A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 49

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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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Praha answered simply.
“I’m the worst kind of man.”
“Actually, I like that. I’m an expert at loving bad men.”
Then why did you even ask?
Watching Praha with his mouth shut, Yusara winked.
“Your Highness, you have no interest in me at all, do you?”
“…Yes.”
“That’s fine. I’m used to it. Everyone hates me anyway, so indifference is practically a blessing.”
“….”
“Oh, you just frowned, didn’t you? So Your Highness hates me too!”
That’s not it. I’m just bewildered by this conversation.
But Yusara didn’t give Praha a chance to defend himself.
Already having firmly concluded in her heart that ‘the Crown Prince hates me too,’ Yusara laughed.
Someone hated her.
In front of someone who hated her.
She smiled so brightly.
‘Come to think of it, she was smiling back at the Banquet Hall too.’
To constantly smile, speak, and expose herself in front of people who hated her and hoped for her failure.
How much courage did that even require?
Yusara spoke.
“As Your Highness already knows, I don’t only like men who seem promising.”
I know. If anything, it’s quite the opposite.
“It’s time Your Highness understood that I like whoever captures my heart, regardless of what a man feels.”
It was a declaration of war of sorts.
A declaration that from now on, I will love you.
Praha, born on the battlefield and living alongside war, had experienced this before—a familiar method.
Yusara, offering her heart in the way most familiar to Praha, grasped the back of his hand.
She pressed her lips to it.
It was primarily a gesture men made to women they favored.
“I’ll attend every banquet during New Year’s week. I need to show that I’m unbothered.”
“….”
“See you at the next banquet, Praha.”
And Yusara left.
On Praha’s rigid hand, she left behind, for just a moment, a sensation as strange as being burned by fire.
“….”
Alone, Praha opened and closed his hand once.
Then he returned behind the curtain and began reading again.
“Your Highness! You were here!”
Until the Attendant, having learned of Praha’s whereabouts from the Knights, came to retrieve the Crown Prince who had abandoned his post.
* * *
Yusara remained steadfast.
‘Did she change her target to the Crown Prince? How shameless of her!’
The mockery of others didn’t faze her either.
‘The young lady is currently disrupting my afternoon schedule.’
Even Praha’s rejections couldn’t defeat Yusara.
But even someone as persistent as Yusara had her breaking point.
“Why won’t you just do it?!”
Praha looked down silently at Yusara, who had planted herself in his path along the Corridor of the Crown Prince’s Palace.
She dared to block the Crown Prince’s way, yet her demeanor remained utterly composed.
‘Does this young lady not fear me at all?’
The difference in our physical stature was considerable.
Now that Praha had finished growing, he possessed the unmistakable build of a man in his prime.
Tall frame, long limbs, broad and sturdy shoulders.
Even the Attendants, who were far larger than the young lady when standing before him, often felt intimidated by his presence.
And that was before accounting for his status as Crown Prince.
Yet standing before Praha—a man whose single hand could completely cover her face—Yusara seemed utterly devoid of fear.
“Yes? Please answer me!”
She even stamped her foot, urging him to respond immediately to her words.
‘She pays no mind to my station whatsoever.’
So it was that Yusara treated Praha as nothing more than a man she loved.
Not as the Crown Prince.
“What exactly would you lose by becoming engaged to me?”
This was the period when Praha had unilaterally rejected the marriage proposals between them—six times, if memory served.
Frankly, from Praha’s perspective, he couldn’t fathom what she saw in him to propose in the first place.
Because the way Praha had been treating Yusara all this time was….
‘Praha, would you perhaps be free tomorrow afternoon…?’
‘I’m not available.’
‘Praha, would you come to my birthday party?’
‘No.’
Praha gave Yusara no quarter whatsoever.
He’d judged this approach better than Cyprus’s method of leaving room for hope.
‘If the young lady comes looking for me, don’t inform me. If she wishes to see me, have her submit a formal request for an audience like any other subject.’
Unable to meet with Praha, Yusara waited for him in the Audience Chamber for hours each day.
Often, she would be left alone long after the Audience Chamber emptied and the day’s audience hours concluded.
‘Those with official business take priority.’
‘Your Highness, surely even so….’
‘There is no “even so.” I cannot grant an audience to someone whose petition merely states “because I wish to see you.”‘
‘….’
‘It is the only reasonable judgment.’
I hadn’t intended to humiliate Yusara.
I simply couldn’t understand it.
But even as I thought this, sorrow accumulated in Yusara’s heart.
Until it finally burst forth.
“You don’t even know me. Even if we’re not engaged right now, you could at least give me a chance!”
Speaking so harshly to the Crown Prince?
The Attendant and Aide who accompanied Praha widened their eyes in shock.
Praha, watching Yusara’s defiant expression through glistening tears, quietly took a step forward.
Because Praha was so massive, even his slight movement was enough to shield Yusara from the gazes of those around them.
“You won’t accept my handkerchief, you refuse to meet with me, you won’t come to my party….”
What was there to be so sorrowful about?
Usually I’d see her pale cheeks flushed red, and it made me want to sigh.
“Is it because I used to like Cyprus?!”
You won’t accept me unless I’m your first choice?
Watching Yusara cry out again, Praha responded quietly.
“That’s not the issue.”
“Then why!”
“Because you don’t actually like me.”
“…What?”
“You’re only pretending to like me to provoke Cyprus’s jealousy, aren’t you?”
“….”
“If you’re looking for a way to restore your pride, you’d be better off seeking it elsewhere.”
Even as I spoke, I was inwardly surprised.
‘I hadn’t intended to be this honest.’
At this rate, it sounded like I was pouting and saying, “You don’t actually like me—you’re only doing this because of Cyprus.”
Yusara fell silent after hearing my words.
“…So you never thought I actually liked you. In that case….”
“There is no ‘in that case.'”
I, exhausted, pressed my hand to my forehead.
“No matter what happens.
I stated it plainly.
“I will never come to like you.”
So you should give up too and find someone better to be happy with.
“You deserve someone more tender and kind than me.”
I’m too blunt, I don’t understand women’s hearts well…. In any case, you already know I’m not a good match for you.
“No.”
But before I could finish speaking, Yusara cut me off.
Yusara took a step closer.
Meeting my gaze directly so I couldn’t turn away, Yusara declared with absolute certainty.
“You will come to love me someday, Praha.”
“….”
“Someday, without fail.”
I don’t remember how that conversation ended that day.
Did Yusara simply turn and leave after finishing her words?
But that one assertion remained etched in my memory.
‘You will come to love me.’
You will come to love me….
Praha, emerging from his reverie, lifted his head.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Ah….
Now I understand what this sound is.
This is—
the drum announcing my defeat.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Praha, who had lived on the battlefield. And Yusara, who declared her heart to him in the most familiar way possible.
Between Yusara, who said I would come to love her, and Praha, who swore it would never happen.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The sound of a racing heart.
The sound announcing Praha’s defeat.
‘Have I truly lost?’
No, not yet.
No, I don’t know.
“Your Highness, if you’re in considerable pain….”
“I’m fine.”
Praha replied to the worried Tangerine and quickened his pace.
With a powerful stride, Praha caught up to Yusara in an instant, and stood before her, his breathing perfectly composed.
“Your Highness?”
Wide, round eyes looked up at Praha.
“Is there something you wished to say?”
Eyes that were not a perfect black.
“I don’t eat roasted birds.”
Eyes that made me wish she would continue looking at me like this.
“Your Highness?”
Those eyes are looking at me.
“…Are you heading to breakfast?”
“Yes. And you, Your Highness?”
“I’ve arranged to receive a map of Promae Castle from the Local Lord.”
The breakfast provided by Promae Castle.
“Will that steward from yesterday be coming as well?”
“I’m not sure.”
Was his name Smoothie?
That handsome man had attended to the princess throughout the banquet, his expression radiating the honor of serving her.
When the princess whispered something to him, he burst into laughter.
Sitting apart, Praha couldn’t help but wonder what on earth they’d been discussing all this time.
Those pale, smooth fingers of his as he poured juice for the princess.
“You haven’t even had a chance to eat. You’re working so hard… Surely you don’t have to copy the map by hand?”
“I can memorize it by sight.”
Suddenly, Praha became conscious of his own appearance—nothing refined about it, just a shabby shirt thrown on.
He’d wanted to escort Yusara to the Dining Room himself.
But his palms felt far too rough and calloused to take her hand.
“The cinnamon rolls here at the castle are quite delicious. Have you tried them?”
“Oh, no. Not yet.”
“You really must try them.”
‘Did he really rush over just to recommend cinnamon rolls?’
Praha bowed his head to Yusara, who was looking at him with a bewildered expression.
“I’ll see you this evening.”
* * *
Praha appeared suddenly, recommended cinnamon rolls, and disappeared.
I, Yusara.
Was I perhaps lacking in perception?
“Is it really that delicious?”
Something about Praha’s demeanor felt off, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint what.
Tilting my head in confusion, I headed toward the Dining Room.
‘Why did he want to see me this evening?’
Puzzled as I was.
“It’s probably nothing.”
I shrugged to myself.
And that evening.
“…Good heavens.”
What Praha meant by seeing me this evening.
Now I understood.
[(Temporary Safe Zone) Promae Castle]
– Yusara, Praha, Cyprus, Yujein, Tangerine (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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