Chapter 420: Reforms Doomed to Fail

A careful man~
After hearing Leon's answer, the princess knew that the reason he said that was to retaliate against her "teasing" just now, and she couldn't help but glare at him in reproach.

"Stop it, I really want to ask your opinion."

Putting aside her "flirting" thoughts, Princess Veronica sat up straight and said seriously:
"What you just said is very interesting. Although the description is a bit too straightforward, it does speak out the essence of power. Although you have never been involved in politics, you don't seem to be slow to such things. On the contrary, you have a kind of... um... strange sensitivity.

So if possible, can you tell me about your thoughts? For example, what do these things I have been doing in the past few years look like from your perspective? "

What do I think?

Looking at the princess opposite with a serious face, Leon knew that she really wanted to hear his opinion, but after thinking about it, he still said insincerely:
"You've done... quite well. At least you've always done the right thing, and many people's lives have indeed been improved because of your efforts."

I'm afraid this is not what you really want to say?

Princess Veronica keenly sensed something else in Leon's perfunctory "praise". She stared into his eyes and then tentatively asked:

"Leon, you...don't agree with what I did?"

"I agree. What you've done can indeed make the kingdom a better place."

Considering that the other party had to pay for this meal, Leon thought about it and said as tactfully as possible:

"But your goal is probably not just to make the kingdom a better place. You've put so much effort into mobilizing the military, so you must want something more, right?"

"Um……"

Princess Veronica hesitated for a moment after hearing this, feeling that this topic seemed inappropriate, but after looking at Leon opposite her, she finally said frankly with a serious expression:
“I want more, I not only want to be the next queen of the kingdom, but to be the best queen!

You know, Joshua does not have the talent needed to be a good king. If he becomes king, the entire kingdom will fall into the hands of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Queen. Then my efforts over the past six years will be completely in vain. I absolutely cannot let this happen!

Leon, although you may not believe it, I do not have a strong desire for power. What I really hope is that the kingdom can become strong and last for a long time, and never let the tragedy of the Patriotic War repeat itself on this land again. "

“I’ve never doubted that.”

You are indeed not a person with a strong desire for power. To you, power is more like a tool to achieve your goals. What you really pursue is something else.

Having seen the true spirit of the princess, Leon nodded, indicating that he was willing to believe her. However, after looking into her clear and determined eyes and tasting the unstoppable spirit in them, he could not help but whispered a reminder:
“But I think your reforms will be difficult to succeed.

Even if there are some results, it will definitely not be the result you want. The final situation will most likely be very different from what you want... Are you mentally prepared for this?"

"..."

What I’m doing…will probably not work out in the end?

After hearing what Leon said, Princess Veronica pursed her lips slightly, but she did not immediately argue. Instead, she looked into Leon's eyes and asked softly:
"Can you tell me why you feel this way?"

"..."

I was probably starving. She was still a princess after all, and I actually said all this to her... Looking at the princess's eyes full of stubbornness, who obviously would not give up until she heard the answer, Leon couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

As for the princess' so-called reforms, I really feel that they are unlikely to succeed. Not only today, I have thought so even earlier.

But firstly, I am only a dabbler and am not very sure about this idea; secondly, although the princess's reforms have problems, they can indeed make the lives of ordinary people in the kingdom better; thirdly, my "relationship" with her is not yet good enough, and talking about this would be a bit like talking about deep things, so I have never mentioned these things.

However, when I looked into her eyes just now and saw a hint of "I will go forward even if there are tens of thousands of people against me", I couldn't bear to see her future ideals shattered, so I subconsciously changed the subject.

In that case... since you're here after all, why not say a few words?
……

"Actually, this is just an idea I have at the moment, and it may not be correct."

Lion raised his head slightly, met the princess's calm gaze, and said softly:
"Just listen to it. If you think what I said makes sense, you might as well think about it along this line of thought.

And if you think that what I said doesn’t make sense, just forget it and continue to do what you want to do. After all, no matter what, what you are doing now is not wrong. "

After stacking the armor for himself, Leon did not directly express his opinion, but instead asked a question.

"Your Highness, if the political power of the kingdom is simply divided according to the camps it belongs to, what would it be like?"

"As for the camp..."

Princess Veronica thought for a moment and then answered:

“The people represented by me and the Minister of Defense should be considered the reformists; the Prime Minister nominated by the House of Commons, the cabinet officials appointed by the Prime Minister, and some new nobles who made their fortunes through business, should be considered the parliamentarians.
Finally, there are the old aristocrats who control the House of Lords and some of the remaining new aristocrats, who together are considered the aristocratic faction.

At present, these three factions are the main ones, but Joshua has the support of the Minister of Finance and the Queen, and has been trying to win over the nobles recently, so he can barely be considered half a faction."

So there are the reformists, the parliamentarians, the aristocratic faction... um... and the monkey-marrying faction!
“Not much different from what I knew before.”

After nodding to the princess, Leon continued to ask:

"Then, can you tell me, whose interests do these three and a half factions represent? Who are they speaking for?"

Whose interests are specifically represented?

After hearing Leon's question, Princess Veronica couldn't help but frowned. She didn't quite understand the meaning of his question, but she still answered truthfully:
"I am the leader of the reformists. The royal family is behind me, so I naturally represent the royal family. The old nobles represent themselves, and the parliament mainly represents the interests of big businessmen. Although Joshua also represents the royal family, his specific 'meaning' is somewhat different from mine.
I represent those who want to suppress the nobility and try to take power back to the royal family, while Joshua represents those royal family members who are related to the royal family by marriage but also value their original family and prefer to "coexist."

"Are you sure?"

"what?"

"I mean, are you sure you are representing the interests of the royal family? Are you really speaking for the royal family?"

"..."

? ! ! !
(End of this chapter)

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