After a period of chaos, the capital seemed to have returned to its apparent calm.
"...As for the Stuart Kingdom's statement, Lord Simon planned this assassination out of personal grudges, and they are very sorry for this."
Geli sat at the bedroom table and conveyed the relevant news she knew to Wayne.
Wayne, who occupied her seat, looked thoughtful when he heard this. "Does that mean they're not prepared to take any responsibility for this?"
In this way, the queen's situation will inevitably become more embarrassing.
"This is not surprising." Song Li couldn't help but sigh, "Although the queen was Stuart's favored princess, that happened many years ago. The throne now falls on her brother. And she has been married to Lowns for so long, how much love is left in her mother country?"
At this point, Geli paused.
"And...thank you for telling me there was something wrong with Simon."
She deliberately looked away and said this reluctantly and in an extremely low voice.
Glancing at her face, Wayne couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. "If you say thank you so seriously, you'll be out of sight~"
From the corner of her eye, she saw him pretending to be generous even though he clearly wanted to take credit, and Geli was slightly annoyed.
He's really hateful and...kind of cute.
"Oh. In that case, I'll take back the thank you I just said." She said in a deliberately cold tone.
"...Ah this?"
Wayne was stunned for a moment, then noticed the playful look in her eyes, and then realized that he had been fooled.
——Miss Songli, why don’t you play your cards according to the routine?
He smiled helplessly and sighed, "Am I unable to escape from your grasp?"
During this meeting, Wayne shared some information with her.
Although it was not fully specified, the Wincher family, which had successfully reached a consensus with Richard, could be said to have determined which team they were on.
Once the time comes when the status quo between the king and his son can no longer be maintained, the Wincher family will become a counterattack force that Richard can rely on.
Such a radical choice does come with risks.
But if you want to take the initiative in the situation, just staying put will not lead to good results. What's more, at both ends of the scale, Richard actually has a great chance of winning.
Another part of the purpose of Wayne's trip was to find out what Minister Franz said.
Based on past performance, the finance minister is undoubtedly more on the side of the king.
And the facts did not exceed Wayne's expectations.
"If I say yes, will you immediately rebel and join the Edgeworth family?" Song Li asked nonchalantly.
"Uh..." Wen said quietly, "I'm afraid this won't work."
He had already known that he would get such an answer, and Geli was not surprised. He just snorted with disdain, turned around, walked back to the bed and sat down.
"Father, he originally thought that your family would continue to sit on the sidelines and not wade into this muddy water."
Her hands swept across the outside of her thighs, straightening the hem of her soft nightgown and pressing it into place.
Frankly speaking, Wayne also felt a little strange about Duke Elliot's very positive reaction this time.
However, there are actually good reasons for doing so.
"... After all, Prince Richard is the most suitable successor. If you support him at this critical moment, it will be easier to deal with each other in the future."
At this time, we should be aloof and unwilling to sell well. It will be too late to add icing on the cake when the dust has settled.
"Minister Franz, didn't he still want you to marry Richard? Why are you so ruthless to the son-in-law you like?" Wayne, who was ready to move, also stood up and sat close to Geli.
Hearing the strange words in his ear, Ge Li frowned and rolled his eyes at him.
"No matter how good Richard is, he is still just a prince now, not a king." She said lightly.
"The political affairs of the kingdom must ultimately be decided by His Majesty the King."
So is it considered from a realistic perspective?
Also, if he didn't force the palace directly, the king should still be able to monopolize power for many years.
"By the way, has Mr. Franz mentioned your marriage recently?" Wayne asked in a low voice.
Due to the sense of crisis that Ge Li might also be arranged to be engaged one day, this matter has always stuck in his throat, and he feels uncomfortable whenever he hears the topic of marriage.
It's like knowing that there's a dynamite planted under the chair, and knowing that sooner or later it will blow you to pieces, but not knowing how long the countdown is.
Speaking of this, Geli was obviously not in a happy mood.
She shook her head, "Not yet."
"In his heart... the most perfect result is still to become the queen of Lornes, but he seems to be no longer obsessed with this identity, and he hasn't mentioned it again for a long time."
Wayne clicked his tongue in displeasure. "A marriage without feelings will not have good results. What happened in the royal family may have made him realize this to some extent."
"Are you hinting at me?" Ge Li looked at him angrily.
"No, it's clear."
He cleared his throat and said seriously: "I can protect you, trust me."
The two looked at each other very close to each other, and their eyes were very clear.
"No matter what your father arranges for you, if you find it difficult to refuse, just tell me." Wayne said. "I can definitely handle it."
Ge Li gently raised her hand and caressed his cheek gently.
"Don't think that I have to be you for the rest of my life." Her voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible.
"I am doing stupid things when I am with you now... Maybe one day I will figure it out and this relationship will be over."
Wayne looked uncertain.
"Why do you always say things like this? I won't let go." He said a little unscrupulously: "Is the so-called noble status of a queen or a duchess or a marchioness really of any use? There is no real power. It’s just a false name.”
He doesn't want to hide anything anymore. He can accuse himself of being hypocritical or bad, but the result he wants must be achieved.
Ge Li opened her mouth slightly and looked at him in shock.
"Do you know what you're talking about?" she said.
"I said, it has no real power, just a false name." Wayne repeated the words clearly.
"As soon as you get married, no matter how much Minister Franz has trained you, you will have to deal with those noble ladies whose minds are filled with straw, and you will do your best to sit in the living room and act as an exquisite lady. A vase to show that your husband is indeed married to a good woman..."
"At that time, you will no longer be Song Li Edgeworth, but will only be reduced to Mrs. So-and-so, or so-and-so's mother in other people's words."
Wayne took a deep breath. "——Is that really the life you want?"
Precisely because I know her...that's why I am confident in persuading her.
