The Baddest Villainess Is Back
Chapter 62
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The banquet welcoming Kaluta was held outdoors, a consideration for the Kaluta people’s preference for open spaces over stifling interiors.
To maintain elegance while remaining hearty, the food consisted mainly of finger foods that could be eaten by hand. The drinks featured cocktails with whiskey or vodka bases and traditional spirits rather than wine.
Evidence of the Emperor’s significant consideration for Kaluta was scattered everywhere.
In the first place, holding an Imperial Palace banquet outdoors was a rare occurrence.
The Kaluta people didn’t seem to mind this sort of welcome, as their expressions weren’t half bad.
“…A banquet with barbarians. I truly wonder what His Majesty is thinking.”
“I feel like I can smell them from here.”
“Everyone, mind your tongues. Do you not understand the meaning behind His Majesty preparing things this way?”
“Ahem…. Even so, this isn’t a salon invitation or a tea party. To hold a banquet in a backyard like this instead of the Imperial greenhouse….”
A noblewoman said, snapping her fan open.
Others nodded in agreement.
“If they have come to another country, they should show proper etiquette toward that country.”
“And more than anything, why is that stuttering Young Lady the one in charge of this banquet?”
“Exactly. It’s really beneath our standards….”
Their quiet murmurs came to a halt at the sound of a sigh from behind them.
“I agree. I don’t particularly want to involve myself in low-standard conversations either. So….”
They slowly turned their creaking bodies around.
“You’re in my way, so move.”
The women froze at the sight of Roselyn whispering coldly.
She was lavishly adorned from head to toe in accessories and a dress that were difficult to even obtain, yet it wasn’t excessive.
It was only natural. Somehow having heard that Roselyn was attending the banquet, Pluie had set aside all her work and stormed into her mansion the day before.
Thanks to that, Roselyn, who had been tormented since early morning, was currently in a foul mood.
Pluie Boutique.
After Roselyn’s brilliant debut wearing one of her dresses, the boutique had become even more famous due to the pouring volume of orders.
As a result, its owner, Pluie, was incredibly busy these days.
She was suffocating under the overflowing work and her sleeping hours had dwindled, but her smile was so wide it practically reached the heavens.
After all, she had earned enough money in just one year to last a lifetime.
Her already busy boutique was now fully booked for the next three years, despite having hired several more assistants.
Furthermore, the supplier Roselyn had told her to cut ties with was caught shortly after for distributing illegal drugs.
Even though the shops they traded with weren’t at fault, rumors spread, and they all had to take down their signs. Terrified by that, Pluie now revered Roselyn as more than a benefactor—nearly as a god.
She went as far as to say she would abandon her sleep and come running even if Roselyn contacted her at three in the morning.
Anyway, for that reason, the Empire’s top designer had shouted that she would act as Roselyn’s personal stylist, and she had insisted on attending today’s banquet with her.
Thus, Roselyn, having received Pluie’s styling, was the most eye-catching presence in the hall.
‘…To think Pluie was actually Baron Pluir.’
Roselyn sighed at the fact she had learned this morning. She looked at the women in front of her, then at Baron Pluir standing beside her.
‘Did he say Pluie was a pseudonym he used when cross-dressing as a woman for his design work?’
While Pluie was an excessively flashy and beautiful woman, Baron Pluir, in contrast, appeared as a quite sophisticated man with his long hair tied back.
Roselyn turned her head and smiled at the pale-faced young ladies and lords.
“Are your earholes blocked? I told you to get out of the way.”
“Wh-what kind of holes?”
“Earholes. Before you go badmouthing others, why don’t you reflect on whether you’re doing something worthy of being cursed at?”
“Please bear with them, Lady Bellion. I’ve heard that when one’s earholes get fat, it’s hard to hear properly,” Baron Pluir said with a hint of laughter in his voice. It was a rather neutral tone, different from the shrill soprano falsetto he usually used.
“…Wh-what did you say? Baron Pluir! Have you not learned that a man should not butt into a conversation between women?”
“Aha, was that so~? But who might you be…?”
“…!”
Since Pluie’s profession was what it was, there was no one in social circles who didn’t know him. Roselyn mentally clicked her tongue at how he brazenly feigned ignorance despite clearly knowing who the opponent was.
“Please bear with him, Lady Count. After all, House Pluir is a poor family teetering on the edge of collapse. It’s likely his education was lacking.”
“Ah~ indeed, I heard the house pillars shake just to attend a single banquet?”
“What, such a family exists?”
“Well, perhaps that is why they suit today’s banquet perfectly.”
Roselyn frowned at the behavior of insulting the Kaluta and the Baron simultaneously.
They were talking absolute nonsense.
‘Even if you combined the assets of every family here, it would be less than Pluie’s personal wealth.’
Roselyn clicked her tongue inwardly at how they couldn’t even utter a word to her, a Duke’s daughter, and instead directed their arrows at the seemingly easy target of Baron Pluir.
“Do you all realize that today’s banquet was personally directed and overseen by His Majesty?”
“Well, of course…!”
“The Kaluta people are originally a race that harmonizes with nature, adapting and living together with its members. That is why His Majesty opened the banquet in the garden rather than inside the roofed palace.”
Everyone fell silent at the explanation Roselyn began in a level voice. This included the Kaluta people who had been gathered and chatting, as well as the nobles who had been grumbling in dissatisfaction.
Even though she felt all eyes focusing on her, she spoke only toward the immature young ladies and lords.
“When in another country, it is right to follow its laws, but respecting the ways of those from another land is also a method of hospitality.”
“….”
“And we have decided to call this ‘consideration,’ not a lack of standards.”
Those who had been talking heatedly just a moment ago became quiet. Arma, who entered the banquet hall just in time, was somewhat surprised by the silent atmosphere until he spotted Roselyn at the center of it and paused.
Roselyn scanned the banquet hall once with eyes full of contempt before finishing her piece.
“If there is anyone who cannot understand His Majesty’s clear intentions to this extent, then you are the ones who do not meet the standards, so I would like you to leave this banquet hall.”
Roselyn said.
“You all don’t seem to know how sharp the five senses of the Kaluta are. Did you truly think those vulgar words wouldn’t be heard?”
Seeing Roselyn standing tall with her back and shoulders straight, not once overwhelmed by the gazes pouring from all sides, Arma raised his hand and slowly rubbed the corners of his mouth that were trying to curl upward.
‘I want her.’
The more Arma got to know Roselyn, the more he coveted her. To the point where he wondered why he hadn’t realized it before.
“It would be best for you to realize that our guests not ripping your heads off is their consideration toward you.”
Roselyn’s choice of words was quite harsh. However, Yuldian, who had actually seen an arm being ripped off before his eyes, trembled. Naryan, who had her arm wrapped around Yuldian’s waist as he stood beside her, scanned the atmosphere of the banquet hall once before heading toward her mother and father with him.
‘Was that too much?’
Roselyn narrowed her eyes as she looked at the silent banquet hall. At that, the young ladies and lords who had just been insulted to their faces quickly moved out of her way.
‘I don’t know.’
When Roselyn looked at the musicians, they flinched and began playing again.
“Wow, Lady Bellion, that was impressive.”
Listening to Baron Pluir’s exclamation of admiration, Roselyn walked toward where the Kaluta were gathered. Seeing Roselyn approaching, Khan opened her arms toward her.
“Lin! I heard there was a major incident. Is your body alright? I was quite worried as a friend.”
“Yes. Did you have any discomfort coming here?”
“It was just quite fascinating since it’s been a while since I’ve been outside, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
She added a word saying she was glad and nodded.
“My husband also seems to have enjoyed the outing after a long time.”
At Khan’s words, Roselyn turned her head to look at her husband, Hatan, who was acting as Khan’s proxy. Hatan looked at Roselyn and spoke.
“I heard you weren’t feeling well. Are you alright?”
“Yes, fortunately, I recovered quickly.”
“I see. I have been receiving news periodically. Thank you for inviting us.”
To the public, Khan would be known as Hatan. Roselyn showed her courtesy by nodding with a faint smile.
“His Majesty the Emperor and His Imperial Highness the 1st Prince are entering!!”
The restless atmosphere was quickly organized with the Emperor’s entrance. Roselyn bowed her head to show respect among the Kaluta, who stood with their backs straight.
“Found you.”
Amidst everyone bowing their heads, a single gaze watched her greedily and whispered softly.
The eyebrows of Khan, who sensitively felt the malice contained in that voice with her superior hearing, shot up. Khan approached Roselyn.
“Lin.”
“Yes.”
“I have a very bad feeling. You should be careful wherever you go.”
“I will.”
Roselyn nodded.