The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 86】

 

“He’ll come, won’t he?”

 

“He will.”

 

The Empire had guided Zarban to leave on his own.

 

They had treated him as an honored guest until the very end, but Zarban used this opportunity to infiltrate the Princess’s Palace and leave a letter.

 

While it was true that his military power was weaker compared to other princes, that didn’t mean he was completely incompetent.

 

Infiltrating the Princess’s Palace, which wasn’t protected by the Empire, and leaving a single letter wasn’t difficult.

 

Especially since he wasn’t killing or kidnapping anyone.

 

The contents of the letter were simple.

 

-Princess. I left the Empire in such haste that I couldn’t retrieve the jewelry I had hidden. Would you please help me find those jewels? I’ll write down the location here, so please transport those jewels to my mansion in the royal palace. The location of the cave is….

 

‘The Princess will hesitate.’

 

Unlike the seasoned Emperor or a genius like Rianel, she seemed like an ordinary girl.

 

“Besides, she’s not someone completely without greed either.”

 

Just looking at her idea to set up a noodle factory, you could tell she was full of desire to accumulate wealth.

 

People are naturally beings who move based on their desires.

 

‘If she completely ignores the letter, there’s nothing I can do, but she’ll at least think about it.’

 

Rumors that he possessed a gem mine had already spread throughout the Imperial Palace.

 

‘Whether the Princess comes to the hidden location out of greed for the jewels, or comes with good intentions to return the jewels, she’ll definitely come to the place I designated.’

 

He ambushed inside the cave, waiting for the Princess.

 

It wasn’t because he was interested in the Princess herself.

 

His ultimate goal was Rianel, who would be behind the Princess.

 

The two seemed to have a deep friendship.

 

‘If I take the Princess hostage and propose exchanging hostages as a condition, that woman will come.’

 

Rianel was smart, but she was still a woman.

 

If he subdued her with physical force, he could make her submit.

 

‘Then I’ll return to the kingdom.’

 

Of course, Rianel would resist. She’d clash quite a bit at first.

 

But steady devotion melts hearts. In less than a year, that woman would turn to his side.

 

It was only a year ago that he was criticized and called a scoundrel in the Empire.

 

Underestimated people tend to devote their loyalty to a lord who truly recognizes their abilities.

 

‘Anyway, the Princess just needs to come.’

 

Zarban was killing time by thinking of dozens of ways to subdue the Princess quickly but without injuring her.

 

“Y-Your Highness.”

 

“Shh.”

 

As soon as he sensed a presence, he put his index finger to his lips.

 

At the same time, he stopped even breathing and lowered his body.

 

He needed to lure the Princess into the cave to succeed in his plan.

 

If his shadow was spotted or the Princess sensed something suspicious and ran away, it would be over.

 

He had scattered jewels that would captivate the Princess’s eyes at the cave entrance, and placed sacks filled with stones inside the cave.

 

So that the Princess, tempted by the jewels, would come deep into the cave.

 

Soon the footsteps grew closer.

 

‘Yes, come.’

 

As Zarban stared into the darkness and gripped his sword hilt.

 

“Over there!”

 

The clear voice he had been waiting for rang out.

 

“…?”

 

‘Something’s strange?’

 

Only then did Zarban realize the Princess wasn’t alone, and his body stiffened.

 

Then footsteps came pouring into the cave.

 

“Come out! You’re already surrounded!”

 

“Vicious bastards. Still remaining in the Empire to do such things!”

 

Zarban was shocked to learn that the Princess had brought knights with her.

 

‘What kind of Empire is this that even a young princess has no gaps?’

 

* * *

 

Attempted kidnapping of royalty was a serious crime incomparable to smuggling.

 

Zarban was deported to the kingdom, and a different prince came to the Empire.

 

“Nice to meet you. I am Narok, the 15th prince of Garta.”

 

He sat on the edge of his chair with a tense face.

 

If Zarban was someone who always wore a sly smile, Narok was hunched over like someone who had his coat stolen in winter, clutching his shawl.

 

Moreover, his eyes constantly shook with anxiety. It was restless eye movement that didn’t match his large build.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials who had flinched at Narok’s fierce appearance felt a great disconnect between his exterior and interior.

 

Narok was also a man of few words.

 

“Are you really accepting these conditions?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Given what Zarban had done, the conditions did work unfavorably for the kingdom.

 

The kingdom’s currency, 1 shilling, was recognized as worth about 0.5 of 1 Empire gold, the kingdom’s medicinal herbs were priced significantly low.

 

Furthermore, the maritime transportation costs for the next several years were to be entirely borne by the kingdom.

 

‘Is this right?’

 

While their role was to lead negotiations favorably for the Empire, seeing the opposing country’s representative just nod at overwhelmingly disadvantageous conditions made their consciences ache.

 

‘This is robbery. Robbery without a knife.’

 

‘Even a child would throw a tantrum for better conditions than this.’

 

“Do you really have no objections?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

The prince didn’t say a word until the agreement was made.

 

Just as both representatives were about to sign.

 

Prince Narok suddenly spoke up.

 

“I heard there’s a woman named Rianel in the Empire.”

 

Rianel silently raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t understand why her name was suddenly mentioned at the point when negotiations were concluding.

 

“Are you perhaps Rianel?”

 

Narok pointed to the Foreign Minister.

 

“I am Foreign Minister Karina Benten.”

 

“I see. It’s fortunate that you’re not her.”

 

Narok let out a long sigh of relief.

 

His expression, which seemed like it would maintain stoicism befitting a desert warrior’s image, contorted with fear.

 

“My brother told me. That woman is truly a frightening woman. My brother said that woman has the Divine Eye that sees through all corruption from where she sits, so I must not object to the Empire’s negotiations. He said that woman probably made these conditions too.”

 

‘What is this now….’

 

‘By the way, if it’s a divine god, does he mean that god of the desert?’

 

The desert believed in polytheism, and as a place where rain rarely fell, they held the rain-bringing god highest among the various gods.

 

Narok looked around fearfully.

 

“Is that woman present here?”

 

“Well, that’s….”

 

Karina looked at Rianel with a subtle smile.

 

Rianel couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke up.

 

“Those conditions weren’t created by me alone, but are the result of coordination and review with various officials. Since they contain the hard work of many people, I judge that statement to be inappropriate.”

 

Then Narok’s eyes widened as if they were about to roll back, and he jumped up without noticing his chair falling backward and shouted.

 

“Hiiek! It’s the Divine Eye! The Divine Eye is looking at me! Oh desert, please protect your servant!”

 

“…?”

 

Whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs people were bewildered or not.

 

Rianel responded expressionlessly.

 

“Furthermore, while there are various hypotheses about whether gods actually exist, I trust the hypothesis that they do not currently exist. The very idea that the sky god, known to govern climate, would accept human wealth to appease his anger is a logical contradiction….”

 

“I understand, so please don’t attack! Please don’t attack!”

 

“….”

 

Rianel was just standing still, but he trembled and avoided her gaze.

 

Rianel’s eyebrows twisted, and Narok cautiously set his chair back up and sat down.

 

“A warrior does not attack those who have surrendered! You must treat me with the courtesy due to a warrior.”

 

Narok was so terrified that even Rianel, who was about to argue back, was left speechless.

 

“…Just sign it, please.”

 

What could she expect from this person.

 

Rianel gave up.

 

Afterward.

 

Word gradually spread that Rianel had achieved diplomatic results at an unprecedented speed and without any objections.

 

Of course, the negotiations were confidential, but there were no secrets in the Imperial Palace.

 

“I heard that she crushed the Desert Kingdom’s prince with her presence alone?”

 

“There’s also talk that the foreign prince shouted unconditional surrender the moment their eyes met.”

 

“What nonsense. Those prideful people would never do such a thing.”

 

Most people whispered that it was an absurd story.

 

And for good reason, since all the rumors going around were like this.

 

“What I heard was a different story. Well, apparently right after becoming Protocol Assistant, she caught palace maids embezzling ceremonial items? She figured out in just 3 days that the warehouse and ledger quantities didn’t match.”

 

“Now that’s pure fiction. Where in the world could such a person exist? Even if the Desert Kingdom’s sky god came, they couldn’t do that, right?”

 

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

 

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs people couldn’t laugh.

 

They knew that more than half of those legends—no, quite a large portion—were true.

 

‘Is she really a sky god?’

 

‘Or maybe she’s some legendary being we don’t know about.’

 

They gathered around Rianel.

 

“Could you please divine just one lottery number for me?”

 

“The probability of winning the lottery is statistically extremely slim, so it’s better to work diligently and accumulate earned income.”

 

“Right? But could you still pick just one number for me? Just anything! Just one number that comes to mind!”

 

Rianel said with a suppressed sigh.

 

“The probability of acquiring assets through lottery is similar to the probability of winning large amounts in speculative gambling. It induces anxiety by pursuing unrealistic wealth and reduces work motivation, so it’s best to stay away from it.”

 

“I have a desire to take the easy way through life….”

 

Before long, Rianel learned why they were acting this way.

 

“By the way, there’s a rumor that you have two heads, five hands, and fly through the sky. Is that true?”

 

What?

 

“No.”

 

What kind of nonsense are they talking about.

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