Chapter 41

With the release date approaching, I decided to update.

"The World of Otome Games is Harsh for the Weak" will be released on [May 30]!

Reservations have also started, so I hope you will take advantage of them.

The school was quite hectic.

The reason was that a large number of nobles had been purged.

The nobles who refused to participate in the war with the principality without any reason were dismissed without question.

Even those who had various excuses for not participating were treated the same.

Their lands and properties were confiscated, and they were given less desirable lands under the guise of a land exchange.

"Truly, this is typical of a kingdom aiming for centralization."

Ange had a troubled expression at Claire's impressed look.

"Is that sarcasm?"

"I'm not like Luxion's twisted people; I'm praising it straightforwardly. What concerns me is the rebellion or revenge, isn't it?"

Those who lost their noble status.

Those who had their titles taken away.

Those who lost their positions.

There were many people in the kingdom who harbored resentment.

"...You're right. I'll be careful."

At Ange's words, Claire observed her expression closely.

"You look like you know you're hated."

"I am a noble's daughter. I know that just by living, I am hated. But this time, there are more people who hate me personally."

"I think it's more like resentment."

—Among those purged were Ange's former followers who had betrayed her.

Students who were once nobles but had become commoners due to their families losing their noble status.

The students who laughed at Ange's groveling were no longer seen in the school after the spring.

The number of current students had decreased significantly.

There were even fewer new students, and the school had a somewhat lonely atmosphere.

"You're right. But, I don't know what they might do. I've told Livia to be careful, but I'm a bit worried."

Unlike Ange, Livia didn't seem accustomed to being hated by others.

"I'll take care of that. More importantly, we're taking separate actions today."

"Would it be a problem if I joined the new students' gathering?"

The new students Livia was interacting with were all commoner students.

A few had enrolled, and Livia was taking care of them.

It seemed that the plan was to increase the number of regular students next year.

"You're right, it would be a problem."

"You're so straightforward."

Seeing Ange resume her reading, Claire thought to herself.

(Exiling the rebellious forces from the center and accepting non-noble students into the school for education—after ten or twenty years, they will likely take on lower-ranking official positions.)

The Holfaht Kingdom was in turmoil, but it was still maintaining its rule.

The royal palace was very busy, and Ange's father, Vins, had been working at the palace and hadn't returned to his territory.

(I'm a bit curious. Yes, I'll peek into the palace. Master said to find Roland's weakness.)

Leon, who was trying to find Roland's weakness to harass him, seemed petty even to Claire.

But, he was an important Master who inherited the genes of the old humans.

To fulfill Leon's wish, Claire decided to sneak into the palace.

"I'll be out for a bit."

"Alright."

Leaving Ange's room, Claire blended into the surroundings and flew to the palace.

◇

The palace was very busy.

The officials had dark circles under their eyes and were working with pale faces.

There were mountains of documents to sort, and every day, dissatisfied nobles came to protest.

The military was busy dealing with the resistance from the nobles and also working on the reconstruction of the capital.

"Indeed, in this state, it would be difficult to protect Marie and the others."

Peeking into Queen Millene's room, Claire saw her working at her desk.

Her maids were sorting documents around her.

Bernard, Claris's father, brought in a new batch of urgent documents.

Millene, looking at the stack of documents, showed no surprise.

"Your Majesty, please review these first."

"Is something wrong?"

"The nobles who oppose the confiscation of their lands have risen up."

The nobles who had been waiting to see how the kingdom would act had risen up in anger.

Even hearing this, Millene didn't panic.

"Send the troops on standby immediately."

While reviewing the documents, she ordered the fleet of airships on standby to be dispatched.

"What about their treatment?"

"If they surrender, we will allow them to exchange their lands."

Claire was excited.

(Oh? Are they going to send the rebels to desolate lands to develop? If it goes well, they might take them back in the future.)

"What if they don't surrender?"

"...Dispose of them cleanly. We need to make an example of them to prevent future uprisings."

Seeing Millene's calmness, Claire was intrigued.

(Perhaps she can't let her guard down because there's a chance for a comeback. She's definitely working hard behind the scenes... Oh? Where is the king and what is he doing?)

Floating around, Claire followed Bernard as he left the room.

◇

Roland was enjoying tea with a woman in the busy palace.

"Your Majesty, you're a liar~"

"Hmm, I don't lie. I'm amazing. Even that brat—no, the hero Leon doesn't defy me."

"Really~?"

The woman spoke in a drawn-out, flattering voice, holding hands and smiling.

Unlike Millene, the guards around Roland were doing their job as guards.

"It's true. If I get serious, that boy is just a pinch. If I weren't the king, I would be the hero by now—"

"Hmm, that's an interesting story."

The one who entered Roland's room, looking a bit haggard, was Vins.

"I need to speak with Your Majesty. Miss, I'm sorry, but could you leave the room?"

The noble's daughter, who had brought Vins's change of clothes, quickly stood up, bowed, and left the room.

Roland reached out as if reluctant to let her go.

"Ah, wait! ...Vins, that's cruel. She was a cute girl with a soft head."

"Is it the king who has a soft head?"

Vins sat down roughly and glared at the king.

"You seem to be having a lot of fun, Your Majesty."

"Does it look that way? I'm still worried about the country. The only thing I can do is to leave an heir. That's why I'm working hard."

"I wish you would move your hands instead of your hips."

"I've left it to Millene. Besides, work should be done by those who can do it. It's more efficient that way. I'm happy to have excellent vassals."

It was as if he was saying that seducing women was his job.

To put it another way,

"Is the rice you eat without working delicious?"

"The rice you eat while watching you work hard is the best!"

Claire thought Vins was skillful as he smiled with a vein popping on his forehead.

"—That's good. I'm glad to be called excellent. Now, I have one question. About the promotion of my daughter's fiancé."

Claire was excited.

(Ah, this is a chance to hear the reason for Master's promotion. I can guess, but what was the truth?)

It would be unnatural not to promote Leon, who had served as the commander-in-chief in the war with the principality.

However, it was decided to prepare a different form of reward at his request.

"About that? As I said before, it was more natural to promote him."

"Despite his wishes?"

"I prioritized the country as king. Besides, a certain duke was trying hard to recruit a promising young man. I wanted to get in his way."

"—My daughter is already engaged. I hope you won't make any unnecessary moves."

"Bernard agreed in the end."

"Did you manipulate him with the promise of his daughter's marriage?"

"Try to understand a father's feelings for his daughter. As a father with a 'cute daughter,' I can understand Bernard's feelings well."

"To brazenly—"

They were already fighting over Leon and had started to move.

(It's like a daytime drama. It's a bit exciting.)

Imagining what would happen next, Claire predicted that Leon's surroundings would be noisy for a while.

And,

("Cute daughter"... This is worth investigating.)

—She had also found Roland's weakness.

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