The day of the meeting drew closer as scheduled, and the two diplomats from the commonwealth of Red Dusk finally arrived at Huono town two days in advance. Of course, if their expressions were anything to go by, they were far from being pleased from being there.
”With how backward and undeveloped Blue Dawn is, you’d think the empress would have the decency to hold the meeting in their capital, at least. But what the hell is this… garbage pile of a town supposed to be?!”
Although she whispered it in her companion’s ears, the male diplomat still felt a little uncomfortable as his eyes flitted over their ‘escorts’ from Blue Dawn. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to have been paying too much attention their way, and didn’t manage to overhear his partner’s remarks.
In all honesty, he didn’t think that Huono town was as bad as they had been prepared for before arriving. If anything, he was somewhat impressed by the lack of disrepair and poverty in sight.
Of course, it was more than likely that all these ‘dirty’ things had been swept away or hidden temporarily from their sight to leave a good impression.
Unfortunately, the female diplomat didn’t seem to have had enough of venting her frustrations at all. “Even if we’re to ignore how much a disappointment this place is, couldn’t the empress have at least sent someone important to receive us as a show of sincerity? This is just too sloppy.”
The male diplomat sighed. “Forget it. She’s still young. Maybe she got too nervous thinking about offending us by sending someone else, but also couldn’t make up her mind to come in person?”
His companion blinked in surprise before realization dawned on her face. “Ohhh…”
Although the Empire of Blue Dawn had made significant progress recently, the commonwealth of Red Dusk should still be considered vastly superior in comparison, right? The identity of ‘diplomats from Red Dusk’ wasn’t necessarily any lower than the Empress of Blue Dawn.
On the other hand, if the empress herself was to arrive in person to receive the first diplomats from a powerful neighboring country, it definitely wouldn’t conform with what she’s been trying to do so far.
Moreover, while the Empress of Blue Dawn wasn’t a very remarkable title, the diplomats were well aware of her other, more well-known identity. As the precious princess of one of the richest families in the world, how could she not have some pride?
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
”Hah… I guess she’s still a little girl, in the end… barely any older than my daughter. I’ll just forgive her this time and not bring it up.”
Of course, the main reason for her ‘forgiveness’ was because while she looked down on the Empire of Blue Dawn as a whole, Emilia didn’t really fall into the same category.
After all, if they met her on any other occasion, not to mention small folk like them, maybe even their president would have to show a flattering smile in front of the girl.
Aside from those who depended on the Gray Wolfe and the like, perhaps no one would be stupid enough to needlessly offend the White Deer Corporation.
In their opinion, the Empire of Blue Dawn was probably nothing more than a cheap toy for Emilia to play around with to fulfill some of her fantasies.
Even if she pretended to care for the sake of the ‘game’, how could anyone so rich and powerful have compassion for the dirty and disgusting worms living in Blue Dawn?
The male diplomat smiled. “I hope she likes your gift, so our ‘negotiations’ can go more smoothly.”
His companion rolled her eyes. “Of course she will. My daughter prepared it especially for her, you know?”
”Is the girl still obsessed with the ‘Idol Eva’, by the way?”
’Idol Eva’ wasn’t actually a real person or performer, but a children’s toy that was quite popular with prepubescent girls.
With her flamboyantly long and wavy crimson hair, glacial-blue eyes, and a magical glowing wand with a heart gem on top, she was no different from a million other type of ‘magical girl’ types.
The only thing ‘unique’ about her would be that this toy had been successfully selling for over forty years, though it never became mainstream.
The female diplomat was naturally too ashamed to admit that it wasn’t her daughter, but herself who was obsessed with the virtual idol, though her enthusiasm did end up infecting the girl in the end.
She coughed. “T-There’s nothing wrong with that, okay? Give the girl a break.”
Her companion rolled his eyes. “You doting mother.”
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Emilia naturally received the report of the two diplomats badmouthing her empire as soon as they arrived, but she didn’t put it to heart.
After all, these two were no better than ‘disposable pawns’ even to their own country if her intel was right, destined to perish without even knowing how or why. How could she hold a grudge against such pitiful beings?
The sound of knocking glass from the lit screen in front of her suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
”Hello? Emilia? Are you listening to me?”
The crimson-haired girl sighed. “Sorry, angel, I got distracted!”
There was no way for Crystal to get mad at the gorgeous girl when she acted so pitiful, so she could only sigh helplessly. “Forget it. Where are Dixie and Noelle? Done with the preparations?”
Emilia nodded cheerfully. “Obviously, we already double checked everything. I just sent them on a few errands around town to help big sister.”
The blonde girl naturally knew what kind of errands the crimson-haired beauty was having her girlfriends run, and she couldn’t help but smile. “You can’t spoil the citizens too much, you know? Or they’ll grow up entitled and rude. Since you call them your ‘children’, you should raise them properly, right?”
Emilia huffed. “Do you think I’m the type to spoil my children?”
Seeing her girlfriend’s ‘aren’t you look’, the crimson-haired beauty couldn’t help but pout. “I’ll have you know, if someone I spoil dares to be disobedient, this princess is more than cruel enough to punish them appropriately!”
Crystal barely resisted the urge to smile in amusement as she nodded. “Yes yes, everyone knows you are very fierce when angry, that’s why they’re so obedient.”
Although it wasn’t exactly true, the blonde girl really couldn’t bring herself to tell her darling how even her punishments were no more than ‘generous rewards’, making her ‘raising strategy’ almost completely unbalanced.
Fortunately, her girlfriend’s charm was so ridiculously high that if she insisted on calling a donkey a horse, the poor animal could only try its best to gallop and neigh.
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The next day, having arrived ‘fashionably late’ to the diplomatic meeting, Emilia greeted the two opposing diplomats with a haughty smile.
Much to her surprise, however, although the male diplomat seemed mildly annoyed by her arrogance, his female companion’s eyes visibly lit up in delight.
She even had Noelle pick the most ostentatious little girl princess dress that she could find just to piss these people off, so how could it have this kind of effect?!
’What’s going on…?’
Cynthia hummed thoughtfully. “She looks like she’s seen one of the stars she’s chasing for the first time. You sure she isn’t one of your fan girls?”
Naturally, neither of them knew that Emilia’s current dress was almost identical to the getup of the ‘magical girl’ Idol Eva. And when it was combined with her wavy crimson hair and purplish-blue eyes, the effect was almost surreal.
The crimson-haired girl considered it for a moment before denying the thought. ‘Although they’re disposable pawns, the government of Red Dusk still wouldn’t be stupid enough to send someone like that over here, right?’
The male diplomat reached out to shake her hand, but was swatted away by Dixie. “Hands away from the Empress, please, or I will have to remove them.”
Emilia sighed in her heart. ‘I suddenly miss Koko somehow.’
”…?!”
Noelle gave the dumbfounded diplomat an ‘apologetic’ smile. “The guardian of our empress is a bit overprotective, I hope the gracious diplomats won’t be offended?”
The man begrudgingly shook his head in denial as he moved back to the seats arranged for them. “Of course not.”
Even though his eyes were starting to show a hint of annoyance, the smile on the male diplomat’s face was still almost perfect. “Empress Emilia seems to have been delayed by something, is everything alright?”
The crimson-haired beauty flicked her hair back smugly. “My big sister was doting on me, so I forgot the time.”
She was only momentarily satisfied by his dumbfounded expression before the happy sigh from the female diplomat made her frown. ‘What is wrong with this person??? Wait, there’s no way I cannot annoy her.’
Determined, Emilia looked down at the woman condescendingly. “Have you been enamored by the beauty of this empress, peasant? Hmph, be grateful that I allow you to gaze at me, don’t have any fanciful thoughts.”
From what she gathered, this woman was both arrogant and conceited, so there was no way she could swallow this kind of frustration, right?
Unfortunately, the female diplomat only grinned at her dreamily. “With the beauty of Empress Eva, it would be a sin not to fall in love!”
Not to mention Emilia, even the male diplomat and other staff from Red Dusk were shocked silly.
Only one thought rang through their heads. ‘S-She did not just confess to the empress, did she?!’
If the news of this incident got out, wouldn’t their commonwealth become a joke on the international stage?!
Meanwhile, Emilia’s head was also filled with question marks. ‘Who the hell is Eva???’
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