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Chapter 528
Chapter 528
Chapter 528: The Envoy from Rondine
Finne, who had been sent as an envoy from Rondine to Albatro, was forced to anchor near the capital at sea.
Because the Duchy's navy had set up a defensive line.
"I apologize, Lady Finne. At present, our navy has been ordered not to let anyone near the capital."
Captain Mest of the Duchy's navy, who had apologized on board the flagship Alphonse, had once restrained Al disguised as Leo, and was now restraining Finne.
"I don't need an apology, Captain Mest. I came here as an envoy of the Duchy of Rondine. So, please connect me with His Majesty the King."
Finne is no fool.
She understood that connecting her with the king did not mean directly connecting her with the king in this case.
In this case, she wanted to be connected to Barnaba, who was provisionally governing the capital.
Of course, Mest understood that.
However...
"I can't do that. Please turn back."
"Does the Albatro Duchy turn away even envoys from the Duchy of Rondine?"
"That's not the case, but... please turn back. It's for your sake and for the sake of our Duchy of Albatro."
"I can't understand what you're saying."
"..."
Noticing that Finne had no intention of backing down, Mest sighed deeply, looked around, and suggested.
"Since we're standing around talking, could you prepare a room?"
"Understood."
Inside a room in the Alphonse, Mest, accompanied by Sebas, told Finne again.
"Please, turn back right now!"
"I'll make my decision after hearing the reason."
"Sigh... currently, the Duke's army is cornered. Marcel, the ambassador of the kingdom, is negotiating for the sake of the nobles. If you jump in there, you'll end up being used as a hostage."
"I understand the situation. But isn't His Majesty the King already a hostage?"
"That's correct, but if you become a hostage, it's no longer just our country's problem."
"It's not just your country's problem already. The neighboring Duchy of Rondine is involved, and the prince of our country is involved."
"Why are you knowingly going to become a hostage!? You may not know, but the son of the Duke who governs the capital, Barnabas, is a lascivious man. Seeing a beautiful woman like you, who knows what he might do. This is a matter of the survival of our country. Please turn back!"
Mest was desperate.
Barnabas's womanizing was famous.
Even though his father was at war, he never stopped womanizing.
If a beauty like Finne appeared in front of him, he would definitely want to keep her by his side.
He didn't even want to think about how much disrespect he might show.
The reaction from other countries would be different if the prince of the Empire, Arnold, participated in the war, and if Finne, the emperor's favorite, became a hostage.
No matter how you look at it, the Addler family is a military family. They are a bloodline that has proclaimed dominance in the center of the continent with their power. Judging from the current results, it could hardly be said that they were endangered by participating in the war.
But while Finne is the daughter of a duke of the empire, she does not have the power to fight.
She's a fragile maiden. If she were to be involved, there would be no excuse when criticized.
There was a chance that the enraged imperial army would invade.
"I see... so Lord Barnabas likes women..."
"What are you thinking...? Please don't do anything unnecessary. Please, it's for the sake of our country."
"Isn't it a problem that the King is being held hostage and the negotiations are dragging on? The longer it drags on, the more the country will be in turmoil. The Duchy of Rondine has its own circumstances and can't move immediately, but if the internal strife in the Albatro Duchy continues for too long, they might move. Don't forget, the Duchy of Rondine has always been eyeing the territory of the Albatro Duchy."
It's not a lie.
Rondine and Albatro formed an alliance during the sea dragon incident. It was to counter the sea dragon, and to counter the great powers.
However, that was because both parties were evenly matched.
If the civil war continues for too long, Rondine may make a decision.
There's just no one to make that decision now.
"I am fully aware of that..."
"Prince Julio's advantage came from the aid of the border troops. It's now difficult for the Duke's army to win on the battlefield. That's why Ambassador Marcel shifted to negotiations. But the presence of the border army at the center means that the border with Rondine is wide open. Do I need to explain the risks of prolonging this state?"
"I know that prolongation is dangerous! But Prince Julio can't ignore the King! It's unavoidable that it's dragging on! The Duke's army will eventually collapse! We just have to endure until then!"
"I told you, we might not have that time. All of this is because the Duke's army has the King. I came to resolve that."
"The castle's security is strict. It's impossible to rescue the King! If you go, there will just be more hostages! And it will tarnish our country!"
Mest gave up on persuading Finne and turned his gaze to Sebas, who was beside him.
But Sebas just shrugged his shoulders.
"If you become a hostage, the advantage of Prince Julio and Prince Arnold will disappear. Because the negotiations will be prolonged further. Even the Prince should understand that the border troops can't be kept for long."
"But if I can get into the castle and secure the King, I can steal the opponent's advantage. The civil war should not be prolonged. Don't you think so, Captain Mest?"
"...Certainly, if you're as beautiful as you, Barnaba will meet you. But he's not stupid. He's likely to keep the guards to a minimum. What can you do with a small number?"
"I can temporarily regain the King's body. Lord Al entrusted me with valuable resources."
Sebas, Lyinfia, and the members of the Nerbbe Ritter group.
They can infiltrate even a heavily guarded castle.
While Finne is meeting, infiltrating and seizing the throne would be no problem at all.
"What will you do by temporarily regaining it?"
"We'll hold up in the castle. Not all the soldiers in the castle are siding with the Duke."
"Do you have any prospects for reinforcements?"
"I'm just creating an opportunity. I'll leave the rest to Lord Al."
"I can't cooperate with such a plan!"
If Al doesn't respond, it's over.
They will be quickly overwhelmed, and there will be more hostages.
It's a gamble at best.
"You're supposed to be from the Empire. The victory of the pro-Empire faction is already confirmed. There's no need for you to gamble anymore!"
"The Empire needs the Albatro Duchy's navy. That's why we've been helping like this. However, if the negotiations drag on, the country will be in chaos. Can you move the navy in such a situation? If this civil war drags on too long, the Duchy of Albatro will cease to function. That's not what the Empire wants. Don't forget, while I am here as an envoy from Rondine now, I was originally an envoy from the Empire. I have been entrusted with a mission by the Emperor. I have to do my best for the Empire's interests."
"That may be, but..."
"If talking more is useless, then there's no help for it. I'll take you hostage and call the other captains. Someone who understands the situation should come eventually."
By the time Mest realized it, Sebas had circled around to his back.
No blade was pointed at him.
But it was a situation close to that.
"...May I hear about it?"
"What is it?"
"Even if Prince Arnold responds, he can't bring a large army. How do you plan to solve that problem?"
"This is just my guess... but perhaps Lord Al is expecting the elite Duchy's Navy. As long as we can secure the King's body, the rest can be left to the judgment of the captains."
Hearing Finne's words, Mest gave up on persuasion and nodded.
And through the Admiral of the Navy, Barnaba was informed about Finne.
TL's Notes: Happy Late Thanksgiving!! I'm spending it playing Lethal Company with my friends.... *if I had any :(*
Anyway, enjoy the double upload for today!
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