Chapter 11: Border Problems

Joseph POV

I found myself in the Banquet Hall with Queen Grimhilde and Snow White, I was on the other end of the long table, looking straight at the Queen, who had a smile on her face as she looked at me.

Oh, did I forget to mention that the other Noble and Monarch guests were also in the Banquet Hall? Yeah, so the Ball Simps were secretly looking at me with anger, while some ladies looked at me like a juicy prey, which was making me worried.

"To all guests, as a sign of good faith, I present this Banquet to you before you go to your respective Fiefs and Kingdoms, I hope you can enjoy it" Queen Grimhilde said with a fake professional smile on her face, which charmed everyone present, except me, I knew very well how this wench was to not fall for such tricks.

While everyone was showering her with compliments and beautiful words, I remained quiet, knowing full well that she wouldn't let it go, she focused on me, she clearly wanted to know what I was going to say, Scheiße.

"I can say for everyone that we thank you for your kindness Your Royal Majesty, may your reign continue for many years and continue to lead the Kingdom of Heart with your great wisdom, a toast to Queen Grimhilde" I said as I took my wine glass, raising it, the Nobility wasted no time and did the same.

"Thank you, Lord von Farquaad~" Queen Grimhilde said to me in a strange tone, I wasn't enjoying this at all.

We all then started eating, there were several dishes that I won't lie, almost made me drool, but I knew how to control myself, so I only took a few things for my plate, I would then cut them with the knife before eating, always maintaining the elegance of a Nobility.

Thank you Mom for forcing me to learn how to waltz for balls and how to behave at the table, but I still resent that you used a truncheon to intimidate me if I messed up.

Leaving aside that traumatic part of my past life, I could see that the Simps were looking at me with clear anger on their faces, seriously bro, it's not my fault that a Mad Queen suddenly decided that I would be a target for some nefarious plan of hers, if I could I would let you suffer in my place without any problems.

I would even stand behind and encourage you.

But anyway, when the Banquet ended, all the Nobility politely said goodbye to Queen Grimhilde, me included, I then went straight to my carriage, with my guards already waiting there, I then got into the carriage, and I could already feel the carriage moving, but through the window of my door, I could see Queen Grimhilde at the entrance of the Palace, looking at me with a smile as I left.

When she finally disappeared from sight, I took a deep breath of relief, now I just had to travel back to Duloc and continue developing my Lordship before I could start my beloved expansion, I'll have to see which possible targets will be on my list.

If I want to become a Kaiser in the future, I'll need a Kaiserreich worthy of both myself and my people.

Oliver POV

Since Lord von Farquaad took power for himself in Duloc, our Lordship has been developing non-stop, there's not a child I don't see playing in the streets happily, with adults always walking around with a smile on their faces.

Duloc became a beautiful city, with the Order ensuring that no crime occurred, in addition to everyone being able to have a job to support their families.

But what was most important was the creation of the Dulocian Army that was being made, with several young people entering to serve Lord von Farquaad loyally, being trained in the ways of War every day.

Not to mention the Mandatory Service that would be imposed in a few years so that ALL citizens, except children, could learn about discipline, as well as self-defense, including women.

At first, I didn't understand why Lord von Farquaad had allowed women, after all, they should be at home taking care of the children, but even so, I obeyed his orders and soon had my mouth shut because the results were both on paper and before my eyes.

At first, we only had a maximum of 10 women brave enough to join the Army, but they showed loyalty and cunning equal to their comrades in arms of the opposite sex, with 2 managing to become junior officers quickly, with one of them, Maria, being able to soon become a First Lieutenant.

When Lord von Farquaad went to the Kingdom of Heart for the Royal Ball that would take place to celebrate Queen Grimhilde's birthday, he left me to secure the borders of Duloc, with me ensuring that this was what would happen.

I was currently in my office signing some papers involving reports from certain outposts on the border, to ensure that no one would dare invade Duloc.

There have been many reports of criminals trying to cross the border lately, this has been causing me a headache and irritation, as I didn't like it at all that such Criminal Scum dared to try to touch the great work that Lord von Farquaad was doing in these lands.

"Mi'lord, new reports have come from the northern outposts, apparently more groups of bandits are arriving there... in large numbers and they are also heavily armed and equipped, it is clear that they are not normal bandits or even bandits, they could be soldiers disguising themselves as bandits to try to attack us" Said an officer who entered my office, with him giving me a military salute before handing me the documents with the information.

Without wasting any time I started to analyze the documents and it was like he said, shit... But who? Who would want problems for the Lordship, since we haven't started any political animosity with any of the Nobles in the Region?

I get up and go to the Map that Lord von Farquaad had bought for the Army, he bought several for us to make attack and defense strategies, with him spending gold coins from his own pocket so as not to affect the Lordship's Treasury.

The maps were the best possible to get with a noble's gold coins, detailing everything for us from the regions of both Duloc and the neighboring territories.

To the south, we have 3 Minor Kingdoms, Erilux Kingdom, Xuidora, and Recalia.

To the North, we have the Principality of Razia and the Duchies of Vily and Lugiv, with these 2 Duchies being in a Personal Union with Duchess Maria Di Aiello.

To the east, we have only the Kingdom of Heart, where Lord von Farquaad went to attend Queen Grimhilde's Royal Ball.

And then, to the West, we have the Kingdom of Arstiin, commanded by King Henry, who from what we know from the information he had just been crowned King after the death of his father, but there were already rumors that he was a Greedy Young King and that he wanted to take the Moors, an enchanted region for himself.

But that probably wouldn't happen for a while, because he would first have to make the Kingdom recover from the economic crisis it was having.

Since the bandit activity came from the North, this left the Principality of Razia and the Duchies on the list of potential threats and enemies.

"Order the reserve troops to go to the North, we can't let any Scum, be it Criminal or in the service of other nobles, try to cause chaos in Lord von Farquaad's lands" I say seriously to the officer, who salutes me while showing a serious face.

"Jawohl, Generalmajor!" The Officer said to me before going to make sure my orders were followed.