A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 93

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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 12. Do Not Love, As If Already Wounded Many Times Over
If I were to pinpoint the most intimate moment I’ve ever shared with Praha throughout my entire life.
It would be right now.
We can converse together, we’ve saved each other once (or rather, many times on Praha’s part), and we’ve built trust between us.
Looking back at who I was before, this was a tremendous achievement.
And that’s not all.
‘Now I even have people I can call colleagues.’
Reflecting on how my life was when I was called a villainess, this small accomplishment was so precious that—
I never wanted to lose it.
‘Do you like me? I like you too! Then from today onwards….’ The reason I couldn’t conclude things so lightly was that there were far too many complications.
‘It’s true that Praha likes me. I can’t deny that. But why?’
Why does he like me?
I’m someone who, even in a small village with fewer than fifty people, gets pointed at and whispered about as ‘Isn’t that the incompetent Grand Duchess?’
I certainly love myself and work hard for my own happiness, but that’s separate from whether others find me attractive.
What if Praha’s feelings for me are some kind of mistake or delusion?
Given the current circumstances… what if he’s misunderstood his own heart due to the suspension bridge effect?
Once the zombies disappear from this world and the situation stabilizes, Praha’s gaze toward me might revert to how it was before.
How many people have I witnessed swear eternal love only to change their minds?
‘Do you know what the highest-earning profession is among the people around me? Divorce lawyers.’
Of course, Praha isn’t the type to suddenly stop providing child support, refuse to come home, or abandon even basic courtesy as a partner just because his feelings cooled.
I’m certain of that much.
‘But that’s precisely what makes it more painful.’
If his heart has already grown cold, yet he remains by my side simply out of a sense of responsibility.
Or if he realizes his feelings for me were a mistake, and he begins to look at me with disappointment or contempt again—it would hurt.
No, it would definitely hurt.
And if Praha’s heart crumbles to dust and scatters away like that.
Then would I have to struggle again from that point on?
To reclaim the heart I’ve lost?
Is that what happiness is?
I don’t agree with Mother’s words that my happiness depends on Praha’s heart, but that doesn’t mean I want us both to be miserable either.
‘Praha is a good and virtuous person.’
I’ve barely managed to elevate our relationship to the level of friendship with such a good person….
I don’t want to lose this.
Q. If you start dating and feelings cool, can’t you just break up? Why are you thinking about it so seriously?
A. Because it doesn’t seem like I could.
Because I don’t think I could date him so casually and then simply part ways.
‘Did the Grand Duchess calculate this when she dragged me all the way here to save my life?’
‘Do you have a preference for men with soft hands?’
‘The Grand Duchess.’
‘The Grand Duchess.’
‘Yusara.’
Those eyes fixed directly on me.
The careful way he chose his words.
His hesitant hand reaching toward me with such tenderness, pausing to breathe before speaking—as though gathering courage.
If I were to give my heart to Praha again….
I feared it would spiral beyond my control.
If I allowed myself to feel that way and then lost it, I would shatter completely.
‘Why must I? If I don’t love, I won’t be hurt. I’m content as I am now. I’m happy. I don’t want to be swept away by such an overwhelming emotion.’
I knew this choice contradicted what I’d boasted to Yujein before—’I always confess immediately when I develop feelings for someone!’—but I couldn’t help it.
I lacked the courage. I was terrified of being hurt.
Besides, even if I accepted Praha’s feelings, could we ever truly be together?
[Reasons Why Yusara and Praha Cannot Be Together]
1. My reputation
: If word spread that the villainess married the Empire’s heroic Crown Prince….
9,999 people would demand I be burned at the stake, claiming I used dark magic to bewitch His Highness.
2. My family circumstances
: A ruined household, a mountain of debt that will only worsen, and a gambling-addicted Younger Brother—to achieve a union with the Crown Prince under such conditions would be….
Utterly unthinkable.
Even if I weren’t a villainess, any person with a conscience would withdraw at this point.
3. And if I win my wager with God and return to the modern world?
What becomes of Praha?
“…My lady.”
“…Miss.”
“Miss Yusara!”
“Yes?!”
I jerked my head up in alarm.
Yujein and Tangerine stood beside me, their eyes sparkling as they stared.
Seeing their expressions—as though they were ready to volunteer as bridesmaids on the spot—I understood.
‘They’ve figured it out. That Praha likes me.’
Well, with such obvious displays of affection, only a fool would miss it.
The two of them asked in suggestive tones.
“What exactly did His Highness the Crown Prince write~?”
“We’re not asking you to tell us or anything~”
Yujein’s pink hair, hands clasped together as she smiled. Among all the flowers adorning the room, her color stood out most brilliantly.
‘The kind of person suited for Praha would be someone like Yujein.’
It wasn’t low self-esteem making me dig a hole—it was reality.
Someone with my circumstances…!
Perhaps it would be best to forgo romance and live alone.
For these various reasons, I made my decision.
I closed the card in my hand naturally as I replied.
“There’s nothing special written on it. It’s just a thank-you note.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. I suppose His Highness was incredibly grateful that I saved his life that day. Rather than any ulterior motive, he simply wanted to express his gratitude.”
“…What?”
“The Crown Prince is not one to forget a kindness.”
“…”
“…”
My composed response hung in the air, and silence descended upon the room.
Yujein and Tangerine exchanged glances.
Tangerine spoke up.
“Do you truly believe that? That His Highness sent the flowers merely as a token of gratitude?”
“Yes.”
“Forgive me, but are you perhaps lacking in perception?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I see…”
Yujein, who had been standing with her hands clasped and watching me, drooped her shoulders dejectedly. Tangerine averted her gaze from me and swung her fists at the air.
“Ah, why!”
Leaving their sighs behind, I pretended not to notice and went about washing, tying my hair, and gathering my belongings.
Thus, when I met Praha on the lower floor, I was able to smile without a shred of shame.
“What’s with all the flowers!”
Upon descending, I nearly faltered in surprise to find fresh flowers in water bowls adorning every table on the lower floor as well, but fortunately, I managed to maintain my composure.
Seeing me smile as though I had noticed nothing amiss, Praha nodded. He closed the book he had been reading, rose from his seat, and made room for me to sit.
Praha asked.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to you, I slept wonderfully. And you, Your Highness?”
“I slept well too.”
“I doubt that! The Flower Market opens at dawn, after all. When on earth did you manage to prepare all those flowers?”
“Fortunately, this city produces flowers in abundance.”
“I see…”
“…”
“…”
Would he now ask if I had read the card?
Would he ask what I thought of it?
What should I even say?
Seeing me desperately maintain an awkward smile, Praha tilted his head slightly. His low, quiet voice posed a question.
“It seems you did not sleep well.”
“Ah… no, I did. I slept fine.”
“Was there much noise during the night?”
“Oh, the drunken people downstairs making a racket? That didn’t bother me.”
“I’m relieved. Please sit here. I’ve ordered the spicy chicken dish that you enjoy.”
Praha shifted his chair slightly to make space for me, then settled across from me and resumed reading his book.
Yujein and Tangerine had gone out for exercise, taking a walk around the neighborhood, while Cyprus went to buy cold cream.
It was just the two of us.
“Is it spicy?”
“No. I just wanted some water.”
“Here you are.”
Praha’s expression remained serene as he turned the pages.
As if nothing had happened last night.
Yet whenever I needed something, he sensed it with uncanny precision and responded.
He never asked me things like “Did you read the cards?” or “What do you think of the flowers?”—never sought validation for his own efforts and feelings.
He cared only about my state and my mood.
He offered his heart without demanding an answer in return.
I had been secretly anxious that Praha might be disappointed by my silence.
And that’s precisely why my chest ached all the more.
* * *
Now that I thought about it, the Divine Maiden didn’t eat only garlic and mugwort for a hundred days.
It was only for twenty-one days.
=21 days.
So why shouldn’t I be allowed to drink coffee?
“I’m dying….”
“I told you, just drink the coffee.”
“I don’t want to. A woman has her pride.”
Once I’d made a decision, I had to see it through.
‘What I want to drink right now. Iced americano, vanilla latte, tiramisu latte, dalgona coffee, shakerato, nola float, piccolo….’
I glared at Cyprus beside me, who was contentedly sipping milk with caramel syrup.
We were currently heading toward the first region near us—one of the two areas where we’d lost contact with people.
I wanted nothing more than to head straight for Sodom (that city where people were abducted!), but to save time, it made sense to visit the closer region first.
“The problem is that it’s an Island.”
“Oh… Then how do we get there?”
“We’ll rent a boat from the nearby Harbor Village.”
“Who will pilot it?”
Cyprus pointed to himself with a proud expression.
“The Southern Region’s seas….”
“Ah. Yes.”
I gave a vague response and looked away.
“Is that it over there?”
“That’s correct.”
“The seafood should be delicious!”
But at the entrance to the Village, I spotted some boys kicking a small white puppy with their feet.
“…?!”
Before I could even speak, Praha had already drawn his bow on them.
[Village where everyone who abuses animals deserves to die]
– Yusara, Praha, Cyprus, Yujein, Tangerine (Survived)

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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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