met free Chapter 374 Smoothly?
Chapter 374 Smoothly?
Alice stood in the hotel room, and Raffis nodded behind her.
"The negotiations went very smoothly, Miss... or rather, a little too smoothly."
Rafis recalled every detail of the negotiations. The Imperial negotiators agreed to almost everything, except for the request to increase the proportion of UN forces by three percent. The establishment of a joint research base in the North and the UN international space launch facility in Baikola were also quickly agreed to. The time that was originally expected to be spent at the negotiating table now seemed to be going on for too long.
Alice was somewhat incredulous. Yekatu what? She thought for a moment. The Lucy Empire was not a country without foundation. Although they lacked some advanced technology and light industry, they were still not to be underestimated.
Although her proposals are good for everyone, the existence of the United Nations will undoubtedly be opposed by some vested interests. Within the framework of this United Nations, there are more agencies and departments that can influence the majority of people than the United Nations she is familiar with, including the United Nations Global Economic Cooperation Agency, the United Nations Space Program and Scientific Cooperation Agency, and so on.
Didn't they try to negotiate?
Alice turned around and said, but Raffis just shook her head and handed Alice a gold-embossed letter: "This is from Miss Yeka, Miss Alice. Please open it yourself."
Alice nodded. Yeka, Yeka, what exactly is the Empress of this empire thinking? Alice had seen enough along the way. In every respect, Yeka was indeed a formidable figure. If her story were written into a novel, it would undoubtedly be a bestselling online novel about the struggle for supremacy.
But she chose to become empress, which was precisely what Alice rejected. For her, emperors and generals, after countless dynasties, were nothing but petty squabbles. Though naive, Alice genuinely believed in progress and hoped that the vast majority of people could become masters of their own lives and the world at large.
Before she was Alice, such an ideal would have been met with ridicule and contempt, but perhaps she was just that naive, she still believed, believed that the sun would rise again.
Raphis nodded, and Alice called out to her—she had once told Raphis that the game of knights and princesses was over, and she hoped that everyone in the new society could live independently.
However, Rafis only said one sentence: "Miss Alice, no matter what happens in the future, I have long placed my life's meaning on you. I used to think that you were just like those rich young ladies in fairy tales, but you have shown me with your actions that you are someone worth following and protecting. This is not because you are omnipotent, but because your heart shines brightly enough."
Alice grasped Raffis's arm and pulled her closer. Ever since the others had revealed their true feelings, Alice had become even more eager for tenderness.
A single, gentle kiss was enough to express their feelings. Rafis practically floated out of the room, leaving Alice to cut the letter in her hand with a paper cutter.
Alice frowned after a moment. The letter was well-written, but from every angle, it was a blatant extortion letter.
A blackmail letter from Empress Catherine herself was certainly no ordinary demand; rather, this letter...
This is why the negotiations went so smoothly; Yeka didn't care about the gains and losses at the negotiating table, she only had one core principle.
Alice suddenly thought of Raffis, who had just left the house. She sighed and then put the letter into her bosom.
The nights in St. Yekaterburg were as cold as any winter night, especially in the Holy Palace. The attendant glanced at the petite figure behind him, which was undoubtedly Alice from Emily Lannister. She was dressed in a black robe. Why was she here? Why was His Majesty with her at this time?
It was hard not to overthink it, but the woman, being an attendant, knew that everything tonight was under a gag order. All she could do was lead Alice into the Empress's palace. One was the Emperor of the North, and the other was the leader of the South; she dared not think too much.
"Come in. Everyone else, go downstairs and wait. Don't come up without my permission."
The guards, attendants, and maids all left, and Alice looked around, only to find a magnificent, golden door before her.
She swallowed hard and opened the door.
The emperor's bedroom has been the subject of much speculation since ancient times. Even Alice, upon seeing Catherine's bedroom, couldn't help but sigh. White marble was outlined with patterns, and the ceiling was decorated with oil paintings by famous artists, outlined with gold leaf. The cement chandelier in the center of the room was dazzling, and Catherine, dressed in a gauze dress, sat on the edge of the bed.
"You really did come, my dear Ms. Alice!"
Yekater closed the book—"Alice and Modern Society: The Complete Works".
Alice felt a little dazed when she saw the book title. Was she already a character in the book? She shook her head and looked at Alice who was walking towards her.
"Empress Yeka..."
"Just call me Yevna~"
Yeka's long brown hair hung down. She patted the person next to her softly, gesturing for Alice to sit down. Alice could only sigh and sit down beside her.
"You feel wronged, don't you?"
Yeka knew, of course, that Alice had been forced to come here. Yeka knew that such a request was far too much. If it weren't for Alice, that letter would have been an insult—but Yeka knew that Alice would come, that she definitely would come.
"That kind of request..."
Alice blushed slightly, trying to appear calm, but her smooth, white twin ponytails trembled slightly, and Yeka couldn't help but grasp the ends of Alice's hair.
"Mmm~ It smells like Teacher Alice~"
Yeka sniffed Alice's hair and showed a satisfied expression. She looked at Alice, whose delicate face, which was so beautiful it was enviable, looked more weathered and tired upon closer inspection.
How could Alice not be tired? As the greatest leader since the 8th century, no one understood the meaning of "tiredness" better than her. Although Catherine created an empire, it could not compare with everything Alice did.
Over the years, she had been watching Alice rise, watch her disappear, and watch her return, but she had finally built her own empire. She felt that, as Empress Catherine, she was qualified to approach her with her own will.
"Well, don't look so sad, Alice. If you don't want to, we can actually chat. Managing this empire is really tiring... I think you must have some tricks up your sleeve."
Yeka handed Alice a steaming cup of black tea. Alice looked at Yeka and said, "Actually, what we're thinking is—we at least have one thing in common."
"Ok?"
"They can't even find a topic suitable for the current situation."
"Haha~ Of course, I didn't talk about it... um, um~"
Yeka said.