Ashton, who supported me as I staggered, asked with concern, “Your complexion is pale. Are you not feeling well?”
Unlike zombies, warm, human-like vitality emanated from his red eyes.
And warmth could be felt from the hand that held me.
It pulled me out of the past horrors.
“…I’m okay.”
I gripped his hand tightly and straightened my posture.
Even if I wasn’t okay, I had to be okay.
‘I can’t show weakness here.’
Releasing Ashton’s large and firm hand, which had been my support, I looked at the communication device. The local lords, who had hesitated to support me until just now, calling me a lady instead of a duchess, were now visible.
I couldn’t casually dismiss the boldness I had shown, even bringing out the body of the zombified Crown Prince. They had just started to trust my words, and if I revealed vulnerability, they might find it hard to support me.
With a new story surpassing the original, and now that I was the protagonist on the stage the gods had set, I desperately needed the cooperation of others.
Duchess Kitten, is there something wrong?
The words of a local lord echoed in my ears, not just pure concern.
A voice with a spoonful of doubt and suspicion.
Even though they had reluctantly accepted the truth I showed them, they still felt uncomfortable with the idea that a survivor had become the focus of the people.
If I showed any weakness, they might try to find someone more suitable than me at any time.
‘Let’s laugh.’
Especially in times like these, I had to laugh.
As if nothing was wrong, a smile with composure would serve as a shield for me.
“I seem to have had a moment of dizziness. I’ve been tirelessly pondering how to completely eradicate the zombies that threaten the Empire, day and night.”
Oops. While you guys might be enjoying the precarious peace without knowing what’s happening in the capital, I’m feeling a bit dizzy after facing zombies alone.
“It’s embarrassing to show signs of temporary fatigue. However, I believe that lords who tirelessly work day and night for the sake of their territories will understand the meaning of my words and continue to support me.”
Surely, they wouldn’t pick on me just because I felt a little dizzy for a moment, right? Don’t be eager to criticize me for nothing, and won’t it be better if you just move on when I lift you up?
‘I know the social language, too.’
I laughed while accepting it, and the faces of the local lords blushed slightly.
Uh, um.
Yes, that’s right. Like Duchess Kitten said, I, too, have spent nights worrying about the appearance of zombies threatening the Empire.
I apologize for not recognizing the dedication and efforts of the Duchess for the security of the Empire.
As expected. They didn’t point out my condition and passed over it.
If I countered here, it would be like slapping the faces of the local lords themselves.
“I would never want to give the impression that I did nothing for the Empire in crisis, even if I have to die for it.”
Ashton Cliter, the Duke of Whitewood and now the sole successor to the throne, wouldn’t want to appear resentful.
Zero whispered to me, unheard by them.
“Those humans have only understood half the situation. Perhaps because they haven’t actually encountered zombies yet, it’s clear that they think they can easily subdue them, very clear.”
‘Yeah, irritating, but that’s the truth.’
I muttered inwardly and secretly sighed.
Playing the role of the savior protagonist in a zombie apocalypse was an extreme profession.
As I glared at the communication device showing the frozen figures of the local lords, my party members stepped forward and each spoke a word.
It started with Russ.
“Duchess Kitten is the first person who thought of fighting against the zombies. Notifying the problematic situation to the tower and seeking my help are also her efforts.”
Benedict also echoed Russ’s words.
“If the duchess hadn’t tried to rescue survivors from the zombies, my life would have been in jeopardy too. Swearing on the honor of the fairy, I can vouch for Duchess Kitten. I also had prejudices against her initially, thinking only of her previous notoriety, but watching her, I could see. Duchess Kitten is making more efforts than anyone else to save people.”
Michael, holding the rapier he cherishes, gestured towards me.
“I was a holy knight of the temple, but now I pledge allegiance to Duchess Kitten. Although it’s a temporary contractual relationship until we defeat the zombies, I respect the duchess’s generosity and bold decision.”
Michael added with a wry smile.
“When I heard about the zombies from Duchess Kitten, I immediately ran away, unlike the humans of the Holy See who pledged to only save themselves.”
…….
Thanks to Michael’s pointed remarks, the local lords fell silent.
Hearing that anywhere could be dangerous due to zombies, there were undoubtedly those who had decided to escape to foreign lands.
Michael subtly pressed on, reminding them not to think of fleeing.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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