I! Cleaner!

Realizing that the Princess didn't have any intention of "storming into the capital" and directly forcing the old King to abdicate, Leon couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then asked:

"Since you don't plan to storm the palace, what exactly are the 'things you have to do' that you mentioned just now?"

"I meant the officer replacement order and the bill to expand citizens' suffrage... Why did you think I was going to storm the palace with people?"

After causing a bit of a fuss with Leon, the Princess's agitated emotions calmed down a bit. She then sat back in her seat, explaining with a complex expression:

"Like you said before, no matter what the final result is, what I'm doing right now is not wrong. After all, by replacing those unqualified officers who climbed the ranks just due to their background, only then can the corrupt military breathe a little;

And right now, most of the parliament members have a business background. Even those who aren't from a business background have received business sponsorship before being elected. Only by expanding citizens' suffrage can we dilute the excessive influence of businessmen in parliament... These are things that need to be done, they can't just be stopped."

So, even knowing that you've been played by the old King, are you still going to see this through to the end?

After looking at the Princess with some admiration, Leon probed and asked:

"And then? What are you planning to do next?"

And then...

Hearing Leon's question, Princess Veronica couldn't help but bite her lip again, then said helplessly:

"Take it one step at a time... Leon, my mind is a mess right now. I've thought countless times over the years about what to do if reforms can't be implemented or if issues arise during the process.

But I really never thought about what to do if my father... if the royal family suddenly turned against me, I still need some time to think about it carefully... Anyway, thanks for the reminder."

Saying this, the Princess, whose emotions had stabilized a lot, first looked at Leon with gratitude, then sighed with a slightly lonely expression:

"I used to think that as long as I did well enough and found a feasible new path for the Kingdom, my father would trustfully pass the throne to me. After all, although he has objections to my ideas, he's always been supportive.

But now it seems, maybe I was out of the game from the beginning, his chosen successor has always been Joshua. After all, if you lack skills, you can learn, and if you can't learn, you can delegate to someone capable.

And my 'problem' seems to be bigger. For him and the entire royal family, I'm somewhat... how should I say it..."

"You've betrayed your class origin, or to be blunt, your stance isn't aligned with the royal family."

"Yes... that's about it..."

Hearing Leon's words, the Princess couldn't help but instinctively adjust her ample figure, moving to the edge of the chair, then nodded helplessly:

"Yes, that's the idea. To the royal family, I'm a maverick who betrayed them... But just say the first half next time, I'll probably understand what you mean... Also, class..."

After carefully pondering the word, the Princess couldn't help but blink, then commented with a hint of admiration in her eyes:

"Like steps dividing levels, arranged one step at a time upwards, clearly distinct from each other, almost impossible to cross without external force... The word you summarized really fits the current Kingdom remarkably well."

"..."

Like steps dividing levels...

Hearing the Princess's words, Leon was slightly taken aback.

In his past life, he had heard that word many times, but mostly just listened in confusion, using it muddily. It was truly the first time he pondered its inherent meaning.

Looking at the insightful Princess, who grasped its meaning upon the first hearing, Leon fell silent for a moment, then probingly asked:

"So... would you reconsider?"

"???"

Upon hearing Leon's question, the Princess blinked in confusion.

"Reconsider what?"

"Go back and storm the palace with people, force your father to give up the position, then..."

"You... I'm feeling terrible right now, can you please not joke about it!"

Hearing Leon's words, the Princess said with a mix of exasperation and amusement:

"The only organized garrison in the Capital is the palace guard, and the only one with the authority to deploy troops in the Capital is the King, not even the Queen can do it, even the guards by my side are sent by them, so who do you want me to take to attack the palace?

Moreover, the Kingdom is governed by the entire royal family. What people recognize is the soldiers the royal family can mobilize, the wealth the royal family owns, and those sitting within the seventeen departments who are willing to listen to the royal family's orders and hold large amounts of the Kingdom's affairs, not that throne-representing chair.

Even if I could conjure up an army and seize the throne, it doesn't guarantee taking over these soldiers, wealth, and power, and the nobles would oppose me instantly.

Don't be fooled by the current struggle between nobility and the royal family, if I really broke the rules, the Upper House would immediately convene a meeting to declare my throne invalid and nominate Joshua or another royal member to assume power.

And those stability-pursuing merchant members of the Lower House wouldn't endorse a queen who rose to power by breaking the rules... In short, if I really stormed the palace, everything would truly be over."

"Not necessarily."

Patiently listening to the Princess, Leon thought for a moment, then calmly analyzed:

"People are creatures of habit, the old King has been ill for the past six years, during which many of the Kingdom's affairs have mostly been handled by you, and he only shows up occasionally.

The royalist officials within the seventeen major departments say they are loyal to the royal family, but in reality, they've been following your orders for the past six years. Some are even like the ministers of the military department, outright appointed by you, they've already gotten used to following your commands.

So your advantage is much greater than you think. As long as you can stabilize the situation, these royalist officials may not stand against you, most will choose to wait and see, or even actively offer allegiance."

"???

Regarding the soldiers, that's even less of a problem. As long as you can implement the officer replacement order, even if you can only change three-tenths of the mid-to-low level officers, your influence in the military department would be greatly amplified. If you can temporarily stabilize the situation, you might even garner unimaginable support.

After all, on one side is an old rule that disregards talent for lineage, suppressing them for life, while on the other side is a chance to rise up, even intending to give them more under a new queen... The choice isn't a hard one, right?"

"Leon?!"

Watching Leon analyze the possibilities with burning eyes, the Princess found herself suddenly astonished and incredulous, exclaiming:

"Do you know what you're saying?!"