It was the night three days after Isabel disappeared. Inside the palace, a very important meeting was taking place.
In the luxurious, elegant and magnificent conference hall, a group of men and women with gorgeous clothes and majestic faces were sitting at a large oval conference table seven or eight meters wide, with gloomy and ugly faces.
There were about forty people sitting at the table, and dozens more standing nearby.
All the major high-level officials of the entire Britannia Empire should be here.
Sitting at the top was an old man with gray hair, wearing a double-breasted gown with gold trim. He was stooped and his eyelids were drooped. His exposed eyes were deep and full of age, very majestic, and his hands were placed on a On a crutch like a tree root.
This is the eldest and most senior person in the current royal family. He is very dignified within the royal family. Due to part of the Beichen culture, the Brittanian royal family has a clan outlook similar to that of Beichen.
"Still no news, Hagus?" the old man said slowly.
Standing on his side was a middle-aged man wearing a police uniform, with a perfect mustache, who looked about forty years old.
"We have already tested the Spanish Empire and the Western French Empire, but they don't know that our queen is missing.
In the past few days, we have not received any news about anyone trying to gain benefits by blackmailing the Queen. "
The old man was silent for a moment. Suddenly, he raised the crutch in his hand and stamped it heavily on the ground, making a dull sound.
"What the hell did you do!?" He yelled angrily.
The three princesses who disappeared not long ago have not been found yet, and now even the queen cannot be guarded!
What's the use of Britannia raising a bunch of trash like you! ? "
Hagus lowered his head in a hurry, his forehead covered with sweat.
"According to the current progress of our investigation, the last place the Queen stayed should be a pub."
The old man raised his eyes and looked at him, "What tavern?"
"It's called Merlin Tavern. It has been open for less than a month, but because the quality of the drinks is very good and there are some special drinks, it is very popular. Many middle- and upper-class people and some people from the neighborhood like to go there.
However, when we went there with manpower to search, the tavern disappeared. "
The old man's frown deepened, and the brows of the other people around him also frowned.
"Disappeared?"
Hagus's eyes were also filled with disbelief, "Between 212a and 212c on Berry Street, there should have been another 212b.
But now, the two stores 212a and 212c are connected together.
This 212b is as if it had never appeared before. "
After a pause, Hagus continued, "We suspect that there is some strange force behind this that is detrimental to Britannia. It should come from the same force as the force that killed the Marquis of Os and took over his body."
The old man was silent for a moment and said, "Why did this force kidnap Alicia and Isabel?"
Hagus hesitated for a moment, then said with some uncertainty, "Control Britannia?"
"If it is true as you say, they have weird powers and can also control the human body through parasitism.
Then they can completely parasitize Isabel's body and return to the imperial capital in time before we become suspicious!
Then our whole Britannia belongs to them! "
Although the old man looked old, his thoughts were very clear, and his voice was sonorous and powerful, with a faint anger.
“And if they want to control Brittania, what’s the point of kidnapping Alicia?
She is a blind girl and the youngest princess, and her line of succession is even lower than that of Victor!
Use it to control the Western French Empire?
But if it was really used to control the Western French Empire, they wouldn't send troops to us on the pretext of letting Britannia fulfill their engagement! "
Hagus was confused by this series of questions, and the sweat on his forehead became even more.
A hint of anger finally appeared on the old man's face, and he stomped the cane again.
"I came to report without thinking clearly, you are such a hopeless idiot!"
Hagus lowered his head in a hurry, not daring to say a word.
"So Mr. Zong, what do you think their purpose is?"
Eugenia, who was sitting on the right side of the old man, said. She was holding a small fan in her hand, wearing very bright lipstick on her lips, and looking at the man opposite her sharply.
It was a man wearing a white double-breasted tuxedo, with silver-white hair, a straight figure, and a handsome appearance. He looked to be in his fifties.
He is Alicia and Isabel's uncle, Moria's half-brother, Victor.
The old man fell silent.
"Let me give you an answer."
Eugenia stared at Victor and said.
"The purpose of constantly abducting successors is to allow some successors who are lower in the ranking to inherit the throne."
Victor grinned and said, "My good niece, are you talking about yourself?
Your younger sister and older sister have disappeared, and you are the only one in line of succession. "
"Of course, so I might disappear soon." Eugenia said calmly, as if she didn't have the slightest fear about it.
"alright!"
The old man stamped his cane again to signal for silence.
“Isabel is missing, but now is a special period, and the empire cannot live without a leader.
This is why I have called you here.
Now we need to make a choice whether Eugenia should succeed us. "
"I object."
A man in military uniform sitting in Victor's row said.
“Her Royal Highness Isabel’s life and death are still uncertain, so it would be against the law for us to confirm her successor now.
Moreover, His Highness Eugenia has no experience in governing a country, let alone military experience.
In this special period, it would be too hasty to let Her Royal Highness Eugenia be the person in charge. "
The old man looked at the soldier.
"So, do you have any suggestions?"
"Prince Regent." The soldier said without hesitation, "Let Prince Victor temporarily take charge of all government affairs as regent. This is the only way for us to defeat Western France and the Spanish Empire."
"Ha." Eugenia smiled contemptuously, "The fox's tail has finally been revealed. The reason why you let my sister "disappear" instead of "die" is for this purpose, isn't it?"
"I'm just thinking about Brittania," the soldier said.
"Think about Brittania!?"
Eugenia seemed to want to say something more, but was scolded by the old man.
"That's enough! Be more decent, Eugenia!"
Eugenia closed her mouth angrily.
The old man looked around at the people present.
"Now, vote. Those who support Victor as regent raise their left hand. Those who do not support it put their left hand down. Those who put it down represent support for Eugenia's succession."
As the old man finished speaking, there was silence. Only a quarter of the people in the audience did not raise their hands. The rest raised their hands, including the old man.
Eugenia said with a gloomy face, suppressing her emotions.
"Victor is so suspected, why do you still support him?"
"Sorry, Eugenia." The old man said in a low voice, "What I need to consider is Britannia and the royal family.
Apart from Isabel, Victor is the only person who has the ability to give Britannia the dignity she deserves in this war.
You know what I mean, Eugenia. "
Eugenia looked at Fast beside her, and he also raised his hand.
"What about you, Fast?
You are my sister’s husband! "
Fast fell silent and said in a hoarse voice, "I can only do this."
Eugenia pursed her lips tightly and her fingers trembled slightly with anger.
She looked at Victor, who was sitting opposite her. His expression was very calm, as if he was not surprised at all by this result. There was also some imperceptible sarcasm in his expression when he looked at Eugenia.
She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth.
"I have another suggestion."
At this time, Victor spoke.
Everyone present raised their heads and looked at him with some confusion.
“In the past, regents were appointed and dismissed by the emperor.
But now Isabel is missing.
I suggest that the appointment and dismissal of the regent this time should be carried out by the Supreme Bishop Puni. "
Victor looked at the old man.
"In the past few days, His Majesty Moria passed away, the third princess disappeared, and Queen Isabel also disappeared just a few days after taking over. All these things happened within this month.
It is difficult not to make some thoughtful people think that this is God punishing the royal family.
And if the supreme bishop can appoint or remove me in front of everyone and gain the support of the church to stabilize the people's hearts, it will play a key role in this war. "
"The supreme bishop was responsible for the coronation in the past, and only the emperor was qualified to succeed." Eugenia sarcastically said, "Are you the emperor?"
"I think I should be able to convince the Supreme Bishop."
As he said that, Victor looked at the old man.
The old man frowned slightly, and after a long time, he sighed.
"Just follow your advice."
Eugenia's face became even more ugly.
On the moving castle, Siaya, who was sitting in the courtyard and lying on the rocking chair, was currently using his clairvoyance to observe what was happening in the palace.
The entire meeting was under his watch.
Things developed exactly as Isabel expected.
The vote of Isabel's husband was also expected by Char.
If he voted for Eugenia and let her inherit the throne, then even if Isabel really came back, it would be very troublesome to get the throne back.
And if Victor is just allowed to be the regent, after Isabel comes back, she will still be the emperor, and he will still be the emperor's husband.
Of course, in fact, he doesn't have to vote at all, because there are so many people who are not inferior to him.
This is more like showing loyalty to Prince Victor.
This is a two-way investment, and no matter what the final result is, he will not suffer a loss.
This is a very refined egoist.
This Prince Victor is also very smart.
Since the orthodoxy of imperial power cannot be won for the time being, then he should fight for theocratic power and get close to religion. If he gets the support of religion, then he will naturally have more chips to ascend the throne.
Able, courageous, ambitious and ruthless, he is a hero worthy of being recorded in the history of this country.
But unfortunately, being a hero does not mean that you can be a good king.
If it were in the past, Charia might not care about these things.
But after he knew what the future looked like, he really had to start playing some chess from now on.
(End of chapter)
