I’m certain Praha has no idea what he’s saying right now.
But I can’t laugh or tease him because.
‘I nearly fainted when I saw Praha for the first time today.’
He was already handsome, but dressed in wedding ceremonial robes, he was simply otherworldly.
This incredibly beautiful man… is my husband…?
Am I really going to spend my entire life with this person?
Every morning when I wake up, will this face be right before my eyes?
Thank goodness.
I forcibly suppressed my rising smile and stole a glance at Praha. Our eyes met instantly.
Without either of us initiating it, we both smiled.
Praha lowered his head and kissed my cheek.
Mind you, we were still on the wedding aisle.
We hadn’t even reached the Former Empress yet.
Standing in the middle of it all, he first kissed my cheek, then the back of my hand.
Praha kissed me twice, then squeezed my hand and shook it gently.
Smiling like a cheerful puppy.
At this rare smile from Praha, someone among the nobility drew a sharp breath.
“Why is the Emperor smiling?”
“Because he’s happy to be married!”
Two young nobles who came with their parents whispered to each other, their voices echoing through the ceremony hall.
I gave up trying to suppress my laughter.
Soon, soft giggles erupted among the nobility as well.
Mascarpone, whose eyes met mine, shook her head while laughing. Consomme covered her mouth and laughed.
Even the Former Empress, who hadn’t brought her sword at her side today, laughed.
Yujein and Dazling laughed while crying.
“Hehehehe!”
“Tangerine! Please laugh a bit more quietly!”
Pop. Someone fired an early celebratory shot.
That wedding ceremony was filled with warmth and joy.
And then came the street procession departing from the ceremonial hall where the wedding was held.
‘It’s fine.’
How could I expect to be satisfied on the first try? I just need to do well going forward and build popularity.
Then next time there’s a street procession, I’ll be welcomed.
“Are you worried?”
“Yes!”
“Don’t worry. I will protect you.”
“It’s not an attack I’m worried about… Well, of course I’m worried about that too…”
I was incredibly nervous.
When the doors of the Imperial Ceremonial Hall opened and I stepped out into the streets of the Capital, I was met with an overwhelming sight.
“Waaaaaah!”
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
“Blessings upon the Empire’s two heroes!”
“Your Majesty the Empress! Please look this way!”
A cascade of flower petals. Confetti swirled through the air from every direction.
Fresh flowers thrown by the Empire’s citizens piled high at our feet.
Praha smiled and brushed away the petals that had settled on the tiara adorning my hair. In turn, I gently removed the confetti clinging to his eyelashes.
The sight of this tender exchange sent the crowd into a frenzy of cheers that bordered on screams.
I looked around at the sea of faces.
A small child whose eyes met mine waved the portrait they were holding with all their might. It was my portrait, issued earlier this year alongside stamps.
I could see people throughout the crowd holding my portrait.
Just as many as those holding Praha’s.
When I even spotted the Blonde Head Maid from the Duke’s Residence in the Capital—the one who had initially dismissed me—I was genuinely astonished.
Cyprus, who rode beside us as an escort, leaned slightly forward and whispered.
“I told you there was nothing to worry about, didn’t I?”
“…You were right. There really was nothing to worry about.”
Gathering my courage, I raised my hand in a gentle wave.
“Waaaaaah!”
The cheers grew even louder.
In the distance, flags fluttered—I recognized them as my subjects from Sodom, who had traveled to the Capital.
The people from my territory, their eyes now clear and bright, free from the haze of vice, waved a large banner emblazoned with the Grand Duke’s House crest.
“What is this…”
These people actually love me.
I was moved.
“I must do even better…”
As I made this silent vow, Praha tilted his head slightly.
“But you are already doing wonderfully, are you not?”
“More. I want to do even more.”
So much that no one could ever dispute it.
I took Praha’s hand.
I raised our joined hands high.
Amid the deafening roar of the crowd, I etched every sight and feeling of this moment into my heart.
It was a scene I would never forget for the rest of my life.

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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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