Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Big Brother... Was a Woman?
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"Big Brother... was a woman?"
Queen Dowager.
The final boss of this story,
and the being whose exact face had remained unknown because she had always appeared veiled up until now.
Even so, she had periodically shown up to flaunt her overwhelming presence, and especially with that deep, dignified voice alone, viewers could sense she was no ordinary figure.
That striking presence naturally sparked curiosity about who the actress playing the Queen Dowager could be.
The drama's title itself was The Queen Dowager, Sovereign of Deception, after all.
No ordinary person would fit the role, and they surely wouldn't cast just anyone for it.
Plus, considering the young age of the king, there was a high chance the Queen Dowager would be portrayed as a young woman.
In fact, many had pegged Ha Yu-ra—who played Lee Su-ryeon—as a top candidate for the role, though there were also plenty of guesses about other famous actresses.
Some had even tried matching the voice to specific actresses, but nothing was certain.
And now, as this climactic showdown—presumed to be the final battle—unfolded, viewers began buzzing with anticipation, thinking they would finally see the Queen Dowager's face.
However,
the Queen Dowager's true identity, finally revealed...
Far exceeded any of their wildest imaginations.
"Ah... ahhh..."
Oh Young-ae could only gape silently, unable even to form proper words.
The blow hit her like a hammer to the back of the head—heavy and disorienting—leaving her so stunned that she forgot she was even live-streaming.
With her hair down and changed out of her usual attire, the transformation into a strikingly beautiful woman was unmistakable.
The flower boy who had once captivated everyone had truly blossomed into a flower with this simple change.
And Oh Young-ae wasn't the only one shocked.
Han-seo, who had made countless female viewers' hearts flutter up to now.
The revelation that she was actually a woman delivered a massive shock to the audience.
Shock, emptiness, even rage.
A good number of them felt like rushing to the viewer forums to complain right then and there.
But even so,
they held off on typing and chose to focus on the drama, which wasn't over yet.
Because on screen was someone sharing their exact feelings—
no, someone gripped by an even greater shock and pain, perfectly mirroring their turmoil...
Lee Su-ryeon.
"Th... This is... too much, Big Brother... Do you really think... this makes any sense? How could you..."
"Sadly, it's the truth. Don't you recognize this voice?"
"!"
She alternated between Han-seo's voice and the Queen Dowager's once more.
With the voices ringing out so eerily clear, the last shred of doubt—even if it had been a glimmer of hope for some—shattered completely.
And,
separate from the shocked and terrified viewers and the in-story 'Lee Su-ryeon',
the culprit herself was watching the whole scene unfold with the casual delight of munching popcorn.
"I figured it'd be chaos, but this is next-level."
The real-life 'Lee Su-ryeon'—Ha Yu-ra—munched actual popcorn while lounging on her bed, switching between her phone and the TV.
The secret that had tickled her curiosity for so long.
Now that Han-seo's identity as the Queen Dowager was out, the viewers' reactions were like a nuclear blast.
At first, most posts expressed sheer confusion from the massive twist.
But as time passed and excitement cooled a bit, reactions started splintering in all directions.
Some marveled at the twist while hunting for overlooked foreshadowing.
Others felt the same confusion as the Lee Su-ryeon that Ha Yu-ra herself had portrayed.
And some turned their keen interest to Chae Soo-jeong, the actress pulling off this monumental performance.
The real-time chat devolved into a chaotic tangle of diverse reactions.
Watching it all, Ha Yu-ra—the one who'd dropped this bomb—wore a smile laced with an indescribable thrill.
'This is surprisingly fun. Maybe I should do another twisty role next time?'
That reminded her of the recent movie role offer.
If things went well, she might even share the screen with Teacher. She pulled up the text again.
The figure standing before her.
Until moments ago, the one she'd truly adored and relied on—
now transformed in an instant into the person she'd devoted her life to killing.
Han-seo.
No,
Queen Dowager.
Lee Su-ryeon, gripped by profound shock as she stared,
began to feel one emotion rise amid the lingering chaos.
Rage.
Rage toward this horrific demon who hadn't only slaughtered her family,
but had also crushed her budding love.
In her already extreme state of mental strain, it made her grip the sword tighter.
No matter what, this person was her father's killer
and the one responsible for her comrades dying outside even now.
Forcing her focus onto that single fact,
Su-ryeon swung her sword at the Queen Dowager.
"Raaahhh!!!!!"
But—
Clang!
"!"
Her world-shattering rage proved futile;
the Queen Dowager subdued her effortlessly with a single casual motion.
Paradoxically, it reminded Su-ryeon once more that this was Han-seo.
She had always lost to Han-seo without even grazing his sleeve...
"Kuh!"
Forced to her knees on the floor.
With the blade at her nape,
the Queen Dowager spoke in an eerily calm voice.
"It's over. Everything."
A declaration that it was truly, utterly finished.
At those words signaling the failure of their all-out assault,
Su-ryeon replied weakly from an abyss of despair.
"...Kill me."
She had no intention of begging for her life.
Her life's purpose, the love that had sustained her—all shattered.
All that remained was to escape this torment as quickly as possible.
At that moment—
"...Don't you want to live?"
"..."
Su-ryeon looked up at the Queen Dowager's words.
Blazing in her eyes was a fury no one could miss.
"Don't spout nonsense—just kill me already! How long are you going to toy with me?
I won't let your filthy tongue mock me any longer..."
"Open it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At the Queen Dowager's command, the Captain of the Inner Guard signaled something.
Immediately after, the doors that had been shut until now swung open,
and Su-ryeon's face hardened.
"Urgh..."
"Lady... Su..."
There, bound and battered, were her comrades.
Seeing them still clinging to life, Su-ryeon's heart churned anew.
Thud!
The doors slammed shut again.
It was brief, but it had shown everything it needed to.
Su-ryeon knew that much.
"I ordered them spared as much as possible. But depending on your choice, all that effort might go to waste."
"Kuh..."
A blatant threat: obey, or they all die.
No, a warning. Su-ryeon had no choice but to suppress her still-burning rage.
"What... do you want?"
A strained question from the depths of despair.
The Queen Dowager knelt to meet her eyes, gently grasping her chin.
"Ugh..."
That touch, so achingly familiar.
Once a comfort to her heart,
now it felt like a sharpened blade.
Gazing at the trembling Su-ryeon,
the Queen Dowager spoke calmly.
"You."
"...What?"
Su-ryeon's eyes widened at the unexpected words.
Meeting her gaze, the Queen Dowager's voice dripped with desire.
"I want you, Lee Su-ryeon."
"!"
An hour ago, those words would have filled her with joy.
Now, they brought only questions—and dread.
"You... want me...? You want me to be... your dog?"
"No need to debase it like that. Have you forgotten? I am the Queen Dowager of this land, ruling in place of our young king. I simply find your talents too valuable to waste, so I offer to pardon your treason and put you to good use."
"Kuh..."
The Queen Dowager spoke as if granting a great favor.
Su-ryeon had plenty to say in response,
but she couldn't muster the words to argue.
Two words from the Queen Dowager's lips.
Traitor.
This situation was undeniably high treason.
No matter her personal feelings, the other was the king's mother
and the true ruler of the realm.
Had they succeeded in beheading her, fine—but failure meant Su-ryeon, her comrades outside,
and even their families across three generations would be executed for rebellion.
In this scenario, only one path saved them all.
Accepting the Queen Dowager's offer.
Bowing her head to the woman who had shattered everything.
The usual Su-ryeon would sooner bite her tongue and die than do it.
But with so many lives on the line, she wasn't cruel enough to prioritize pride.
"I... I..."
Bang!
"Your Majesty!"
In that instant,
one of the guards burst in urgently.
The Queen Dowager shot him a cold glare, her voice icy.
"What is it? I clearly ordered no one to enter until I said..."
"This is no time for that, Your Majesty!"
"!"
The guard's frantic tone.
And his next words
cracked the composure the Queen Dowager had maintained until now.
"No... that's impossible."