The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 73

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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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Episode 73
On her wrist sat the Seven-Colored Stone.
‘……The Red Stone was already used.’
The Red Stone now lay within Aximos.
It would likely exhaust its purpose inside Aximos and vanish—the stone could not be used twice.
The remaining stones totaled six: the slightly diminished blue stone, now smaller from protecting her body, along with the others.
Rozelin drew a slow breath and lifted her gaze.
“Good. How is your body?”
“Fine, thanks to you.”
Rozelin answered and swept her eyes across the Reception Room.
The two men were already deep in their cups.
“Rozelin, how are you feeling?”
“I’m well.”
Rozelin smiled faintly at the concern of Kaluta’s king, Khan Haliiona.
“……Now see here, princess. My greeting received rather little enthusiasm from you, wouldn’t you say?”
“My apologies. I confess I have a weakness for becoming all the more charming when in the presence of a beautiful woman.”
At Rozelin’s words, the Emperor stilled, while Khan burst into hearty laughter.
“Quite clever with your tongue, aren’t you? What a shame you’re not a man.”
Khan pressed his lips to the back of her hand as he spoke.
Her vivid green eyes gazed down at Rozelin’s crimson ones, and her expression softened into a warm smile.
“Once our discussion concludes, shall we not share a drink together, as old friends do?”
“I’d like that.”
The Emperor shrugged at Rozelin’s agreement.
As she turned her head, she caught Hatan, seated across from the Emperor, glancing her way before returning his attention to his counterpart.
He drained his whiskey in gulps, then cast Rozelin a sideways look and smiled thinly.
“I hear you delayed your schedule considerably on her account. If you’re proceeding directly, would you like me to make the introductions?”
“Yes.”
Was there truly anything new to introduce at this point?
The Emperor wore an uncertain expression but nonetheless nodded easily, rubbing his chin.
Rozelin took the seat of honor between the Emperor and Hatan, positioning herself as mediator.
“Allow me to begin the introductions. Khan, this is His Imperial Majesty Sebirus of the Dianitaz Empire.”
At Rozelin’s words, the Emperor straightened and smiled brightly.
“At last, a month of drinking contests comes to an end. My pleasure to finally be here.”
Today’s meeting was meant to conclude an alliance.
And at Kaluta’s insistent request, Rozelin had come as mediator, witness, and diplomat.
According to her grandfather, the Emperor and Khan had met periodically and already reached substantial verbal agreement.
So the Emperor had turned a blind eye to Kaluta’s presence in the Empire.
Rozelin’s role was needed as witness and diplomat, nothing more.
Ordinarily another official would have been present, but this too had been Kaluta’s emphatic request.
‘……The deliberate secrecy of this approach suggests they have nothing to hide from the Emperor.’
It was nevertheless a considerable risk for them.
“And Your Majesty, this is Khan Haliiona, King of Kaluta.”
The moment Rozelin finished speaking, Hatan set down his glass, rose from his seat, and withdrew behind the sofa where Khan sat.
Just as Khan had Hatan, the Emperor had only his ceremonial guards and a chamberlain.
Thus, only three outsiders would learn this secret.
Four, if you counted Rozelin.
“……Khan is a woman?”
“Rather seamlessly done, wouldn’t you say?”
……
At Khan’s amused words, the Emperor’s gaze fell upon Rozelin.
“Ah, don’t blame her. She merely honored her loyalty to me. Besides, I had always intended to be candid with you.”
“……Heh. Never would have guessed Khan was a woman.”
“Your Majesty, that remark borders on discriminatory. It’s hardly appropriate language during a discussion of equal peace accords and alliance.”
The Emperor fixed Rozelin with a stunned stare.
Rozelin calmly withdrew documents and laid them before the two men.
“I’ve drafted these preliminarily. If anything requires adjustment or if sections are lacking, please let me know.”
“Drafted them? And how would you have known what we’d discuss?”
At the Emperor’s words, Khan seemed to concur, her expression confused as she began to read the papers—then faltered.
“……Did you write all of this yourself, Rozelin?”
“Yes.”
Over her shoulder, Hatan’s eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of the documents Rozelin had prepared on Kaluta’s behalf.
Each document from Kaluta’s side had an extra page attached to it.
A translation.
“To pursue the utmost fairness.”
At Rozelin’s words, the Emperor glanced at the papers in their hands and his eyes widened.
The documents they held were translated into the Luta Language word-for-word, matching exactly the papers written in the Empire’s tongue.
…….
The Emperor’s brow furrowed.
‘What in the world is this?’
He pored over the documents Rozelin had brought in silence, his mind turning over the contents.
Of course, there were certainly areas that needed strengthening.
But most of what they had discussed was included.
In other words, inconvenient but inevitably necessary points on which agreement had to be reached.
An agreement ordinarily contained many items, but an Alliance Treaty between Kaluta and the Empire required certain clauses to be added without fail.
Particularly, Kaluta and the Empire had engaged in countless skirmishes—large and small—along the border throughout their history.
Kaluta had always been a veiled nation, one that had never opened its doors.
And so, while respecting them, the focus had to be on mutually opening their borders.
Therefore, the treaty included as major items of discussion a Peace Treaty, the establishment of Trade Routes, a Tariff Treaty, the stationing of troops, financial and material assistance, and the establishment of bases for periodic exchange.
Of course, a Royal Marriage was also part of the plan.
In effect, this negotiation could only be a treaty more disadvantageous to Kaluta, which had disclosed nothing until now, than to the Dianitaz Empire.
Their strength lay in the fact that no one could ever overcome them on Kalutan soil.
Yet if they began exchange with the Empire, Kaluta would inevitably have to reveal their domain in some form.
And so the Emperor had no choice but to be cautious.
If this treaty proceeded well, the Empire could enjoy prosperity as a great power for a long time to come.
The military strength of Kaluta, observed up close, exceeded imagination. It was enough to understand why they remained so arrogant even with their king in enemy territory.
‘They say all Kalutans possess bodies blessed by the Blessing of Abyss…….’
It didn’t seem to be a lie.
Renowned knights had been sparring with them under the guise of friendly exchange, but few among them could truly hold their own.
Only the Knight Commander, the Vice Commander, and a select few of the upper ranks.
‘…… I never expected her to organize it all like this in documents.’
There were certainly matters difficult to broach lightly over drinks because of their delicate nature.
Yet Rozelin had organized into documents everything they had discussed, along with matters they had yet to raise.
And it appeared she had even translated it into their language.
‘…… Unbelievable.’
The Emperor, rarely at a loss, regarded Rozelin with silent admiration.
He was well acquainted with the rumors surrounding her.
He had been puzzled when he heard that she had changed, but this—this was a transformation beyond measure.
“How did you come to know all of this?”
“I included only the basic elements necessary for an alliance. And I added several more points in consideration of Kaluta’s unique circumstances.”
“……Did the princess receive heir-training education?”
“No.”
Rozelin shook her head.
The Emperor regarded her intently for a moment, as if weighing something, then tapped his fingers thoughtfully against the armrest before speaking at a leisurely pace.

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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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