The Villainess Lives Twice

King Eimmel and Roygar Grand Ducal couple danced two songs and left the ballroom early.

Immediately after arriving, they greeted each other in the audience chamber and held a reception.

With this, the formal mannerism that should be provided to each other was over.

The three headed to the small parlor attached to Garnet’s place, with only one or two of their most trusted attendants.

And there, the head of Felona was waiting. She took off her maid clothes, which she had been wearing until now, and put on her black robes.

King Eimmel was not surprised. It was because he knew that a diplomatic representative would come from the Iantz Kingdom.

“We’ve met before.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

The head of Felona raised her greeting by kneeling on one of her knees and placing her hand on her chest.

Grand Duke Roygar beckoned.

“Sit down. It was late.”

King Eimmel first reclined in the armchair.

It was late. After a banquet or dinner, it was normal to move around and continue the conversation like this.

But he was the king. He came here on the pretext that he could not come and go easily, but he also could not stay long in the residence of a foreign envoy.

He could not, however, call them into his own parlor.

For among his escort and his attendants would also be mixed with Cadriol’s spies.

Grand Duke Roygar himself brought a small bottle of brandy. It was plugged tightly with cork and sealed with wax.

“It is my treasure. Only 30 bottles were produced at the most famous brewery in the East and aged for 80 years. His Majesty the Emperor will not be able to have it now either.”

He broke the seal on the spot and poured it into a glass.

“Your Majesty’s grace gives my tongue a luxury.”

The head of Felona took the first drink.

Grand Duke Roygar handed the second cup to the King’s attendant. And he lifted his third cup.

The attendant double-checked the glass and drink before presenting it to the King. The King took the cup.

Garnet said softly around that time.

“Then, I will leave now. Please speak comfortably.”

“Are you going alone?”

“I’ll be right next door.”

Grand Duke Roygar nodded his head.

Garnet withdrew from the position.

Grand Duke Roygar moistened his lips with the brandy.

“I heard that the Iantz had already told Your Majesty about the circumstances.”

“Exactly.”

“There is already an agreement at the macro level between the Iantz Kingdom and me.”

said Grand Duke Roygar.

The head of Felona laid down the one-page agreement on the table. King Eimmel did not bother to review it.

What was there was not about Queen Eimmel, but a trade agreement between the Kingdom of Iantz and Grand Duke Roygar.

If he signs it, the Kingdom of Eimmel will also have a place in the pact.

This is an agreement between the Krates Empire and the Iantz Kingdom. He couldn’t miss it here.

But King Eimmel spoke with a gloomy face.

“I want to punish the criminal who murdered the Queen and free her resentment, not to talk about money.”

“Am I too impatient? Pardon me.”

Grand Duke Roygar said with a smile. He wasn’t surprised.

It was because Grand Duke Roygar knew that it was only for the sake of appearance that King Eimmel said that.

King Eimmel coughed.

“Well, after all misunderstandings are resolved, I think we can go ahead and talk about this.”

He did not make a foolish attempt to gain a relative advantage by scolding him for coming to visit for the issue with the Queen and discussing economic interests, instead.

Judging from his formal status, he was now respected as the King of a country.

However, in terms of actual power, Grand Duke Roygar was far stronger than him.

Considering he was the next emperor of the Empire, he didn’t even have to distinguish between substance and form.

The head of Felona said softly.

“How can the Grand Duke not understand His Majesty’s grief? But it’s also important to build trust with each other.”

“Hmm.”

“I came here alone even though I was entrusted with the full attorney power of the Iantz Kingdom. Because I know that the murderer of the Queen is inside the Palace. Please consider that even the Kingdom of Iantz has made a difficult decision.”

“…….”

Still, King Eimmel was silent for a moment, fiddling with his drink.

Grand Duke Roygar said,

“Please make a decision. I will be able to completely get rid of the suspicion that the Iantz Kingdom is behind the assassination of the Queen, and I will get the credit for solving the problems with the Duchy of Riagan. And Your Majesty will find stability by eliminating oppositions.”

“I should point out the wrong part in Grand Duke’s words and move on. I only want to find the one who harmed the Queen. What do you mean by opposition? There is no one in this country who can match me.”

“Yes. I was wrong. You may be able to free the resentment of the Queen, who was assassinated by the opposition.”

Grand Duke Roygar corrected his words.

He wasn’t even going into the contract, and he wasn’t the type to quarrel with every word.

Besides, it would be good to respect the pride of King Eimmel.

Even if he is a person who wants to show power by dressing up like this as soon as the national mourning is over.

It wasn’t a bad thing to negotiate with someone who couldn’t openly say what they wanted to protect was their pride. They wouldn’t say much, even if they recovered from the damage.

“It is only because the deceased Queen shared salt business with the Duchy of Riagan, so this agreement is included.”

Grand Duke Roygar tapped the agreement.

“The Emperor attaches great importance to the salt business. He also trusted Duke Riagan. If His Majesty the Emperor knew that a foreign country was involved in the business, it would not matter in the least as to who murdered the Queen.”

“…….”

“So you should sign it. This is a necessary procedure to keep the matter of the salt business clean and confidential.”

King Eimmel hesitated.

He knew that, too. The reason that the Duchy of Riagan had Queen Eimmel as a partner was to keep the coarse salt business from being discovered in the center of the Empire.

But since it was already known, they could not leave it solely in the hands of the royal family of Eimmel.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel sorry. Just by sharing a certain portion of the profits from the volume that goes to the eastern continent by a few small countries adjacent to the South Sea, it was an income that exceeded the amount that came into the royal treasury every year.

In the end, he couldn’t help but put his desires into words.

“I heard that Grand Duke Roygar will take the coarse salt business and receive a tax equivalent to seven years’ worth of tribute from the Iantz Kingdom to the Empire.”

“It is given to those who will become emperor after all. It’s just a little bit ahead of time.”

The head of Felona said softly.

Although it was a bribe, it clearly had implications as an investment. It was also decided because Lawrence was dismissed.

This agreement was also the price.

The key content was an agreement on the abolition of tariffs and a significant increase in trade volume.

Half of the distributors had to be limited to the merchants designated by Grand Duke Roygar. 70% of the profits from the elimination of tariffs had to be given back to Grand Duke Roygar.

However, even if it was unfair, it was absolutely necessary for the growth and expansion of the Iantz Kingdom.

Since the Iantz Kingdom could only survive through trade, there was nothing wrong with supporting Grand Duke Roygar.

King Eimmel looked at the agreement and tapped his tongue on his upper teeth. Because he couldn’t make a clicking sound.

Grand Duke Roygar said leisurely,

“Your Majesty does not have to sign this agreement. Whether you sign it or not, we will catch the Queen’s assassin, and Your Majesty will be able to free the resentment without any political burden.”

“What if I inform His Majesty the Emperor about this agreement?”

said King Eimmel. Grand Duke Roygar then smiled.

“The Imperial Capital and the South are quite far away. And it’s not just His Majesty that I can support.”

The head of Felona said as if arbitrating.

“The Queen’s assassin is inside the Palace, so it will take a lot of hands to clean it up. There will be a lot of money going in.”

“…….”

“For the time being, the southern seas will be empty. Without the help of His Majesty King Eimmel, will we be able to sail even a single boat properly?”

Now, Cadriol is commanding the South Sea with the Eimmel navy and the pirates.

When a merchant ship encounters a pirate, it pays a toll to pass through. A ship carrying a large merchandise or precious treasure, which could not resolve it on its own, requested protection from the Eimmel Navy.

Once Cadriol is eliminated, the pirate who has lost their leader will run wild.

For that reason, the agreement included consultations on the management of the South Sea and the subjugation of pirates.

As Grand Duke Roygar said, King Eimmel didn’t have to sign.

It is thanks to Cadriol that the Eimmel navy is currently strong. King Eimmel could not have imagined that he would be able to exert such leadership.

Sooner or later, the naval power itself would weaken and it would not be worth it, the Iantz Kingdom was speculating.

Nevertheless, the purpose of the agreement with the item about paying the protection fee to the Eimmel Kingdom was to obtain the King’s signature.

For the Iantz Kingdom, by increasing the number of people involved, they tried to prevent Grand Duke Roygar from turning the agreement into a piece of tissue paper.

For Grand Duke Roygar, he was obliged to keep it a secret until he obtained the throne.

King Eimmel remained silent for a few more moments. But he soon took up a pen and signed.

“You thought well. This is my favorite thing to do. Negotiations where everyone benefits.”

It was subsequently signed by Grand Duke Roygar and the head of Felona.

“I will send someone to discuss the details while you are in the South.”

said the head of Felona.

“Then the Queen’s problem…….”

“Don’t worry. If Your Majesty makes a decision, my escorts will always move with you.”

King Eimmel nodded his head.

“Then, shall we have a toast first?”

“Let’s do that.”

Grand Duke Roygar first raised the glass, King Eimmel followed behind him.

King Eimmel, who was able to relax, sighed deeply.

“It’s a really fragrant drink.”

“After making an important decision, the taste of alcohol is special.”

Grand Duke Roygar poured the second cup.

After emptying the first glass, the head of Felona stood up from her seat.

“I will leave early.”

“Aren’t we going to have another drink?”

“I am going to greet the Grand Duchess.”

“I see.”

King Eimmel beckoned as if he had to go, too.

Grand Duke Roygar bowed his head slightly in gratitude.

The head of Felona bowed politely to the two of them and stepped back from the parlor.

A worker sent by the alliance was waiting in her room.

“Did the agreement end safely?”

The worker greeted the head of Felona with his back straight and only his waist bent.

“Yes.”

“You worked hard. You even played the role of a maid…….”

“It’s for the country. I am the right person, can I decline?”

The head of Felona said in a cold voice.

This man was the one who had come up with a concrete plan for this.

She thought it was a good plan, so she took it, so there was nothing wrong with it.

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