Chapter 65
“My name is Helene Delrak.”
The envoy from Demon King Delrak’s domain consisted of six members, including their leader, Helene herself.
For a group called a “diplomatic envoy,” it seemed surprisingly small. But Gruve explained that this was about average in these parts.
Since Gruve was the only one truly familiar with proper customs and protocol for receiving envoys at the Demon King’s castle, Ariella had no choice but to trust his judgment.
“He said there was never a need for such knowledge here before… but he sure knows a lot about these things. Just what kind of life did he live before he ended up here?”
Ariella found herself growing suspicious—not in a bad way, but in amazement at his talent.
Who would’ve thought someone so capable would choose to serve here?
And clearly, Gruve had poured a lot of effort into preparing for this day.
The reception hall, which had been used as a dusty storage room for decades, had been restored in a hurry—but the result exceeded expectations.
“He has quite the eye for detail.”
The table settings were finer than anything Ariella had seen since she’d arrived in this world, and the floral arrangements carried a nostalgic scent of the human realm.
“Thank you for your warm hospitality.”
Helene smiled gracefully as she spoke. She was a demon woman with long, flowing, dark-brown hair, her demeanor calm and elegant.
“This is supposed to be Delrak’s daughter?”
While the welcoming banquet proceeded as tradition dictated, Ariella carefully studied her guest.
The customs here were different from those of the human world, but even Ariella could see the noble poise in Helene’s every movement.
Her words were carefully chosen, her gestures polished.
“She’s no pushover… But still…”
Something about her felt… off.
Ariella’s instincts, sharpened during her time as a princess dealing with foreign envoys, whispered that Helene was hiding something.
Her polite gaze never faltered, but behind her eyes Ariella could sense veiled emotions.
At the same time, Ludwig’s attention wasn’t on Helene—it was fixed on a different member of the envoy.
Of the six visitors, one man stood apart, refusing to join them at the table. Instead, he silently guarded the door, a sentinel presence that seemed perfectly natural to the other envoys.
“That must be Helene’s bodyguard.”
He was a towering figure with snow-white hair and pale skin, easily over three meters tall, his fangs protruding slightly between his lips.
Though dressed in Demon Realm attire, nothing could disguise his massive frame and corded muscles.
“What would happen if you dyed a hulking orc’s hair white and then doubled his size ten times over? Probably something like this guy.”
Ludwig recognized him immediately.
A Snow Troll.
This race was rare in the southern Demon Realm, which made his presence even more unusual.
“Why is a Snow Troll guarding Delrak’s daughter?”
But curiosity wasn’t Ludwig’s first reaction—caution was.
The moment the six envoys entered the reception hall, Ludwig’s instincts screamed a warning.
“He’s dangerous.”
And Ludwig’s definition of “dangerous” wasn’t something he applied lightly.
Even though all the envoys had entered unarmed, Ludwig never lowered his guard. He barely spoke, his eyes constantly flicking toward the towering Snow Troll.
Chomp! Chomp!
He shoveled food into his mouth, but his thoughts were busy mapping out every possible scenario.
He memorized the troll’s unnaturally long arms and imagined its attack range.
What’s my counter if he moves first? How do I shield Ariella and retaliate?
If Ariella had known what he was thinking, she probably would’ve said:
“That head of yours only works properly when you’re thinking about fighting, doesn’t it?”
Instead, she thought Ludwig was simply eating in silence for once.
It was a blessing, really—if he talked too much, he’d reveal more than he should.
As for his sharp gaze toward the troll, she misunderstood his intent entirely.
“Did Ludwig notice it too?”
She stole a discreet glance.
“There’s something strange around that troll’s neck… Hard to see under all that fur, but I can sense unfamiliar magic flowing from it. Must be some kind of artifact.”
She couldn’t identify it just by sight.
When the meal ended, Helene set her cup down and spoke with a serene smile.
“My father, Demon King Delrak, deeply respects the astonishing progress your domain has achieved in such a short time.”
Ariella responded with a polite smile of her own.
“Your words are far too kind. We still have a long road ahead of us. I’ve heard much of Demon King Delrak’s great reputation. It is an honor to welcome his envoys here today.”
For now, Ariella kept her true intentions hidden.
As the de facto ruler of Ludwig’s domain, she exchanged graceful yet empty diplomatic pleasantries with Delrak’s representative—something she’d done countless times back home.
“Who would’ve thought I’d end up playing politics in the Demon Realm of all places…”
Behind her elegant smile, she was itching to get to the real point.
“Enough of this polite nonsense. What are they really after?”
At last, Helene revealed their purpose.
“My father hopes for peace between our two territories.”
Ariella’s smile tightened deliberately, while Ludwig’s face turned crimson with anger.
He froze mid-bite, a massive hunk of meat clamped in his teeth, and shot Ariella a desperate glare.
It was obvious he wanted to shout “Absolutely not!” but restrained himself.
“Peace, you say…”
On paper, peace between neighbors was something to welcome—if the offer was sincere.
Helene continued smoothly, her tone calm and confident.
“Words alone cannot build trust. As a first step, we would like to propose a joint project between our lands.”
“What kind of project?” Ariella asked.
“The greatest weakness of Demon King Ludwig’s domain is its location.”
She didn’t hesitate to strike where it hurt.
“No one lives below your territory, so trade routes are limited to that treacherous northern mountain path.”
It was a narrow, dangerous road.
“I saw it myself on the way here. It barely fits a single wagon.”
Ludwig scowled openly, but Ariella spoke quickly before he could respond.
“That’s no secret.”
“So what’s your point?”
Helene’s smile deepened.
“What if we carved a tunnel through that mountain path?”
“A… tunnel?”
Ariella’s expression shifted slightly.
It was an idea she had dismissed long ago as unrealistic.
“A straight tunnel would make travel drastically easier, yes… but the mountains are steep and rugged. The cost and manpower would be astronomical.”
“Your domain alone cannot handle it,” Helene said matter-of-factly. “Which is why we’re offering to help.”
Her voice remained calm as she laid out the ambitious plan.
“Together, our two territories could pierce the mountains that stand as a barrier between us. We would cover seventy percent of the costs; you only thirty. If needed, we could take on additional expenses.”
It was a generous proposal—almost suspiciously so.
“Sounds fair enough. And in return?” Ariella asked coolly.
“In exchange, we would like priority purchasing rights for your slime compounds and medicinal herbs. The prices would need to be adjusted, of course, to favor us over any other domain.”
Ariella’s mind whirled with calculations.
Negotiations would no doubt tweak the details, but on the surface, the deal didn’t sound unreasonable.
Compared to Fedwick’s threats back then, this was practically generous.
Helene continued.
“All terms would be solidified in writing, naturally. It is customary for such treaties to be signed in person by the Demon Kings themselves.”
Her calm eyes flicked between Ariella and Ludwig.
“When that time comes, we would like to invite both of you to our domain.”
“Both of us?”
“Yes,” Helene replied with a steady smile. “We would like to welcome both Demon King Ludwig and his Contract Holder, the human Ariella.”
Not just Ariella—the human Ariella.
She felt a twinge of irritation but had no time to dwell on it.
Ludwig was practically vibrating with fury beside her, his glare sharp enough to kill.
“Yikes… if looks could curse…” Ariella thought.
Even though Ludwig had promised not to speak recklessly, she could almost hear his voice in her head:
“They want us to come there? After what happened last time? Are they insane?! It’s a trap! No way!”
Ariella gave voice to his outrage—only in a more polished tone.
“While I appreciate your kind invitation, I must admit I’m hesitant to accept so quickly.”
“What troubles you?” Helene asked gently.
“Well, I recently learned that our Demon King here has visited Delrak’s domain before,” Ariella said, her words deliberate and sharp.
“At that time, Demon King Delrak was… shall we say… less than courteous. He apparently told our lord, ‘Become my servant. Resistance is futile. Refuse, and I’ll make you my slave.’”
“…”
“And when that failed, he attempted to abduct him by force, but was defeated.”
The atmosphere in the room turned icy cold.
The envoys shifted uncomfortably, though their faces showed irritation rather than shame.
Ariella noted the lack of remorse.
“Their tongues praise us, but their eyes say we’re beneath them. They still see us as lesser. That’s why they look like that.”
Helene’s face remained calm, and the Snow Troll by the door didn’t so much as twitch.
“Let’s see if I can provoke them further.”
“You’re inviting both the victim and his Contract Holder to the very land where he was nearly kidnapped once already,” Ariella said lightly. “How can we possibly guarantee it won’t happen again?”
She shook her head.
“It feels far too soon for such a visit. Especially since we’ve yet to receive so much as a proper explanation or apology.”
Helene didn’t take offense. She responded calmly, her voice as smooth as ever.
“I am aware of the incident. Please accept my condolences. It was likely a misunderstanding, a small… mishap born from poor communication.”
“A small mishap?!” Ludwig nearly roared, his insult half-formed, but Ariella stopped him with a sharp look.
Helene ignored his outburst, focusing on Ariella, fully acknowledging her as the leader in this discussion.
“The past is in the past,” she said softly. “As the Great Demon King Heidelberg once said…”
She raised her hands gracefully, quoting:
“‘The foolish cling to yesterday, the ordinary think only of today, and the wise gaze toward tomorrow.’”
“Oh? That’s how we’re playing this?”
Ariella smirked faintly.
Helene had sidestepped an apology entirely, offering only vague regret, and now urged them to let bygones be bygones.
“The present becomes a chain if we cling to the past,” Helene went on. “I believe our two domains should move forward from a clean, forward-looking foundation.”
In other words: Forget the past.
“Now is the time to focus on growth and progress.”
Ariella’s smile sharpened.
“So you want me to just let it slide? Not happening.”
She spoke deliberately.
“Since you quoted Heidelberg, I’m reminded of another famous figure. Are you familiar with Hero Cheigan?”
“!”
For the first time, Helene’s mask slipped.
Of course it did.
That name…
“When Heidelberg led the Demon Army to invade the human realm, Hero Cheigan was the one who defeated him. He’s celebrated as a legend, honored every year with festivals in the human lands.”
A humiliating chapter in demon history.
“In fact, the name ‘Cheigan’ was so revered in my homeland that you could find thousands of men with that name. Practically every third man was named Cheigan!” Ariella said with a sweet smile.
Helene’s face was stone-cold. Ariella pressed on.
“And that great hero once said this…”
She cleared her throat, her voice ringing clear in the silent hall.
“‘A history unrecorded, a sin unrepented—both will repeat themselves. My brethren, my people, if we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat its mistakes forever.’”
No one spoke.
The heavy silence settled like a weight over the entire room.
Ariella let it linger, savoring their discomfort, then asked softly:
“So tell me. Must we repeat the mistakes of the past? I, for one, don’t think so.”
The envoys remained silent, the air thick with tension.
