The Hated Empress Tames the Tyrant

Arundel returned to reality, rubbing her eyes and getting up.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like much time had passed. Although it was a short time, she felt very refreshed as if she had slept deeply.

“Your Majesty-! Where are you-!”

Hearing Belle’s voice from afar, Arundel hurried inside.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you.”

“Haha, I was just lost in thought outside for a while.”

Belle asked with a worried voice.

Arundel, who couldn’t admit that she had unknowingly fallen asleep outside, vaguely answered.

“His Majesty the Emperor said he couldn’t have dinner with you today.”

“Uh, okay.”

Arundel nodded her head. But Belle, who was twisting her body as if she was uncomfortable, looked a bit strange.

“What’s wrong?”

Arundel asked Belle, who was looking at her with suspicious eyes, in a somewhat defensive manner.

“When did His Majesty become so affectionate?”

Affectionate? Did I hear it wrong? If Zion is affectionate, all the affectionate people would be dead.

Arundel inwardly scoffed at Belle’s words that didn’t resonate with her at all.

“You’re worried that the Emperor, who might visit, will be waited for by the Empress, aren’t you?”

“Well, we’ve decided to have dinner together now.”

“Really?! When did you get so close! Congratulations.”

Arundel wondered for a moment if this was something to be congratulated on, but considering his cold attitude of barely visiting the Empress’s Palace once a week, it was a great improvement.

Of course, the maids would also prefer a loved Empress over an Empress who is treated coldly.

Just having a meal together was a small thing, but looking at Belle’s expression, it seemed that this small change was deeply moving.

‘Right. In fact, when you think about it, it’s a big change.’

Even Mannheim, earlier, said so. He said I was doing well. And then he said that some of my powers would have returned.

It was good news among good news.

Even if I could use a little bit of power, I would be able to get out on my own even if the bad guys stuck to me like last time.

It was news like a ray of light that could protect the weakened body of Empress Irina.

Arundel hurriedly sent Belle and the maids back. She had to check how much power had returned.

She spread her palm wide and concentrated to gather divine power. Divine power was a very basic power that made up the body of an angel. The first power to return would be divine power.

‘It’s working…!’

A white light appeared in her palm.

But…

“What is this? Is this all…?”

Arundel spoke out loud without realizing it.

The incredibly small amount of divine power was weak and flickering, like a lamp before the electricity went out.

With this much power, it would be hard to even chase away a fly from the demon world.

There was still a long way to go. But the positive aspect was that I was going in the right direction.

I didn’t expect Hills to appear.

‘He wanted to help me?’

I still didn’t know what his purpose was for approaching me.

He said he would help, but Arundel could never trust a demon. Especially that guy.

The reason I’m in a human body and suffering like this is because of that kid. If only that kid hadn’t tempted me back then…!

I sometimes regretted my actions that day, but I knew how futile it was to be tied up and attached to the past.

Arundel shook her head.

I had to look ahead. As always. That’s the only way I could move forward again.

The situation is a bit messed up now because of Hills, who has entered the body of Crown Prince Rick, but I plan to avoid him as much as possible in the future.

****

I was planning to avoid him as much as possible, but why is this kid standing in front of me again?

“What a coincidence! Isn’t it, Arundel?”

“Don’t call me Arundel.”

“Oh, should I call you Empress Irina here?”

Until this morning, Arundel’s mood wasn’t bad.

Yesterday, I made up my mind and got up early with a refreshing mind and went to the library.

I was planning to spend the day quietly reading a book.

The library, which I arrived at early in the morning, was quiet and serene. The faint smell of books and the morning sun seeped in through the windows.

Everything was to my liking this morning.

Except for one thing.

“…Why are you in the library early in the morning?”

Arundel clenched her teeth and spoke.

Even the time I wanted to enjoy quietly, this demon kid is trying to ruin it.

In response to Arundel’s question, Hills answered with a bright smile.

“Of course, I thought you would be here.”

“How did you know I would be here?”

“Arundel. No, Empress Irina, you underestimate me too much. I am one of the top five in the demon world…”

Ignoring Hills’ nonsense, Arundel moved away.

“Ah, where are you going!”

Hills saw Arundel moving away and chased after her. Seeing Hills chasing after her, Arundel let out a short sigh.

“Do you know you’re here as a guest? Don’t you have a schedule today?”

“Hehe, everyone was bothering me about where to go and what to do, so I said I wanted to act freely.”

Arundel’s head was throbbing.

Hills doesn’t even think at all about whose body he was in now, Arundel held back her boiling anger and spoke.

“What’s your real purpose? Why did you come here!”

“I told you. I’m here to help you…”

“If you’re here to help, disappearing from my sight would be helpful.”

Arundel cut off Hills’ words and spoke coldly.

“That’s too much…”

Hills’ shoulders slumped. Arundel looked at his expression, wondering what kind of trick this was, but it was really a deflated expression.

Her heart softened for a moment, but Arundel regained her composure.

Whether he wanted to help or not, in the end, he just thought it would be fun. She would never be fooled by a demon again.

Arundel moved her steps, leaving the deflated Hills behind. It didn’t matter what he thought.

Arundel, who moved to where the etiquette-related books were, picked out the book she was reading yesterday.

“Did you really come here to read a book?”

This blockhead…

He was slumped just a while ago, but as if nothing had happened, he followed and started talking again.

Arundel looked at Hills with a fed-up look in her eyes.

“You. When are you going back to the Shalbon Kingdom?”

“I plan to stay for a week for now.”

Just endure for a week.

Arundel repeated to herself. Of course, as long as he was interested, he would be wandering around with a demon’s body, but at least she wouldn’t worry about causing an accident in the body of the crown prince.

“Do you really want to help me?”

“How can I prove it? Should I give you my heart?”

Surprisingly, Hills’ expression was quite serious.

Perhaps since he came here, it was the expression with the least mischief.

In fact, the heart was really important to a demon.

The only weakness of a demon, which was close to immortal, was the ‘heart’. Only by completely eliminating the heart could they be completely annihilated, and if the person had their heart, it was said that they could control the demon like a slave.

That’s how important the heart was to a demon.

‘This crazy guy.’

It could sound romantic, but Arundel’s reaction was cold.

She still didn’t believe in demons. Especially because the demon was ‘Hills’.

“No. I don’t need a heart, if you’re here for me, please be quiet.”

“If you want it.”

Hills’ answer, which was lighter than a feather, was a bit uncomfortable, but for now, Arundel had no choice but to watch him.

“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Now a little familiar, Bianca’s voice made Arun smile reflexively.

“Hello, Miss Bianca.”

“Who is the person next to you…?”

At Bianca’s question, Arundel felt a moment of regret.

She was a little worried that he might talk nonsense, but his presence was too big to hide.

“This is… His Highness Prince Rick of Shalbon Kingdom. He said he wanted to see the library, so I was guiding him.”

“Oh my! Nice to meet you, Your Highness. My name is Bianca Hellen.”

Bianca, who didn’t expect the person in the library early in the morning to be the crown prince, was surprised and greeted Hills.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Bianca.”

Arundel looked at Hills with a nervous look, but fortunately, he greeted her like a normal person.

“Ahaha, I think I should go now.”

“Already?”

Arundel, who wanted to get out of this uncomfortable position, first expressed her intention to leave.

But the cunning demon grabbed Arundel.

“Your Majesty the Empress, you promised to guide me today. How about doing it together with Miss Bianca?”

At Hills’ cheeky words, Arundel looked at him with a fierce look.

But he just shrugged his shoulders cheekily.

“Really? I’m okay with that!”

Bianca agreed with a bright smile.

Arundel wanted to cry between the two of them, but she had no choice but to accept the situation.

“…Okay. Then let’s go together. Is there anywhere you want to go?”

Arundel spoke in a resigned state. Bianca, excited by the permission, asked with sparkling eyes.

“It might be a rude request, but I’ve always wanted to visit the garden of the Empress’s Palace! It’s a place that’s famous for its beauty!”

“That sounds great!”

“…Yes.”

Arundel wanted to punch Hills’ smiling face, but she managed to calm her trembling fist. His smiling face seemed like a vein would pop out any moment.

Arundel led Hills and Bianca to the Empress’s Palace.

Hills’ presence was not welcome, but Bianca’s visit to the Empress’s Palace felt a bit strange.

Usually, only the maids and Zion visited the Empress’s Palace.

She thought she would invite people someday after she became free, but she didn’t expect it to happen so suddenly.

This situation was sudden, but it felt a bit exciting, like inviting a friend to the Empress’s Palace.

Of course, it would have been much better if this kid Hills wasn’t there.

“Wow-! It’s really beautiful!”

Bianca clasped her hands and admired with sparkling eyes. Arundel’s shoulders relaxed a bit.

Indeed, even by her own standards, the garden of the Empress’s Palace was more beautiful than any place she had seen in the human world.

The flowers, laden with rain, shone brightly in the sunlight. The blue background and flowers were a sight that never got old.

Arundel took Bianca’s hand, who was admiring the view, and led her to the glass house.

Hills quietly followed the two women, seemingly unimpressed.

“This is where I spend a lot of time.”

Even in the library, the atmosphere was very low because of Hills, but Bianca’s excessive reaction to the garden gradually lifted her spirits. Arundel, in high spirits, explained here and there.

The last place she introduced was, of course, the glass house.

The space built with transparent glass was located in the center of the garden, where the beautiful scenery around could be seen at a glance.

In addition, the hot outside air was somewhat blocked, making it a good place to have a conversation.

Arundel and the guests took their seats in the glass house.

Belle brought tea and refreshments with a gentle smile. It seemed that she liked seeing her master bringing guests.

“Have a good time.”

“Thank you.”

The conversation flowed surprisingly normally. Fortunately, Hills was conversing like a normal human, and he seemed to get along quite well with Bianca.

“I had no idea that Your Highness the Crown Prince would have such a personality.”

“Hahaha, what did you think I would be like?”

“The rumors say that you are very polite and not talkative…”

“I’m originally like that, but in front of a beautiful lady, I tend to talk a lot.”

Arundel looked at Hills with a disgusted expression as she listened from the side, but fortunately, Bianca seemed to have no idea.

Still, Arundel was in a good mood deep down.

In this space where she thought she would be alone forever, it was a deeply moving moment to be laughing and chatting with others.

‘If only that demon kid wasn’t here, it would have been perfect.’

Arundel glared at Hills with a displeased expression.

She still didn’t like Hills being here, but seeing Bianca smiling next to him, her heart softened again.

After all, she wanted to ignore the demon kid and enjoy this peaceful moment.

But that was only for a moment,

“There are guests in the Empress’s Palace.”

His arrival did not allow the peaceful moment to last long.