The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 40

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

Chapter 40
* * *
“There, all done.”
“……Isn’t there rather a lot of exposed skin?”
“Oh my~! What are you saying? With such a beautiful body! But I’ve recommended the least revealing outfit I could find, all for Miss Roserin’s sake.”
“……I see.”
Roserin found herself surrounded by the women of the Kaluuta Tribe, being adorned at the Khan’s command.
It was for the banquet taking place that evening.
She had nodded in agreement without fully grasping the Khan’s sly suggestion that they should embrace each other’s culture for the sake of peace and reconciliation.
‘It’s certainly not the style where everything like Hali’s limbs are completely exposed……’
Due to the nature of Kaluuta dress—thin fabric and minimal cloth—her belly and shoulders remained fully bare.
A wrap of cloth cinched at the waist of the garment that barely covered her chest hung like a skirt.
The glittering gold ornaments adorning her entire body were heavy and uncomfortable.
With each movement, the elaborate decorations jangled and swayed.
“Goodness, how beautiful you are! Is it because your skin is so fair? The indigo fabric suits you wonderfully.”
Roserin trembled with discomfort as she watched them touch her body without restraint, kneading and caressing her freely.
She didn’t know what to do with herself under their guileless praise.
The Kaluuta Tribe was honest—almost brutally so.
“Come now, sit here. We’re going to paint a pattern on your belly.”
“……A pattern?”
“Yes, the Kaluuta Tribe loves the moon.”
Those who had brought the Silver Dye now brought brushes to the area around Roserin’s navel.
Her cheeks gained marks like a cat’s whiskers, and across her bare white belly, crescent moons of silver dye and geometric patterns bloomed luminously.
“Oh, how is your belly so soft and smooth?”
“……Actually, I envy you all more.”
Roserin said.
The Kaluuta Tribe, whether woman or man, were all heavily muscled.
Roserin’s belly was soft and smooth precisely because there was not a trace of muscle to be found anywhere.
Her thighs and forearms were now adorned with jewelry as well.
Her lips, which she usually painted with bright red lipstick, now bore pink rouge instead.
“Ah, beautiful. Really, you’re so beautiful.”
Under their unguarded praise, Roserin simply nodded silently.
“Thank you. You’ve done well.”
“I’d love to do this more and more~!”
Someone cried out.
Roserin’s face flushed crimson. That was when a sound like thunder rolled in from outside.
“The banquet is starting. Come now, let’s go.”
Someone gave a final adjustment to Roserin’s clothing, then gave her a gentle push on the back.
As Roserin stepped outside the tent, she froze under the gaze of the crowd pressing in from all sides.
‘A stage……?’
She hadn’t expected to be pushed out to the center of the stage like this.
As Roserin stood frozen, unsure what to do, the Khan—dressed even more lavishly than usual—approached and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
“I wish you were a man. I’d covet you.”
She found it remarkable that someone who had to be at least fifty maintained such a toned, muscular physique without a hint of flab.
Roserin pondered the world’s injustices and shifted her gaze down to the crowd below the stage.
Both women and men stood half-naked in their dress.
Some of the men wore no upper garment at all, or merely draped scraps of cloth that hung as if they might fall at any moment.
“Sister, Princess, you’re beautiful!!”
Children cried out.
As Roserin turned her gaze awkwardly, she paused when she spotted two figures seated in the central place arranged below the stage.
The Second and Third Princes.
Yuldian sat with his mouth hanging open, pointing directly at Roserin.
Of course, he was nestled in Naryan’s embrace, sitting on her lap.
‘They certainly seem to get along very well.’
She felt satisfied.
Arma, seated across from them, was also staring at Roserin with wide eyes.
“Come, let’s go to your seat. There will be something entertaining to watch.”
The Khan led Roserin away.
As Roserin passed, all manner of comments flooded her ears—that she was beautiful, that they wanted to marry her, both from women and men alike.
Every last person.
Though she knew it was half in jest, it was mortifying all the same.
Roserin had pushed halfway through the crowd when it happened.
The throng parted like the sea splitting, and someone strode directly into her path.
“Roserin.”
Arma removed the coat he’d been wearing and draped it across her shoulders.
“You’re not well. You can’t go around dressed so lightly.”
His soft reproach was steady in tone, yet somehow more rigid than usual.
“It’s fine, really.”
“It’s not fine. You have the most vital role.”
“But that ends today—”
“Your duty is to return safely. That’s what matters.”
It was a stubbornness unlike the Arma who would normally have backed down without protest.
He smoothly extracted Roserin from Katun’s side and seated her beside him instead.
The bulk of his military uniform concealed more than half of her lower body.
‘Come to think of it, he did this before.’
Perhaps the Arma of this place didn’t remember it. As memories stirred within her, Roserin smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Arma brought her hand to his lips and spoke.
‘This is amusing.’
Katun’s eyes narrowed as he observed the pair.
One seemed indifferent, while the other struggled visibly to suppress an eager hunger.
‘Why is this beast cub pretending to be a kitten?’
As Katun rubbed his chin in study, Arma seemed to sense his gaze and turned to meet it with a glacial stare.
The resentment in that expression made Katun laugh inwardly.
An amusing idea had occurred to him.
“Lin, the Kaluuta Tribe has quite a fascinating custom. Would you be willing to cooperate?”
At Katun’s question, Roserin’s expression tightened slightly.
She watched the Kaluuta Tribe members chattering loudly and showing off their talents on stage, then nodded.
“As long as you’re not asking me to perform.”
Katun waved his hand dismissively, as if she’d said something absurd.
“No, no—you’re not participating. What we’re about to do is a simple Survival Game.”
“A Survival Game?”
“The prize is a date with the most beautiful person at this gathering.”
Katun snapped his fingers, and the attending handmaidens quickly seized Roserin and hoisted her onto the stage.
Arma’s eyes widened as Roserin was suddenly snatched from his reach.
Katun grinned at Arma’s reaction.
Grin.
As Arma’s jaw clenched, Hatan—Katun’s husband and the public Katun—moved to stand at her side.
“Very well! Today’s ‘Katun’ shall be Roserin, who has come to us from the Empire. Does anyone object?”
“Rooooaarrr!!”
“Not a soul!!”
The roar was thunderous.
“As always, the victor earns a day-long date with the Katun. Of course, since this gathering is meant to foster harmony, citizens of the Empire may also participate.”
Katun’s gaze settled on Arma.
“You may use blades or bare-knuckle combat—the method is entirely free! As long as you don’t kill or leave permanent scars, bloodshed is acceptable. However, the Abyss is forbidden.”
Thump-thump.
The Kaluuta stomped their feet.
With so many of them stamping in unison, the ground trembled as though shaken by an earthquake.
“Those wishing to enter should fill out the application form here. We’ll accept entries for the next thirty minutes.”
Before Katun had finished speaking, a surge of people rushed forward to begin writing their names.
Every year, regardless of gender, the most attractive person was selected to be the “Katun,” and all those eager to fight or impress the Katun would step up to compete.
It was a sight unique to the Kaluuta—a people known for their bellicose nature and honest desires.
Arma remained where he sat.
Roserin appeared somewhat uncertain but showed no other change in expression.
She did not even cast a pleading glance toward Arma.
‘…Pathetic.’
Arma blinked slowly, considering.
In truth, as his betrothed, her restraint was desirable. He had much to hide, and there was much he preferred to keep concealed.
Roserin did not reject him when he drew near.
He never carried his fiancée’s name as a badge of arrogance.
A perfectly respectable engagement, maintained at a comfortable distance.
Flawless in every particular.
And now she offered to dissolve it herself. How remarkably considerate of her.
“One minute until the deadline!”
He bolted from his seat.
‘It would be strange to do nothing for a fiancée, after all.’
Self-justification complete, he filled out the application and submitted it.
And someone who had been watching Arma—at the very last moment—dropped in their own form with a soft tap.
……
Hatan, the Katun’s husband.
Arma and Hatan’s eyes met across the air between them.
For a breath, silence fell. Then a roar erupted from the crowd.
The flower of the Kaluuta Banquet had bloomed.

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