Chapter 450: Playing the Father Card
Chapter 450: Playing the Father Card
Tsk... It seems like I can't fool him any longer.
Although I wish to stall for more time, waiting for the old king to regain his human form and then die, the princess is clearly getting impatient. Lyon had no choice but to abandon his plan to delay further and returned the old king's Iron Plate head.
"Father? Father?"
After calling out twice without waking the old king, the princess had no choice but to hold the old king's Iron Plate head and rush back to the direction of the Imperial Palace.
Fortunately, the Iron Plate Transformation effect of Annihilator Three required time to gradually take effect, and similarly, it needed time to revert when the effect was removed, giving her a chance to save her father.
By the time the princess hurried back to the study and helped the old king reattach his head, his body had not fully reverted from the Iron Plate Transformation. Thankfully, he did not die from the head separation.
Phew... Just in time.
Seeing the old king with his head reattached, his eyelids still slightly trembling, the princess who had successfully saved her father finally breathed a sigh of relief. She then turned around, her eyes filled with complexity, and looked towards Lyon.
Although Lyon had placed her in the Mirror World, just like how Annihilator Three could read parts of her memory, the transformed Princess Veronica could also see what Annihilator Three was doing.
If Lyon hadn't arrived in time this time, and if Annihilator Three's ability had spread, all the royal family members, including the old king, would have been slaughtered. But...
His ill-intent towards his own father was indeed quite significant.
Previously, he insisted on tying his father's head to his waist, which could be explained as a precaution to protect his father from harm. But just now, if it weren't for his urging, he might have continued to feign ignorance and stall until the anomaly's effect completely wore off.
Moreover, his father and Lyon had never even met before. The only possible reason for Lyon's strong animosity towards his father was likely due to his own actions, in other words, Lyon was probably trying to eliminate an "obstacle" for him, and the reason would fall back on himself...
This is such a headache...
...
"Lyon..."
Seeing that Lyon had noticed her gaze but deliberately averted his eyes, Princess Veronica couldn't help but sigh and instruct him:
"My father does have many... flaws, but he is still my father, and he once treated me well. So, no matter what happens in the end, I still hope he can be well... Can you do that?"
"Mhm, mhm."
Lyon nodded in agreement, knowing that he couldn't get rid of the old king anymore. He responded with a rather insincere tone, "The anomaly incident in the palace is already a failure on the local branch's part. If even the king were to disappear, our director would go crazy. So, I also hope your father can be well."
"..."
I'll believe you when pigs fly...
Hearing this response, which was mostly insincere with only a hint of truth, the princess couldn't help but shake her head speechlessly. She decided to skip this topic and instead asked with some concern:
"Lyon, shouldn't you be in a meeting at this time? How's the parliament? And what about Joshua?"
Joshua... While you're playing the father card here, he's probably doing the same with his mother over there. He should be safe, right?
"Joshua should be fine, and you'll see him soon. As for the parliament..."
After answering the question about Joshua, Lyon, feeling good about the successful coup, smiled and confidently assured,
"Rest assured, I've taken care of the parliament. No problems there!"
"That's good."
Unaware that Lyon's "taken care of" meant that opposing parliament members had been arrested, she thought he had followed her original plan and smoothly pushed forward several proposals.
Hearing the parliament's "all clear," Princess Veronica couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and as the worry that had been weighing on her heart dissipated, she couldn't resist holding Lyon's hand, her expression filled with apology as she spoke.
"Lyon, you've really been through a lot these past few days. I... I'm sorry, I went on and on about other things, and even the parliament and Joshua have asked, but I didn't ask if you were hurt."
Even now, I haven't thanked you properly, and I'm grateful that you saved me again... Lyon, do you... do you think I'm being unreasonable?"
"No."
Shaking his head, Lyon patted her hand, his expression serious as he replied.
"You and I are different. You carry too much on your shoulders, and there's too much to handle. In times like these, it's right to first confirm the situation, and it's what you should do.
Besides, you can clearly see if I'm injured or not, so there's no need to ask again. You don't need to thank me either; whether you say it or not, it's the same to me."
Alright...
After hearing Lyon's response, Princess Veronica couldn't help but bite her lip, then sighed helplessly in her heart.
I thought you'd say something like, "Given our relationship, there's no need for thanks," or "It's okay, people always care about their loved ones last." But it turns out to be this kind of answer...
...
"Ugh..."
Just as the princess reluctantly grasped Lyon's hand, preparing to say something more, the iron-plated palace returned to normal, and the old king's iron plate transformation completely faded away. He opened his eyes, looking a bit dazed.
"I... where am I?"
"Father..."
Looking at the old king's entire body curled up in the wheelchair, even his once-straight back now hunched over, appearing aged and helpless, Princess Veronica called out to him, then pursed her lips and fell silent.
The old king, having regained his senses, moved his body a little, and suddenly, his eyes narrowed with intensity. He straightened up from the wheelchair, and with his eyes fixed on the princess, he asked in a stern voice:
"Why are you here? Where's Joshua? What are you up to?"
"..."
Wow...
Listening to the old king's rapid-fire questions, Lyon couldn't help but click his tongue. Just before the princess could respond, he answered with a stern expression.
"Just now, an anomaly went berserk, and your head was nearly cleaved off. You were about to be beheaded.
But as I was preparing to act... about to bring Joshua back to find someone, I noticed something was wrong and took care of the rampaging anomaly. Veronica put your head back on, so you didn't die. Is there anything else?"
"..."
Anomaly rampage... head... so it wasn't a dream? Hearing Lyon's words, the old king, whose eyes had been somewhat dazed, finally fully regained his memory from before he fainted, and he also remembered his conversation with the 'Metal Princess.'
"Veronica..."
Looking at the princess, whose gaze was complex, her expression filled with disappointment and distance, the old king fell silent for a moment, then averted his eyes and sighed lightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm not a good father."
It's unclear whether it was the words of the Metal Princess that affected him or if he was unable to control his emotions after being struck, but the usually cold-hearted old king, in a rare display of paternal love, spoke softly.
"I wronged you in the past. If you don't want to marry, then don't. After Joshua ascends the throne, I'll make sure he treats you well."
"..."
(End of Chapter)
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