The World of Otome Games is Tough For Mobs - Volume 11 - Chapter 5.1

Chapter 5: “the Acting Duke Fannos”

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Part 1

Castle of the Duke Fannos.

After successfully arranging a meeting, Jilk and his team visited the castle and were met by [Hertrude Sera Fannos], who was working as the Acting Duke.

Her long, straight, shiny black hair makes her white skin stand out.

The most characteristic feature is her red eyes, the same as Ange’s.

Hertrude, now more mature than before, was in charge of the territory as the Acting Duke Fannos.

From princess to head of the Duke household. The princess who used to be still a little girl now wears a black chic dress.

“What does the Duke Bartfalt want from the Fannos family?”

In the audience chamber, Hertrude, propped up on her elbows in a chair that was once a throne, is not in an appropriate posture.

Her attitude told them that she did not welcome Jilk and his group.

Jilk shrugs his shoulders.

“Acting Duke, we are here on behalf of the Kingdom of Horfalt——”

“It’s a lie.”

When Jilk said he was here to negotiate for the kingdom, Hertrude immediately denied it.

In the audience room, in addition to the nobles of the Principality, there was also a stationed officer sent from the Kingdom of Horfalt.

He is charged with keeping an eye on the defeated Duke Fannos, and he looks somewhat uncomfortable.

There is no telling when the Duke Fannos will betray the Kingdom of Horfalt.

He had behaved arrogantly up to now, and seemed to be worried that he might be killed.

Hertrude raises her right hand and orders everyone to leave the place.

“I want to talk to these men. All of you, get out.”

Then the stationed officer holds off.

“Please wait! Such selfish behavior is——”

“I’m telling you to get out.”

The standpoints are reversed, and the stationed officer is escorted out of the room by a group of nobles. Some of the nobles offered to stay on out of concern for Hertrude’s safety, but were rejected.

And so, only Jilk and his group were left in the audience chamber.

Then Hertrude corrects her posture.

“I’m glad you came. If you hadn’t come by the end of the day, we would have come to you.”

Hertrude is smiling and her attitude is different from earlier.

Jilk, puzzled, tries not to let it show on his face.

“Am I correct in assuming that we are welcome here?”

“Of course. There are many nobles and people in the country who are thinking that now is the time to destroy the kingdom of Horfalt and avenge their long-standing grudges. But I still think highly of his abilities.”

Hertrude, squinting and arching her eyes and smiling, looked somewhat suspicious.

Jilk feigns calm.

(It seems she has grown as a female monarch after being pressured by the stationed officers for quite some time.)

Despite feeling that this is a weakness, they must continue to negotiate.

“So, will you cooperate with us?”

“Do you really think there’s such a convenient deal?”

Hertrude begins to talk about the current situation of the Duke Fannos.

“We have already received a letter from the Holy Kingdom of Raschel inviting us to join their alliance, and the nobles are supporting it because of the good conditions.”

“What a problem. If there is anything we can do, please let us know. We will do everything we can to help.”

Hertrude crossed her arms and looked down from her throne at Jilk and the others.

Because the throne is several steps higher, Jilk and his friends are forced to keep looking up.

Hertrude states her conditions for cooperation.

“Then I want independence from the Kingdom. Then I need funds. I also want military power. Can you lend me the three Einhorn class ships you had on board? I want at least a hundred other flying battleships as well. And of course, supplies are included.”

The demand is so much that Brad, who had been silent, opens his mouth.

“It’s too much to ask.”

But Hertrude is still smiling.

When she touches her rouged lips, she giggles.

“Then you’ll be making the Fannos family your enemies? If the Margrave Field focus on dealing with us, they will neglect their support for the rest of the country.”

“Guh!”

Brad swallows his words, unable to say anything back.

Hertrude turned her gaze back to Jilk.

“What do you think? I think it’s a small price to pay to avoid having us as enemies.”

Jilk shrugs his shoulders.

“You must be joking, right? If we do that, you people will seriously attack us this time. Even if the Acting Duke keeps quiet, the nobles will not tolerate it.”

It seems that Jilk’s prediction was correct, Hertrude admits honestly.

“Yes.”

“You admit it quite honestly, don’t you?”

“I just respect the opinions of my subordinates. As for myself, if we can’t win the war now, I’d rather prioritize domestic development.”

Jilk is relieved to know that Hertrude herself is not eager to go to war with the kingdom.

“In that case, can you assure me that the Duke Fannos will not be joining Raschel?”

Jilk asks Hertrude as she makes a fake smile.

“I heard that you gave away a lot of jewels during your tour of the small countries. I wonder if you have any for the Fannos family.”

“It’s a valuable item. There are no more left.”

“That’s a shame.”

Despite saying it, Hertrude smiled.

“—— The nobles guarding your borders have been in contact with the Fannos family. They are also negotiating with Raschel.”

Jilk did not react to Hertrude’s words, but the intuitive Greg and Chris, who were not used to negotiating, were visibly upset.

Hertrude looks at them, smiles, and then turns impassive at Jilk.

“Don’t you think it’s a little too convenient to ask me to be your ally for free?”

“——Then let’s hurry up and prepare the jewel.”

“One is not enough. I want at least three. And I also want the return of the airship you confiscated from the Fannos family. And then —— have the stationed officer withdraw their troops.”

Jilk scratches his cheek with his fingertips.

“Unfortunately, there are only two jewels left in my custody. In addition, it was the royal court that confiscated the flying battleship. It cannot be returned without permission. As for the stationed officer——”

“See, I knew it was his own decision.”

When told that his actions were arbitrary and unauthorized by the kingdom of Horfalt, Jilk kept his mouth shut.

As the three people in the back are upset that this was a failure, Hertrude hides her mouth and begins to laugh.

“Fine, I promise you that I won’t betray you for two jewels. However, do something about the flying battleship and the stationed officer when this battle is over.”

“Are you sure? I’m not sure we can keep our word, though?”

Hertrude’s change in attitude puzzled Jilk.

Hertrude mutters as she leans back on her throne and looks up at the ceiling.

“He’ll keep his word, I’m sure. ——Also, give my regards to the fake saint, will you?”

Jilk nodded deeply.

“I’ll be sure to let them know.”

“Yes. And this is a souvenir for him.”

Hertrude tells him that she wants this information to be a souvenir for Leon, and she tells Jilk and the others about the information she has obtained.