The King's Rejected Lady

The Deadly Deal With The Barbarians

CHIEF KEIRAN Arin was sitting comfortably on a couch inside a luxurious cabin beside a similar-looking petite woman. The girl, who was around her age smiled at Tori the moment she stepped foot in the room. The chief looked behind her, and when he saw that the second prince was not with her he visibly let out a breath of relief.

The royals and the northern tribes have a strained relationship, huh?

Tori curtsied in front of the two who were relatives. "Blessings to the northern tribe, Chieftain Keiran Arin, and his companion."

"Please take a seat, lady of the empire. You must have heard how savage the northern tribe folks are."

Sitting gracefully before them, Tori took notice of the lack of tea at the center table. She missed Lily's concoction.

"Nonsense, Your Grace. If we're talking about nasty rumors, then I am a contender myself."

The girl perked up from Tori's answer which made the chief flinch as if he knew it would happen. "My brother is such a paranoid, yeah? My name is Akasha Arin, this dolt's little sister. By the way, you look so young! I heard from Keiran that you're the future head of an influential household in the empire. How cool is that!"

Tori could not hold her grin as she listened to the chatterbox in front of her. With the way things were, the way the young chief looked exasperated with his younger sister but could not even butt in. She realized that the weak point of the fierce northern tribe was sitting in front of her.

What a wrong move for you, honorable and fierce chieftain of the north. Openly displaying your weakness beside you, it is either you are stupid or you are arrogant.

"My name is Victoria Rozenreff, forgive me for the late introduction. It is both my pleasure and honor to be the emissary of the empire to the fierce northern tribe of Arin, the protectors of the wall."

The two stiffened when they heard her last four words. They were sure that she had no idea, no, they were sure that no one had the idea that the supposed glaciers and icy mountain ranges that protect the Arin Tribe were called "The Wall" which they protected instead.

The Wall. But for the king and Tori, it was the mine of platinum that would change the power play of the world. But before that, she needed to know the internal conflict within the northern region.

Chief Keiran straightened his back while Akasha looked worriedly at her brother before she glanced at the relax-looking Tori. "You know. How much do you know?"

One wrong move and he'll kill me.

Tori took notice of the way how he reached for his bolo sheathed beside him. Nevertheless, Tori's sugary smile never faltered for a second. "I know enough for you not to kill me. I know enough that you won't endanger your people along with your centuries-old history."

Tori continued, "The long-standing enmity between the Eckrett Empire and the northern region, I care not about it. I am here to convince you to bend the knee to me as your future queen. But first, give me the chance to prove myself worthy. Isn't that the northern tribe's way?"

Chief Keiran did not seem surprised which meant that Crown Prince Yei Lin already told him about Tori's situation in the empire. Knowing this, Tori hid her wicked gleam.

"How can we trust you, yeah?" Akasha butted in, her silver eyes glinted with wariness and doubt.

Tori shook her head slowly. "You don't have to trust me."

I'll be a hypocrite if I force you to trust me.

"Instead, watch me like a hawk as I earn your favor. After all, that's what I am here for. And I will start by helping you crush the dangers from the other northern tribes."