After "taming" those two Soul Eaters, Iri and You Li came over with the Blood Emperor.
A small round table had already been set up by the servants the Blood Emperor brought, but there were only two chairs, clearly intended for only the Blood Emperor and Iri.
"Elizabeth-dono… dinner is just starting to be prepared, please wait a moment. Out in the wilderness… we haven't prepared much here, so please bear with our lack of hospitality, Elizabeth-dono," the Blood Emperor said with a fawning smile.
"It's alright, but it wouldn't be good if only Emperor Brother and I sat. Could you prepare a few more chairs?" Iri glanced at the two Imperial Generals standing behind the Emperor and asked.
To be honest… Iri didn't really like the Blood Emperor's fawning over her. Was she putting too much pressure on him?
He was such a resourceful and ambitious person. Thinking about the plot where he would later be scared out of his wits by Ainz, she still felt quite sorry for him.
"Bajed, bring a few more chairs," the Blood Emperor said, following Iri's suggestion.
"Cough… may this Old grandpa also join?" Fulda had somehow joined them, though Iri had noticed him earlier. The Blood Emperor, however, seemed startled by Fulda's sudden appearance behind him, and his face looked a bit off-color.
"Of course! Old grandpa." Iri naturally wouldn't reject Fulda's joining. He was "one of them" anyway. According to the plot, the Blood Emperor should have already discovered Fulda's betrayal, otherwise he wouldn't have been startled just now.
Soon, the Imperial General named Bajed brought over a few chairs, and everyone sat down as Iri wished. Since the table wasn't very big, it was a bit crowded after You Li, the two Imperial Generals, and Fulda joined.
Due to her exceptionally keen senses, Iri detected an unpleasant smell, like a strong perfume mixed with a faint scent of decay.
Normally, Iri, having grown up in such an environment, wasn't particularly repulsed by the smell of decay, but when mixed with perfume, it became quite peculiar.
Iri glanced at the source of this peculiar smell beside her—another female Imperial General sitting next to her. Seeing her exaggerated bangs that covered the right side of her face, Iri suddenly remembered.
Oh, oh! So it was her! I hadn't noticed her earlier. Hmm, hmm, I can have some fun now. At this moment, Iri's mind started to wander to mischief.
"Ugh!" Iri directly put her finger under her nose and showed a look of extreme disgust, feigning to look around, then fixed her gaze on the female Imperial General beside her.
"It stinks… stay away from me!" She said, while standing up with a look of disdain and stepping back several paces in dissatisfaction.
Iri's action surprised not only the Blood Emperor and others, but even You Li. When Elizabeth-dono was at home, she was always kind and amiable to everyone, even to Terror Duke (mainly females), whom everyone feared. Iri always greeted him with a smile.
In truth, You Li herself had also smelled this strange odor, and she didn't think it was strong enough to warrant saying "it stinks," so You Li also found Iri strange.
"You!" The female Imperial General immediately flared up when she saw Iri's disgusted expression and impolite remark. She stood up, overturning her chair, and directly raised a long spear that looked incredibly low-grade.
"Renas! Don't be rude!" The Blood Emperor roared with considerable displeasure, and the other Imperial General, Bajed, immediately stepped in front of Renas.
You Li's eyes flashed with cold light, and she also stepped in front of Iri, immediately entering a combat-ready state.
"My apologies, Elizabeth-dono, my subordinate has caused you displeasure. I apologize to you on her behalf." Seeing the unfavorable situation, the Blood Emperor quickly came over to concede. Iri naturally knew that the Blood Emperor wouldn't dare to provoke Nazarick, and no matter how willful she was, he would always bow to her.
Renas also seemed to realize this and could only angrily lower her weapon. Of course, Iri didn't intend to let her off so easily.
So Iri, with a slight smile, calmed You Li down, then approached the frustrated and angry Renas with a mischievous grin, pretending to be very interested as she stared at her face for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.
"Heh heh! So that's it, no wonder it smells so bad. Big sister, you really are… pitiful!" Iri said with a half-smile.
"…" Renas's angry and frustrated expression vanished the moment she heard Iri's words, replaced by surprise. Although she still showed some anger, she was biting her teeth.
Fulda was equally surprised. Did this Princess understand the curse Renas bore just by looking at her?
Although Fulda had already used his unique ability to observe this Princess during their rest stop, this Princess showed no magical aptitude.
Fulda understood… as the daughter of that individual, how could she have no magical aptitude? It must have been masked by an item.
This Princess must also be an astonishing spellcaster, just like that individual! This scene further solidified Fulda's conviction.
"It's also hard for you, big sister. To be so beautiful and then disfigured. The person who cast this curse is truly excessive!" Iri continued to provoke her, seeing no reaction from Renas.
"Tsk…" Renas gritted her teeth, looking very unconvinced but not daring to say anything, and turned her face away.
To be honest… Iri only now realized that she really enjoyed seeing others look angry but dare not speak!
Uh… it seems she really was spoiled. She needed to pay attention to that in the future.
"Elizabeth-dono, do you know about the curse Renas is under?" Fulda interjected at this moment.
"Of course I do!" Iri instantly replied, with great confidence, but inwardly, she was panicking.
She did know about Renas being disfigured by a curse, but she didn't know the other details, let alone what kind of curse she was under.
She only knew the situation, but now that she had put on this act, she could only bite the bullet and go with it!
"Since Elizabeth-dono understands the curse on Renas, may I ask if Elizabeth-dono has any clues or methods to lift the curse?" Fulda asked excitedly.
"…" Iri was immediately silenced. At this moment, Iri even felt like strangling Fulda. She just wanted to show off a little and, by the way, play the role of a willful child in front of the Blood Emperor!
Did he have to undermine her like this! Although she didn't reply, Iri still maintained a confident expression.
"Elizabeth-dono! Please forgive my rudeness just now!! I'll do anything!! Please tell me how to cure this curse!!" Before Iri could react, Renas dropped her long spear and rushed over, grabbing Iri's shoulders and shaking her violently.
"…" Iri said nothing, but put on a stern face, looking at Renas, then at her shoulders, which Renas was gripping.
At this moment, Iri was calculating how to resolve this matter. Of course, she absolutely couldn't say she didn't know about this curse. Iri couldn't do something that would make her lose face! She was representing Nazarick now! She couldn't do anything so shameful.
"Ah! I'm sorry!! Elizabeth-dono!! Please, please tell me!" Renas noticed her rudeness, immediately released Iri, stepped back two paces, and directly knelt on both knees, bowing her head to Iri.
Renas was a warrior, and kneeling and bowing on both knees held significant meaning for a warrior, as Iri knew. It was clear how much Renas valued this curse. So, she would use this point to resolve the situation!
Iri thought of a method, then showed a smile… of course, to outsiders, it was a very wicked, mischievous smile.
"It's not impossible to tell you, but… for this rather troublesome curse, what price are you willing to pay?" Iri asked with ill intent.
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