Chapter 823

Petty-minded man~

Upon hearing Li Ang's reply and realizing he said it to retaliate for her earlier "teasing," the Princess gave him a reproachful glare.

"Stop fooling around—I truly want to hear your opinion."

Putting aside her playful mood, Princess Veronika sat up straight and spoke seriously:

"What you just said was insightful. Though your phrasing was blunt, it cut straight to the heart of power. You've never touched politics, yet you're not dull about such matters—in fact, you have a strange kind of… keenness."

"So if you can, would you share your thoughts? For example, from your perspective, what do you think of the things I've been doing these past few years?"

How do I see it?

Looking at the Princess's earnest face, Li Ang understood she genuinely wanted his opinion, yet after thinking it over, he still spoke half-heartedly:

"You've done… well. At least you've consistently done the right things, and many people's lives have genuinely improved because of your efforts."

What you really mean, probably, isn't any of that.

From Li Ang's half-hearted praise, Princess Veronika sensed something else. She fixed her gaze on his eyes and probed cautiously:

"Li Ang… you don't agree with what I'm doing, do you?"

"I do agree—I know your actions can make the kingdom better."

Considering that Li Ang still had to pay for this meal, he chose his words as gently as possible:

"But your goal isn't just to make the kingdom better. You've gone to such lengths to challenge the Military Department—you must want something more, right?"

"Hmm…"

Princess Veronika hesitated at his words, sensing the topic was delicate, yet after glancing at Li Ang, she finally spoke earnestly:

"I want more. I don't just want to become the next Queen—I want to be the greatest Queen!

You know Joshua lacks the talent to be a good king. If he ascends, the entire kingdom will fall into the hands of the Finance Minister and the Queen. All six years of my efforts would be wasted—I absolutely won't let that happen!

Li Ang, you may not believe it, but I don't crave power for its own sake. What I truly wish for is a strong kingdom that endures, so that tragedies like the War of Defense never again replay on this land."

"I've never doubted that."

You're not a power-hungry person—power to you is merely a tool to achieve your goal. What you truly seek is something else.

Li Ang, who had seen the true hue of her soul, nodded, willing to believe her words. Yet after studying her clear, resolute eyes and sensing the unwavering determination within, he couldn't help but whisper a warning:

"But I think your reforms will likely fail.

Even if they yield some results, they won't reach the outcome you desire. In the end, the reality will almost certainly be the opposite of what you want… Are you prepared for that?"

"… "

The things I'm doing… might not succeed in the end?

Hearing Li Ang's words, Princess Veronika slightly pressed her lips together. She didn't immediately argue, but fixed her gaze on his and asked softly:

"Can you tell me why you think that?"

"…"

Did I starve myself into delirium? She's a Princess—why did I say all this to her…

Seeing the Princess's stubborn eyes, clearly unwilling to drop the subject without an answer, Li Ang felt a pang of regret.

He truly believed her reforms had little chance of success—not just today, but since long before.

Yet first, he was only half-informed and uncertain himself; second, though flawed, her reforms did improve ordinary people's lives; third, his relationship with her wasn't close enough to broach such a topic—it felt too forward. So he'd never mentioned it.

But just now, when their eyes met, he saw in hers a hint of "Though ten thousand oppose me, I shall go forward"—and he couldn't bear to imagine her future dreams shattered. Without thinking, he'd steered the conversation here.

Well… since he'd come this far, he might as well say a little?

…

"Actually, what I'm about to say is only an idea—I'm not certain it's right."

Raising his head slightly to meet her calm gaze, Li Ang spoke gently:

"Just listen. If you find my thoughts reasonable, consider them.

If you think they're nonsense, forget them entirely and keep doing what you want—after all, no matter what, what you're doing now is correct."

Having armored himself with caveats, Li Ang didn't state his opinion directly. Instead, he posed a question:

"Your Highness, if you were to broadly categorize the kingdom's political forces by faction, what would they be?"

"Factions…?"

After thinking, Princess Veronika answered:

"Myself and the Defense Minister represent the Reform Faction; the Prime Minister elected by the Lower House, his appointed cabinet officials, and some new nobles who rose through commerce form the Parliamentary Faction;

The old nobles who control the Upper House, plus the remaining new nobles, together form the Aristocratic Faction.

Currently, these are the three main factions—though Joshua, backed by the Finance Minister and the Queen, has been actively courting nobles and can barely be counted as a fourth faction."

So: Reform Faction, Parliamentary Faction, Aristocratic Faction… hmm… and a "Monkey-Marriage" Faction!

"About what I expected."

Nodding to the Princess, Li Ang pressed on:

"Can you tell me—what specific interests do these three-and-a-half factions represent? Who are they speaking for?"

What specific interests?

At Li Ang's question, Princess Veronika frowned, unsure of its intent, yet answered honestly:

"As leader of the Reform Faction, I represent the Royal Family. The old nobles represent themselves. The Parliament primarily speaks for the big merchants. As for Joshua, though he also represents the Royal Family, his 'intentions' differ from mine;

I represent those who wish to curb the nobility and reclaim power for the Crown. Joshua represents those royal members who are tied by marriage to noble families but still value their ancestral houses, favoring 'coexistence' over confrontation."

"Are you certain?"

"What?"

"I mean—are you sure you truly represent the Royal Family's interests? Are you really speaking for the Crown?"

"… "？！！！