The Hated Empress Tames the Tyrant

“I was very late.”

His smile was generous, showing no signs of embarrassment.

Everyone except Hills looked at Mannheim with a puzzled face.

It was reasonable since a human suddenly appeared in the underworld.

“This person is…”

Bianca, unable to contain her curiosity, asked. In response to the question, Arundel glanced at Mannheim and opened his mouth.

“The Lord.”

She wondered if it would be okay to reveal his identity in front of humans, but it was annoying that he only appeared now. Well, it doesn’t matter.

Everyone’s eyes widened as if their eyeballs would pop out. Especially Lucas.

“What…?”

“It’s Lord Mannheim. The god who governs the world.”

As Arundel explained again, the atmosphere froze. Lucas, a priest, was almost out of his mind.

Mannheim’s soft voice flowed, breaking the frozen air.

“Since Arundel has introduced me, there’s no need to talk long.”

Mannheim spoke as he scanned the party one by one.

“I am Mannheim, the god who governs the world. Thanks to my lateness, you all have suffered. You are the heroes who saved the world.”

Then Hills interrupted.

“Stop the nonsense.”

Despite the rude words, Mannheim’s face did not distort. Rather, his smile did not disappear as if he had anticipated his reaction.

“Now that you know that the world’s balance was not broken because of the forbidden seed, you won’t blame Arundel anymore, right?”

“Of course.”

At Mannheim’s answer, Zion approached him.

“So… what happens to Arundel?”

“Let’s talk about that with Arundel.”

Mannheim asked for permission while looking at Arundel.

“Is it okay?”

Arundel nodded with a serious expression.

She looked around and smiled reassuringly. Then she locked eyes with Zion and said,

“Don’t worry.”

As Arundel approached Mannheim, a white light flashed.

****

In the pure white space, there were only Mannheim and Arundel.

“Arundel, you’ve really worked hard. Your false charges have been cleared, so no one can blame you anymore.”

“Did Lord Mannheim know from the beginning about Leviathan’s deeds?”

Mannheim shook his head.

“What I told you before was true. I thought the forbidden seed had destroyed the world. But, I soon realized. Even though Arundel replaced the seed, nothing changed.”

“But why didn’t you appear right away?”

Arundel threw the question she had been holding. Even though he knew everything, he only revealed himself after the situation was over.

“Because I trusted you.”

At the ambiguous answer, Arundel narrowed her eyes. Something flashed in Arundel’s mind as she pondered.

‘No way.’

She remembered her spear falling from the sky during the battle. The spear that suddenly appeared played a decisive role in piercing Leviathan’s heart.

If her guess was correct, the one who gave her the spear was Mannheim.

He had been watching everything.

“The reason Leviathan invaded the palace was similar to mine. He was afraid of Arundel.”

“…Me? Leviathan?”

Arundel asked with a surprised expression.

She had never confronted him during the war. So it was surprising that he was wary of her.

“Arundel tends to underestimate herself.”

That’s why I like you. Mannheim let out a laugh.

“Leviathan thought of Arundel as my right arm. In fact, not only Leviathan thinks so.”

Huh…? I was Mannheim’s right arm…?

Arundel was momentarily stunned by the fact she learned for the first time.

“Well, it’s not an important fact. What’s important is that peace has been restored, and Arundel was at the center of it.”

Despite Mannheim’s praise, Arundel’s expression darkened.

Everything had returned to its place. The world that had lost its balance, Leviathan who was the source of evil, and her own position.

Now all she had to do was return to her position as the Archangel. But,

That was not the ending she wanted.

“Lord Mannheim…”

Arundel, who had been hesitating, clenched her fist and stared at Mannheim.

“I still don’t want to go back to heaven.”

Arundel let out the lump she had been holding in her heart. Mannheim’s smile faded.

“Arundel.”

Mannheim called Arundel in a low voice.

“Is that really your will?”

The voice asking again seemed to test Arundel.

“You must know. An angel who has lost its purpose…”

“May lose its existence.”

She knew.

But even if that happened, she didn’t want to give up Zion.

“I’m okay with disappearing. I just…want to be by Zion’s side.”

Arundel, with her eyes closed, looked calm as if she was facing the end. But unexpected words fell from Mannheim’s mouth.

“You won’t disappear.”

At the ambiguous words whose intention she couldn’t understand, Arundel asked.

“I won’t disappear?”

“Originally, it should be.”

Then an unexpected word fell.

“An angel who has lost its purpose should lose its existence, but you are a hero who saved the world. I will give you a purpose as a reward.”

“What…?”

“Please protect the humans in the human world.”

At the sudden assignment, Arundel blinked her eyes.

“Of course, it doesn’t have to be heaven. Please maintain the balance in the human world. That’s Arundel’s new task.”

At Mannheim’s firm words, Arundel nodded with a flustered expression.

“Good. A new mission has been assigned to Arundel.”

He had foreseen all of this situation.

Even though he knew about Leviathan’s plot, he didn’t show himself right away because he wanted her to take down Leviathan and earn credit.

With the credit as an excuse, he eventually opened the way for her to stay in the human world.

“Lord Mannheim.”

Her calling voice trembled.

“Why are you doing so much for me?”

She was curious.

Was it because he thought of her as his right arm, as others saw her? But Mannheim let her go from her position as the Archangel too easily.

“There is something called force majeure in the world.”

Mannheim spoke in a calm tone.

“Force majeure…?”

“Even I, a god, cannot resist the great flow.”

“The great flow…”

“Just like you were drawn to Empress Meriden.”

At Mannheim’s explanation, Arundel understood at once.

When she saw Mary on the ship, she didn’t know why she was so captivated.

She was just attracted to her.

Just as the great destiny turns the earth, she naturally became close to her and went to great efforts to save her.

“Thank you, Lord Mannheim.”

Arundel pressed her choked chest and conveyed her thanks.

“…Your friends must be waiting for you.”

Mannheim’s calm voice seemed to have lowered a little. Was it just her feeling?

“Yes.”

“Then let’s say goodbye.”

At Mannheim’s farewell, Arundel quickly raised her head.

“Just a moment.”

“What is it, Arundel?”

Arundel spoke in a small voice, watching Mannheim’s reaction.

“If you allow it…I want to stay in Empress Irina’s body for another year.”

Mannheim sighed briefly.

“Just one year. But when her real soul returns to her body, make sure to compensate properly.”

“I understand.”

At the permission, Arundel calmed her excited heart and answered calmly.

“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll send you back to the human world.”

As Arundel stood still, a white light climbed up from her toes.

As the light gradually climbed up her body, Arundel’s figure gradually disappeared.

When only her face was left, Arundel shouted out loud.

“Thank you, Lord Mannheim!”

When Arundel’s figure completely disappeared, Mannheim revealed the bitter expression he had been hiding.

“Goodbye. My daughter, Arundel.”

****

“The Empress has awakened!!”

As her eyes twitched, surprised voices and busy footsteps were heard around her.

Arundel rubbed her eyes and got up. The face of the head maid came into view through the blurry vision.

“Your Majesty the Empress! Are you a little conscious?”

“Head maid…”

A hoarse voice flowed out. She thought she had only talked with Mannheim for a while, but how long had she been asleep?

“I was really worried!”

“How long have I been asleep…?”

“Only about a week!”

She had been asleep for a week.

“Because you fell down as soon as His Majesty the Emperor returned from the underworld!”

So Zion had been to the underworld…

“Also, there’s good news. His Majesty the Emperor and the members of the subjugation force swept the underworld, and all the rampaging demons have disappeared!”

It was a relief. Peace had really been restored.

But before she could feel the relief that everything was resolved, longing came.

“Zion… no, where is His Majesty the Emperor…?”

“By now… he’s probably having a disbandment ceremony for the subjugation force.”

Arundel’s eyes widened.

‘Disbandment ceremony?!’

Come to think of it, it was an organization formed to hunt demons. So it was right to disband now. The demons that had been disturbing the world were gone.

“I have to go right now!”

“…Yes?”

“Hurry and prepare!”

Seeing Arundel’s urgent appearance, the head maid left the bedroom and called the maids.

****

“Thus, we declare the disbandment of the subjugation force…”

Bang-!

The solemn voice of the prime minister announcing the end was interrupted as the door flung open.

The appearance of the empress, who entered like a protagonist, made the banquet hall stir. Especially, the eyes of Royden, Bianca, and Lucas, who were standing in front of the stone statue, widened.

Arundel slowly approached them and hugged each one of them.

Royden’s face was startled at first, but soon he wore a gentle smile, and Bianca burst into tears when she met her gaze. Lucas seemed a bit shaken for some reason.

A voice came from the side.

“…Arundel.”

The usually playful voice was subdued. The purple eyes were moist.

“I’m relieved. You’re all better.”

At Arundel’s words, Hills bowed his head deeply.

“You had us worried! We thought you went back to heaven without a word!”

“Quiet down! People will hear…!”

Fortunately, Hills’ grumbling voice seemed to be barely audible to Arundel.

Arundel patted his back a few times and turned around.

There stood a man whose mere sight filled the heart.

“Zion.”

Arundel approached him and hugged him tightly. His body seemed somewhat stiff.

But soon, he hugged Arundel back fiercely.

“You’re back.”

“Of course, I had to come back.”

Arundel and Zion exchanged glances as they pulled away.

“Zion.”

As soon as she opened her eyes, there was something she wanted to say to Zion in a hurry.

She finally brought out the feelings that had been forcibly buried deep in her heart, but could never be forgotten.

“I love you.”

Zion’s eyes, meeting hers, were trembling with joy.

The cold eyes that had tormented themselves trapped in the darkness were now gone.

Looking at the green eyes that captivated him, the golden eyes were only shining brilliantly and beautifully.

-End of the main story-