The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 169

Tonight, Immediately

August 17, 2022

“I’m warning you, if you hurt anyone outside, I won’t let it go!”

I didn’t think a demon would be scared by human words, but I put all my heart into threatening him.

“D-Don’t be so scary. I won’t kill *everyone*.”

Funnily enough, the demon spoke in a frightened tone, yet said it as if he couldn’t help it.

“There have to be people left alive to spread the rumor that this place is truly cursed. And I don’t want to kill everyone either. Murder is terrible.”

The demon said in a dejected voice.

Even his level of wickedness was clumsy.

…What *is* he?

“Wow, Mr. Demon, I thought you only lacked a nose, but you have no backbone either~?”

Moiya teased the demon’s form that appeared on the wall, reaching out a finger to touch it.

‘You idiot, if you touch a demon, even a wyvern will pay the price. Don’t touch it!’

The Incarnation shouted at Moiya.

“Is what that hothead says true, Mr. Demon?”

Moiya asked the demon, startled.

“Uh-huh, my origin is a demon, so it’s dangerous to touch me. Your friend is right. I won’t stop you if you want to die.”

As the demon timidly replied, Moiya subtly hid her outstretched hand behind her back and stepped back.

“But that hothead who’s leeching off our master isn’t my friend. I like Mr. Demon more, Moiya~.”

‘Ha? Wyverns are born with demonic tendencies, so they get along well with demons.’

The Incarnation sighed deeply and grumbled.

“Let’s just have a match between you and me. So don’t open that door. You can do that much, right?”

I said to the demon, feeling like I was suffocating.

The demon looked troubled.

“Well, that’s… the mage outside keeps breaking the barrier as he approaches. He’s sacrificing his own lifespan. I can’t *not* open it. I already received the mage’s life force as payment.”

“What? Wait, if it’s a mage… could it be the Magic Tower Lord?”

According to the demon, even the most skilled mage couldn’t simply remove a barrier made with evil energy; there had to be a condition.

The condition was giving up part of one’s lifespan, and the mage outside was paying the price to break the barrier.

“Does the Magic Tower Lord have no attachment to life after living so long?”

I thought of the Magic Tower Lord’s youthful face, living as a 20-year-old for 250 years.

Did Linelle ask him?

Did she promise him something enormous? Or did she appeal to him with tears?

Even so, sacrificing one’s lifespan to break a demon’s barrier was hard to understand.

Ah, did he perhaps fall for me? The thought flashed through my mind, and I chuckled.

Seeing me laugh in this situation, I must not be getting enough oxygen to my brain.

When I moved my body, my head spun.

I need to finish this demon off before the symptoms get worse.

“Corrupted demon, what do I have to do to get out of here?”

“I’m sorry if this hurts your feelings, but…”

“Hey! Stop saying you’re sorry. If you’re sorry, open that door!”

I was already suffocating, and the demon’s roundabout way of speaking made me burst out in anger.

Shouting made my head spin even more.

“Ah, okay. Don’t get angry. With the fire energy you possess now, you can’t beat me. That power is still too weak. I don’t know what kind of power you’ll gain later, but for now, you’re just…”

“Just what?”

“U-Unfunny! You’re an easy opponent for me. But I won’t laugh at you. Still, it’s true that you’re funny, so I’ll look down on you! Ha, ha, ha.”

The demon told the truth, then felt sorry and immediately tried to comfort me, then, remembering that he was a demon, forced a scary laugh.

*You’re trying so hard, too.*

“I’m a stronger being than you! Smart, too. So obediently, obediently…”

“Die?”

“Yeah, ah, no. Not really.”

“…What *are* you even saying?”

Dealing with this unpredictable demon was more tiring than dealing with Princess Resilia and Prince Tesler at the same time.

“Mr. Demon, you and our Rosie seem to get along really well. I wish you had killed Norton and met Rosie.”

“Who’s Rosie?”

The demon showed curiosity at Moiya’s nonsensical words.

“Didn’t you see her earlier? The orange-haired girl standing right in front of you. The one I take around with me. If she gets angry and curses, you might be so scared you’ll pee your pants.”

“There were so many people earlier that I was scared and couldn’t see well. No matter how pretty she is, I hate humans who curse.”

Both the question and the answer were absurd.

“Ah, our Rosie is a human who will never become pretty no matter what she does. But I feel sorry for her. She was dumped by Norton recently, and now she’s been dumped by a demon? I should treat her better.”

Moiya nodded, making a resolution to herself.

‘You idiot, who are you trying to introduce to a demon who doesn’t even have a physical form?’

The Incarnation mocked Moiya, and the demon replied instead.

“I can turn into a human form too! Don’t underestimate demons. You’re the one who doesn’t even have a physical form!”

The demon rebuked the Incarnation, and Moiya smirked triumphantly.

“Do you want me to die?”

I asked the demon seriously again.

“I was going to at first, but I’ve changed my mind, so let’s make a deal.”

“No, I won’t make any deals with a demon.”

I said firmly.

“Empress, why are you refusing without even hearing what the deal is?”

The demon asked in a flustered voice.

“It’s obvious. In exchange for you saving me, I’ll have to harm someone or commit a bad deed in the future, right?”

“Oh, how did you know? That’s right…”

The demon was startled.

“That’s right! Our master has no flexibility, so she’d rather die than commit a bad deed!”

Moiya shouted proudly with her hands on her hips, but it was unclear whether it was a compliment or an insult.

Anyway, it was getting harder and harder to breathe.

I tried to take a deeper breath, but it felt like someone was slowly strangling me.

My vision was blurring.

I can’t lose consciousness….

Linelle’s voice sounded close.

The voices of others calling me sounded like waves, coming and going.

Eventually, I knelt down on one knee on the floor.

At that moment, the wine cellar door opened.

“Zelda!!”

“Ah, Linelle… why did you come in? You have to get out of here. This place is…”

“It’s okay, don’t talk. Don’t worry. Bellos, why are the Empress’s eyes unfocused? Why is her body so limp, like a person who’s fainted!”

*Ah, so that’s how I look right now.*

Only after hearing Linelle’s words did I realize what state I was in.

I felt like a person with only hearing alive. All other senses felt as if they had fainted.

“She is in a state similar to fainting, only with her eyes open.”

As expected, my guess was correct.

I felt Bellos reading the energy over my body with his hands.

“What’s the reason?”

“It seems there was no air in this place. But fortunately, there are no signs of being harmed by a demon.”

“Haa, I see. Then let’s get out of here quickly and treat her in detail.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Everyone, be careful!”

Then I heard Commander Marcrom’s voice in my ear.

*He’s under detention, but he followed Linelle to save me?*

But I didn’t have the mental capacity to be touched by Commander Marcrom.

“What is that?!”

Linelle’s panicked voice was immediately followed by the Magic Tower Lord’s tense voice.

“Will-o’-the-wisps! Everyone must avoid those flames! If those flames touch your body, you will tremble in fear and eventually turn to ashes and disappear!”

“Is there a way to catch them!”

Linelle asked.

“You cannot fight them with ordinary swords. Leave it to me and everyone get out of here.”

At the same time as I felt the Magic Tower Lord’s determined energy, I heard the sound of him drawing his sword from its scabbard.

Swish-.

It was the Hwansin Sword.

I squinted and looked at the Hwansin Sword, which was blurry.

I could tell it was the Hwansin Sword even with my eyes closed.

The moment the Magic Tower Lord drew the Hwansin Sword, I felt the blood in my heart swirling.

Linelle held me in his arms.

“Magic Tower Lord, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

As I was held in his arms, I relaxed and fell asleep.

‘Zelda, do you love the Emperor?’

The Hwansin suddenly asked me something out of the blue.

‘Of course, this man is my everything.’

Even as my consciousness disappeared, I accurately conveyed my feelings to the Hwansin.

‘Is that so? Sigh, in that case, 11 o’clock direction.’

‘What?’

I sensed something from the Hwansin’s words and opened my eyes.

A will-o’-the-wisp was flying towards Linelle from the side.

Holding me in his arms, he was just about to step out of the storage door.

“No! Haa, Aaaah!!”

I blocked the will-o’-the-wisp flying towards Linelle.

Unfortunately, at this moment, only my palm could block the will-o’-the-wisp.

I felt the demon’s energy seeping into my palm.

Damn it…!

For some reason, I thought I heard the demon from earlier apologizing, saying, ‘I-I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.’

The fire energy inside me and the demon’s energy began to clash inside my body.

In my head, a thought suddenly popped up, like predicting the future.

‘I thought I was finally getting better, but my life is going to be screwed again….’

“You bastard! Because of you, I!”

*Has the demon inside me already started to act?*

…Was that me cursing at him just now?

I don’t know.

Before I knew it, I felt wronged and grabbed Linelle’s collar before losing consciousness.

***

Roxana fell into *gomin* [Korean: 고민, lit. “deep thought, worry”] after seeing Linelle Emperor’s younger brother Joseph through the witch’s crystal ball.

How should I use this good card?

The *gomin* was not long.

She went to the conference room and met Hector.

She asked Hector for permission to go to the dress shop for a while, saying that there were a few requirements she had missed in the process of *matchuneun* [Korean: 맞추는, lit. “adjusting, fitting”] a wedding dress.

Hector readily *heorakhaetta* [Korean: 허락했다, lit. “permitted, allowed”], saying that he was busy with *chuljeong* [Korean: 출정, lit. “military expedition”] preparations and would not be able to return to the *ch 침실* [Korean: 침실, lit. “bedroom”] until *jajeong* [Korean: 자정, lit. “midnight”] today.

Roxana got on the *macha* [Korean: 마차, lit. “carriage”] with Nancy and headed straight to the *matap* [Korean: 마탑, lit. “Magic Tower”].

She had *jeonhae nohgin belloseu* [Korean: 전해 놓긴 벨로스, lit. “already informed Bellos”] the news on *kkamague pyeon* [Korean: 까마귀 편, lit. “crow’s wing/message”], but it seemed like it would be good to meet Logan and talk to him directly about the necessary *mabeop poseon* [Korean: 마법 포션, lit. “magic potion”].

“Are the *jeungsang* [Korean: 증상, lit. “symptoms”] severe in your body?”

Logan thought that the reason Roxana had visited the *matap* again was because of the *tongjeung* [Korean: 통증, lit. “pain”] caused by *bokyong* [Korean: 복용, lit. “taking/ingesting”] after the *bulgeun siyak* [Korean: 붉은 시약, lit. “red potion”].

“No, I wanted you to make a few *mabeop poseon* than that.”

“What kind of *mabeop poseon* are you talking about… Oh, what’s going on suddenly without *gibeol* [Korean: 기별, lit. “notice, sign”]? *Matap joo-nim* [Korean: 마탑주님, lit. “Magic Tower Lord”]!”

Logan asked Roxana bluntly, but *oechyeotta* [Korean: 외쳤다, lit. “shouted”] towards Bellos, who suddenly appeared from behind her.

Bellos returned to the *matap* through *idongseul* [Korean: 이동술, lit. “teleportation magic”].

Logan *jimjakhaetta* [Korean: 짐작했다, lit. “guessed, surmised”] that something had happened to him because his *seuseung* [Korean: 스승, lit. “master, teacher”] did not use *idongseul* unless it was an *geupan il* [Korean: 급한 일, lit. “urgent matter”].

“What? The *Matapju* [Magic Tower Lord] is here?”

Roxana was *kkamjjak nollada* [Korean: 깜짝 놀라다, lit. “surprised, startled”] and stopped turning her body halfway.

This is because she remembered the fact that she becomes *nache* [Korean: 나체, lit. “naked”] state when *haenghal* [Korean: 행할, lit. “performing”] the *idongseul*.

“Oh, *gongnyeo-nim* [Korean: 공녀님, lit. “Lady/Princess”] is here.”

Bellos *aneun cheok* [Korean: 아는 척, lit. “pretended to know”] to Roxana without any problems.

“Hurry up and *ibeusipsio ot* [Korean: 입으시죠 옷, lit. “put on clothes”].”

Roxana said with *nunssareul jjieupurimyeo* [Korean: 눈살을 찌푸리며, lit. “frowning”] while continuing to *doraseon* [Korean: 돌아선, lit. “turn around”].

“You can just *dorabwaseodo* [Korean: 돌아보셔도, lit. “look back”].”

“Are you *neomchisina jasin-gam* [Korean: 넘치시나 자신감, lit. “overflowing with confidence”]? I’m sorry, but I’ll *sayanghagessseumnida* [Korean: 사양하겠습니다, lit. “decline”].”

“Don’t *gwaenyamchi* [Korean: 괘념치, lit. “worry about it”]. I’m *gwaenchanheuni* [Korean: 괜찮으니, lit. “fine, okay”].”

“Ha, if *matap joo-nim wonhasindamyeon geuri…?* [Korean: 마탑주님 원하신다면 그리…?, lit. “if the Magic Tower Lord wants it that way…?”]

Roxana, who thought she was *nollinun* [Korean: 놀리는, lit. “teasing”], *kotbangguireul kkwimyeo gwagamhi dwireul boatjiman* [Korean: 콧방귀를 뀌며 과감히 뒤를 보았지만, lit. “scoffed and boldly looked back”], Bellos was *da gatchwo ibeun sangtae* [Korean: 다 갖춰 입은 상태, lit. “fully dressed”] even though he came with *idongseul*.

“Why are you *ipgo inneun ot* [Korean: 입고 있는 옷, lit. “wearing clothes”]?”

“You can’t *bigyohamyeon* [Korean: 비교하면, lit. “compare”] my *idongseul sillyeok* [Korean: 이동술 실력, lit. “teleportation skill”], who is a *matapju* and *manyeo gongnyeo-nim* [Korean: 마탑주 and 마녀 공녀님, lit. “Magic Tower Lord and witch”]. *Gongnyeo-nim*.”

Bellos was very *bunjuhae boeotta* [Korean: 분주해 보였다, lit. “looked busy”] while *daedaphhaejumyeonseo* [Korean: 대답해주면서, lit. “answering”] to Roxana.

“*Matap joo-nim*, is there something wrong?”

“Logan, I need you to *dowajwoya* [Korean: 도와줘야, lit. “help”]. I need to make a few *poseon* right now.”

“Is there anything more *geupan* [Korean: 급한, lit. “urgent”] than the fact that Linelle Emperor’s younger brother, Grand Duke Joseph, came out *kkaego jeoju eoreum* [Korean: 깨고 저주 얼음, lit. “breaking cursed ice”]?”

Roxana asked Bellos, who was *kkeonaeneun* [Korean: 꺼내는, lit. “taking out”] several *poseon byeong* [Korean: 포션 병, lit. “potion bottles”] from the *jinyeoljang* [Korean: 진열장, lit. “display case”].

“Oh, that’s right. There was also Grand Duke Joseph’s *il* [Korean: 일, lit. “matter”]… There are big things *beoreo jigo rinel hwangjekke* [Korean: 벌어지고 리넬 황제께, lit. “happening to Emperor Linelle”] in many ways.”

Bellos *jung-eolgeorimyeo nayolhaetta* [Korean: 중얼거리며 나열했다, lit. “muttered and listed”] the *poseon byeong* on the *teibeul* [Korean: 테이블, lit. “table”].

“Why, is there something wrong with him?”

Only then did Roxana approach the *matapju* with a *simgakan pyojeong* [Korean: 심각한 표정, lit. “serious expression”].

“It’s a big deal for me as well as *rinel hwangje* [Korean: 리넬 황제, lit. “Emperor Linelle”].”

“Perhaps, did something happen to *zelda hwanghu* [Korean: 젤다 황후, lit. “Empress Zelda”]? Is that right?”

The *matapju jisi-han rogeon* [Korean: 마탑주 지시한 로건, lit. “Magic Tower Lord instructed Logan”] to make *chiyu poseon* [Korean: 치유 포션, lit. “healing potion”] and then approached Roxana.

He *malhaejueotta roksana* [Korean: 말해주었다 록사나, lit. “told Roxana”] the fact that *zelda was ddeotta-neun dokkaebibure damgin agmaui giun* [Korean: 젤다 was 뎄다는 도깨비불에 담긴 악마의 기운, lit. “Zelda was touched by the demon energy contained in the will-o’-the-wisp”].

“So we need to *seodulleo sijakhaeya chilyo* [Korean: 서둘러 시작해야 치료, lit. “hurry and start treatment”] before the *agui giun jamsikdoegi wanjeonhi mom* [Korean: 악의 기운 잠식되기 완전히 몸, lit. “evil energy completely consumes the body”].”

“*Matap joo-nim*… I’m sure you won’t *sun-sunhi julgeon chiyu poseon* [Korean: 순순히 줄건 치유 포션, lit. “easily give the healing potion”]?”

“What do you mean?”

Bellos *dorabwatda* her.

“Give me the *chiyu poseon*.”

“If I give it to you?”

“We have to *georae* [Korean: 거래, lit. “make a deal”].”

“What?”

“I’m going to meet *rinel hwangje* directly. Tonight, immediately.”

Roxana said in a *jasin-game chan eojo* [Korean: 자신감에 찬 어조, lit. “confident tone”].