GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL

ZOE worried for a moment about how Isaak Viotto could adopt Princess Runa, since only married couples were allowed to adopt children in the empire.

[Isaak Viotto and Eunice Harper got "married" in the novel to adopt Princess Runa.]

"Married" because it was only a marriage of convenience. The two made a contract. Once Princess Runa successfully reclaimed her place as the true Crown Princess, Isaak and Eunice Harper decided that they would file a divorce by then.

[Come to think of it, even though Isaak Viotto and Eunice Harper got married in the novel, the readers didn't hype the two's relationship that much. In fact, Liane and Emperor Rino's "ship" is more popular even though Liane died early in the story.]

Liane and Emperor Rino's love story was so popular among the readers that a prequel novella (titled 'Empress of Light' featuring the love story of Liane and Emperor Rino) was released even though the main story was still ongoing.

[Of course, Isaak Viotto and Eunice Harper still have a lot of shippers since they have tons of scenes together. But the father-and-daughter relationship between Isaak and Princess Runa is more popular in the fandom. Well, the novel doesn't fall under the romance category. That's probably why the readers are more interested in Princess Runa's journey and her found-family than Isaak Viotto and Eunice Harper's potential romance.]

As for her, she didn't ship the two because she wanted Isaak Viotto for herself.

[Anyway, I didn't get to finish the novel. I didn't even know how Isaak Viotto and Eunice Harper proved Princess Runa's identity. My English isn't that good, so I gave up on reading when the story became complicated.]

'Raised as a Tyrant Empress' was actually written in English.

She was a Korean whose English was only average. Her family business before she became independent often had her dealing with foreigners. Thus, she and her brother ended up learning the language. Still, she was lacking compared to her brother.

In fact, she only picked up the novel to improve her English reading skills.

[It's a relief that Zoanne's skills and abilities remained in this body. Thus, I'm able to speak and understand the language in this world easily.]

"Lady Zoe?"

Zoe blinked before she focused her gaze on Emperor Rino.

Ah, she spaced out when she heard that the emperor asked Isaak Viotto to adopt Princess Runa. She was surprised by how the story's pace was moving faster than in the original novel, but she should have expected that when she changed the plot.

"I'm sorry for spacing out, Your Majesty," Zoe said apologetically. "What were you saying again?"

"I am worried that Empress Veronica might retaliate because of what happened today," Emperor Rino said worriedly. "Every lady that the nobles recommended to be my wife died in an "accident." Even though I have no intention of taking another wife, the empress still gets rid of the women around me to protect her position." He looked at her with a concerned look on his face. "I'm certain that Empress Veronica will try to harm you now."

She carefully placed the teacup down on the table. It was her turn to get serious this time. "Your Majesty, are you afraid of Empress Veronica?"

The emperor looked confused by her question.

"I apologize if I was rude, and I also apologize in advance because I won't watch what I say from now on," she said, but she actually didn't sound apologetic. "Your Majesty, I need to know if you're truly afraid of Empress Veronica. I'm dumb and I don't really get politics. But in my point of view as a reader– I mean, as an outsider, it seems like the power in the Royal Palace is in the hands of Empress Veronica."

She needed to know if Emperor Rino was worthy of her help or not.

Even though she didn't get to finish the novel, she still had knowledge about the things that would transpire in the near future. Her information about this world was limited since she only got to read three volumes. But it was enough to save the emperor.

[It's a shame that I didn't get to the part where Princess Runa has been declared as the Crown Princess. I didn't even know who cursed her and Isaak Viotto. I just know that Princess Runa is going to be a tyrant once she grows up because of the novel's title and some spoilers that I saw in D*scord.]

"I wasn't the chosen Crown Prince."

Okay, that was new information.

Emperor Rino's childhood wasn't discussed in the book. He was already the Crown Prince when he met Liane, and his life as an emperor wasn't highlighted in the novel because Isaak Viotto's achievements overshadowed the emperor's.

"Isaak was supposed to be crowned as the royal heir because he was the most competent out of the royal princes at the time. He also used to be our father's most favored son," Emperor Rino said. "But he lost Father's affection when he was cursed. Thus, he was forced to give up the throne."

Ah, she remembered it was mentioned in the novel that Isaak Viotto gave up on the throne when he was cursed.

But it wasn't mentioned that the ghoul duke almost became the Crown Prince.

"Isaak helped me become the Crown Prince," the emperor continued. "He supported me until I became the emperor. But I didn't have real power. Everything that I have was practically handed to me by Isaak. If he wasn't turned into a ghoul, he would have been the emperor."

She couldn't deny that.

One of the spoilers that she read in D*scord hinted that Isaak Viotto took the throne temporarily when Princess Runa's identity was proven after Emperor Rino's death. Apparently, the ghoul duke would have to pass the throne to the Crown Princess once she was ready to become the empress.

"But I know that I can't depend on Isaak forever. I am still the emperor of this land," Emperor Rino said. "I made a mistake when I allowed Empress Veronica into the palace, thinking that I could at least be with my daughter if I married her. I'm still paying the price for that mistake. I lowered my head and lived quietly. I turned a blind eye as Empress Veronica and her family began to gobble up the wealth and the power that originally belonged to the Royal Family. But that doesn't mean I'm afraid of them."

She raised an eyebrow when she saw the fierce look in the emperor's violet eyes that glowed beautifully once again.

"I am simply waiting, Lady Zoe," Emperor Rino said with a sly smile on his face. "I'm waiting for Empress Veronica to reach her goal. And once she thought she's about to have the entire empire in her hands, I will take everything away from her one by one."

Ah, vicious.

The plan sounded plausible, but there was one problem.

"Your Majesty, I heard this from Empress Liane," she said carefully. "Apparently, Empress Veronica is a Black Witch who could use Black Magic."

The smile on the emperor's face disappeared.

"Empress Liane doesn't know how to prove it," she continued. "But I believe that if you investigate the banished Black Witches, and the lost Black Magic in the empire, you might find a clue as to how Empress Veronica and her family could protect her secret."

All she could do was give a piece of advice, since she didn't know much about Empress Veronica's secret. She only reached the part where it was revealed that the empress was a Black Witch that possessed a terrible and strong Black Magic.

His Majesty pinched the bridge of his nose. "Did you tell Isaak about this, Lady Zoe?"

"No, Your Majesty," she said. "I believe that it's your job to deal with Empress Veronica since Grand Duke Viotto is already taking care of Princess Runa."

The emperor looked at her in disbelief, then he laughed bitterly. But it was obvious that the bitterness was directed at himself. "You're right," he said. "I can't give all the difficult tasks to Isaak. It seems like it's the right time for the sun to dominate the sky once again."

"True that," she said, then she sipped her tea. "Your Majesty, can I give you some suggestions to protect yourself once you start moving to get rid of Empress Veronica?"

"Are those suggestions from Liane?"

"No, it's from my point of view as a read– I mean, outsider."

Empress Rino looked at her long and hard before he nodded slowly. "I will trust you, Lady Zoe."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zoe said, then she raised her index finger. "I have two suggestions: First, eat healthy food." She then raised another finger, so she looked like she was making a V peace sign now. "Second, let's install CCTVs in your palace."

***

"BROTHER, I think Rino and Isaak are planning to use Lady Rochester to replace me," Veronica said to her brother in a shaking voice. She was on the floor while using her brother's lap as a pillow as she cried. "This is the first time that Rino made a move to oppose me."

Rino humiliated her in front of her guests.

That damned husband of hers would just usually ignore her. He lived all this time pretending that she didn't exist when they didn't have to make a public appearance. And worst of all, Rino had never treated Vera as his daughter. He was supposed to be kind and benevolent, but he neglected the Crown Princess all this time.

"Brother, help me," she begged her brother, then she raised her head to look up at him. "Please get rid of Lady Rochester for me."

Vaughn, who was comfortably sitting on the couch while gently patting her head, let out a smoke from the cigarette between the fingers of his free hand. "You look so undignified right now, Veronica," he said while shaking his head. "Is this how the empress should behave?"

She knew that she shouldn't be acting this way.

But this was the first time that Rino made a bold move like that. Of course, she was scared. The look that she saw in Lady Rochester's eyes gave her the chills.

"I don't know why, but Lady Rochester scares me," Veronica said, her lips trembling. "She looks so fearless. Moreover, how come a lady who practically grew up in a conservative temple suddenly acts like a seductress?"

"I already told you that the Lady Rochester now is different from the Lady Rochester you know."

"You're saying that again, Brother," Veronica said with furrowed brows. "Just what do you mean by that?"

Instead of answering her properly, Vaughn just smiled at her while still patting her head gently. "I guess it's time for me to meet the new Lady Rochester," he said, then he threw the now half-cigarette in the empty wineglass on the table. "I'll play with her since I'm bored, anyway."

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'I Won't Let The Ghoul Duke Go Hungry!' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3