Chapter 425: The Three Goats' Meeting and Summoning
Chapter 425: The Three Goats' Meeting and Summoning
Finally... finally...
As Lyon extended his hand to support the Princess's face, forcefully inviting her to join him in "making a big move," Black Goat couldn't help but hold his breath, his goat face flushing with excitement.
We've finally waited for this moment!!!
This guy is too cautious; without confidence, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly. I originally thought that I'd have to wait another three to five years, or even seven, for him to grow stronger before seeing him succumb to his desires and begin to vent his anger at this world.
Unexpectedly, after joining the Purification Bureau, he only worked diligently for two months before he could no longer suppress the flames in his heart. He has already begun to make his move against this human kingdom!
Once he uses this foolish woman as a stepping stone to gain the ability to act as he pleases, the anger that has been fermenting in his heart for over two months, finally ignited by the Nightmare King, will sweep through everything!
Just imagining that beautiful future, Black Goat, who has been feeling stifled for a long time, couldn't help but tremble with excitement.
By then, as long as I draw a small portion of his raging fury as nourishment, it will be enough to bring about a qualitative change in myself. I will finally...
"I'm finally going to make it!"
Amidst Black Goat's astonished expression, a shout filled with joy burst forth.
"Wonderful! This is truly wonderful!"
Through Black Goat's eyes, feeling the surging desires, it was as if he had witnessed the seeds of ambition he had painstakingly sown finally breaking through the dark soil, and the tender sprouts were emerging. The Heart of Ambition couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"This extreme ambition will undoubtedly bring about supreme power, and this supreme power will, in turn, nurture supreme arrogance! Once he completely controls the entire kingdom, this inflated extreme desire will undoubtedly help me return to the pinnacle!"
"..."
Hey, I was the first one here, right? Why are you acting so high and mighty?
Unexpectedly, there was someone even more arrogant than himself, and Black Goat was furious. Just as he was about to curse at Sheep Heart in his soul, another excited voice rang out.
"This is greed! I sense endless greed! This desire to dominate everything, to make the entire kingdom bend to his will..."
"Are you blind? This is clearly boundless ambition!"
"Nonsense! You blind demons don't even have eyes, how can you see anything? This is undoubtedly the rage that will destroy everything!"
"Hmph, who do you think you are? I'm the strongest, so if I say it's arrogance, then it's arrogance!"
"I believe that whose eyes are not important, because with this endless greed as nourishment, your eyes will eventually become mine."
"Get out! No one is allowed in! All of you, get out of my mind!"
...
As the three goats argued and mocked each other, the Princess, equally troubled by Lyon's question, pleaded softly with a hint of helplessness in her eyes:
"Lyon, I really don't know what to do. Your words are a bit... a bit too sudden. Can you give me more time to think? I need to consider this carefully."
"Of course. After all, this matter should be led by you, and the final decision to proceed or not must respect your wishes."
After seeing Veronica's expression, Lyon understood that this was the limit for now, so he didn't push her further. Instead, he nodded and withdrew his right hand from her face.
"Thank you..."
After that scorching hand left her cheek, Veronica couldn't help but ask softly:
"Lyon, if I didn't agree, will you be disappointed in me?"
Upon hearing this, Lyon paused for a moment before shaking his head.
"I am disappointed, but not with you. After all, you have no obligation to do this.
You only need to express your willingness to withdraw from proposals that may harm the royal family's interests or dilute the king's power, and you'll have a good chance of inheriting the throne. There's no need to take such a risk.
On the contrary, I've been taking advantage of your kindness, trying to force you to accept my proposal. Therefore, no matter what you decide in the end, I can understand."
Understand, but not necessarily agree?
After hearing the hidden meaning in Lyon's words, Veronica pursed her lips once more, her eyes filled with complexity.
"Lyon... What you just told me, whether it's known by the kingdom or the Purification Bureau, your outcome might not be too good. Are you... Are you not worried that I might betray you?
Upon hearing this, Lyon turned to her, his fingers pressing against the Black Goat beside him under the table, and asked with a serious expression:
"So, can you?"
"No."
After using the Black Goat's soul vision to observe the Princess's true colors, Lyon nodded and said:
"In that case, I'm not worried."
"..."
Seeing that she had received his promise and chosen to believe in him, Princess Veronica's heart warmed, and her eyes softened as she spoke softly:
"Lyon, can I ask you one last question?"
"Go ahead."
"I want to know, why do you think I can change this country once I become queen?"
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Lyon was slightly taken aback, and he asked in return:
"Aren't you already changing this country?"
I've been changing this country?
After hearing Lyon's response, Princess Veronica was also momentarily surprised, and she instinctively clenched her palm.
Indeed, although she hadn't completely broken through this stagnant situation, just as Lyon had said before, she had always been doing the right thing!
Even Lyon, who was willing to take such a huge risk to share his thoughts with her, did so because he acknowledged her efforts. So, all the things she had done over the years weren't entirely in vain, and perhaps... she had indeed shown some people the light.
"Thank you..."
Feeling a sense of validation from Lyon's response, the princess's heart was filled with gratitude, and she couldn't help but take a deep breath, relying on her remaining rationality to barely hold back from agreeing right then and there.
"I'll take my leave. Regarding your proposal... I'll definitely give it serious thought."
Leaving behind these words, with her heart and face burning with emotion, she quickly exited the private dining room and left the restaurant, hurrying into the slightly chilly air of the capital city.
Lyon, who was unable to catch up, had just decided to follow her out when the waiter standing guard at the door suddenly stepped forward, politely yet firmly blocking his path.
"Sir."
The waiter looked at Lyon with sympathy, having been abandoned by his female companion, and despite his proper attire, he hardened his heart and smiled politely:
"Your order is already being prepared. Is there anything else you require?"
"..."
What do I need... I need you to call the person paying the bill!
Seeing the waiter scrutinizing him as if afraid he would dine and dash, Lyon's lips parted slightly, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to call the princess back to pay.
"Um..."
However, after considering the prices on the menu, the recently cash-strapped rebel leader could only cough awkwardly and tentatively negotiate:
"Is there any way to cancel some dishes? After all, my female companion had to leave, and I can't finish all these dishes alone. Can I get a refund for some of them?"
"I'm sorry, but all the dishes are already being prepared. But I can go and hurry them up for you."
"Alright..."
...
Wait, what was I doing here again?
As Lyon sat before a table full of sumptuous dishes, eating the most expensive meal of his life, the princess, reminded by her growling stomach, suddenly recalled her original plan.
That's not right?
Today, I just wanted to invite Lyon out for a meal, to reconnect and keep him from constantly thinking about leaving the nobility. But after ordering the food and chatting for a while, it suddenly turned into an armed coup, suppressing the nobility and seizing power...
And we haven't even eaten yet...
Pressing her grumbling stomach, the princess couldn't help but roll her eyes at the absurd turn of events.
It's like... every time I'm alone with Lyon, something strange happens.
We went to watch a play and ended up being attacked by an anomaly, turning from spectators to performers. Later, when I visited him, I flirted a little too much and ended up sleeping on his sofa for a night.
And today, I just wanted a simple meal, and to ask him to attend the parliament sessions for a few days to help push my proposal, but I almost got convinced to launch an armed coup...
No matter what my original intention is, after meeting Lyon, things always seem to veer off in an unexpected direction, leading me down a path I never imagined, towards an outcome completely unrelated to my initial plan.
A strange man... Hmm... But that doesn't seem too bad.
For some reason, Princess Veronica suddenly raised her hand and gently touched her left cheek as this thought crossed her mind.
Just a few minutes ago, a scorching hot palm had been placed on her cheek, leaving her no choice but to answer his question.
Who would have thought that a man who couldn't bear to be teased by her would have such a dominant side...
Mimicking Lyon's gesture, she tried to caress her own cheeks several times, but couldn't recapture that strange yet not unpleasant feeling. The princess had no choice but to lower her hand and lean against the carriage wall, trying to clear her chaotic thoughts and consider Lyon's proposal.
If she rejected Lyon, after the parliament ended in two days, it wouldn't be long before her father, as the king, would demand the annulment of their engagement, and then marry her off to someone far away.
At that time, she would not only lose her efforts over the years but also the opportunity to bring about thorough change in the kingdom. She would have to watch countless "Lyons" and "Annas" continue to struggle in their painful lives.
But if she chose to accept Lyon's proposal, it would be like severing the last shred of father-daughter affection. With her father's stubborn personality, he would likely never speak to her again until his dying day.
Additionally, her father had been king for nearly twenty years, and his prestige was not low. To ensure the kingdom's stability, she would have to confine him. Considering the backlash from the old nobility after the reforms, this confinement would likely last over ten years, perhaps even longer.
Her father had been ill for six years, and his health had always been poor. If he were to be confined and his illness exacerbated by anger, it was uncertain if he could hold on until the situation stabilized and the confinement ended...
What should I choose?
After returning to the palace by carriage, the hesitant princess entered her bedroom, walked up to a shelf beside the desk, and stood there, lost in thought.
On the top of this shelf, there was a row of picture frames, slightly worn but obviously well-polished. In the largest frame, there was a young and healthy couple and a girl with a joyful smile.
Although the photo was faded due to age and exposure, upon closer inspection, one could still make out the girl's facial features and see the genuine happiness in her eyes.
The girl in the photo wore a flower crown made of wildflowers, sitting on a swing made of wooden boards and vines, swinging high into the sky, her eyes clear and carefree, devoid of the cunning and pretense of adulthood.
Behind the girl was a young man with deep laugh lines on his nose, but his smile was gentle. In the photo, he was pushing the swing forward, holding the girl's swing with both arms and swinging her high into the sky.
Not far from the father and daughter, a young woman was sitting in a chair beside the swing, looking at her husband and daughter's playful antics with gentle eyes.
"Father... Mother..."
After caressing the old photo, the princess clenched her fist slightly, then moved her gaze from the photo and looked down at the shelf below.
A tin doll with half its face shattered, its expression seemed to be smiling sadly, leaning quietly on the shelf. Its two emerald glass eyes held a hint of nameless sorrow, gazing timidly at her.
"..."
Six years ago, in Cornwall City... at the end of the alley, a dilapidated factory... a pool of vibrant syrup... survivors hiding in the warehouse... a little girl hugging a doll, looking at her fearfully... a fuel bomb falling from above... the ignited syrup... a raging orange fire...
Seeing the doll's eyes, identical to the girl's, the nightmare that had tormented the princess for six years, once again surged uncontrollably into her mind.
Gently caressing the burn marks on the doll's arm, remembering Lyon's expression as he recounted his past, the princess bit her lip.
What should I...
Knock, knock, knock.
Just as her inner conflict intensified, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Your Highness."
After receiving the princess's permission, two female officials entered the room, respectfully informing her, "His Majesty knows you've returned and requests your presence to discuss the situation after your meeting with the Prime Minister this afternoon."
(End of Chapter)
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