Chapter 832: 429 Harmonious Meeting (Part 1)

Upon hearing the identity of the so-called "helper," Joshua's scalp went numb, and he even felt a strange phantom pain on his face.

If one were to search the entire kingdom for the person the freckled prince feared most, this cheap brother-in-law, if he claimed second place, would have no rival for first.

After all, even if he did something absurd and angered the old king, the worst he'd get was a scolding and a few days of confinement—and with the queen pleading for him, he might even skip confinement entirely.

But if he angered this particular cheap brother-in-law, he'd truly be slapped hard across the face, even knocked unconscious, then slapped awake again, treated for injuries, and slapped again until the other man's anger subsided.

And more despairing still, after beating him, the man faced no punishment whatsoever.

Rubbing his face, which had been slapped multiple times, Joshua couldn't help but feel a deep sense of helplessness in his eyes.

The royal family needed to leverage his duke's status to inherit the Lyon family's political legacy, so they would never pursue charges of assault against a prince—they'd only choose to bury the matter.

When he reported the madman to the Cleanup Bureau and demanded they rein him in, their reply was that it had nothing to do with them.

Those fools actually believed that, given the madman's marriage to Veronica, such matters were royal family affairs, and as long as he didn't use anomalous objects to harm Joshua, they didn't violate Cleanup Bureau rules.

So as a prince, beaten across the face in his own kingdom, he had nowhere to seek justice—where in the world could such a principle exist?

…

"Uncle! Why on earth did you think of asking him for help?"

Glancing through the gap in the curtain and spotting a familiar figure in the deputy speaker's seat, the freckled prince instinctively shrank his neck, then turned and complained:

"That man's a lunatic! He doesn't care about the setting when pushed—he's capable of anything! Couldn't you have consulted me before picking him as an ally?"

"You only returned from the Moerna Kingdom last night—how was I supposed to consult you? And mind your posture!"

Seeing his nephew's fearful expression, the Minister of Finance frowned slightly, scolding him with a hint of displeasure:

"Stand straight! Straighten your back! You are the kingdom's only prince! In the future, you will inherit the throne and become the next king! What are you afraid of?"

"I… I'm not afraid of him, but there are so many people out there—if he comes over and hits me again…"

"What gives him the right to hit you? In the past, he did, but that was when the Lyon family still had value, and Veronica was backing him—that's why he dared act so recklessly.

Now Veronica is under house arrest in her chambers, and the Lyon family's usefulness has been drained dry—he's nothing but an empty-shell duke.

If he truly loses his mind and dares lay hands on you in front of all these people, then hit him back! If you can't beat him, call the guards! The royal family didn't act against him before doesn't mean we can't act now! What's there to fear?"

… Maybe… he's right?

After hearing his uncle's words, Joshua's eyes lit up.

Yes, things are different now—the kingdom can legally punish him! Without his backing, no matter how arrogant he is, he wouldn't dare come over and hit me in front of so many people, would he?

Gaining confidence from the minister's words, the freckled prince straightened his spine, lifted his head proudly, and glared fiercely toward Leon's direction through the curtain.

You damn dog! Let's see how arrogant you can be now! Without Veronica to back you, you're nothing but a… a…

"Hss…"

Locking eyes with Leon through the curtain's gap, Joshua involuntarily sucked in a sharp breath.

Though Leon showed no overt expression in his seat, his eyes pierced through the curtain's crack, fixed unblinkingly on him—and upon noticing Joshua's gaze, his lips even curled slightly, revealing… a look of genuine satisfaction.

What are you satisfied about? Tell me! Why the hell are you satisfied now?

"Alright, time's up."

As Joshua widened his eyes, sensing something was off, the Minister of Finance checked his pocket watch and urged:

"Go out now—it's your turn to deliver the imperial address."

"Uncle, I… I feel…"

"Just go out! Save your words for later!"

"… "

Though something felt wrong inside, as the attendant pulled back the curtain, the freckled prince could only force himself forward under Leon's satisfying gaze, stepping out of the preparation area and onto the main podium to recite his prepared speech.

"I, Prince Joshua the First, appointed by the current king, hereby represent the monarch and the entire royal family at this session of the Upper Academy."

After stumbling through the awkward opening, his scalp prickling from Leon's satisfying stare, Joshua lowered his head, eyes locked on the speech script, and raised his right hand to swear:

"I pledge, on behalf of the current king, to assure all attending councilors and the kingdom's entire populace that this Upper Academy session shall abide by the kingdom's legal code and council rules, in accordance with… upholding… adhering to… safeguarding…"

Reciting the script at breakneck speed, as if chased by a flood or beast, Joshua turned his head, embarrassed under the minister's disapproving gaze, and muttered:

"I… my declaration is concluded. I now yield to the speaker to preside over the session and… and read the proposed motions!"

After hastily fulfilling his duty, the freckled prince's tense expression eased slightly. He quickly set down the script, hurried up the steps behind the podium, and sat cautiously on the edge of the golden imperial throne, his eyes filled with suspicion as he stared toward the deputy speaker's seat.

With the imperial address concluded and the royal prince seated on the throne behind the podium, over a hundred attending councilors and more than eight hundred associate members—nearly a thousand eyes in total—turned sharply toward the speaker's seat.

…

Perfect. Now I don't have to worry about Princess Wei losing her nerve to stage a coup. You've plucked this peach at just the right moment.

Smiling at the uncertain Joshua on the throne and giving him an encouraging glance, Leon rose from the speaker's seat and stepped onto the main podium along the red-carpeted stairs.

Two guards brought forward the single podium meant for the speaker. Leon stood behind it, facing away from Joshua, picked up the silver hammer resting on the table, and struck it hard against the golden clock beside the lectern.

"I declare!"

Looking around at the councilors seated in red rows to either side, Leon beamed and announced:

"The… Upper Academy session is officially open!"