The Baddest Villainess Is Back
Chapter 40
“There, all finished.”
“……Isn’t this a bit too revealing?”
“Oh, my\! What are you talking about? With a body as beautiful as yours\! I actually recommended the least revealing outfit possible for you, My Lady Roselyn.”
“……I see.”
Under Khan’s orders, Roselyn was currently being dolled up, surrounded by the women of Kaluta.
It was for the banquet being held this evening.
This was the result of her nodding in agreement to Khan’s sly suggestion that they should embrace each other’s cultures for the sake of the peace treaty, without fully understanding what he meant.
‘It’s certainly not a style that exposes the entire arms and legs like Haliona’s, but……’
Due to the nature of Kaluta clothing, which used thin fabric and very little of it, her stomach and shoulders were left completely bare.
The garment barely covered her chest, and at the waist, fabric was wrapped around her to form a skirt.
The glittering gold jewelry draped all over her body was heavy and uncomfortable.
The ornate decorations jingled and swayed with her every move.
“Heavens, how can anyone be this beautiful? Is it because your skin is so fair? This navy fabric suits you perfectly.”
Roselyn shivered awkwardly as she watched them unreservedly pat and touch her body.
It was Roselyn who didn’t know what to do with herself in the face of such guileless praise.
The Kaluta people were honest—far too honest.
“Now, now, sit here. We’re going to draw a pattern on your stomach.”
“……A pattern?”
“Yes, the Kaluta people love the moon.”
Bringing over silver pigment, they applied a brush around Roselyn’s navel.
Whisker-like patterns appeared on her cheeks, and upon her exposed, snowy-white belly, a silver crescent moon and geometric designs bloomed brilliantly.
“Kyaa, how is your tummy so soft and smooth?”
“……I envy you all more.”
Roselyn said.
The Kaluta people, regardless of gender, were highly muscular.
The reason Roselyn’s stomach was soft and smooth was simply because there wasn't a single trace of muscle to be found.
Jewelry was also fastened around her thighs and forearms.
Instead of the crimson lipstick she usually wore, a pink rouge was applied to her lips.
“Ah, you’re pretty. Truly, so very pretty.”
Roselyn nodded silently at the candid praise.
“Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”
“I want to work even harder from now on~ \!”
Someone shouted.
Roselyn’s face turned bright red. It was then. A thunderous roar erupted from outside.
“The banquet has begun. Now, go on out.”
Someone gave Roselyn’s outfit one last adjustment and gave her a light nudge on the back.
Stepping out of the tent, Roselyn froze at the barrage of gazes coming from all directions.
‘A stage……?’
She hadn’t expected to be sent out right to the center of a stage.
As Roselyn stood frozen, unsure of what to do, Khan—dressed even more flamboyantly than usual—approached and kissed the back of her hand.
“I really wish you had been a man. You’re quite tempting.”
She wondered how a man who must be at least fifty could have such a firm, lean physique.
Roselyn mused on the unfairness of the world as she turned her gaze below the stage.
Men and women alike were dressed in half-naked attire.
Some men wore no tops at all, while others wore scraps of cloth that made it hard to tell if they were actually dressed.
“Unnie Princess, you’re pretty\!\!”
The children shouted.
Roselyn gave an awkward nod and shifted her gaze, only to freeze when she saw two people sitting in the center seats below the stage.
The 2nd Prince and the 3rd Prince.
Yuldian was pointing at Roselyn with his mouth hanging wide open.
While being held in Naryan’s arms and sitting on her lap, of course.
‘They seem to be getting along very well.’
It was a satisfying sight.
Sitting across from them, Arma was also looking at Roselyn with wide eyes.
“Now, let’s head to the seats. You’re about to see something interesting.”
Khan led Roselyn along.
Every time Roselyn passed by, comments about her being beautiful or proposals of marriage brushed past her ears.
From women and men alike.
She knew it was mostly in jest, but it was still incredibly embarrassing.
It was when Roselyn had made it halfway through the crowd.
The crowd parted from the opposite side like the sea, and someone strode forward to stand before her.
“Roselyn.”
Arma took off the coat he was wearing and draped it over her shoulders.
“You’re not in good health; you shouldn't be dressed so thinly.”
His low, admonishing voice was calm, but somehow he felt more rigid than usual.
“Ah, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You have the most important role, Roselyn.”
“That part ended today…….”
“Your job is to remain safe until we return, Roselyn.”
It was a stubbornness unlike the usual Arma, who would have normally backed away hesitantly.
He naturally steered Roselyn away from Khan and sat her down in the seat next to him.
Thanks to Arma’s large uniform jacket, more than half of her lower body was covered.
‘Come to think of it, something like this happened before.’
Though the Arma of this time probably wouldn't know. Roselyn smiled faintly as the old memory resurfaced.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Arma said, kissing the back of Roselyn’s hand.
‘How interesting.’
Khan’s eyes narrowed as he watched the two.
One seemed indifferent, while the other looked like he was struggling to suppress a deep, overflowing desire.
‘But why is a predator cub pretending to be a kitten?’
As Khan stroked his chin and observed Arma, the prince seemed to feel his gaze and looked back at Khan with a chilling stare.
Khan chuckled inwardly at the resentful expression.
An amusing idea occurred to him.
“Rin, there’s a rather interesting custom in Kaluta. Would you be willing to cooperate?”
Roselyn frowned slightly at Khan’s question.
She watched the Kaluta people boisterously showing off their talents on stage and nodded.
“As long as it’s not something like that.”
Khan waved his hand as if to say, ‘What are you talking about?’
“Ah, it’s not that you’ll be participating in anything. What we’re about to do is a simple survival game.”
“Survival?”
“The prize is a date with the most beautiful person at this banquet.”
With a snap of Khan’s fingers, the nearby maids quickly snatched her up and pulled her onto the stage.
Arma’s eyes widened as Roselyn was suddenly stolen from right in front of him.
Khan gave Arma a broad smirk.
Grit.
As Arma ground his teeth, Hatan—Khan’s husband and the public-facing Chieftain—suddenly approached and stood by Khan's side.
“Now\! I was thinking of naming Roselyn from the Empire as today’s ‘Khatun.’ Does anyone have any objections?”
“Woooooah\!\!”
“None at all\!\!”
The roar was thunderous.
“As always, the winner gets a one-day date with the Khatun. Of course, as this is a banquet for harmony, those from the Empire are also welcome to participate.”
Khan’s gaze landed on Arma.
“Swords are fine, as is martial arts. Any style is permitted\! As long as you don't kill or leave permanent injuries, a bit of bloodshed is fine. However, the use of Abyss is forbidden.”
Thump, thump.
The Kaluta people began to stomp their feet.
With so many people stomping in unison, the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.
“Applicants, please fill out an entry form here. We will accept applications for the next thirty minutes.”
As soon as Khan finished speaking, a massive crowd rushed forward to start writing their applications.
Every year, they would select the most attractive person regardless of gender to be the ‘Khatun,’ and those who wanted to fight or appeal to the Khatun would all jump in.
It was a scene that could only be found in Kaluta, a place that was warlike and honest about its desires.
Arma remained in his seat.
Roselyn looked somewhat troubled, but her expression didn’t change much otherwise.
She didn’t even send a look toward Arma asking for help.
‘……How miserable.’
Arma thought, blinking slowly.
In truth, as his fiancée, this behavior was desirable. He had many secrets and things he didn’t want to reveal.
Roselyn didn't reject him when he approached.
She didn't act arrogantly using his name.
A perfectly framed engagement where they got along reasonably well.
It was flawless, without a single stray step.
She was even a fiancée who offered to handle the breakup herself. How commendable.
“One minute until the deadline\!”
He stood up abruptly from his seat.
‘……It would be strange to do nothing for my fiancée.’
Having rationalized it to himself, he filled out an application and put it in.
And someone who had been watching Arma dropped in a final application.
“…….”
It was Hatan, Khan’s husband.
Arma and Hatan’s gazes met in midair.
A moment of silence fell, followed immediately by a massive cheer.
The curtain rose on the highlight of the Kaluta festival.
