Chapter 425

Staring at Leon, who had just boldly invited the princess to join him in “doing something big” while holding her cheek, Black Goat couldn’t help but hold its breath as its sheep-like face flushed with excitement.

Finally! It’s finally here!!! This kid is way too cautious; he won’t move unless he’s sure. I thought we’d have to wait another three to five years for him to grow stronger before seeing him driven by his own desires, unleashing his anger against this world.

Who would’ve thought that after joining the Clearing Bureau and working diligently for just two months, he could no longer suppress the flames in his heart and began acting against this human kingdom! And once he uses this stupid woman as a stepping stone to gain the power to act freely, the anger that’s been fermenting in him for over two months and was fully ignited by the Nightmare King will sweep everything away!

Just imagining that glorious future made Black Goat tremble with excitement after being pent up for so long.

It’s about time…

“I’m finally going to make it!”

Amidst Black Goat’s stunned expression, a voice filled with joy abruptly invaded its soul.

“Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”

Through Black Goat’s eyes, sensing the wild surging desires, it felt like witnessing a seed it had carefully nurtured breaking through the dark soil and tentatively sprouting green buds. The [Aspiration] couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“This ultimate aspiration will surely bring ultimate power, and ultimate power will also give birth to ultimate arrogance! Once he fully controls the entire kingdom, this inflated desire will surely help me return to my peak!”

“…”

Wait… shouldn’t I be the first one to achieve this? Who the hell are you to be blabbering here?

Unexpectedly encountering someone—or some magic—stronger than itself, Black Goat exploded in rage. But just as it prepared to curse out the Sheep Heart in its soul, another excited voice joined in.

“This is greed! I can sense endless greed! The desire to dominate everything, making the whole kingdom follow his…”

“Are you blind? This is clearly boundless aspiration!”

“But I clearly see…”

“Bullshit! You two don’t even have eyes, how can you see anything? This is definitely the rage to destroy everything!”

“Hmph, who do you think you are? I’m the strongest, so whatever I say goes! If I say it’s arrogance, then it’s arrogance!”

“I think the owner of the eyes doesn’t matter. After all, with this endless greed as nourishment, your eyes will eventually become mine.”

“Get out! Don’t come in! All of you get out of my head!”

…

While the three were arguing fiercely, mocking and cursing each other, Princess Veronica, troubled by Leon’s proposition, softly pleaded with a hint of helplessness in her eyes: “Leon, I really don’t know what to do. Your words are… too sudden. Can you give me more time to think?”

“Of course. After all, this matter should revolve around you. Whether or not to proceed must respect your wishes.”

Looking into Princess Veronica’s eyes, realizing they had reached the limit for now, Leon didn’t push further. Nodding, he withdrew his right hand from her cheek.

“Thank you…”

After that scorchingly hot palm left her cheek, Princess Veronica instinctively sighed in relief, then couldn’t help but bite her lower lip and quietly asked: “Leon, since I didn’t nod, are you very disappointed in me?”

Hearing this, Leon paused for a moment, then shook his head: “I am disappointed, but not in you. After all, you never had an obligation to do this.

In fact, if you just go back and clearly state your willingness to abandon those proposals that might harm the royal family’s interests or weaken the king’s authority, you have a high chance of inheriting the throne without taking such risks.

On the contrary, I’ve been using your kindness to force you to agree with my suggestions, so no matter how you choose in the end, I can understand.”

Can understand… but not necessarily approve?

Understanding Leon’s underlying meaning, Princess Veronica pressed her lips together again, then looked at him with complicated eyes: “Leon… what you told me just now, whether the kingdom finds out or the Clearing Bureau does, the outcome for you probably won’t be good. Aren’t you worried that I’ll betray you?”

Hearing this, Leon glanced at her, pressing his finger on the nearby Black Goat under the table, then seriously asked:

“Will you?”

“No.”

Using Black Goat’s spiritual vision, Leon checked the princess’s aura and nodded:

“Then I’m not worried.”

“…”

Seeing Leon choosing to trust her based solely on her promise, Princess Veronica felt warmth in her heart. Her eyes softened as she whispered:

“Leon, may I ask you one last question?”

“Go ahead.”

“I want to know why you think I can change this country after becoming queen?”

“Hmm?”

Leon was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this, then counter-asked:

“Aren’t you already changing this country?”

I… am already changing this country? Hearing Leon’s response, Princess Veronica was equally surprised, then instinctively clenched her hands.

That’s right. Although I haven’t completely broken through this stagnant situation, as Leon said earlier, I’ve always been doing the right thing!

Even Leon risked great danger to share his thoughts with me because he recognized my efforts. So, what I’ve done these years isn’t all wasted. Perhaps… I’ve truly brought light to some people.

“Thank you…”

Feeling full of affirmation from Leon’s response, the princess deeply inhaled, barely restraining herself from agreeing on the spot with the little remaining rationality she had.

“I’ll leave first. Regarding your proposal… I’ll consider it carefully.”

Leaving these words, she quickly exited the private room, leaving the restaurant and stepping into the chilly night breeze of the capital city.

“Sir.”

The neatly dressed waiter sympathetically looked at Leon, whose date had left, then politely smiled despite his hardened heart: “Your order is already being prepared. Is there anything else you need?”

“…”

What do I need… I need you to call her back to pay!

Looking at the waiter in front of him, who was cautiously examining him as if fearing he’d skip the bill, Leon’s lips slightly parted but ultimately didn’t have the heart to call Princess Veronica back to settle the bill.

“Well…”

However, after pondering the prices on the menu, the recently cash-strapped rebel leader awkwardly coughed and tentatively negotiated: “Is there any dish that hasn’t been prepared yet? Since my… companion had to go home due to an emergency, I can’t finish all this food alone. Can I cancel a few dishes?”

“Sorry, all the dishes are already being prepared, but I can hurry them along for you.”

“Alright…”

Not missing a single word of content within 69 books!

…

Speaking of which… what was I supposed to do again?

As Leon sat facing a lavish meal, painfully devouring the most expensive meal of his life, the princess aboard the carriage was reminded by her rumbling stomach and suddenly remembered her original plan.

No, that’s not right. Today, I just wanted to invite Leon to dinner to strengthen our relationship a bit, so he wouldn’t keep insisting on canceling our engagement. How did ordering dishes and chatting turn into an armed coup, suppressing the nobility and seizing the throne? And we haven’t even eaten yet…

Pressing her grumbling stomach, recalling the absurd development, the princess involuntarily blinked in speechlessness.

Truly… every time I spend time alone with Leon, something seems to go wrong.

Watching a play got interrupted by an anomalous item attack, turning watching into performing. Later, visiting him to strengthen our relationship turned into excessive teasing, resulting in me sleeping on his sofa for a night.

And today was the craziest. I just wanted a simple dinner and asked him to show up at the upcoming parliament session to help me advance my proposal. Next thing I knew, I almost agreed to launch an armed rebellion…

It feels like no matter what my intentions are, after meeting Leon, things always deviate from the plan, leading me down a completely new path I’ve never considered, heading toward results completely unrelated to my original plans.

Strange man… um… but it’s not bad either.

Thinking about this, for some reason, Princess Veronica suddenly raised her hand and gently touched her left cheek.

Just minutes ago, a scorchingly hot palm forcibly held it here, demanding a direct answer to his questions.

Never would I have thought that the boy who couldn’t handle even a little teasing has such a dominant side…

Trying to mimic Leon’s actions several times, unable to replicate that strange yet not unpleasant feeling, the princess put down her hand, leaned against the carriage wall, cleared her mind as much as possible, and began pondering Leon’s proposal.

If I refuse Leon, after the parliament session ends in three days, it won’t be long before Father, as king, requests to terminate my engagement with Leon and marries me off far away.

At that point, I’ll lose not only Le… the efforts of many years but also the opportunity to thoroughly change the kingdom, watching countless ‘Leons’ and ‘Annas’ continue to struggle in their painful lives.

But if I choose to accept Leon’s proposal, it means cutting off the last thread of father-daughter affection. With Father’s stubborn nature, he likely won’t speak to me until the day he dies.

Besides, Father has been king for over twenty years with considerable prestige. To ensure the stability of the kingdom, I must place him under house arrest. Considering the inevitable backlash from the old nobility after implementing reforms, this period could last over ten years, possibly even longer.

Father has been sick for six years with poor health. If subjected to house arrest and overwhelmed by anger, he might not survive until the situation stabilizes and the house arrest ends…

How should I choose? After returning to the palace by carriage, the princess, filled with hesitation, walked into her bedroom, stood in front of the display shelf on the desk, and spaced out.

On the top shelf of the display stand lay a row of somewhat old but frequently cleaned picture frames. In the largest photo, there was a young and healthy couple with a cheerful girl.

Although the photo was somewhat aged and faded severely under the light, careful observation still allowed one to recognize the girl’s features and see the genuine smile.

The girl in the photo wore a flower crown woven from wildflowers, sitting on a swing made of wooden boards and vines, swinging high towards the sky, her carefree gaze so clear, showing no trace of the cunning and pretense of adulthood.

Behind the girl stood a young man with deep tear grooves beside his nose but a gentle smile when laughing. In the photo, he maintained the posture of pushing forward, arms extended, forcefully swinging the girl’s swing high into the air.

Not far from the father-daughter duo, a young woman with only her upper body visible sat in a chair next to the swing, looking tenderly at her husband and daughter playing.

“Father… Mother…”

Touching this old photo with her hand, the princess clenched her fists slightly, then moved her gaze from the photo to the next layer down.

A tin doll with half its cheek shattered, its face appearing as if smiling sorrowfully, rested quietly on the display stand. Two emerald glass eyeballs carried a mysterious sadness, timidly gazing at her.

“…”

Six years ago in Cornwall City… the dilapidated factory at the end of the alley… the ground covered in bright syrup… survivors hiding in the warehouse… the frightened little girl holding a doll looking at me… the falling fuel bomb… the burning syrup… the surging orange-yellow sea of fire…

Upon seeing the tin doll’s glass eyeballs, which were the same color as the girl’s, the nightmare that had tormented the princess for six years once again uncontrollably surged into her mind.

Gently touching the burn marks on the doll’s arm and recalling Leon’s expression when he spoke of his past, the princess couldn’t help but bite her lips again.

What should I do…

“Tap, tap-tap.”

Just as the princess was wrestling with her inner conflict, a knock came at the door.

“Your Highness.”

With the princess’s permission, two ladies-in-waiting entered the bedroom respectfully and announced: “His Majesty knows you’re back and would like you to visit him to report on the afternoon’s meeting with the prime minister.”