A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 33

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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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‘Could it be that zombies have appeared?!’
No. That wasn’t it.
It was simply traffic congestion.
The Imperial Palace, which supposedly contained 1,441 rooms and seven greenhouses, had gardens sprawling before its main gate that looked to be at least one square kilometer in area.
Cream-colored walls like choux pastry, elegant white columns, and relatively subdued green windows—all of it stretched out before me.
Between them, carriages lined up in a single file.
The Knight peering out the window spoke.
“They’re conducting security inspections. It appears to be a newly implemented procedure.”
“That makes sense.”
It must be because of the zombies.
The act of stopping the carriage and having everyone disembark for body searches was actually quite desirable.
The rather solemn atmosphere meant no one dared protest.
The problem was.
Every time a noble alighted from the carriage, a Servant would descend first to set up a footstep.
And when the noble finished their business and climbed back in, the time spent dismantling that footstep was absolutely endless.
“Why get out just to get back in? Since you’re already out, why not simply walk inside? The Imperial Palace is right there.”
“That would be far too great a distance, Miss.”
“It’s right there though?”
Could things appear closer than they actually are?
“How long would it take to walk?”
“At least five minutes, I would estimate.”
“….”
They were causing all this chaos—getting out, getting back in, installing footsteps, dismantling them—just to avoid a five-minute walk?
This was maddening.
Just walk!
“It appears our turn will come in approximately one hour, Miss.”
One hour?!
“I’m walking.”
Without waiting for the Knights’ response, I threw open the carriage door.
“Miss!”
“Miss!”
Both the Knights and the coachman cried out in alarm, but I had already leaped from the carriage.
Striding purposefully toward the main gate, the Imperial Palace guards stared at me in surprise.
“Who… the Lady?!”
‘It feels like I’m entering through a drive-through on foot.’
I smiled awkwardly and asked.
“One can enter the Palace on foot, correct?”
Had I known that Lady Yusara was a celebrity in this Empire—or rather, a scapegoat—and that every action I took would become the subject of gossip, I would have exercised more restraint.
[Villainess Yusara Ranks #1 in Imperial Trending Topics!]
I felt tears welling up.
* * *
“Truly, the methods people use to draw attention are endless….”
“Well, the goal was achieved, wasn’t it? We’re talking about her right now.”
“What’s remarkable about her is that she doesn’t envy anyone despite all this.”
“Her efforts are commendable, I suppose. Doesn’t she feel ashamed? Living like that?”
“As if someone like her would understand shame—such a complex emotion. That’s a feeling only higher beings possess.”
“Pfft!”
What kind of conversation was this?
My thoughts exactly.
The location: the Audience Chamber of the Crown Prince’s Palace.
The time: fifteen minutes before the meeting began.
The cast: Yusara, Audience Applicants 1, 2, 3, and 4.
How this situation unfolded↓
After passing through security screening in just five minutes, I was guided to the Audience Chamber of the Crown Prince’s Palace where Praha resided.
“You may wait here.”
“Very well.”
‘Nice place.’
I sat where the Attendant indicated and waited, but the moment the audience applicants caught sight of me, their jaws dropped and they immediately began whispering insults about me.
Why?
Because word had already spread that I had walked into the Imperial Palace.
‘Rumors travel faster than people entering the palace.’
If I’d known this would happen, I should have ridden on people’s gossip instead of a carriage.
Whisper whisper.
Murmur murmur.
For reference, my expression while listening to their slander was as follows.
(=_=)
Blank as a dried fish.
‘Whether someone walks into the palace or crawls in,’
it’s none of their concern unless they were the ones being carried on someone’s back.
“A few days ago, she was at a Coffee House with the Grand Duke….”
“And she was holding the Grand Duke’s hand while crying, they say….”
“Why did she suddenly cut her hair? She used to be obsessed with her long hair. At that party the other day, someone accidentally tugged her hair a bit and she made such a fuss about it.”
“She must be copying Yujein.”
“Never mind the hair—what about that outfit? How does she dare enter the Imperial Palace dressed like some thundering vagrant!”
“After all, she was rejected by the Crown Prince….”
(=_=)
How does one accidentally tug someone’s hair?
And besides, Yujein still has long hair.
“It really does seem important for children to receive proper affection from those around them while growing up. When such needs aren’t met in time, they grow into adults like that….”
“My, why must you phrase ‘she grew up without love’ in such roundabout ways!”
“Hahahaha!”
Why am I saying I wasn’t loved?
I love myself!
‘Ignore it. Let me just read.’
When on earth is this meeting supposed to start? Is this even the right place?
‘Should I ask the Attendant again?’
Though when I asked earlier, the Attendant had responded with an annoyed “yes, yes.”
That purple-vested petitioner number one keeps smirking, and it’s getting on my nerves.
Then.
Help came from an unexpected direction.
“Why is this person always caught in the middle of some conflict whenever I see her?”
A crisp voice. A manner of speech that cut straight to the point.
Mascarpone strode in and plopped down beside me.
Camouflage clothing that covered her limbs completely. Hair cut short.
“…?!”
“…?!”
Petitioners one through four closed their mouths as they beheld Mascarpone, who wore the exact same outfit they had just been mocking—or rather, an even more exaggerated version of it.
Mascarpone brushed back her shortened hair and looked at me.
I spoke to her with a pout.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“I know.”
Mascarpone replied lightly and crossed her legs. She stretched languidly, then winced as if still feeling muscle soreness.
Then, turning abruptly to the now-silent petitioners:
“What are you staring at?”
“M-Mascarpone?”
“As you can see, I’m on the side of the young lady. You want to pick a fight with me too?”
‘It seems like Mascarpone is the one picking the fight here…’
Her combat prowess was no joke.
‘Truly, the second most formidable personality in high society.’
Taking sides without even knowing what this was about—that was her style.
Even petitioner number one, who had no standing as a young lady, couldn’t afford to dismiss the wealthy Mascarpone. Though confusion crossed their face, they offered no rebuttal.
Mascarpone looked at the silent petitioner with disdain, scoffed, and grabbed my wrist.
“It seems you all came to see the Crown Prince, yet you lower nobles don’t even know his morning schedule. Quite the loose tongues you have.”
“…What?”
“The Crown Prince has already promised to meet with us. You lot just sit here quietly and waste time. The young lady and I are leaving.”
“….”
“Let’s go, Yusara.”
I was pulled to my feet before I could process what was happening.
Mascarpone scolded even the Attendant who had mistakenly brought me here, then dragged me out of the Crown Prince’s Palace.
“Why were you sitting there like an idiot all by yourself?”
“You told me to stay here….”
“Stay? Since when have you been so obedient?”
“But the Attendant personally guided me here… oh.”
I understood.
Yusara, who harbored an unrequited love for Praha, would have been nowhere else upon entering the palace.
She would have gone straight to the Audience Chamber of the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Since she spent so much time camped out there, the Attendant naturally assumed I would head there today as well.
‘It was like what that person said.’
Mascarpone seemed to have reached the same conclusion, letting out a soft hum.
“Well, regardless. It was good that I came to check just in case.”
“You’re right. Thank you for coming to find me.”
I responded naturally while observing Mascarpone’s complexion.
In just two days, she had become visibly gaunt.
The face of someone suffering from aftereffects of escaping death.
The face of someone who had lost a friend in an accident.
‘Mascarpone and Consomme were close, after all.’
The fact that she was managing to go out like this at all must be taking considerable willpower.
“Are we pressed for time? Should we hurry?”
“We’re fine for now. His Majesty is always a little late.”
We crossed the Corridor at a brisk pace, chatting about this and that.
We deliberately avoided mentioning Consomme.
“Thank you for sending the medicine. I used it well.”
“Sure. Once you’ve used it all, just throw the box in the Garden and smash it. Then it returns to soil.”
“Oh. You’re practicing ESG management.”
“What management?”
“Never mind.”
We arrived without delay at the meeting place—the Imperial Court where the Emperor typically presided over trials.
As Mascarpone had said, the interior was still in disarray, suggesting the session hadn’t begun.
Praha, Cyprus, and Yujein were nowhere to be seen.
With Praha absent, Dazling was naturally absent as well.
Among the younger attendees, only Mascarpone and I remained.
“Where should we sit?”
“The gallery.”
“The gallery? But we’re the parties directly involved in this case.”
“That’s true, but no one here cares about our opinions.”
Our role today was to sit here and listen while those aged ministers prattle on about a situation they’ve never actually experienced.
Mascarpone spoke with bitter cynicism.
“….”
I didn’t need to see it to know how this meeting would unfold.
In fact, it had always seemed odd in the original story that Praha and Cyprus participated in the Investigation Team at all.
They’re the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke. Would they personally undertake such a dangerous task?
‘In the original story… it seems everyone except the protagonist’s faction died at the Villa, and Praha ended up bearing that responsibility.’
Back then, unlike now, Yujein hadn’t awakened her powers.
Right. That’s how it was.
‘Did things change because I possessed this body?’
If the situation has changed now, wouldn’t the composition of the Investigation Team be different as well?
I surveyed my surroundings, where banners embroidered with blue roses on black velvet hung in layers.
Solemn.
“Yujein couldn’t come today.”
“Why?”
“She awakened her divine power, didn’t she? She’ll soon become a Saint officially… and His Majesty seems displeased about it.”
“Well, that makes sense.”
“You’re not surprised?”
“What’s there to be surprised about?”
The appearance of a Saint meant the Temple’s influence was growing stronger. From the Emperor’s perspective, it was worth monitoring.
The clash between imperial and divine authority—isn’t that what history books are always talking about?
Especially in a crisis like this.
“The Grand Duke went to his Territory.”
“Ah.”
So he went after all that talk about needing to go. Good.
“As for Papri… in the end.”
Mascarpone, who no longer even used honorifics when referring to the Troublemaker, spoke about the group’s current situation.
She spoke without pause.
As if trying to shake off her anxiety by pouring out words.
“So…”
I listened quietly.
‘So that’s what happened.’
I wasn’t particularly surprised.
“There’s talk that His Majesty will punish the Crown Prince for Papri’s matter. Only His Majesty has the authority to summarily execute members of the Imperial Family. But I support the Crown Prince’s decision. If he hadn’t done that… I can’t imagine what would have happened. It’s horrifying.”
Mascarpone, who had been speaking at length, suddenly fell silent.
Then she began breathing heavily.
“…My Lady.”
“Yes?”
“If you have time later, perhaps…”
She couldn’t finish her words.
I gently took Mascarpone’s trembling hand.
“Tell me anything. I’ll listen.”
I’m neither a psychiatrist nor a counselor, but if simply listening helps, I’m always here.
I know how much that can mean, because I’ve experienced it myself.
Then the door opened, and the Herald announced loudly.
“Blessed by the grace of the Twelve Deities, ruler of the Empire, sovereign of lands where the sun never sets… His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Praha request your presence. All rise and show your respect!”
It was the first time I had seen Praha make an appearance since that day.
[(Temporary Safe Zone) Imperial Palace]
– Yusara, 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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