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Chapter 429: A Harmonious Meeting (Part 1)
Chapter 429: A Harmonious Meeting (Part 1)
Upon hearing the identity of the so-called "helper," Joshua's scalp tingled, and he even felt a strange phantom pain on his face.
If there was one person in the entire kingdom that the Freckled Prince feared the most, it would be his cheap brother-in-law, and no one could possibly come close to taking the top spot.
After all, even if he did something outrageous and angered the old king, the worst he would get was a few scoldings and perhaps a few days of confinement. If the queen interceded, he might even get off without any punishment.
But if he were to anger his cheap brother-in-law, he would be slapped hard, perhaps even knocked unconscious, and then slapped again until he woke up. The treatment would continue until the other party's anger subsided.
What was even more disheartening was that after all the slapping, he wouldn't face any punishment.
Joshua touched his face, which had been slapped several times, and couldn't help but feel a deep sense of helplessness in his eyes.
The royal family needed the help of the other party's ducal status to inherit the Ryan family's political legacy, so they wouldn't pursue the crime of assaulting a prince and would only choose to let it go.
When Joshua reported to the Purification Bureau, asking them to restrain this madman, their response was that it was none of their business.
Those fools believed that considering the madman's relationship with Veronica and their marriage, it was considered a royal family matter. As long as he didn't use anomalies to harm Joshua, it didn't violate the Purification Bureau's rules.
So, as a prince, Joshua was slapped in his own kingdom, and in the end, he didn't even have a place to seek justice. How could this be right?
"Uncle! Why did you think of asking him for help?"
Peeking through the curtain, Joshua saw a familiar figure in the Vice Speaker's seat and instinctively shrank back. Then, he complained,
"That guy is a madman! When pushed to the limit, he won't care about the occasion. Couldn't you have consulted me before looking for help?"
"You just returned from the Morana Kingdom last night. How could I consult you? And mind your manners!"
Looking at the prince's fearful expression, the Chancellor of Finance's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he scolded 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 what if he comes over and hits me later..."
"Why would he hit you? In the past, he did slap you, but that was when the Ryan family still had value, and Veronica backed him up, so he dared to be so brazen.
Now, Veronica is confined to her bedroom, and the Ryan family's worth is almost drained. He's just an empty shell of a duke.
If he really goes crazy and dares to hit you in front of so many people, then hit him back! If you can't beat him, call the guards! The fact that the royal family didn't take action in the past doesn't mean they can't now! What's there to be afraid of?"
That... makes sense?
After hearing his uncle's words, Joshua's eyes lit up.
Yes, things are different now from the past. The kingdom can certainly take action against him. Without his entourage, no matter how arrogant he is, he wouldn't dare to come and hit me in front of so many people, right?
Gaining confidence from the Chancellor's words, the Freckled Prince straightened his spine, raised his head with a proud demeanor, and glared fiercely in Lyon's direction through the curtain.
Damn it! This time, I'll see what else you can do to be so arrogant! Without Veronica's backing, you're just... just...
"Hiss..."
Joshua's eyes met Lyon's through the gap in the curtain, and he couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
Although Lyon, seated, didn't show any extra expression, his eyes stared unwaveringly through the curtain's gap, and upon noticing Joshua's gaze, his lips even curled up, revealing... a rather relieved expression.
What are you relieved about? Tell me! Why are you relieved at a time like this?
"Alright, it's about time."
As Joshua's eyes widened, instinctively feeling something was amiss, the Chancellor of Finance took out his pocket watch, glanced at it, and then urged,
"Hurry up and go out, it's your turn to take the stage and deliver the Royal Proclamation."
"Uncle, I... I feel..."
"Hurry up and go! We can talk later!"
"..."
Although he felt something was off, as the attendant lifted the curtain in front of him, the Freckled Prince could only leave the preparation area under the gaze of that relieved expression, gritting his teeth as he stepped onto the main stage prepared for the Royal Proclamation and began reciting the prepared speech.
"I, Prince Joshua, appointed by the current King of the Kingdom, respectfully represent the King and the entire Royal Family, and attend this Upper House Parliament."
After somewhat awkwardly reciting the tongue-twisting opening, Joshua, made nervous by someone's relieved gaze, lowered his head, staring intently at the speech, and raised his right hand to swear,
"I will, on behalf of the current King, promise to the attending Members of Parliament and all the subjects of the Kingdom, that this Upper House Parliament will abide by the Kingdom's Codex and Chamber Rules, according to... upholding... complying with... maintaining..."
As if chased by a flood and beasts, Joshua hurriedly finished the speech, and under the watchful eyes of the dissatisfied Chancellor of Finance, turned his head slightly flustered and said,
"My... My proclamation ends here, and I now ask the Speaker to preside over the Parliament and... and read out all the proposals!"
After hastily fulfilling his duty, the Freckled Prince's tense expression relaxed slightly, and he quickly put down the speech, hurriedly climbed onto the main stage, and cautiously sat on the golden royal throne behind the main stage, then looked towards the Vice Speaker's seat with a cautious gaze.
And with the end of the Royal Proclamation, the prince representing the Royal Family took his seat on the golden throne behind the main stage, and the entire hall of over one hundred attending Members of Parliament, along with eight hundred observer members, a total of nearly one thousand eyes, all turned towards the Speaker's seat.
...
Great, now I don't have to worry about the Princess having a change of heart and staging a coup. You guys picked the peach at just the right time.
Smiling at Joshua on the throne, who was filled with doubt, Lyon gave him an encouraging look, then stood up and left the Speaker's seat, walking up the red-carpeted steps to the main stage.
Immediately, two guards brought up the solo podium prepared for the Speaker, and Lyon, standing behind the solo podium with his back to Joshua, lifted the silver mallet on the podium and struck the golden clock next to the podium with force.
"I declare!"
Looking around at the members seated on the red seats on both sides of the hall, Lyon announced with a smile,
"The... Upper House Parliament officially begins!"
(End of Chapter)
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