I! Cleaner!

"It seems you should understand what I'm trying to say now..."

Seeing the princess's sudden startle and her involuntary clenching of her fists, Leon sighed and said:

"Just like you summarized earlier, you and your reformist faction represent a royal family that 'wants to reclaim power,' rather than one 'that wants to strengthen the Kingdom, so ordinary people are no longer suffering.'

For the royal family and even the King, the 'reforms' you are advocating are not the ultimate goal; they are merely a means to reclaim power. The reformist faction you represent is actually not speaking for the royal family."

"..."

Upon hearing Leon's summary, Princess Veronica instinctively wanted to refute, but after considering the situation of the royal family, she couldn't help but press her lips tightly.

Indeed... What I want has never been what the royal family wants.

Even among the reforms I push forward, many cut into the royal family's flesh, so although my greatest "power" comes from the support of the royal family, I have never truly been a spokesperson for the royal family.

"Moreover, among the four factions currently in the capital, the distinction between your reformist faction and the other three factions is very significant."

Seeing the princess' lips turning a bit pale from pressing her lips tightly, Leon hesitantly reminded:

"Whether it's the noble faction or the parliamentary faction, they all speak for their respective classes and fight for the interests of their backing powers; only your reformist faction is different.

Your greatest support comes from the royal family, but what you want to promote and fight for greatly conflicts with the royal family's interests, even completely contradicts them, so your 'base,' in reality, isn't as stable as the other three factions.

Nothing has gone wrong yet because your main goal in the past has always been to reclaim the power seized by the Old Nobility, along with regulating commercial activities to avoid the parliament passing some outrageous proposals.

This aligns with the royal family's idea of reclaiming power. After all, your identity is that of a princess, and the piece of the power cake you take is equivalent to entering the royal family's mouth, so the royal family has always supported you, but..."

"But it will be different from now on, right?"

Leaning powerlessly against the back of the chair, Princess Veronica, pale-faced, said:

"Father... The royal family's tolerance of me only extends to those insignificant parts; once I attempt to fully implement reforms, begin to divide the cake in the royal family's hands, the support for me will immediately stop.

This is truly... I originally thought those measures could revive the stagnant Kingdom, even make it increasingly strong, such beneficial things for the entire royal family, naturally they'd also be willing to support me, but... I was too naïve..."

"Not necessarily, after all, I'm merely guessing out of thin air."

Seeing her somewhat lost look, Leon couldn't help but open his mouth to comfort:

"The measures you're promoting could potentially enlarge the Kingdom's cake, and the royal family might still support you; these things may not necessarily happen."

"It's not may not, it's definitely going to happen."

Her beautiful eyes closed slightly, leaning powerlessly against the back of the chair, the princess bitterly smiled and said:

"Before you appeared, even though I was well aware of Joshua's incompetence, Father... He was always trying to marry me off, and all the targets chosen were people from other kingdoms.

I used to think he was preparing to marry me off far away when I hit a wall with my reforms, and the conflicts between the Kingdom's factions intensified, to quell disputes and stabilize the chaotic situation, but now it seems he probably thought even 'earlier'."

After thinking about the documents I brought home yesterday, Princess Veronica said with complex eyes:

"If I'm not mistaken, Father should be patiently waiting now.

He's waiting for me to implement the selection order, complete the military overhaul, suppress the Old Nobility's influence in the military; waiting for me to propose the expansion of citizen voting rights at the parliament meeting in a few days, slowly diminishing the power in the hands of big merchants and the Prime Minister. Cоntеnt sоurсеd frоm МVLЕМРYR – Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе.

And after I've done these two things, helping him eliminate the noble and parliament hindrances, he just needs to casually find a distant kingdom to marry off his troublesome daughter with unrealistic dreams, and then everything remaining won't be a problem."

"..."

"Haha, no family ties, only interests, this really is the style of the royal family."

Glancing at the silent Leon opposite, Princess Veronica self-deprecatingly smiled and said:

"Clearly, just completing the marriage alliance with you could thoroughly advance the reforms, but I went to Father several times, and he ultimately gave no direct statement, instead showing some ambiguous intentions.

I originally thought he wanted to put Joshua on the king's throne, so he didn't want me to hold too much power, giving Joshua a chance to struggle, but what I didn't expect was he never really considered me as his daughter, I am just a tool to sweep away obstacles!"

"..."

...

Ah this... It seems I've stirred up trouble...

Seeing the princess's fair neck reveal faint greenish veins and an abnormal flush on her cheeks, Leon couldn't help but open his mouth, wanting to comfort her but not knowing what to say, he could only dryly say:

"Um... Do you want to eat something first?"

"Sorry, I don't think I can eat."

The princess, who had always maintained a stable emotion, this time rarely showed her fragility, pale-faced and gave a bitter smile before directly standing up, stumbling towards the door.

Noticing her emotional instability, Leon quickly reached out to support her, then couldn't help but inquire:

"Where are you going?"

"I..."

Princess Veronica, holding her arm by Leon, gritted her teeth, then took a deep breath, pushed Leon's hand away, and pursed her lips:

"I need to go back and finish what I have to do..."

What you have to do... What do you mean by what you have to do?

Hearing her answer, Leon's heart couldn't help but suddenly skip a beat.

Given your current mental state, the so-called "what you have to do," won't it be what I mentioned earlier, gathering a team of guards to storm the palace, forcing your father to relinquish the throne immediately, and hanging anyone who dares oppose?

Ah this... I was merely chatting about politics with you while waiting for a meal, how did it turn into a bloody coup?

"Uh... Do you want to think about it a bit more?"

Seeing the princess's eyes filled with three parts resentment, six parts unwillingness, and one part inescapable sorrow, Leon hurriedly held her back, somewhat incoherently trying to dissuade:

"I'm not against you fighting for your own justice, but shouldn't you prepare more?

If you charge into the palace now, what if you're unprepared and lose to the palace guards, and get countered by your father? You should at least plan for a few more days!"

"You... What nonsense are you talking!"

Hearing Leon's words, even filled with anger, Princess Veronica still couldn't help but pause her expression, then stomped her feet forcefully and glared back in frustration.

"Regardless, he's still my father, he wants to marry me off, not harm me! How could I possibly do something like that!"

"Oh, that's how it is..."

"..."

After taking a long breath, releasing her grip on his arm and sitting back down again, Leon saw Princess Veronica's lips slightly move.

Why do I feel... you seem a little disappointed that I didn't act impulsively just now?