Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 180: Ominous Arrival

Sundenelle watches from her seat under an umbrella on a balcony of the main citadel of Castle Northwall. Rikuto is standing a few yards away, leaning on the ramparts to watch the horizon. A medium fog has rolled in over the plains surrounding the castle, making only the shadows of the mountains readily apparent.

Everyone is on edge. The Fievegal has the technology and combined personnel firepower to launch a blitz attack on the castle, where Sundenelle and Rikuto have gathered a great number of the world's movers and shakers.

The Fievegal even went as far as to retreat their mobile operations center in the form of a flying fortress back beyond the mountains, even though they were stationed in Mattarglos for negotiations with the primarily demi-human led territory. There are no shortage of rumors surrounding Daniel, most specifically, from both good and bad opinions of the otherworlder. The unsavory rumors describe his taste in women, but Sundenelle has seen his consorts. With the exception of Hekate, who doesn't carry herself like a child who knows the ways of adults, and Erimaya, who is rumored to have travelled to the Fievegal in order to give herself to Daniel due to the social stigma following his revival after she drowned. The Fievegal is rumored to have taken in a large number of orphan children, but Sundenelle has a hard time believing the Emperor would add children to his harem when he has the likes of Ryuogriar and Geirahoel madly in love with him. True, there are repulsive individuals whose appetites are insatiable, but Sundenelle is confident he would readily have taken advantage of her more directly when she accepted his 'marriage proposal'. There have been a few letters exchanged, but it's clear Daniel is delaying.

She smirks as she twirls her blonde hair in her finger.

What's wrong, Daniel? You accepted my proposal, didn't you? Don't tell me you're afraid of a young human woman like me?

Her lips curve up even more in amusement at the thought, but she does look at her hair.

Or... are you perhaps not fooled? Do you find me repulsive?

She shakes her head clear. No. He was obviously making his remarks in jest, and he didn't think I'd turn it back on him. If he knew, he would simply weaponize it against me.

"Your Majesty! There!" calls out one of Rikuto's scouts.

Everyone straightens, and Sundnelle pops up to her feet to jog to the ramparts. Byleathea also rises from her own seat just behind and beside Sundenelle, approaching more gracefully.

Everyone was watching the skies, since the Fievegal is known to use vessels capable of rapid air travel. Even the massive airship constructed by the Stalvaltan Grand Duchy was able to travel from the capital of Mattarglos to beyond the mountains in a couple of hours, which would normally take at least a full day's ride on a fast and high-endurance buckrokh, let alone a team pulling a carriage.

Instead, the Fievegal arrives in very distinct carriages that specifically lack beasts of burden to pull them, driving under their own power, which was reported by the campaign that failed to even begin an effective siege against the Citadel.

"Those carriages are rather large," remarks Byleathea. "I am curious how the Fievegal intends to ship trade goods if this is how they transport their highest ranks."

"Do you think he'll let us borrow one for our return trip?" jokes Sundenelle.

"Oh? You intend to return?" asks Byleathea, making a teasing jab at Sundenelle's current plan. She's going to wait until the end of the negotiations, but it's the perfect stage to enact her killing blow with so many important figures gathered together.

"Yes, Mother, I still intend to rule the Empire. And, it will only be a start. There is much more that needs to take place before I will change palaces."