Just like the princess had no desire to turn this meeting into a fight to the death, Madam had her own goals regarding it.
And after seeing how much Peter did to stop this war from happening, she decided he deserved a little, helping hand.
"Those two bottles contain drink that can get you drunk," Madam smiled as she elaborated on her former statement, no longer holding her smirk back.
This was a small but still a victory.
'Judging by the variety of narcotics I felt in her wine... She's gonna love this!'
Seeing how the princess was actually reluctant to take either of the bottles, Madam sighed before bringing her arms together.
"This one is the original blend of the forest mixed with the purified spirit," she explained before undoing the simple, clay cork with a tap against the rim of her other hand before taking a sizeable gulp.
Contrary to the human wine, Leinei's produce came without the same, overwhelming hit. And yet, despite not altering Madam's sense of taste whatsoever, it still filled her mouth with a plethora of fresh, sweet taste with a slight, refreshingly sour tone.
After taking the gulp, Madam reached out and passed the opened bottle to the princess. To open the other bottle, she had to have at least one of her hands-free, after all.
The princess accepted the bottle without even thinking, growing wary of how she didn't resist the item or even think about doing so.
In the meantime, though, Madam released the outer, paper seal, revealing the metal lock hooked against the rims at the bottom of the bottle's neck and a red wax seal that covered its top.
Turning to the side, Madam pushed the metal wires aside before tapping lightly at the wax to crush it.
"That's quite the cork you have..." the princess muttered, entranced in watching the process.
Somewhere along the line, she casually took a sip of Leinei's specific... and was now happily smiling, most likely sensing the first rush of the state she couldn't get herself into ever since reaching the supreme rank.
And now, with a slight blush on her cheeks, she watched Madam manipulate the last part, the simple cork, with utmost interest.
Poof!
Before long, the cork seal popped out, releasing an intense scent of the liquor hidden inside.
It was one of the most expensive bottles Peter sourced. According to what she learned when he distributed the goods around before the main battle with the mercenaries, it was something he procured from under the table, as a personal thanks and apology from the shopkeeper.
Heeding Madam's advice, the princess went for just a slight sip. Yet, the exploding blush on her cheeks... it was enough to bring the human supreme to a slightly brighter, happier state.
"This thing really works..." the princess admitted, looking down at the bottle in amazement. Yet, as she raised her eyes to look at Madam, the glint of curiosity and desire faded into obscurity, replaced by the steeled look of determination.
"If you are not here to fight or negotiate, what are you here for?"
Madam smiled lightly.
"Just to make some arrangements," Madam replied with no hesitation. "Tomorrow, when your army arrives, there will be a human eager to negotiate with you. I just want to ensure your men won't attack him on sight."
"A human?" the princess twitched a little, taken slightly aback by the revelation.
"Yes, a human," Madam sighed. "And he worked really hard to prepare the stage for your talks tomorrow. I would hate to see it... fail."
For the first time, Madam's voice grew tense, steady. Underlined with the enormous might of the aura she could wield at will and the aura of the world she could more or less command.
"That's quite an interesting request," the princess stated while taking a step back and removing all emotions from her slightly agitated expression. "But unless he can sell us a huge number of Herald Weaver..."
"We already know that it's not what you are looking for, so if you have any real demands, you may state them now," Madam countered the princess's words before she could even finish them. "If he comes prepared, it will be easier for him to meet your real requests."
"Not what we are..." Princess muttered, only to cut her voice short. Then, she gave Madam a long, judging look. "You seem to value that human... quite a bit," she muttered while squinting his eyes.
"I value him enough to personally intervene if any harm were to befall him," Madam coldly responded.
'He is going to be my son-in-law, after all,' the supreme fox added in her thoughts.
"Well, I can guarantee he won't be attacked on sight when my army arrives," the princess said as her eyes escaped from Madam's face and moved towards the bottle in her hand. Still, she forced herself to look back at Madam...
'No, she isn't looking at me. She is looking somewhere behind me...'
Even though Madam noticed the princess's look, turning around to check what she was staring at...
That was something Madam's pride disallowed her to do.
"Then you better hurry," the princess spoke before heaving a long sigh and poking her chin forward, in the direction she was just looking at. "Because from what I can see, that human of yours," the princess shook her head and smiled with a distant spark of triumph flashing in her eyes.
"He is about to get hurt real bad."