The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 193
“You’re especially weak, even among outsiders, so you need to pay attention! Ro… Lady Roxelyn!”
“Yes.”
Roxelyn answered quietly.
As she looked at Batar, who was chattering beside her while matching her pace, she spoke.
“Batar.”
“Hm? Why, lady!”
Should she tell him to drop that ridiculous half-and-half formal speech?
“You don’t need to use honorifics.”
“I can’t do that, lady! Father always said that you should act with respect and honor toward someone you want to impress.”
“Ah, I see.”
Unable to tell him to do things properly, Roxelyn just shrugged her shoulders.
“Does Kaluta not experience food shortages?”
“Food shortages? What is that, lady?”
“I’m asking if there was ever a time when there wasn’t enough food, causing difficulties.”
“Nothing like that has ever happened, lady!”
Batar tilted his head, then straightened his chin, looking confident.
Judging by his posture, with his shoulders and chest puffed out, he seemed incredibly sure of himself.
“Really?”
“Yes! We have so much food left over every year that we’ve never experienced anything like a shortage. Does that happen in other places, lady?”
“Our duchy is particularly affected. So, what if I—no, what if the Bellion Duchy wanted to trade food with Kaluta?”
Batar tilted his head again at Roxelyn’s question.
“Is that what you want, lady?”
“Well, it’s true that I want to add food to our trade goods. Right now, we’re being held back by other territories because of food issues.”
Roxelyn explained in response to Batar’s question.
Walking beside her with his arms crossed, Batar nodded and then looked over at Roxelyn.
“So if this food issue gets resolved, it seems we could also start weapon trade with Kaluta sooner.”
“Weapons!”
Batar’s eyes sparkled.
“Does that include the new model we’re developing, lady?!”
“Of course. Right now, we’ve got money leaking all over the place.”
Roxelyn’s goal was to make sure that even if the entire empire turned its back on the duchy, the Bellion Duchy could resolve everything within its own territory.
For that, she needed to establish a stronger relationship with Kaluta than with the Imperial family.
And, of course, solve the food shortage issue.
The weapon industry, along with mining, had always been the domain of the Bellion Duchy, so there was no need to mention that.
‘And if Monsterwood subjugation goes well this time…’
The resources of the forest could be monopolized by the Bellion Duchy as well.
She hadn’t realized it, but the first emperor had granted the Bellion family the current duchy along with Monsterwood.
Whether it had always been a monster forest, or monsters had started living there at some point, no one knew…
‘Up until now, the duchy has had to bear the burden because the forest is considered the ducal family’s private land, which they must manage.’
Every time they requested help, the responses had always been along those lines.
But if they handled this well, Monsterwood would no longer be a burden but a treasure trove.
Since the forest had been part of the Bellion Duchy for hundreds of years, no one would dare speak against it.
This time, she would close the gates of the duchy.
‘Should I send a letter to Arma first?’
Arma had always provided Roxelyn with various pieces of information, so he would be helpful.
After investing in a few of the ventures Roxelyn had informed him about, the head of the merchant guild had made a fortune.
‘With such wealth, the upcoming banquet will definitely attract a lot of hyenas.’
Especially since the value of the Nolan Mine had already skyrocketed.
“We could just give you the food! Lady!”
“…Give it? We’re fine with trading.”
“It’s nothing, lady. And Mother would have made the same decision to help a friend in need.”
Batar laughed heartily as he responded to Roxelyn’s words, causing her eyes to widen slightly.
“…You’d really just give it? We’d need the food for at least three to four years.”
“Three to four years? That’s plenty of time, lady. I’ll handle it as an envoy. Ro… Lady Roxelyn, we are—and I’m—truly grateful to your family.”
He added that he was also thankful for the diplomatic ties that had been established after dealing with the plague. Roxelyn couldn’t help but fall silent.
“Then, I won’t refuse.”
As Roxelyn quickly nodded, Batar grinned broadly.
