Berstetz Fondalfon (ベルステツ・フォンダルフォン) is the Prime Minister of the Sacred Vollachia Empire, and the second-in-command after the emperor in terms of political power. Though playing a role in both Ex 4 and Ex 5, he was one of the main antagonists of Arc 7 as one of the masterminds behind the Imperial Civil War, and he played a supporting role in Arc 8.
He was originally the aide of Princess Lamia Godwin, helping her in both advisory matters and planting her poison. After her death by the hands of Prisca Benedict and the latter’s faked death, once Vincent Abellux took the throne, he placed Berstetz as the Prime Minister, having been impressed by his intelligence.
Appearance[]
Berstetz is a very old man of short stature. He has relatively long grey hair that is tied back with an aged and wrinkled face. Underneath his slightly crooked nose, he sports a bushy mustache. Befitting of his position as the Prime Minister, Berstetz can be seen wearing a dark pink long-sleeved robe in addition to a purple and uniform with the Empire's symbol, the Sword Wolf, near its base.
Personality[]
Berstetz is a very wise and shrewd old man who is easily able to outsmart people. He is loyal to the Empire, and when he was loyal to Lamia as her subordinate and strategist, he was willing to assist her in the murders of her siblings in order to put her on the throne. Despite having been heavily loyal to Lamia before her passing, he had no qualms about working for the emperor partially responsible for her death, as he was more than capable of leading the country to prosperity. However, that loyalty is so strong that if he believes that the emperor is not doing his duty as the country's ruler, he is willing to scheme to dethrone said ruler and replace them with someone more fitting who will do their duties as expected of them, even if he knows he might lose his head were he to fail.
Despite his advanced age and his rather meager power, he also believes in the way of the Empire, and he is willing to die fighting in order to rid the country of its enemies, even if said threat was his undead former master.
Berstetz seems to have more going for him than what meets the eye as Vincent himself seemed to be aware that something was off with the old man.[1] According to Ubilk, the Empire's Stargazer, Berstetz hides “hell itself” within him.[2]
History[]
Ex 5[]
During the Imperial Selection Ceremony, Berstetz acted under Lamia Godwin's command, helping her achieve her goal of slaughtering every single one of her half-brothers and half-sisters in order to be crowned as the seventy-seventh emperor of the Vollachia Empire. During the battle at Abellux Manor, Berstetz helped to command the army led by Lamia by controlling the artillery on her behalf. After Lamia realized the battle was lost, she ordered him to cover her retreat. Following Lamia's death and Vincent's coronation as the seventy-seventh emperor of the Vollachia Empire, Berstetz started working under him and was eventually appointed as the Prime Minister, granting him political strength second only to the emperor himself.
Ex 4[]
Six months before the events of Arc 1, two members of the Council of Wise Men, Miklotov McMahon and Bordeaux Zellgef, accompanied by Reinhard van Astrea, Julius Juukulius, and Ferris, chose to go on a diplomatic visit to the Empire in order to sign a non-aggression pact between the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica and the Empire. While not immediately meeting with the five diplomats, Berstetz acted in the shadows, swiftly getting rid of the traitorous noble who planned the coup d'état during the aforementioned diplomats' visit in the Empire, effectively keeping the rebellion at bay.
Two to three months after this, Madelyn Eschart was suggested by Berstetz to inherit Balleroy Temeglyph's position as the 9th ranking Divine General, despite not having any concrete accomplishments and being largely unknown to the other Divine Generals. After Yorna's rebellion, his suggestion was confirmed, and Madelyn was appointed as the 9th ranking Divine General to the reluctance of the emperor.
Abilities[]
Keen Intellect: While Berstetz is not a powerful warrior, he is an intelligent man, and he was the one to act as both an advisor and strategist to Lamia during the Imperial Selection Ceremony. Even after the selection, Vincent found his intellect worthy of praise, and he took him on as the Prime Minister. His intellect and foresight is on a similar level to Chisha Gold, and the two were both capable of leading a civil war together without allowing anyone to found out.
Equipment: Berstetz wears a meteor ring on his finger that is imbued with the element of fire. It has enough power to blow out the side of one of a coupled dragon carriage’s walls.
Trivia[]
- Berstetz has his own named chapter in Arc 8 of the web novel and light novels.
References[]
- ↑ “Hmph. And to think, I very nearly had the tiger by the tail.” Re:Zero Ex Light Novel Volume 4: Imperial Diplomacy of Bloodshed, Section 19.
- ↑ “I’m more afraid of His Excellency the Prime Minister. It seems that within him, he is hiding hell itself.” Arc 7, Chapter 87, Section 1.
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