Chapter 03
- Shake the Carrot, Please. (3)
Has the Emperor gone mad?
No, that can’t be. She must have misheard. Who in the world would issue such an order? Selena circulated her mana inside her body, readying herself.
She must be hearing nonsense because she was too excited about escaping the Empire.
“Countess Kim, please step back. Her Majesty the Empress may no longer speak with you.”
No.
Selena was dumbfounded at the words of the guard who had interrupted the Empress.
Had the Emperor truly lost his mind? Preventing his own spouse from speaking more than three words to anyone? And these guards and servants were following it as if it were completely normal, explaining it politely as well?
Selena glanced around, half-expecting a joke.
Everyone’s expression said this was completely normal.
“…Whoa.”
Someone had clearly cast some massive mental magic across the Empire, without her knowing.
Or perhaps the Emperor really had gone insane.
Looking at the Empress, tears streaming down her face, it was clear she hadn’t agreed to this—but what could be done? It was, after all, an imperial decree.
Selena considered teleporting the Empress with her to escape, but decided against it—the woman’s rank was too high.
The Empress of the Empire.
If it were just a simple escape of a lone Archmage, no one could catch her; they’d just pretend to chase. But the Empress was different.
If the Empress fled, the Empire would pursue her relentlessly.
Judging by the Emperor’s insane behavior, they might even chase her to the brink of collapsing the Empire.
It was a miracle she wasn’t imprisoned in the Empress’s palace.
Selena clicked her tongue and silently wished for the Empress’s mental well-being.
Even as someone from another world, she felt sorry for her. Well, in a world without human rights, this was probably the best one could hope for.
Following the guard’s instructions, Selena bowed to the Empress, then turned to leave.
Just a few steps away from the Empress she might never meet again…
The Empress spoke, her voice laced with both frustration and anger.
“I can’t take this crap anymore, seriously…!”
In Korean.
“…!”
Selena’s eyes widened. She whipped around instantly.
The fragile-looking Empress, her expression twisted in fury, was staring directly at Selena. There was a hint of confusion in her gaze.
Had she misheard? Korean, now, in a place where even dreams rarely carried it… A shiver ran down Selena’s spine, and she swallowed hard.
“Countess Kim?”
Ignoring the servant beside her, Selena stared at the Empress.
Her heart pounded violently.
No. Calm down. Focus, Selena Kim. It might just be a hallucination. Not certain yet. She had learned long ago that expecting too much and then being disappointed was a painful lesson.
Recalling the agony of crossing hope and despair, she struggled to hold onto reason.
But whether hallucination or daydream, hearing Korean from another person after years was enough to make her self-control falter.
Finally, she blurted out a question she had once asked in her lonely teenage years:
“D-Do you know kimchi?”
“?!”
The Empress’s blue eyes grew as wide as marbles.
“Ki-Kimchi? Did you just say… kimchi…?”
The voice returned in trembling Korean, her sapphire eyes shimmering like waves crashing.
Shock, joy, longing, relief, happiness, hope—all the complex emotions surged, then settled into a bright expression on the Empress’s face.
Selena beamed in response.
That’s right! She’s Korean!
Why pink hair and blue eyes, she didn’t know. Maybe possession? Reincarnation, like her? Ideally, she hoped it was possession, but even if not, it didn’t matter.
The important thing was, the core was from Earth, and Korean!
Overwhelmed with joy, Selena forgot everything and moved toward the Empress.
But before taking even two steps, a cold voice intervened.
“Silence.”
The Empress, about to open her mouth with a radiant smile, was forcibly silenced. Not a single sound passed through her trembling lips.
The Empress’s guard, expression rigid, had activated a silencing spell using a bracelet-type magic tool, warning her.
“Your Majesty, please forgive this discourtesy. Everything is by His Majesty the Emperor’s will. And Countess Kim, this is my final warning. Step back. Do you intend to defy the Emperor’s command?”
These bastards were blocking the reunion of two Koreans meeting after 33 years?! Selena’s eyes went wild.
Emperor, or whatever—she didn’t care.
I’m a citizen of a democratic society, you bastards! I don’t want responsibility! I’ve almost been speared countless times!
She had been about to unleash her magic, but hesitated.
It wasn’t fear of repercussions—she was planning to become a fugitive Archmage anyway.
But that was only because she had been alone. No one she cared about would be hurt. She could act freely.
Now, though, there was the Empress.
…If she destroyed the Imperial guards here, what would happen to the Empress?
Selena bit her lip.
With the Emperor’s insane command already limiting the Empress, she would take serious political damage.
Perhaps branded a criminal, her position intact but her authority stripped. The current Emperor clearly wanted to keep the Empress as a pretty doll.
Should she step back for now?
Leave for later, part ways with the Empress, then approach secretly…
Before she could decide, the Empress solved Selena’s dilemma.
Her blazing eyes glared at the guard who had cast the silence spell. From the basket in her hand—oddly mismatched with her radiant dress—she pulled something out.
A carrot.
The Empress shook the carrot enthusiastically toward Selena.
Selena, finally resolute, made her move.
In that split second of distraction among the guards caused by the Empress’s sudden action,
“Shut up! Tell the Emperor to shove it! I’m the Archmage of this area!”
Selena’s mana surged like a tidal wave at everyone except the Empress.
- Families Collapse, Society Collapses, the Empire Collapses (1)
“Guhk!”
“Aaahhhh!”
The guards hadn’t expected the Empire’s Archmage to suddenly go berserk and attack with magic—they were helpless.
Those who tasted the crackling lightning mostly fainted on the spot. Even the ones who didn’t pass out weren’t in good shape. They were high-ranking knights with strong mana resistance, so they wouldn’t die, but they’d suffer for a while.
One of the barely conscious knights glared at Selena.
“Attacking the Empire’s knights… are you out of your mind, Countess Kim?!”
“I am out of my mind.”
“…The Empire will never forgive you!”
Trembling from the aftereffects of the electric shock, the knight could barely move—but his mouth kept running. Selena smirked.
“Nope, not true.”
Feeling no need to waste more words, Selena ignored the shouting knights and moved toward the Empress.
She grabbed the Empress’s hand with determination, her eyes sparkling. And before the knights, sensing magic inside the palace, could rush over, she cast teleportation.
“Trust me, unnie? Don’t resist with your mana. Teleport!”
Fwoooosh!
The two of them reappeared bathed in radiant light, at a villa with white fences and a small courtyard.
A remote villa outside the capital walls that Selena had purchased just in case.
She wanted to go farther, but even someone like Selena had limits on how far she could safely teleport two people without proper preparation.
The villa was cozy and quiet overall.
Spreading her mana to scout the area, she confirmed there were no people within a five-kilometer radius.
Here, they would have plenty of time before the palace realized what had happened and began chasing them.
Feeling safe, Selena immediately cast Dispel on the Empress. The magic would have faded on its own in a few minutes, but Selena wanted to speak to a Korean immediately, right now, without delay.
Once her mouth was free, the Empress immediately asked, her voice trembling with anticipation.
“You’re really Korean, right? You’re Korean, aren’t you? Please… tell me you’re Korean!”
The long-missed Korean language.
