Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 147: Suspicions Rising

Roeta walks with Grand Duchess Aramellianna as the matriarch makes her way to her office. The pink dragon tries to urge her gently, "Your Grace, you really should continue to rest. Lady Yanidere..."

"Has done an excellent job during my convalescence," replies the Grand Duchess. "But, I was brazenly attacked out in the open, and several of my loyal guard were slain. I..."

The brunette trails off as she overhears, "I don't care if you have to line up every citizen and question them! The Grand Duchy is pledged to the Fievegal, and an assault was carried out on both the Grand Duchess of Stalvaltan and the commanding General of the Fievegal Army. You should be thankful the Grand Duchy is keeping the Fievegal from invading at this very moment!"

They enter the office where there is a surprising number of people. Aramellianna sees Kalegrynten, Veiranoei, the Honeydip Baron and Baroness, as well as Gwenesphia, and a few upper-rank nobles from other parts of Mattarglos.

At the center, standing behind Aramellianna's desk, which is piled high with paperwork, is the second eldest daughter of the Stalvaltan Grand Duchy.

Yanidere adds passionately, "Even as we speak, my sister, Empress Consort Wenlianna is in council with his Grace, the Emperor, trying to dissuade him from retaliating with the full might of the Fievegal."

Several of the nobles who don't already know better shrink a little under the verbal assault.

One of them, Count Klajurr, tries to reply as respectfully as he can, "Your Ladyship, no one disputes your position, but the fact of the matter is that we don't have the resources to..."

Yanidere slams the desk with her fist. "'Resources, resources, resources'! That's all I've been hearing all morning! Merchants and mercenaries have flocked to the capital to grab the momentum of the defeat of the Three Terrors! Has the meat from those combined monsters suddenly run out? Have the rivers run dry?"

"N-No, your Ladyship, but... Steel is..."

"Then say so! If armaments are your concern, it must be the security of the city. The Grand Duchy will..."

Yanidere finally notices Aramellianna and Roeta standing in the doorway, and she flinches. "M-Mother!? Y-You're..." She darts around the desk as the others also turn in surprise. Everyone bows respectfully to the Grand Duchess, and she dips her head.

"Are you alright, Mother? You should get more rest. If there was anything I needed, I would have..."

Aramellianna cups her hand against her daughter's cheek, halting the young woman in her tracks. "My Dear Yanidere, you seem to be doing quite well. I'm proud. But, you are still in council. You should mind your etiquette in spite of your feelings."

Yanidere flinches and glances at the nobles in the room. Gwenesphia, Veiranoei, and Kalegrynten give her gentle smiles, since they've seen plenty of her to know she's doing just fine overall.

Yanidere collects herself, taking a breath. She curtsies politely, saying, "Your Grace the Grand Duchess, welcome. I am glad to see your condition has improved. Please, join us. We were discussing the state of affairs of the capital."

Aramellianna smirks, saying as she enters the room, "I heard. For a moment, I thought I was having an out of body experience."

The nobles in the room chuckle together, and they each take a moment to greet the Grand Duchess as Roeta keeps within arm's reach, since she could collapse at any time, let alone fall under attack.

Aramellianna takes a seat on the sofa, saying gently, "Even unbiased, I would agree with Lady Yanidere. Crowd control is well within the Grand Duchy's capability, and we have two of the Empress Consorts of the Fievegal present with us. I believe we can count on the Fievegal's support in defending the capital while Mattarglos guard commences a full investigation."