Chapter 831

Has she already gone to my bedroom to fetch the documents?

After hearing the Minister of Finance's words, the princess, who had just been shocked and furious, gradually calmed down, turned her head, and looked toward the old king on the main seat.

If revising the replacement order, or even hoping Watching Watching Qiaoshuya would replace her, could still be the Wang Hou and the Minister of Finance acting on their own, then having someone go directly to her bedroom to retrieve the proposal documents must have received her father's tacit approval.

No, it was even more than tacit approval.

Looking at the old king sitting in a wheelchair directly beneath the crystal chandelier, half his face hidden in the lamp's shadow, Princess Veronica couldn't help but take a deep breath, then sat back in her seat and asked calmly:

"Father, is this your wish?"

"Mm."

After his slack eyelids opened and closed slightly, the old king, whose face was utterly different from the photo in the princess's bedroom, his features so gaunt they were unrecognizable, with only the tear troughs on either side of his nose faintly revealing his likeness, said faintly:

"I have already arranged this for you. Three days from now, when Watching Watching Qiaoshuya returns from the Kingdom of Molna, he will just in time take your place to attend the Upper House council.

You have reached the age for marriage; these matters will sooner or later be handed over to Watching Watching Qiaoshuya. Rather than waiting until you marry into the Kingdom of Hessen and then have Watching Watching Qiaoshuya take over, it is better to let him try getting more involved now."

Wait until I marry into the Kingdom of Hessen...

Hearing this, the princess pressed her lips together, stared at the father who had become utterly unfamiliar, and asked expressionlessly:

"What about Hearing Li Ang? What about my engagement to him..."

"That engagement is not necessary to fulfill."

His large hand, with prominent joints, clenched the scepter and struck the floor forcefully. After cutting off the princess's words, the old king, who had become so emaciated from illness he was unrecognizable yet whose gaze remained sharp and intimidating, rasped:

"The only things of value the Bobby Laien family still possesses are the positions in the Military Department and the Road Department. In this past month, you have already gathered nearly all of the Bobby Laien family's legacy. For those you truly cannot gather, you can simply leave them cold for now and gradually replace them with your own people later.

Now, aside from that Vice President seat in the Upper House and some assets that are difficult to sell in the short term, the Bobby Laien family is useless. It is not worth using your marriage to win them over. The Lame Grand Duke of the Kingdom of Hessen is your true destiny."

"You know he is the Lame Grand Duke?"

Looking at the father who had arranged the rest of her life with eyes utterly devoid of emotion, the princess smiled at the corner of her mouth and said with a hint of mockery:

"Setting aside the fact that he is nearly twenty years older than me, the Lame Grand Duke has a biased and sinister personality. His notorious reputation for beating and killing servants is even known to the pirates of the Kingdom of Siao. Are you certain such a person will be my destiny?"

"..."

After hearing the princess's words, the old king fell silent for a moment, then lowered his head slightly, avoiding her gaze.

"As a princess, having enjoyed what the kingdom has given you, you must give something in return."

"You are right."

Princess Veronica nodded and said with a cold gaze:

"This is what you taught me since childhood. I have always kept these words in my heart and have always acted accordingly. But what about you? Have you done so?"

Hearing this, the old king frowned and asked expressionlessly:

"Veronica, what do you want to say?"

"What I mean is, you are a very terrible king, and you truly do not deserve this country."

After hearing the princess's words, the Minister of Finance sitting opposite couldn't help but change color, while the Wang Hou was so shocked her mouth fell wide open, nearly falling straight out of her chair.

As if shedding an incredibly heavy burden, the princess let out a long breath and said to the old king with a peaceful expression:

"Actually, I originally had many ideals I wanted to tell you.

For instance, those who support me are not the royal family, but the ordinary people who toil day and night, and those I should repay are them; for instance, although you value the royal family more, if the kingdom rots away, the royal family will sooner or later cease to exist;

For instance, whether the royal family holds absolute power is not actually that important. As long as we can make the kingdom stronger, or even just give everyone a little hope, you can get what you want..."

Under the old king's gaze, Princess Veronica smiled, but her expression was somewhat helpless as she said:

"But I thought about it, and decided not to say it.

Ever since Mother died, your heart has been completely filled with the royal family and the throne, leaving no room for anything else. Even I, your daughter, were long ago pushed out. No matter what I say, it cannot change your decision, can it?"

"..."

"Are you finished?"

The old king's bright eyes, incongruous with his sickly body, stared unblinkingly at the princess before him and said calmly:

"If you have finished venting, then write a letter to that Lionheart Duke. Tell him you are unwell and cannot attend the bicameral council the day after tomorrow. Ask him, in consideration of your face, to use his position as Vice President of the Upper House to help Watching Watching Qiaoshuya as much as possible."

"Hehe, you truly haven't changed. Anything that can be used, you must thoroughly squeeze out all its value before you are satisfied."

After mocking him to his face, the princess said with a cold gaze:

"If I am not mistaken, the person who went to my bedroom to fetch the proposal documents has probably already confiscated my seal. They have even found someone capable of forging my handwriting. Even if I refuse to help, this letter will still be sent out, correct?"

"Mm."

After replying flatly, the old king, whose half-body was shrouded in the lamp's shadow, asked:

"So, do you want to write it yourself, or should I find someone to write it for you?"

"Since the result will be the same, I might as well write it myself."

After saying this, the princess turned around, looked at the Wang Hou opposite, whose face was full of joy, and said with a slight upturn of her lips:

"Congratulations. After receiving Hearing Li Ang's great help, Watching Watching Qiaoshuya's experience representing the royal family at this bicameral council will certainly be quite unforgettable."

At five in the morning three days later, in the Upper City of the Royal Capital, outside the Council Hall of Westhausen Palace.

The sun in the sky had not yet risen. The neighing of horses and the roar of boilers tore through the night curtain first. Numerous exquisite and luxurious steam carriages entered in a single file along a specially opened road and parked in the open space outside the building.

Immediately after, one member after another, wearing long robes and top hats with crown-shaped emblems on their chests, stepped down from the carriages. They tipped their hats to greet acquaintances, then entered the main hall in twos and threes, waiting for the Upper House council to convene.

As the most important power organ of the kingdom in name, the bicameral council does not convene simultaneously. The Upper House council convenes relatively earlier and generally has royal family members in attendance. Every year, there is a special opening ceremony where successive kings or queens deliver a royal declaration.

However, after the old king gradually fell into Critical Illness and became unable to move easily, he refused to attend the opening ceremony for three consecutive years. The related elaborate rituals were temporarily abolished and replaced with a brief speech delivered by a royal family member.

"People are almost all here."

Reaching out to push aside the curtain blocking his seat, after glancing at the situation in the hall, the Minister of Finance, dressed in a dark gray robe, nodded in satisfaction. He then turned his head to look at the freckled prince beside him, dressed in magnificent attire, and asked with a smile:

"This is your first time attending the bicameral council, and you must also deliver the royal declaration representing the royal family. Do you feel nervous?"

"A little..."

After tugging at his collar, which was tied a bit too tightly, Watching Watching Qiaoshuya leaned close to the gap in the curtain, glanced at the main hall outside where at least a thousand people were seated, and said with some unease:

"I see many of those outside are Veronica's people. Since Veronica isn't here today, will they cooperate with me?"

"Heh, you need not worry about that. They are Veronica's people, but they are also people of the Royal House; naturally, they should obey your will."

After reassuring his nephew, the Minister of Finance said with a smile:

"Moreover, your mother and I have already arranged a helper for you in advance. If anything truly goes wrong, he will help you control the situation."

"That's good..."

Hearing the Minister of Finance's words, the freckled prince couldn't help but sigh with relief, then asked with some curiosity:

"Uncle, who is the helper you and mother found for me?"

"It is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, the current Duke of Lionheart."

Oh, so it's Bobby Laien...

Who? Who did you find for me?