The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 34
“Oh! How is it that two men have appeared who are exactly my taste?!”
Naryan cried out with a bright, radiant laugh.
There might have been only one such man, under different circumstances.
Arma easily conjured the misunderstanding Roselin might have made, and the shock of it struck him hard.
Then he was shocked again—at how readily she had given her permission despite understanding that very misunderstanding.
“I know I’m handsome, so put me down already! You brat!”
“My, my, how adorable. Are you threatening me right now, big brother?”
“Who are you calling my big brother?!”
“Why? I heard that people from the Empire love it when a cute, petite girl talks to them like that…… but our picky one here doesn’t seem to.”
Yuldian’s face, already drained of color by the series of events, had now turned a sickly ashen grey.
The small girl clung to Yuldian while squealing with delight.
“Too bad…… that pretty big brother and sister managed to escape so well…… How about marrying me instead?”
“I must decline.”
Roselin shrugged her shoulders and answered matter-of-factly.
“Tch, the cool older sister, aren’t you. Well, that’s fine! I have two handsome men for myself!”
Naryan winked at Arma.
Arma then quietly swept aside the hair he’d been holding back and let it fall again.
“Here we are!”
The place they were led to looked like a round tent.
The frame was built from wood, and a thicker cloth than ordinary canvas was draped around it, lending it fairly good insulation.
Being at such a high elevation, the wind that blew through was as cold as early winter, which was welcome news indeed.
The door, too, was not made of canvas but of proper wood.
It wasn’t divided into separate living room and kitchen, nor did it have multiple bedrooms, but rather it gave the impression that an enormous single room contained everything—kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping quarters all together.
Of course, even as a tent, it was hardly shabby.
It lacked nothing when compared to other homes, and looked quite spacious and sturdy.
Given that the Kalu Tribe never settled in any one place, there were hardly any proper buildings anywhere, so this was entirely understandable.
Certainly, because the tribe lived separately scattered about, Kaluta resembled more a collection of settlements than a true village.
“The details will be explained by these fellows here.”
Those who had been waiting in front of the tent approached.
Though armed soldiers and knights stood before them, they came forward without weapons, showing not the slightest sign of tension.
“We had originally planned to hold a feast this evening, but given the circumstances, it may need to be postponed.”
Naryan spoke with a smile.
“An execution might be held instead.”
Naryan delivered this terrifying news with such casual cheer that it made it all the more unsettling.
…….
Yuldian, held in her arms, looked so pale he might vomit at any moment.
“If you’d rather not witness anything unpleasant, I’d suggest you all stay in your tents for the rest of today.”
With that, she set Yuldian down.
“See you tomorrow, pretty one.”
Smack.
She pressed a kiss to the back of his hand, then vanished from view.
Roselin too exhaled a tired sigh and entered her assigned tent.
* * *
……
The moment Arma entered his assigned tent, he raked his fingers roughly through his hair and tore off his black clothes.
“Always making things difficult for people.”
He realized all his careful deliberation about how to act naturally had been utterly pointless, and found himself at a loss for words.
Roselin seemed to harbor not the slightest feeling toward him.
‘Why am I even doing this?’
In truth, the broken engagement had never been a major problem in his life.
She was an interesting subject to observe in her own way, but that didn’t mean he needed to go to such lengths.
Arma had learned how to hide himself as he matured.
He hid because it was troublesome.
He played the fool, the weak and pathetic figure, so as not to become like his father the Emperor.
So in truth, revealing his true nature like this was somewhat dangerous.
“But that’s not all……”
It had been for someone else?
Arma felt vertigo wash over him as he sank onto the cheap bed.
‘……How did Roselin even know the ideal type of a Kaluta princess she’d never met?’
He closed his eyes very slowly, then opened them as he thought.
“……No, that’s not it.”
Arma murmured softly to himself.
“What exactly am I lacking?”
Aside from a certain timidity as a character flaw, there was nothing wanting about him.
‘Perhaps physical affection has been insufficient?’
Arma cast his gaze downward.
True enough—since their betrothal, out of consideration for her, he had neither taken her hand nor set a romantic mood.
So when he held her hand this time, she showed not the slightest response.
“……This won’t do.”
For a woman he believed needed no extra effort, Arma devised yet another approach.
Starting tomorrow, he would have to begin serious negotiations with Kaluta.
‘Roselin will be nervous too. I should stay close and support her as much as possible.’
Arma drew his palm across his face and exhaled slowly.
* * *
“My apologies for keeping you waiting. I’m Khan of the Kalu Tribe.”
The large man who arrived exactly at the appointed time introduced himself with a brief bow.
Roselin shook her head to indicate it was no trouble.
Still, she had kept her tunic fastened as befitted an official gathering.
Though her chest was barely concealed by it all the same.
‘Younger than I expected.’
He looked even younger than the Empire’s king.
She nearly wanted to ask at what age he had married.
“It is no matter.”
He regarded Roselin seated at the center with two princes flanking either side, his expression flickering with surprise before he dropped heavily into the chair across from her at the round table.
“A negotiator with two princes as bodyguards—that’s a first for me.”
He spoke with an amused lilt as he accepted a large Orcish Cup filled with liquor.
“Will you not join me in a drink?”
Roselin fell briefly silent at his offer.
In truth, she rarely accepted alcohol.
But among the Kalu Tribe, to refuse a drinking cup was considered poor manners.
“My tolerance for spirits is weak, and I cannot drink much, but I will gratefully accept the first toast.”
“I’ll have some as well.”
“I shall accept, as well.”
“Haha! I worried when I heard young ones were coming, but you are people of courtesy.”
The man who appeared to be Khan laughed broadly and gave a nod.
Roselin accepted the cup and drank a measured amount to observe the proper courtesy.
As the liquor joined the dull ache that had nagged at her since morning, heat rose swiftly into her cheeks and the back of her neck.
She ignored the ringing in her ears and the quickened pulse that accompanied it.
“So, I hear you saved my son. We are people who repay kindness tenfold, and I wish to offer you a reward—is there anything you desire?”
At Khan’s words, Roselin slightly furrowed her brow, yet smiled faintly as she raised her gaze to meet his.
“No. As I told the elder before, that was a gift from me. Gifts, as I understand it, carry no price.”
Khan’s green eyes narrowed as he observed Roselin speaking clearly without averting her gaze.
“Nothing you desire?”
“There was nothing, but now there is one thing.”
Roselin smiled.
Khan nodded with an expression of intrigue.
“Speak freely.”
“We sit at a fair negotiating table. A fair negotiating table means there is no tilt to either side.”
At Roselin’s words, Khan raised one eyebrow sharply.
“I am Roselin Bellion of the Bellion Duchy. Not ‘young lady,’ if you please.”
……
“Furthermore……”
Roselin opened her mouth slowly.
“‘Khan’ is, by Empire standards, a title comparable to that which precedes ‘King.’ I have not heard your name.”
What flowed from Roselin’s lips was the Luta Language.
The Luta Language was spoken by those once called “barbarians” before the Kalu Tribe unified them.
Few would know it—even within Kaluta, there were those who could not speak the Luta Language.
In time, Khan, who had been staring at Roselin, burst into great laughter.
The Khan, who laughed heartily and long enough to make anyone uncomfortable, abruptly set his expression firm and opened his mouth to address Roselin.
“Where did you learn that language?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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