The Sequel to the Romance Fantasy Was a Zombie Apocalypse – Chapter 1

Clatter. Clatter.

The faint sound of wheels rattling fills the quiet interior of the carriage.

Clatter, chatter, clatter.

But if you listen closely, amidst the wheel sounds, you can faintly hear the excited chatter of people.

Rustle.

Carefully pulling back the curtain, I peek out through the slightly ajar carriage window to see the street scenery.

People.

Excited crowds are filling the streets of the Royal Capital Erka, all moving toward the same destination.

“Pull the curtain down.”

At the sharp voice, I quickly let go of the curtain I was holding.

…

I look around the carriage.

The seats are lined with red velvet, the interior of the carriage decorated with splendid gold and red patterns, showcasing the owner’s status.

“What are you looking around for?”

“It’s nothing, Young Lady.”

“…Hmph.”

The owner of the voice turns her head sharply to the right, clearly displeased.

Since I can’t look outside or survey the carriage interior…

My gaze naturally lands on the young lady sitting directly across from me.

She has shiny blonde hair with twin-tails curled into spirals, and her large eyes, slightly sharp at the ends, burn like fiery embers.

Her proud nose stands as erect as her self-esteem.

Her full lips are even more pronounced due to the thick red lipstick.

Wearing a striking red dress matching her eye color, even her frown can’t hide her beauty.

Her name is Esmela Herta.

She is the noble lady of the House of Herta, a distinguished lineage led by Duke Tereed Herta, the kingdom’s Chancellor…

And the villainous noble lady from the romance fantasy otome game, [Romance in Arkeisia: The Four Jewels].

That’s right. This is the world of [Roina].

Today marks exactly four years since the ending…

‘…’

“What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“…I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”

She picks up the feathered black fan she set beside her, unfurling it to cover her face.

‘…Oh boy.’

…Today is the wedding day of her ex-fiancé, Prince Robertze of Arkeisia, and the protagonist Yuria.

Clatter.

The carriage comes to a stop.

Knock, knock.

“We’ve arrived.”

With a knock at the door, the stablehand’s voice comes from outside.

I quickly open the carriage door and step down, extending my right hand in front of her.

“…”

She places her gloved hand gently on my palm without a word and elegantly steps out of the carriage while hiding her face behind the fan.

“I’m waiting on the northern road of the plaza.”

Clack, clack.

She gives orders to the stablehand, stepping forward with a haughty expression.

I start walking slightly behind her on her right side, while the guards of House Herta, who had been waiting here, quickly catch up to her and begin to escort us.

As I walk behind Esmela, I look around.

We are in the plaza located in the center of the Royal Capital Erka.

It’s a vast space that could comfortably fit two soccer fields side by side.

Now, the plaza is filled with people gathered to witness the prince’s wedding.

We are headed to the VIP seating.

Soldiers from the kingdom line up in one section of the plaza, blocking commoners from entering.

In the center of that space stands a temporary building, adorned with the royal crest in golden hues, exuding majesty.

The three-story structure towers tall enough that dozens could fit on its roof.

That is the area reserved for the king, queen, and royal family, where the prince’s wedding ceremony will take place.

On either side are two slightly lower temporary buildings, draped in richly embroidered golden fabrics.

With the ceiling exposed, a special VIP seating area is arranged above for high-ranking nobles and officials.

“You all go wait where the carriage is.”

Esmela instructs her guards.

“Understood.”

The head guard answers her and leads the guards toward the back of the VIP seating.

Esmela glances up at the VIP area and then walks up the stairs with a sound of her shoes echoing.

Upon arriving at the VIP seating, there are wooden chairs decorated glamorously arranged in two rows with wide spacing.

With very little time left until the ceremony begins, most of the seats are already taken.

“The eldest daughter of House Herta, Lady Esmela, has arrived.”

As the attendant announces her name, the previously buzzing voices quiet down.

-Knock, knock.

I knock on the large door with ornate golden handles in front of me.

“Come in.”

Carefully opening the door, I bow deeply to the middle-aged man seated at the massive desk, reading documents.

“You called for me, Chancellor?”

“Ah, you’ve come. Step closer.”

Crossing the spacious room toward his deep, commanding voice, I glance around the interior.

A beautifully woven red carpet lies on the floor, bordered with golden embroidery.

A massive bookshelf filled to the brim with books stands against one wall.

On the solid dark wooden desk by the window, the crest of House Herta, depicting a flame-spouting salamander in gold, is prominently displayed.

This is the office of the head of House Herta.

The man who summoned me here is none other than Duke Tereed Herta, the chancellor of the Kingdom of Arkeisia.

I stop about three steps away from his desk.

With fiery red hair and a beard, a strong jawline, and sharp eyes, he bears an intimidating presence.

As I divert my gaze slightly, I lock eyes with the head butler Zikhaim standing to the left behind him, staring at me with a bland expression.

He’s an elderly man with a thin build, goat’s beard, and gold-rimmed spectacles, who oversees all operations within the mansion, essentially acting as the chancellor of House Herta.

“Renit.”

“Yes, Chancellor.”

I turn my gaze back to Duke Tereed.

“What did you summon me for?”

“It seems it’s been over two years since you joined House Herta. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I wonder why he’s bringing this up all of a sudden.

This is the first time he’s called me to his office directly, and I can’t fathom his intentions.

“I rely entirely on Zikhaim for the management of the servants. As a lord, I can’t possibly monitor nearly a hundred servants individually.”

He lowers the documents he was holding and directs his red-eyed gaze toward me.

“But you, I remember exceptionally well. Do you know why?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, I scramble to find the answer he wants.

“Uh… Is it because Lady Esmela personally chose to employ me?”

“That’s one reason. And?”

“Because I passed the apprenticeship period in just three months, which is half the average time?”

“Correct. Is there more?”

“Because… I was promoted to her personal butler in less than a year and a half of becoming a butler?”

“Yes, you know your stuff.”

He nods at my words and says,

“You’re boasting about yourself without hesitation in response to my question. You seem quite ambitious, despite your appearance.”

He pretends to scowl at me.

“Ah, no, I’m sorry.”

As I apologize, his face quickly softens into a hearty laugh.

“Haha! Just kidding.”

Just kidding…

Sure, it might be a joke to him, the duke and master, but for me, a commoner and a mere butler, every word he utters feels like it could alter my fate.

“As you said, your performance since joining this mansion has been nothing short of extraordinary. Let’s see, back then…”

As the duke trails off, I find myself swallowing nervously.

“Yes, about this time two years ago, Esmela participated in the wyvern hunting and came back, claiming she had found a decent talent in you and forcibly recommended you as a butler for House Herta.”

He slowly rises from his seat and walks over to me.

“According to the head butler, at first, nobody welcomed you, right? A mere 15-year-old as a butler, especially one who came in on Esmela’s recommendation, naturally, the other servants treated you like a parachute hire.”

Unsure of how to respond, I silently listen to the duke’s words.

Stealing a glance, I see the head butler still maintaining his expressionless demeanor, unmoved.

“But you overcame everyone’s doubts and jealousy with nothing but your skills. You completed the notorious butler training of our family in record time, handling duties like a veteran despite being new.”

The duke’s leisurely footsteps move toward me.

“But what’s most remarkable is the strength that seems unbelievable for a mere boy who isn’t even an adult. I’ve heard that among the butlers, only the head butler can best you in martial arts or swordsmanship. Is that true?”

“No, you’re overestimating me.”

“Ah, excessive humility is harmful. You should graciously accept legitimate praise.”

“…I’m sorry.”

So I get scolded for boasting, and now I’m in trouble for being humble… it’s hard to figure out how to please everyone.

“Anyway, the servants who have observed your abilities closely have stopped questioning when you were promoted to Esmela’s personal butler.”

The duke comes to a stop directly in front of me.

Now we stand face to face.

“This is the account of how you’ve conducted yourself since joining this mansion, based on the head butler’s testimony and my recollection. Right?”

“…It’s generally accurate, though a bit exaggerated.”

Hearing my life story from the duke makes me truly curious.

What on earth is he building up to with all this talk?

“As an exceptionally talented individual and the personal butler beloved by Esmela, I have a direct request for you.”

‘Here it comes.’

I don’t know what he’ll ask, but I hope it’s something I can handle with my abilities, so I lower my gaze and wait for his next words.

“Six days from now, early in the morning. The Firke Plaza in the southeastern district of the royal capital. You remember, right?”

…

‘Ah, that story.’

How could I forget?

“Yes. It’s the date and location of Prince Robertze’s wedding to his fiancée Yuria.”

“Correct. And Esmela will be attending that wedding as well. Zikhaim, what’s the composition of her entourage?”

“Her personal butler Renit, five guards from House Herta, and one stablehand.”

The head butler responds before the duke finishes his question. His voice is as dry as his expression.

“Isn’t that a bit too few?”

“I thought so as well, so I suggested that Lady Esmela take an additional butler or maid, but she refused, saying it would be cumbersome.”

“I see… Esmela being Esmela, now even possessing humility. She’s grown up a lot. Hahaha!”

…The duke’s relentless doting nearly makes me dizzy.

‘If she’s 24 and still hasn’t grown up yet, that would be a problem in itself.’

I want to make that comment but suppress it as the duke suddenly walks toward me.

Glancing down, I notice his shiny black shoes.

“So, I’m asking you this.”

The duke’s voice takes on a serious tone.

“With no other butlers, maids, or guards accompanying from the start to the end of the wedding, you’re the only one that can protect our precious Esmela.”

“Are you not attending, Chancellor?”

“Are you telling me to watch the person who brought tears to my daughter’s eyes at the wedding, celebrating happily with the guests?”

He glares at me with a fiery gaze.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that…”

“…Ahem. Excuse me. I need to leave the royal capital to investigate certain phenomena reported in Pedina City a few days before the wedding. Zikhaim will be joining me as well.”

…Anyone would see that the second reason is just an excuse to avoid attending the wedding.

What chancellor would directly investigate an event that occurred outside the royal capital?

“Regardless, Renit. I still can’t forget what happened four years ago, when that brat of a prince and that common wench insulted our Esmela. How could I ever forget?”

For a moment, the head butler seems to flinch at the mention of ‘that brat prince and the common wench,’ but it must just be my imagination.

“But Esmela is magnanimously forgiving even those vicious little bastards, and intends to attend their wedding to bless their future.”

This time, I distinctly see the head butler flinch more at the comment about ‘vicious little bastards.’ It’s definitely not just my imagination.

“As a father, I worry greatly. What if some ignorant noble attending the wedding brings up that incident and ridicules and slanders Esmela?”

“Who would dare to do such a thing to the noble lady of House Herta?”

“That’s where your role comes in!”

“Uh, what?”

“If anyone insults our daughter, you take care of it.”

“…Take care of it?”

“Stab them.”

“You want me, a mere commoner butler, to stab a noble?!”

“I’ll take responsibility!”

“But how could you possibly take responsibility, Chancellor?!”

…

As I exit the office, I let out a huge sigh.

The chancellor was too furious with worry over his daughter, and the head butler had to intervene to reason with him.

After repeatedly promising the duke that I would properly escort Lady Esmela at the wedding, I could finally leave the chancellor’s office.

‘Duke Tereed can be quite the overindulgent fool.’

…Well, it’s not that I don’t understand him.

After all, we’re going to the wedding of her ex-fiancé and the protagonist, so he probably worries about Esmela getting hurt.

But, still…

Who at the wedding would dare to openly insult Esmela Herta, especially in her presence?

In my opinion, what really needs worrying is…

“Esmela suffering emotionally herself.”