This BL Novel Is Ruined Now - Chapter 194
Chapter 194
Translator: Yonnee
—
* * *
In the midst of the splendid banquet, Reina quietly closed her mouth and looked around the room.
“Hmm…”
What first came to her mind upon entering the banquet hall, guided by the Dwarven Principality officials, was one thing.
Cognitive dissonance.
‘Opulence that doesn’t match with simplicity…’
The ‘Nar’ where the delegation was being entertained was akin to a royal palace within the Dwarven Principality.
Reina intently observed the woman seated at the center.
‘Only formally called a duke, but in reality, isn’t she an independent monarch?’
Mao Turan, the ruler of the Dwarven Principality and one of the five dukes of Pluntria. Here, the surname precedes the name, so she was called ‘Duke Mao’.
‘But since this place is like an independent kingdom anyhow, the people of this land would rather call her King, right?’
So, in this formal setting where the empire was involved, it was appropriate to refer to her as ‘Your Grace, the Duke’.
Just then, Duke Mao excitedly opened the gifts brought by the delegation.
“Oh! These are the sunglasses!”
Her appearance was quite cute, thanks to the characteristic small stature and short limbs of dwarves.
“Is she the one who made this?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Reina, who had been lost in thought, quickly put on a business smile as her name came up.
“I’d like to take a closer look at your face.”
Following Duke Mao’s gesture, Reina stepped forward.
“I am Reina of House Chantra, the Rose of the Nine Households and the Ruler of the Western Sea. I convey my greetings to Your Highness Mao Turan, the Ruler of Conviction.”
Dropping the mask of ‘naivety’ for a moment, Reina gently smiled and bowed to the duke.
“Our race might be ingenious, but you are extraordinary too.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. I merely modified existing items. I can’t possibly compare to the dwarves, who create from nothing.”
The textbook answer seemed to please the duke, who flicked her tightly braided hair back.
And with that, murmurs spread among the delegates.
“Why does she seem so normal? It’s unsettling…”
“Exactly. Is she ill or something…?”
Indeed, it was surprising given Reina’s usually foolish behavior over the past few months.
But then, during a recent secret reform meeting, Duke Carter raised this issue.
“If you continue only by the current image that you have, it could pose a problem for future major issues.”
It was a valid point.
It was okay to be carefree to some extent, but it shouldn’t break the trust in the reforms.
So, the emperor and the grand duke decided that now was time to reveal Reina’s true nature.
“Joining the Dwarven Principality’s delegation will be a good opportunity for an image overhaul.”
In other words, a strategy like, ‘I can be comfortable in my own empire, but I can’t let loose in someone else’s house.’
After the greeting, Reina returned to her seat, and one of the Bureau of Efficient Technology officials asked her with a puzzled face.
“Director, are you feeling unwell?”
Another woman by her side slapped the questioner with a ‘Hmph!’
“I told you, our director is no ordinary person!”
“Ouch! I know, but she usually wanders around like her head is in the clouds.”
Head in the clouds… what?
Reina, who had just sipped her drink, coughed and stared at the two officials.
‘Wow… have I really been acting that carelessly?’
After all, she was the head of a department and their superior.
But the harsh assessment was based on her behavior, so what could she say?
Besides, they were interpreting it exactly as intended.
“Because she does what she wants, our director is not just a ‘foolish saintess’, but a ‘foolish genius saintess’.”
The supporting official loudly championed Reina, making sure the nearby delegation could hear it.
“So, it’s not that she can’t do it, she just chooses not to!”
‘Good job! Keep it up, my subordinate!’
As she maintained her poker face and cheered inwardly, a group of dwarves suddenly entered the banquet hall, creating a buzz.
They bowed to Duke Mao and naturally took their seats in the center, which had been vacant.
At that moment, Reina felt chills run down her arms.
“Huh? Are those people…”
Want to read more? Advanced chapters are available on Patreon! (for selected novels only)
≪ Discord ≫
≪ Novel Updates ≫
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
