The Baddest Villainess Is Back
Chapter 73
The Seven Luminaries Stone was on her wrist.
‘…The red stone has already been used.’
The red stone was currently inside Maximus.
Since it would likely vanish after exhausting its utility within him, that stone could not be used a second time.
There were six stones remaining, including the blue one, which had shrunk slightly after being used to protect her body.
Roselyn took a slow breath and lifted her head.
“So, are you feeling well?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Roselyn replied, scanning the drawing room.
It seemed the two of them had already been drinking heavily.
“Lin, how is your body?”
“I’m fine.”
Roselyn answered with a faint smile at the concern of the Khan of Kaluta, Khan Haliona.
“…I say, Young Lady. Your response to my greeting was rather half-hearted; isn’t this a bit much?”
“My apologies. I have a habit of becoming much more affectionate whenever I see a beautiful woman.”
The Emperor faltered at Roselyn’s remark, and the Khan burst into a hearty laugh.
“You certainly know how to say the most charming things, don’t you? It’s such a shame you aren’t a man.”
Khan said, kissing the back of Roselyn’s hand.
Her vivid green eyes gazed intently into Roselyn’s red ones before eventually curving into a crescent moon shape.
“After our conversation is over, why don’t we have a drink together for old times’ sake?”
“I’d like that.”
The Emperor shrugged at Roselyn’s words.
When she turned her head, Hatan, who was drinking with the Emperor, glanced her way before facing the Emperor again.
He gulped down the whiskey in his hand and stole a glance at Roselyn with a faint smirk.
“I heard you delayed the schedule significantly because of me. If you’re ready to proceed immediately, may I introduce you?”
“Very well.”
Was there really a need for new introductions?
The Emperor gave a dubious look but replied while casually rubbing his chin.
To mediate, Roselyn sat in the seat of honor between the Emperor and Hatan.
“First, allow me to introduce him. Khan, this is His Imperial Majesty Severus Jean Dianitas, the Emperor of the Dianitas Empire.”
At Roselyn’s words, the Emperor straightened his posture and gave a thin smile.
“Finally, this month-long drinking bout is coming to an end. A pleasure.”
The reason for today’s meeting was to finalize the alliance.
And at Kaluta’s strong insistence, Roselyn was attending as a mediator, notary, and diplomat.
According to her grandfather, the Emperor and the Khan had been meeting periodically, and it seemed they had reached a verbal agreement to some extent.
That was likely why the Emperor had turned a blind eye to Kaluta’s stay in the Empire.
He simply needed Roselyn to act as the notary and diplomat.
Normally, another official should have attended, but this, too, was a firm request from Kaluta.
‘…The reason they’re being so secretive is that they have no intention of hiding it from the Emperor, at least.’
This would also be a significant risk for them.
“And Your Majesty, this person here is the King of Kaluta, Khan Haliona.”
As soon as Roselyn finished speaking, Hatan set his glass down, stood up, and retreated behind the sofa where the Khan sat.
Just as the Khan had Hatan, the Emperor was accompanied only by his personal knights and the Head Chamberlain.
Therefore, there were exactly three outsiders who would come to know this secret.
Four, including Roselyn.
“…The Khan?”
“Wasn’t it quite a perfect disguise?”
“…….”
At the Khan’s amused remark, the Emperor’s gaze shifted to Roselyn.
“Ah, do not blame her. Lin was simply keeping her loyalty to me. I had planned to reveal the truth to you eventually anyway, Your Majesty.”
“…Hah, to think the Khan was a woman.”
“Your Majesty, that was a sexist remark. It is inappropriate during the negotiation of an equal peace treaty and alliance.”
The Emperor looked at Roselyn with an incredulous expression.
Roselyn calmly pulled out some documents and presented them to the two of them.
“I have drafted them like this for now. Please let me know if there are any parts that need adjustment or are lacking.”
“You drafted them? How did you know what we would discuss?”
At the Emperor’s words, the Khan also looked puzzled as she went to read the documents, only to freeze.
“…Did you write all of this yourself, Lin?”
“Yes.”
Hatan’s eyes also widened slightly as he looked over her shoulder at the documents Roselyn had prepared for the Kaluta side.
The documents for Kaluta had an extra page attached to each sheet.
It was a translation.
“To ensure maximum fairness.”
At Roselyn’s words, the Emperor glanced at the papers in their hands and his eyes widened.
The papers they held contained the exact same content as the documents written in the Imperial language, translated into the Luta language without missing a single word.
“…….”
The Emperor furrowed his brow.
‘What on earth is this?’
He thought, silently scanning the documents Roselyn had brought.
Of course, there were certainly parts that needed reinforcement.
However, most of the conversations they had shared were included.
That meant the uncomfortable but inevitably necessary points of agreement were all there.
While treaties usually contained many clauses, there were specific provisions that absolutely had to be added to the alliance treaty between Kaluta and the Empire.
In particular, Kaluta and the Empire had been engaged in constant skirmishes along the border until now.
Kaluta had been a veiled nation that never opened its gates.
As such, while respecting them, the focus had to be on opening their respective borders.
Therefore, the treaty included major points of discussion such as a peace pact, the opening of trade routes, customs agreements, the stationing of troops, financial and material aid, and the establishment of bases for periodic exchange.
Of course, a state marriage was also in the plans.
In reality, these discussions were bound to be more disadvantageous to Kaluta, which had kept everything hidden until now, than to the Dianitas Empire.
Their strength lay in the fact that no one could ever defeat them within Kaluta territory.
However, once they began exchanges with the Empire, Kaluta would be forced to expose its homeland in one way or another.
Thus, the Emperor had to be cautious.
If this treaty proceeded well, the Empire would be able to enjoy prosperity as a great power for a long time.
The military strength of Kaluta, seen up close, was beyond imagination. It was enough to understand why they were so arrogant even while their King was in enemy territory.
‘I heard the Kaluta people possess bodies blessed by the Abyss….’
It didn’t seem to be a lie.
The Empire’s renowned knights were holding duels with them under the guise of friendly exchange, but only a few could truly handle them.
Only a handful of high-ranking individuals, including the Knight Commander and Vice-Commander.
‘…To think she’d organize it into documents like this.’
Because it was a delicate matter, there were certainly issues that were difficult to bring up casually over drinks.
However, Roselyn had organized everything they had discussed, as well as matters they hadn’t even broached yet, into documents.
And she had even translated them into the other side’s language.
‘…Unbelievable.’
The Emperor looked at Roselyn, inwardly clicking his tongue in rare admiration.
He was well aware of the rumors surrounding Roselyn.
He had been skeptical when he heard she had become a different person, but wasn’t this change a bit too extreme?
“How did you know all of this?”
“I only included the basic elements that must be shared during an alliance. In addition to that, I added a few more things considering Kaluta’s unique situation.”
“…Did the Young Lady receive training as an heir?”
“No.”
Roselyn shook her head.
The Emperor gazed at Roselyn, tapping the armrest with the tip of his index finger as if weighing something, before slowly opening his mouth.