The Hated Empress Tames the Tyrant

The day of the decisive battle had dawned.

 

As soon as Arundel woke up, she was very busy.

 

Usually, after breakfast, Belle would simply choose her clothes and accessories and help her dress. The clothes were also simple.

 

‘But how many outfits are we changing into now?’

 

The maids gathered around Arundel in groups, repeatedly dressing and undressing her.

 

The head maid sharply selected the dresses with her hand leading the others.

 

The head maid narrowed her eyes and nodded her head.

 

‘Finally!’

 

Arundel cheered inwardly.

 

She had been dressing and undressing for hours. The final dress chosen was an olive-colored dress that matched well with Irina’s eyes.

 

It was an off-shoulder design that highlighted Empress Irina’s long neck and pretty shoulders.

 

“Bring her to the vanity.”

 

At the head maid’s command, the maids moved busily again.

 

Arundel was anxious about how long this ordeal would last, but she was also relieved.

 

She was worried about what would happen if they just casually dressed the empress who was being treated poorly, but fortunately, they were professionals. They were doing their best regardless of the empress’s external position.

 

However, Arundel’s ordeal continued as she sat in front of the vanity.

 

They lifted, lowered, twisted, and untied her hair. She felt like she was going to go bald from tying her hair so tightly.

 

Fortunately, they didn’t like the tightly tied style, so they neatly braided her hair to one side and let it fall neatly forward.

 

As if painting a picture, they repeatedly erased and applied makeup until it was finally done, and it was finished off with a very expensive-looking, brilliant jewel.

 

“Perfect!”

 

When the head maid clapped her hands with a satisfied face, the maids also surrounded Arundel, nodding their heads and clapping.

 

She felt a bit strange, as if she had become a monkey on display, but because she had been working hard for several hours, Arundel quietly expressed her gratitude.

 

“Come over here quickly!”

 

Although she had seen enough in the vanity mirror, Belle led Arundel to where there was a full-length mirror, as if it was not enough.

 

“…It’s pretty.”

 

It sounded like she was narcissistic, but it was true.

 

She thought she was a beauty, but she didn’t realize that Empress Irina’s face was so glamorous because she always dressed modestly.

 

Her hair, black as silk, was beautifully braided and fell forward, and white flowers were inserted between her hair, making her look like a spring fairy.

 

The olive-colored dress was an elegant dress that was neither too much nor too plain.

 

“Everyone worked hard.”

 

Arundel was very satisfied. The few hours of hard work were no longer important. The result was too excellent.

 

‘At this rate, Zion won’t be able to ignore me. If he ignores me, I’ll have to seduce another man.’

 

It sounded ridiculous, but somehow it seemed possible with her current appearance. As expected, people depend on how they dress, human technology is amazing.

 

The maids left Arundel alone in the bedroom and briefly left the room, telling her to wait until the carriage arrived.

 

Certainly, when the clothes became too much, it was hard to sit, so she went out to the garden for a while to walk.

 

The colorful garden was always a place that made her feel good.

 

The more she was here, the more she understood why it was Empress Irina’s only refuge. And these days, she made a new friend, so she liked it here even more.

 

Just then, her new friend poked its head out from between the holes in the stone wall.

 

“Hegi!”

 

Whether Hegi really understood the words or not, it visited here almost every day at the same time.

 

Hegi, who was well-trained, never barked after that time.

 

‘I’m really curious about the owner.’

 

Every time she saw Hegi, its fur was shiny and glossy, and it was a dog that had received quite a bit of training.

 

However, it was a bit strange to leave a dog to roam around the palace like this.

 

Anyway, thanks to that, Arundel was able to become very close with Hegi. Although it couldn’t speak, just being next to it was comforting.

 

Hegi, who was still poking its head out between the holes, looked as if it was asking, ‘Can I come in?’ so Arundel shook her head.

 

“Can’t today because I have to go somewhere. Let’s play next time.”

 

After stroking Hegi’s head a few times and pushing its head away, she heard Hegi quietly pull its head out and walk away.

 

It was always very peculiar.

 

“Your Majesty, where are you!”

 

At the sound of the head maid’s call, Arundel hurried back to her bedroom.

 

She finished getting ready to go out, and left the Empress’s Palace with the maids. It was a ridiculous moment when she first left the main gate of the Empress’s Palace.

 

‘So this is what the main gate of the Empress’s Palace looks like.’

 

Even though it’s been almost a month since she entered Empress Irina’s body, the main gate was quite unfamiliar because she always escaped through the stone wall.

 

Not only that, but all the scenery she saw while riding in the carriage was unfamiliar and awkward. The passing landscapes were really beautiful.

 

Well-organized landscapes and bright-looking people. It was a different feeling from downtown.

 

‘I wish I could freely roam this place soon.’

 

Arundel thought as she leaned against the window of the carriage. As she watched the fast-passing landscapes, the buzzing sound got closer.

 

When the carriage stopped, there was a colorful array of people gathered, enough to make her eyes dizzy.

 

‘So this is the banquet hall.’

 

Perhaps because it was a banquet hosted by the emperor, it felt like everyone had put as much effort into dressing up as she had.

 

As soon as she got off the carriage, all eyes were on Arundel.

 

The buzzing sound paused for a moment, then grew louder. Some of the gazes were quite blatant.

 

Arundel deliberately straightened her shoulders. It was something she had anticipated anyway.

 

Once she entered the banquet hall, there would be more difficult situations to endure. With that thought, Arundel’s jaw tightened.

 

When she stood in front of the banquet hall, the gatekeeper checked the list. The head maid next to her announced, ‘This is Her Majesty Empress Irina.’

 

The gatekeeper flipped through the list for a while, but it seemed like he couldn’t find Empress Irina’s name.

 

“Where is it?”

 

When the name didn’t come up at all, the gatekeeper’s hand got busy.

 

But no matter how many times he checked, he couldn’t find it.

 

“How could such a mistake be made? This is Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

“I know…! But it’s not on the list…”

 

The gatekeeper’s voice trailed off under the head maid’s icy gaze. The head maid handed over the invitation with a frustrated look.

 

“We even received an invitation!”

 

More eyes were drawn to Arundel, who couldn’t enter and kept lingering.

 

People started to murmur, wondering what was going on. The head maid seemed to be getting more sensitive as she felt the surrounding atmosphere.

 

Fortunately, the gatekeeper, who had checked the invitation, hurriedly told them to go in. The head maid glared at the gatekeeper until the end.

 

‘Anyway, we got in, but it’s strange.’

 

She wondered if Emperor Zion had intentionally left the empress’s name off the list to embarrass her, but even if her name wasn’t on the list, she could enter if she had an invitation.

 

If that were the case, he would have just told her to come without sending an invitation.

 

“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”

 

As the empress entered with a loud fanfare, the eyes of everyone in the banquet hall poured out all at once.

 

Arundel’s hands trembled slightly at the attention she was receiving for the first time, but she did her best to maintain her posture.

 

‘Keep your back straight, hold your chin up, and walk elegantly.’

 

Arundel kept repeating this to herself. As her nervous heart calmed down a bit, the faces of the people came into view one by one.

 

In particular, she could see the face of Emperor Zion, who was impossible to ignore.

 

Zion, who was sitting in a fancy chair with his legs crossed, was very beautiful. He was truly a person who deserved to be called beautiful.

 

If he usually wore loose and comfortable clothes, today he was wearing a red outfit that was full of angles.

 

His platinum blonde hair and red outfit were in perfect harmony.

 

Even though he didn’t wear flashy jewelry or makeup like the young nobles, he looked different today, and he was perfect.

 

‘…But why does he look like that?’

 

He was a person who rarely showed surprise or embarrassment, but now Zion looked a bit surprised.

 

It wasn’t certain, but it felt like he was opening his eyes a bit wider than usual.

 

People were going to Zion to greet him, and Arundel wondered if she should do the same.

 

‘I’m his wife, but should I still greet him…?’

 

Unfortunately, she had no knowledge of court etiquette, so she had no choice but to follow along.

 

If she moved awkwardly here, it would be perfect for ridicule.

 

“Greet His Majesty.”

 

The quick-witted head maid hinted at Arundel, who was fidgeting. Arundel saw the always cold head maid again.

 

Arundel, who was now certain, approached Zion and bowed her head slightly and said.

 

“I congratulate His Majesty on his birthday. May you live long and prosper.”

 

Arundel mixed in the greetings of the nobles she had heard earlier.

 

Zion, who was staring at Arundel’s face, smiled slightly and spoke.

 

“Thank you. I hope the Empress enjoys the party as well.”

 

This fox-like guy. Arundel felt that Zion’s greeting was grating, perhaps because she knew the true intentions hidden behind his sweet smile.

 

After greeting, Arundel found a suitable place to sit.

 

‘It’s really awkward.’

 

Everyone was chatting in groups, but Arundel was alone.

 

Moreover, the constant glances at Arundel made her feel like she had become an interesting spectacle.

 

Empress Ilina, whom she had seen in the mirror of projection, was always alone like this when she came to parties.

 

Originally, the empress’s seat should be next to the emperor, but this time, there was no seat for the empress.

 

So she had no choice but to stand awkwardly.

 

“Thank you all for coming to the party.”

 

Zion stood up and spoke, seemingly ready to start the party in earnest. The noisy banquet hall quieted down.

 

“Thanks to many of you who trusted and followed me, we were able to come this far. Please enjoy the party today.”

 

Zion spoke with a bright smile.

 

“For the prosperity and glory of the Croyden Empire.”

 

With the end of Zion’s toast, the applause of the people followed. The sound announcing the official start of the party made the banquet hall even louder and more lively.

 

Moreover, when the rich music started, the center of the banquet hall became a dance floor.

 

Beautiful men and women began to dance hand in hand. Arundel looked at the dancing men and women with cloudy eyes.

 

Arundel glanced at Zion, just in case.

 

‘What!’

 

What caught Arundel’s eye was a beautiful pair.

 

Next to Zion was a glamorous beauty with wavy red hair.

 

The two of them were having a conversation with pretty smiles on their faces. From time to time, the woman’s giggling laughter could be heard.

 

Of course, it was a scene she had already seen in the mirror of projection, so it was an expected picture, but it didn’t feel good to actually experience it.

 

Right now, she was standing awkwardly like a broomstick, and her husband was chattering with another woman?

 

Arundel glared at the well-matched pair with a slightly flushed face from anger.

 

But then, her eyes met Zion’s.

 

Zion’s eyes lingered on Arundel for a long time. For some reason, Zion’s gaze seemed to provoke her, making her feel even worse.