A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 47

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

“Did you use that on the battlefield?!”
“No. Everyone wears armor on the battlefield.”
“Ah.”
It wasn’t during combat, so there was no reason for the Crown Prince to crush someone’s middle in his grip.
As I pondered this, I remembered that Praha had suffered frequent assassination threats when he was younger.
‘The political situation was unstable back then.’
That’s why I, ignorant of my place, had dared to think I wanted to save the Crown Prince, to make him happy.
A boy with an expressionless face whose life was constantly in danger seemed somehow melancholic.
Ignorant of my place.
‘There’s no point bringing up such a topic.’
I should change the subject.
“Wasn’t it difficult? I mean, going to war.”
“It’s my duty.”
“Just because it’s a duty doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult.”
Look at the obligation to pay taxes. How exhausting it is.
Every year-end settlement audit makes me shed tears of blood.
When I voiced my opinion, Praha chuckled softly.
His laughter tickled my hair.
“How do you feel being outside the Capital?”
Compared to imperial family members who were born in the Imperial Palace and never left it until death, Praha did come out fairly often.
But leaving like this completely must be rare.
“It’s nice not having to dangle heavy things from my ears.”
“Ah, earrings?”
“Yes.”
“You really hated them, didn’t you…”
I laughed, remembering how the man who seemed to detest ornaments obediently endured being adorned by imperial decree and went about his duties.
“Why? They looked good on you.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Praha’s reluctant expression at my compliment made me laugh.
Ah, there it was again…
The way he stares when I laugh.
“…”
“…”
Suddenly, I felt Praha’s face, as he held me in his arms, lower slightly toward mine.
Our eyes met as I turned to look back at him, and Praha parted his lips slightly.
“…Perhaps.”
I waited for Praha’s words with an odd feeling in my chest.
“Your Highness! My lady!”
A bright voice shattered the silence.
Startled, I quickly slipped out of Praha’s embrace.
“Y-Your Highness, Lady Tangerine.”
I wasn’t stealing anything, yet my heart hammered against my ribs.
I stammered out her name in a fluster.
“Good morning!”
Tangerine came bounding over with her jacket unbuttoned and fluttering behind her, her hair disheveled in a bird’s nest (she hadn’t bathed either, apparently).
“What are you two doing here?”
“Ah. Just some archery practice.”
“Oh!”
You were engaged in social activities until late yesterday, yet here you are this morning, dedicating yourself to training from the crack of dawn!
“You’re a talent the Knight Order missed out on!”
“That’s not really the case…”
“It absolutely is! In that case, shall we hunt that bird flying over there and have it for breakfast?”
“I can barely hit the target myself.”
For some reason, I couldn’t look directly at Praha, so I muttered while staring intently at Tangerine instead.
“No worries! I’ll catch enough for both of us!”
“Um. Well. I’ll just have the bread from the Kitchen. I’ll be going then.”
I hastily finished speaking and hurried away from the spot.
I felt a piercing gaze following me as I left the Central Courtyard, but I pretended not to notice.
‘Sigh.’
This is all because Praha is far too handsome.
He probably isn’t thinking anything of it, yet here I am, getting all flustered and confused on my own…
‘Don’t get the wrong idea.’
I can’t repeat my first life.
Absolutely don’t get the wrong idea.
Never.
* * *
Tangerine murmured as she watched Yusara’s retreating figure disappear swiftly from the Garden.
“Did I do something wrong…”
“…”
“Does she dislike roasted bird?”
Praha stared intently at Tangerine, who was sadly oblivious.
Tangerine met his gaze as she felt his eyes on her.
“…”
“…”
“Do you also dislike roasted bird, Your Highness?”
“No.”
“I see.”
And then silence.
Tangerine tilted her head as she watched Praha, who was now heading into the Palace without a word.
“Aren’t you continuing your morning training?”
“I won’t.”
My motivation had evaporated.
Praha pressed down on his chest, which was beating slightly faster than usual, and glanced at the castle entrance that was already empty.
‘If I chase after her now, can I catch up?’
I probably could.
After all, our leg lengths are completely different.
But why am I even thinking about chasing after the princess?
Flustered, Praha unconsciously licked his lower lip with his tongue.
Lately, it had been like this constantly.
Whenever the princess entered my field of vision, I became inexplicably anxious.
My throat grew dry.
An oddly unpleasant sensation.
My muscles tensed throughout my body as if bracing for an incoming attack, and blood surged through my veins.
My vision narrowed as though I’d spotted an enemy, and only the princess filled my sight.
It felt as though I could hear war drums sounding from far away, just before battle commenced….
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Yes.
It felt exactly like hearing the drums of a battlefield.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Was this because of the axe the princess had lodged in the back of my head?
Had it still not come loose?
Did it ever come loose?
“….”
Tangerine watched Praha strangely as he suddenly stood there, staring down at his own palm, despite saying he was going inside.
“Your Highness?”
“Tangerine.”
“Yes.”
“I think I might be ill.”
Praha suddenly found himself thinking.
‘Does the princess—’
Yusara—
know that my pupils aren’t perfectly black when viewed up close?
That her thick hair cascading down the nape of her neck is unbearably tempting to touch?
‘Aren’t you exhausted?’
‘You’ve even lost consciousness before, so it’s best not to overexert yourself.’
I had wanted to say that.
‘In a one-on-one situation, if you just grab this, you’re guaranteed to win.’
‘Squeeze it hard in your hand and crush it.’
What actually came out of my mouth were truly bizarre ravings.
I’d spent the entire dawn spouting nonsense, and ultimately missed my chance.
‘What else can I do? The moment our eyes meet, my mind goes blank.’
It had never happened to me before in my entire life.
As Praha, I found myself wondering if I’d somehow injured myself without realizing it.
I looked down at my palm, still tingling from the sensation of Yusara’s skin.
‘A person who goes around splitting others’ heads open with an axe.’
One should be cautious around someone like that.
Yet I found myself unwilling to be cautious at all.
I had never been in a romantic relationship before.
Those around me were only women I needed to instruct or command.
My mother, my mentor, the occasional doctorate holders I consulted at the university, the knights under my command.
It was just after I turned nineteen.
Cyprus, who casually dated and broke up with people repeatedly, advised me not to overthink things.
“For example, if you find someone’s smile beautiful, you just try dating them.”
“If you find their smile beautiful?”
“If you find it beautiful.”
Then I should be dating the princess.
Yusara is beautiful.
At least, she appears beautiful to my eyes.
Eyes unlike anyone else in this Empire.
An upright posture. A gaze that strikes head-on. A smile that captivates.
Even the men who used to insult the princess for being bold and extravagant would steal glances whenever she appeared at the Banquet Hall dressed in all her finery.
I blinked and asked Cyprus a question.
“You said not to overthink it, so why didn’t you date the princess?”
Wasn’t it common knowledge throughout the Empire that the princess had unrequited feelings for Cyprus and once chased after him?
‘Cyprus!’
‘Yeah, Yusara.’
‘Why didn’t you come to my birthday party yesterday?’
‘Ah, I was busy.’
‘Very busy?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I see… I waited for you.’
The sight of the princess blushing, unaware that Cyprus didn’t reciprocate her feelings, had become fodder for high society gossip.
When Cyprus would finally reject the princess was also a matter of speculation.
‘Your Highness, you don’t seem close with the Grand Duke these days?’
‘When was I ever close with that bastard?’
The moment the two stopped conversing—or more precisely, the moment Cyprus remained unchanged while the princess alone huffed and began ignoring him—everyone knew she had finally been rejected.
“Why didn’t you date Yusara, you ask?”
When Cyprus heard my question back then, he simply laughed.
“I dislike every part that makes up Yusara.”
Her blood, her name, her eyes, the way she breathes, her voice, her smile. All of it.
Cyprus disliked others to such a degree.
It was unusual, but I let it pass without concern.
Watching Praha nod calmly, Cyprus winked.
“Do you know this is the first time you’ve ever mentioned a girl your age? And it’s only Yusara?”
There was no need to say “only.”
I remember thinking that at the time.
In any case, now.
Yusara belonged to neither category of women who composed Praha’s world.
Someone I wanted to seek counsel from like scholars or professors, yet simultaneously someone who stirred a certain sense of responsibility.
Suddenly.
“From now on, I want to love a man who will drop everything and lift me up first whenever I fall.”
The words I’d overheard at the Villa came back to me.
Thump….
The drum’s rhythm slowed.
I couldn’t understand myself.
‘If Yusara finally finds her own happiness, isn’t that a good thing?’
It’s a good thing.
For both of us.
It’s good.
Really good.
No, stop thinking about it.
“….”
But I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Perhaps Yusara had realized it.
Before the fear of death, my feelings for Praha were truly nothing.
‘Then am I now just some insignificant man scattered about in Yusara’s world?’
She won’t visit me like before.
Then there’s no reason to see her face….
Frowning, I hadn’t even realized I was calling the princess by her name.
‘Did Yusara ever actually like me?’
Was she only pretending because of her vendetta against Cyprus?
Could she still have feelings for Cyprus?
‘They get along well even though they seem to fight every day.’
Cyprus keeps saying Yusara has become strange, showing interest in her.
Cyprus keeps saying Yusara has become strange, but from what I can see, she doesn’t seem much different from before.
‘Yusara was always strange.’
That’s the truth.
Yusara was always strange.
Even someone like me, who had no particular thoughts about Yusara, found myself thinking of her several times despite myself.
[Birthday]
Yusara: October 27th
Praha: October 31st
Cyprus: August 3rd

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