"Welcome to our country, visitors from Britannia."
Shestal Fognar held both hands in front of his face, then slowly spread them to either side.
It was a gesture of courtesy unique to Gilkestan.
Cornelia strode proudly up to him, composed and unhurried.
Her royal attire accentuated her stunning curves, perfectly blending maturity, sex appeal, and authority. His imposing presence did not faze her in the slightest.
She had seen far too many occasions like this.
"Thank you for receiving us, Mr. Shestal Fognar."
She addressed him neither as captain of the royal guard nor with a flattering title such as general or Your Excellency. She simply called him "Mr.," with a hint of mockery.
It was an opening move meant to put him in his place.
Britannia had no need to bow and scrape before anyone. Besides, just before they disembarked, Ask had contacted her with a last-minute instruction to act more "forcefully."
Cornelia had a rough idea of what His Majesty the Emperor wanted to do, and she understood his intent.
She simply had to treat these "savages" the way she would treat an Eleven.
Her contemptuous attitude displeased Shestal. Even his original smile became difficult to maintain and faded away.
"Spoiled" as he was, he had yet to master control over his emotions.
He gave an irritated snort.
"Hmph. What exactly do you intend to do, entering our territory without authorization or a formal diplomatic application?"
He struck first to seize the initiative.
Cornelia merely curled her lips, a faint trace of derision in her smile, as she took out a document bearing the emperor's seal and signature and handed it over.
"We have an urgent matter that requires coordination with Gilkestan."
"An urgent matter? Shouldn't you obtain approval from the Joint Conference before conducting diplomacy, then?"
"The