The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 77
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“If you were a man, I would have taken you by any means necessary.”
Roxelyn frowned at her comment after more than five hours of negotiations had concluded.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It is a compliment. Only three have been chosen to be my husbands.”
Roxelyn hesitated.
‘Ah, polygamy is allowed here.’
She shrugged off the fact she had belatedly remembered.
“I’ll gratefully accept the compliment.”
“Tell the Emperor of the Diyanitas Empire that I want to visit him soon.”
“…You mean in person?”
It was a somewhat radical answer.
Her visiting in person essentially meant she would announce herself as the Khan.
Reading Roxelyn’s expression, she laughed low and waved her hand.
“Of course, my husband will represent me.”
“Husband…?”
“The Deputy Chief, Hatan. My most cherished husband.”
The Khan lightly pursed her lips and smiled faintly.
Roxelyn’s consistently indifferent and calm demeanor was intriguing and appealing to her.
She neither flattered unnecessarily nor dismissed them as barbarians.
That was how she behaved throughout the negotiation.
Roxelyn neither looked down upon nor ignored the opposite party.
‘When she provokes, she does so irritatingly…’
It was a story confined to the negotiation table.
“However, when you go there, you’ll have to accompany us.”
The Khan continued.
“Other than you, whom I’ve talked with at length, I don’t quite trust the others.”
“…Does that mean you trust me?”
“Of course. More than other foreigners with blighted hearts.”
When Roxelyn asked somewhat hesitantly, the Khan responded succinctly.
“You’ve already put your trust in us, haven’t you?”
“…I’ve heard that Kaluta does not easily dismiss allies and keeps its promises. As long as Kaluta stands by as a friend, I too will do my utmost to protect those belonging to Kaluta.”
The Khan’s eyes narrowed at Roxelyn’s firm words.
She wore an attractive smile, clasped her hands together, and rested her chin on the back of her hands, then smiled broadly.
“What if the Emperor of the Empire turns against us?”
Roxelyn paused.
It was a dangerously loaded question. Roxelyn narrowed her eyes and quietly observed the Khan’s face.
With a playful smile, she waited for Roxelyn’s answer.
“…If the reason is unjust, I will inform you in advance.”
Roxelyn answered slowly.
The Khan’s playful smile deepened at her response. Roxelyn continued.
“And I will support you as much as I can.”
“What does ‘unjust’ mean?”
“It means if the Empire decides to strike at you out of selfish desires without Kaluta having done any wrong first.”
The Khan burst into laughter.
She liked Roxelyn. The more they talked, the more she was drawn to her.
Initially, regardless of the negotiations, she wanted to kill her.
Roxelyn had a knack for getting under her skin!
She must have felt her relentless gaze on her slender neck, yet she showed no fear.
There was a calculative aspect to her, but that skill was something anyone would have, to some extent.
She’s intelligent, but she doesn’t belittle or cross lines.
She might have taken a condescending tone at the negotiation table, but that was merely a negotiation tactic.
‘I see why Sansar liked her.’
Sansar favors strong women.
Those who can stand tall in any situation.
Women who can summon strength they didn’t know they had to protect their children.
Those who are beautiful and dignified, yet capable of harboring thorns within.
Being chosen by Sansar means Roxelyn is strong.
Her body might be frail, but her resolve is firm.
“Alright, negotiator lady. How about we become friends?”
“…Friends?”
Roxelyn hesitated.
She hardly had anyone she could call a friend, except for Sansar.
And even that was just a brief encounter of a month.
Of course, the various knowledge Sansar shared with her during their time together was significant.
‘But to think that person could really be a god?’
Roxelyn thought of Sansar.
A minstrel who seemed to know little else but to dawdle around.
However, she remembered his singing was beautiful and sometimes he had a mysterious air about him.
“Why? Don’t you want to be friends with me?”
“No, it’s just that… I don’t have memories of having friends other than Sansar… And considering Sansar might have been a playful god…”