Chapter 81

More importantly, the one who could make the decision here was not Hanks.

It was this Second Demon Princess standing before them.

Belith’s gaze grew even colder.

Her expression at this moment was utterly condescending, as if looking at ants, completely devoid of any emotion.

Like a dead, bottomless pool of water.

Although this gaze instinctively filled Rom and his companions with fear and unease, they were here to fight for the interests of their nation and naturally could not take a single step back.

So Rom stood up as well, trying to bolster his own confidence.

“Princess Belith, please consider carefully. If you insist on starting a war, your elder sister may very well experience a fate worse than death during this period. That’s not a situation either of us wishes to see, is it?”

A fate worse than death? Who?

Sheffy blinked and looked at Xiarette, then glanced toward the negotiation table.

She had been distracted just now. Upon hearing that she might face a fate worse than death, she thought someone was going to cut off her snack supply!

Damn… who could be so ruthless!

Looking at Hanks gnashing his teeth, Rom felt confident that his move was almost foolproof.

However…

What he could never have imagined was that the deep indifference on Princess Belith’s face suddenly vanished.

What replaced it was still that same careless, secretive smile.

As if mocking Rom’s incompetence.

And her words that followed made even this seasoned elder minister find it hard to believe.

“So it seems Mr. Rom intends to tear off all pretenses of cordiality… That’s fine. The Demon Clan originally did not wish to wage war again for now, but your words have truly angered me. Just as well. Demons, you’ve all recorded Mr. Rom’s speech just now with the magic stones you brought, haven’t you? In that case, if the Demon Clan resumes war anytime soon, Mr. Rom’s words will be the very cause that reignites the flames of war!”

“What?!”

Rom could hardly believe his ears!

With such words, did she not care at all about the life or death of her own elder sister?

Was she really willing to sacrifice familial bonds to satisfy the so-called empty, ethereal royal glory?

This was completely contrary to everything Rom had previously believed!

Seeing that the negotiations had collapsed, the Demon Clan members began packing up, preparing to leave. Princess Belith also returned to her indifferent attitude, calmly picking up her teacup and sipping leisurely…

This time, Rom was truly panicking!

It was one thing if the negotiations yielded no results, but he could not become the eternal sinner who reignited war!

There was no choice. He had to play his final trump card to intimidate the other side.

“Wa… wait! Please, everyone, don’t be too extreme…! To… to be honest, our Kingdom of Aurus has recently re-established contact with the higher races. They said they would be willing to protect our people through difficult times if war breaks out again! You… you must not push both our sides back into the abyss!”

“Ah ah ah… it seems Mr. Rom has misunderstood something.”

Belith gently rubbed the handle of her teacup with her fingers and placed it on the table.

Though it appeared she set it down lightly, the sound of the cup’s base landing was exceptionally heavy.

Previously, her gestures had shown respect for human tea.

But now, her movement in placing the cup down seemed like carelessly discarding a worthless object.

Perhaps from the very beginning,

she never thought much of human tea.

After that, she slowly stood up.

While she stretched lazily, five wings appeared with pitch-black magic power, as if complementing her relaxed posture, slowly unfolding to both sides.

It carried a kind of mythological and epic sense of oppressive intimidation.

The less emotion she showed, the more it stirred the humans’ innate fear of the unknown.

“You see… first, the misunderstanding is that I am not the one pushing both sides into the abyss. It is you, who are imprisoning and restraining my elder sister. As for the second matter… these ‘higher races’… do you know why the Demon Clan is not considered a higher race?”

“……”

“Ah, silence means you do know, right! Yes, you see? For hundreds and thousands of years, not only have we Demons been feared by you humans, but even those so-called higher races… have sought every way to join forces to suppress our power, driving us into the corner of this continent. Tell me… if they’re really that ‘high’, why would they need to join forces? Isn’t that rather strange? Right? Right?”

“You… you all shouldn’t be so arrogant… In this world…”

“Mm mm, I know, I know! You want to say there are still many mighty beings in this world! But unfortunately, while they are indeed strong, mmm~ they are not your human race, are they?”

“You… you…!! Cough cough… cough cough cough!!”

“Lord Rom!!”

Rom clutched his aching chest and collapsed into his chair, coughing violently.

Clearly, as a diplomat, being humiliated with such words on such an occasion was more than he could bear. He would likely have to be carried out for emergency treatment, making it difficult for him to continue confronting the Demon Clan.

Belith’s move earned a nod of approval even from Sheffy, as the elder sister!

“Hoh… not bad, not bad. This child has been eloquent since young. She used to scold me in the palace too, even harsher than this!”

“Sheffy, what kind of life did you used to live… No, is Rom alright?!”

“He’s fine, he’s fine. Healing magic can detect it. He just got too worked up from Belith’s words, his anger surged, probably needs to lie down for a few weeks and he’ll recover. Nothing serious.”

“Lying down for a few weeks…? Ah, poor Lord Rom, you better take care of yourself. But now isn’t this a mess? The negotiations have collapsed, and with the Demon Clan’s stance, it really seems like they’re about to launch war again. Then wouldn’t you, Sheffy, have to return to the Demon Domain?”

“It’s not that serious. Belith only got mad because she heard Rom slandering me earlier. Once she vents her anger, she shouldn’t really… uh, no, this girl really is capable of doing anything!”

“This… I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. It’s alright, Sheffy, I… I’ll go and intercept your sister in a bit. You can come with me. In any case, we mustn’t let this escalate further.”

“Damn it, for once you said something perfectly correct. I totally approv—”

Sheffy hadn’t finished muttering her sentence.

The negotiation table, which should have been completely quiet by now,

unexpectedly rang out with a soft voice, quite out of place in the tense atmosphere.

“Ple… please wait! Princess of the Demon Clan, this meeting hasn’t completely ended yet, has it…! Could you… could you allow me to say a few words before you decide whether to restart the war?”

“Hmm?”

Belith, who was about to turn and leave, looked back.

She noticed someone calling out to her anxiously.

Oh? If she remembered correctly, this was a princess from the human side?

She had been so silent earlier that Belith had almost forgotten her presence.

No matter. Hearing what she wanted to say wouldn’t take much time.

Besides, Belith also wanted to sneak a few more glances at her elder sister~

The human negotiation table was now in complete chaos due to the earlier incident.

Everyone was busy carrying Rom away for emergency treatment, and the once imposing, orderly negotiation table now stood empty.

And the Third Princess, who was only supposed to observe, stood there alone, clenching her fists.

Her extremely radiant and stunning emerald eyes flickered with nervousness.

Within that nervousness…

faint glimmers of the royal bloodline’s sword and shield gathered.

Actually, when Livra hurriedly stood up and called out to Belith, she herself was in a dazed state.

She had simply seen Rom being carried away, and with the flames of war about to reignite, she instinctively stood up, wanting to stop it all.

Ugh… but what should she say to make it work… she didn’t know!

Her anxious gaze darted rapidly.

She saw Princess Belith gradually losing patience,

and beginning to show signs of preparing to leave again.

She couldn’t say nothing… If she said nothing, did nothing… everything would collapse into ruin.

Under great pressure, humans could awaken a certain potential.

A certain intense emotion deeply embedded within their bloodline — the kind that says “it must be done.”

A princess of a nation could be noble and dignified, admired by all.

But when the time came for her to fulfill her royal duty, she would certainly live up to the title of Princess of the Kingdom of Aurus.

Livra’s gaze changed.

It became as brilliant as its emerald color, unbowed by any form of pressure.

Well-deserved.

“Princess Belith, may I ask if the Demon Domain… could give me a chance?”

“Oh? If I recall correctly, Princess, according to Mr. Rom’s earlier introduction, your name is Livra?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, Princess Livra, if I were you, I wouldn’t be standing here asking me for a chance, but would simply speak directly. As you can see, not all negotiators are as patient as I am. To my ears, you’ve already said a bit too much. Or… are you deliberately stalling for time, pretending you’re still thinking?”

At this moment, Sheffy was secretly breaking into a cold sweat for Livra…

Livra, you really need to weigh your words carefully. Don’t blurt out something reckless.

This foolish younger sister of mine is trying to intimidate you. It’s not that she lacks patience — her personality is extremely sadistic! If you say something she can catch as a weakness, she really might lead her Demon King’s Fifth Army Corps on an expedition!

By then, not only your castle, but even the donut vendors in the Royal Capital will have nowhere to set up their stalls. That’s terrifying!

However, once negotiations resumed, there was no reason for another interruption.

Moreover, both Sheffy and Xiarette noticed that Livra’s state seemed to have undergone some subtle change.

Her eyes no longer showed so much nervousness, her speech was no longer hesitant, and her demeanor was calm — just like the time she captured that thief in the alley of the Royal Capital.

Even Livra herself hadn’t expected to remain so composed at this moment, when just earlier she had been scared to death…

Her mind cleared instantly, telling her that if she wanted to change the current situation…

there was only one possible way.

Livra lightly pinched the hem of her ceremonial gown with her fingertips. While performing the princess’s curtsey to show mutual respect between the two nations, her steady and composed voice followed, light yet firm.

“My suggestion is, since both nations currently cannot reach a consensus on Princess Sheffy’s stay or return, why not let Princess Sheffy herself make the decision?”

“Ridiculous!” Hanks immediately rebuked upon hearing this proposal, feeling that this princess of the kingdom was utterly lacking in common sense. “Princess Livra, this isn’t child’s play. Please understand clearly: Her Highness the Princess of our kingdom is not here on a sightseeing tour in your country! She isn’t here to sample your cuisine or experience your local customs! Every day she remains confined here is torment and suffering! And you actually suggest letting her decide whether to stay or leave, this is simply…! Uh, Second Princess?”

“Calm down, why so hasty? Let her continue speaking.”

Belith raised one hand, stopping Hanks from interrupting.

It wasn’t that she felt any need to give this human princess any face, but rather that Belith found Livra’s suggestion quite interesting…

To be honest, even in that previous situation, Belith herself had been in a bit of an awkward position.

The King Father and Queen Mother had clearly instructed that this meeting must not end with war as the outcome.

Since her elder sister still wished to remain in the Kingdom of Aurus for a while longer, it meant she hadn’t yet cooled her anger and didn’t want to return home. Therefore, Belith naturally couldn’t disrupt her by reigniting war at this time. Much of what she had said earlier was simply venting in anger; if she truly acted on it, her elder sister would definitely blame her…

Belith no longer wanted to be resented by her elder sister.

However…

Belith’s gaze suddenly sharpened, piercing directly into Livra’s calm and composed expression.

This girl suddenly saying such a thing… could she know something?

Otherwise, how could she come up with the idea of “letting my elder sister decide for herself”?

Regardless of whether she did or not, if Princess Livra really knew any inside information, for her elder sister’s safety, Belith wouldn’t mind taking some extra effort to eliminate Livra.

And not just Livra.

Anyone present who might have heard anything would be treated the same~

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