Chapter 160

Chapter 132: The Hot-headed Brother Takes Over

The voices outside the courtyard grew closer.

Victoria gave Bart a stern look for a moment before turning to Reckert and saying, “Stop them from coming in.”

Reckert bowed his head in obedience, then turned and walked towards the door. From a pouch at his waist, he took out something shaped like a bird—it seemed to be a whistle. He put it in his mouth just as he stepped out the door.

Two clear chirps rang out, short then long. Immediately afterward, a soft wind blew through the window. Someone came down from the roof with a whoosh, at least three people by the sound of it. Ghost-like figures flashed past the window, moving quickly, but I still managed to catch a glimpse of the shining sword emblem on their shoulders.

A mocking feeling arose in my heart.

What was that about “Kanri Swordsmen aren’t anyone’s guards; they’re Ethanbell’s warriors”? Tsk, hypocritical politicians.

I could hear an argument starting outside.

“Her Majesty is discussing important matters with someone. You cannot enter.”

“What do you mean?!”

“The Kanri Swordsmen! How dare you obstruct the royal family! Have you forgotten the honor and duty of being a warrior?!”

“Move aside!”

“Carrying out orders. I apologize, Prince.” It was Reckert’s voice.

“Damn it… You have no right to do this! Even your queen has to respectfully call me uncle when she sees me!”

“Vicky!” a woman shouted, her voice shrill, “Let us in! Auntie has something to tell you!”

Inside the mansion, Victoria remained calm and indifferent.

Bart’s face, hidden in shadow, showed a faint upward curve at the corners of his lips.

“Your Majesty,” he deliberated for a moment before speaking, “these years, the commoners in Ethanbell have indeed been grumbling. I understand your desire to change the current situation urgently. But using such radical means will only complicate what should be simple matters. Look, our Clive family, those nobles who have served Ethanbell wholeheartedly, your uncles, aunts, other members of the royal family, even your mother… everyone’s interests are intertwined. Why do you want to do something that will make everyone unhappy?”

His words were earnest, as if he were lecturing a younger relative.

“You’re young. You don’t understand many things yet, and making mistakes is normal. We can all understand that. But this matter… really shouldn’t be handled this way. It would put us all in a difficult position. Your uncles, mother, and other noble relatives used to discuss affairs directly with the finance minister, but the manager’s decree on the treasury effectively strips the finance minister of his authority. This is indeed troubling… if implemented, the one who will suffer the most will be you… You’re smart, so you must understand this. Right?”

Bart pleaded earnestly, but Victoria listened silently, nodding solemnly after he finished.

“Yes.”

She extended her left hand, palm up, holding her slender, fair fingers in front of her eyes as if admiring some priceless treasure, turning them over and over.

After a while, she spoke again, “But now, the treasury in the capital is tight. There are less than ten million Kanri gold coins remaining. Ethanbell seems prosperous, but it is actually deeply in debt. The interest on borrowed money is already a million a year… General Bart, what do you suggest we do?”

Victoria seemed to be softening her stance.

Hearing this, Bart was so excited he forgot his manners and looked up abruptly.

“Your Majesty, if you are willing to listen, I have a good solution here.”

“Go on.”

I frowned, turning my gaze to Victoria’s flawless profile.

Of course, she ignored me.

Bart’s confident voice echoed in my ears, “Actually… this problem is easy to solve. Your Majesty, think about it. For decades, since the War of the Roses, Ethanbell has been peaceful. There has been no war, no suffering, not even the monsters from the Abyss have come this far. The people live in peace and prosperity, perhaps too much so.”

“But those are just commoners. Once they become complacent, they might start thinking for themselves. If they start thinking, it will cause trouble for us. We can’t let them think. So, why not increase their taxes? Find ways to burden them in every aspect, leaving them no time to rest. In this way, the commoners won’t have the energy to think about nonsense and will only work hard. More taxes mean more revenue for the capital treasury… isn’t this solving the problem? What do you think?”

Bart looked at Victoria, eyes full of expectation.

“Mm.”

Victoria responded softly, her expression somewhat indifferent.

Unsure of the young queen’s thoughts, Bart continued to persuade, “This is also beneficial for the future development of the capital. It benefits everyone. Not only does it solve the kingdom’s financial crisis, but it also effectively prevents the commoners from doing foolish things. It’s a win-win, a perfect solution! Why wouldn’t we do this? Don’t you agree?”

Victoria pondered for a moment… then slowly nodded.

“It sounds reasonable,” she said.

My eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

He stared at her.

Victoria’s face remained calm, her radiant golden eyes showing no emotion.

“This plan wasn’t your idea, was it?” she asked softly, like a puppet devoid of emotion.

“Haha!” Bart laughed dryly upon hearing this. “I don’t have that kind of mind… To be honest, this was actually the result of Duke Lex and your mother discussing together.”

“Is that so…”

Victoria slightly raised her head, her smooth blond hair sliding down her shoulders in disarray, spilling over the sofa.

Her gaze became distant, as if shrouded in a mist, then she seemed to mutter to herself, “Where there’s oppression, there’s resistance… If they raise their sharp knives… What do we do then?”

“Her Majesty, you overestimate these lowlifes. Resistance? Do they dare?” Bart said with an indifferent smile. “They won’t dare. After living comfortably for so long, these lowlifes have forgotten how to use a knife. But our ironclad guards are strong and well-equipped. If we encounter someone reckless, it’s just a matter of killing a few people… I hope such a situation happens soon; the more we kill, the more obedient the remaining lowlifes will become.”

“Her Majesty, you must understand, we—you are the one who sets the rules of the game, a noble existence. They are merely lowly commoners. No matter what we give them, they must accept it.”

As he spoke, Bart turned his gaze toward me.

“I’m sure this noble lady also understands the fun of this, right?”

… He seemed to be happily joking with me.

He probably thought that since I am part of the royal family of the Valen Empire, I would certainly understand his thinking.

The nobles exploiting the commoners—this is natural, isn’t it?

To hell with it.

I can tolerate you breaking my front door, tolerating you dirtying my carpet, tolerating you bringing a group of your kind to cause a ruckus in my courtyard.

These are minor things. I’m not from Ethanbel, and I don’t really want to get involved with them.

But now I want to hit someone.

Some people, just because they were born into better circumstances, think they are superior and treat others like livestock, while they themselves enjoy the fruits of others’ labor.

Suppressing my anger, I looked again at the ice-cold beauty beside me with no expression.

“Victoria.” I called out her name softly.

I wanted to see shock, anger, or disbelief on her face.

I didn’t see any of that.

Victoria was very calm, still maintaining her composed demeanor, making it impossible to guess her true thoughts.

The arguments outside grew louder.

I felt agitated, starting to consider whether to politely ask them to leave or simply state the facts. At this moment, Victoria spoke again.

“Let the people outside come in.”

Bart’s face lit up. “Yes! Her Majesty!”

He quickly left the room, leaving only the two of us in the large living room.

Victoria picked up her wine glass again. She didn’t sip it as before but tilted her head back and drank the remaining red wine in one go.

“Victoria,” I said coldly, “I have no right to interfere in anything. I understand your difficulties.”

“But if you compromise, I despise you.”

Victoria glanced at me indifferently and did not respond.

Soon after, Bart led in several elegantly dressed people. The moment they entered, the plump middle-aged man at the forefront started shouting.

“Victoria, you’re really good at putting on airs! Keeping Uncle waiting outside for so long, what does that mean? What are you trying to say?!”

The noblewoman walking beside her immediately tried to calm him. “Say less…”

The middle-aged man did not restrain himself. With his large belly swaying, he continued to shout, “As Queen, acting recklessly! Angering the Clive family, what benefit does it bring to our royal family?! You must immediately revoke the decree!”

“Calm down, Your Highness,” Bart hurriedly intervened. “After our discussion, I believe Her Majesty has already understood the severity of the situation, right? Young people make mistakes, just like her father, our respected former king. It’s fine, as long as they can correct themselves… Would Her Majesty like to have another talk with Uncle?”

Victoria put down her wine glass.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

Her face seemed to be covered with a layer of frost as she stood up and walked two steps to stand in front of Bart.

“Her Majesty, you—”

Before she could finish speaking, Victoria grabbed his chest plate.

Screech—

Her delicate fist, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound, smashed into Bart’s shocked face in everyone’s stunned gaze.

Bang!

Crash!

A gust of wind overturned the tea table and chairs. Including Richter, everyone’s hair seemed to dance wildly, and their faces distorted.

Snap.

The sound of bones breaking came from Bart’s nose.

His body flew backward with a whoosh, crashing into the wall behind him with a thud, then slowly slid down to the ground, his head hanging silently.

The house fell silent for a moment.

Drip, drip.

Bright red blood gushed from Bart’s cheek, staining the carpet beneath his feet.