The negotiations lasted several hours.
To the Saintess's continued amazement, Roselle remained... reasonable.
She argued her points firmly but didn't resort to threats of violence…mostly.
This side of her was deeply unsettling.
By the end, they had reached an agreement.
The Elven Kingdom would formally recognize the Beast Nation as a sovereign state. Trade routes would be established. Non-aggression pacts would be signed.
In exchange, the Beast Nation would respect elven territory and assist in matters concerning the forest's safety.
…
After Roselle was gone, the Saintess stood alone in her chambers.
The sun had begun to set outside.
What just happened?
She had just signed a formal alliance with the Beast Nation.
With Roselle.
The same Roselle who once massacred an entire battalion because one soldier looked at her wrong.
She sank into her chair.
Was that really the same person?
