Chapter 826

"I know exactly what I'm saying."

Facing Princess Veronica's questioning, Li Ang blinked, then continued:

"And I haven't finished yet—aren't you also planning to propose expanding universal suffrage at the council meeting in three days?"

"This proposal not only dilutes the merchants' influence and prevents them from continuing to overexploit the royal family and nobility, but also genuinely expands the council's power, giving more groups a chance to speak up."

"I've read the newspapers—you've heavily supported the energy sector these past few years, cut taxes for small artisans, subsidized farmers, and recently set minimum hourly wages for factories. So big merchants don't support you much, but other groups? That's another story."

"I don't know what you think, but I believe that once the universal suffrage bill passes, a new council no longer entirely controlled by merchants will warmly welcome a new queen who's consistently fought for their interests."

"..."

This... could it really be viewed this way?

Watching the princess's lips part slightly in stunned surprise, Li Ang said with quiet depth:

"Actually, after hearing you explain the officer purge and this universal suffrage proposal, I even thought you were already preparing to ask the old king to abdicate."

"After all, the royal family won't truly support you, but the mid- and lower-ranking officers of the military, along with the new council members representing artisans, farmers, and workers, have no choice but to back you if they want to preserve their hard-won positions and power."

"So if you just wait a little longer and push both measures through completely, those mid- and lower-ranking officers and the newly elected council members will be fully tied to your chariot... Honestly, aren't you doing this on purpose?"

"I... I never thought of any of this..."

After listening to Li Ang's words with her mouth slightly open, Princess Veronica's eyes grew distant:

"My goal in purging the military was that the old nobility-controlled army had become too corrupt, leaving the kingdom's defenses in ruins. Expanding suffrage was because too many council members came from merchant families, making recent proposals far too biased... This... this..."

"This proves you chose the kingdom—and the kingdom, in turn, chose you."

After giving this coincidence a definition, Li Ang fixed his gaze on the princess's eyes, switched his emblem, and said earnestly:

"Whether you did this intentionally or by accident, the things you've consistently pursued these past years have rewarded you—they've become your strongest foundation!"

"So you needn't feel uneasy or burdened by psychological pressure. You're not some power-hungry schemer—you've simply done what's right."

"..."

I've just... done what's right?

After Li Ang's words left her mind in turmoil, she silently repeated the phrase twice, then unconsciously clenched her dress hem, bit her lower lip, and shook her head:

"The mid- and lower-ranking officers and new council members—they're indeed strong supporters, but they're still just supporters, not yet in real power. For centuries, the kingdom has always been led by the royal family and nobility. They will never tolerate this."

"If I truly do this, fine—if I fail, the entire kingdom will descend into chaos. And the Ice Realm Kingdom has just endured a harsh winter. Once the weather warms, if they take advantage of our internal disorder..."

"It won't descend into chaos."

Li Ang shook his head, then pointed at himself:

"You forgot—I'm the greatest of the old nobility! You worry the Upper Academy will declare your throne invalid, but I, the Duke of Lionheart, am the Vice-Chair of the Upper Academy."

"And if you need it, I'm also on good terms with the last member of the Bao Hua family—I could likely secure her support. That means both the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Upper Academy now stand with you!"

"It's not the same!"

Facing Li Ang's suggestion, the princess, for some reason breathing rapidly, quickly shook her head:

"During the Lyon Massacre, many high-ranking Lyon family members died, and the Bao Hua family was reduced to only Miss Emma. The kingdom's two pillars no longer hold their former status."

"Though according to the founding laws, as long as either family still has a living member, the Chair and Vice-Chair seats must be preserved, in such a moment, you two cannot determine the Upper Academy's judgment."

"That doesn't matter. According to kingdom law, if both Chair and Vice-Chair agree, it's equivalent to direct passage in the Upper Academy. If it fails to pass, then the problem lies with the Upper Academy itself."

Li Ang, who had long anticipated this issue, said without blinking:

"If the Upper Academy defies the will of both Chair and Vice-Chair and forcibly declares your throne invalid, then simply use the kingdom's own laws to declare their judgment invalid."

"Huh?"

"I mean, don't play by their rules. At a time like this, you play your own game."

Li Ang stared straight into the princess's eyes and explained solemnly:

"You don't need the Upper Academy to recognize your throne. You only need a plausible justification to stall them, drag them into endless bickering, and prevent them from legitimately declaring your throne invalid—that's already success."

"As long as your throne hasn't been declared invalid, you're still the nominal queen, and the Upper Academy has no authority to directly mobilize troops to expel you from the palace. With support from mid- and lower-ranking officers, you can turn the tables and mobilize troops to surround the Upper Academy... after all, they're the ones breaking the law, aren't they?"

"..."

Wait... it could really work like this?

Watching the princess, whose thinking hadn't fully opened and who still clung to "following the rules," Li Ang, eyes gleaming, couldn't help reminding her:

"You said yourself—the only standing army in the entire capital is in the palace. All others are stationed outside the capital. Even the most elite guards of noble estates can't possibly stand against organized, heavily armed troops."

"Honestly, given the current situation, if you don't care about legitimacy, you don't even need to surround the Upper Academy. After all, no matter how powerful the old nobility, in the capital they're only a single guard unit."

"Just send two squads: one to blockade the manors along Red Cedar Avenue and prevent anyone from leaving, another to block the Lawther Arcade, pile up anything you can find in the river—and the Upper Academy is effectively dissolved."

"After all, anyone who can speak in the Upper Academy must be at least a viscount. The entire capital has only so many nobles above viscount rank, and they all live on those two streets. If you surround their entire families, do you really think they won't obey you?"

"Put it plainly—you're only taking over your father's throne, not planning to kill the old nobility. Do you really think, given their loyalty to the royal family, they'd risk their entire families' lives to fight you, who can mobilize troops?"