Contradiction

The once spacious waiting room was now packed to the brim, filled with every noble who held even a modicum of standing.

Since temporary seating hadn't been brought in yet, and with the Second Prince Walker, the Third Prince Murphy, and the Rose Princess Lilia setting an example, everyone stood, awaiting news from the emergency room.

As the seconds ticked by, the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy, clearly divided into three factions.

Amidst this stifling silence, even the neutral parties, who had previously remained unaligned, were forced to choose a temporary stance.

It was evident that the Third Prince Murphy, with the largest number of supporters behind him, had nearly double the backing of the Second Prince and the Rose Princess combined.

Rumors of the Second Prince Walker plotting to murder the First Prince on the world battlefield for the throne had dealt a severe blow to his reputation.

Although such incidents were commonplace within the lineages of various noble families, and even the methods by which some of the nobles present had ascended to power were less than proper, it could be said that they were all in the same boat.

However, there was a problem: the Second Prince was not just any noble; he was royalty. According to the tradition of primogeniture, he was meant to inherit the throne. Furthermore, judging by various signs, the Second Prince was deeply dissatisfied with the current state of the kingdom and wished to emulate the Crimson Cloud Empire.

And yet, before even ascending to the throne, the Second Prince had so cruelly harmed his own kin. Not only that, but he had subsequently managed to consolidate a significant portion of military power by enacting reforms through war and rapidly promoting a group of loyalists.

A king who was ruthless, had deep roots, was fully capable, and wished to emulate the Crimson Cloud Empire – once he ascended, who would guarantee the interests of these nobles?

Despite their large numbers, in terms of sheer presence, the Second Prince's supporters exuded the strongest aura.

Firstly, the supporters behind the Second Prince were generally younger, strong, and healthy. Secondly, the Second Prince himself possessed a robust physique, well-defined muscles, and a stern, square face that exuded authority even when expressing sadness.

In contrast, the Third Prince had a gentle demeanor and a belly full of fat. Although he tried his best to look sad, he still resembled a Maitreya Buddha with a downturned mouth.

The other, the Rose Princess, though outwardly radiant and tearful, appearing pitiful, was in a struggle concerning the future of decades and the lives of countless people. Who cared if she looked pitiful? When someone falls, you stomp on them; when you step on them, you crush them to death.

In fact, the Second Prince and his supporters had already taunted Lilia numerous times, using the fact that only she was present when the Queen fell ill as leverage.

If not for Prince Murphy occasionally intervening, Lilia's pure and pitiful expression, coupled with the fact that the Queen was also a woman, would have silenced some of the more "excessive" remarks. Instead of being labeled as young, inexperienced, and in need of training, she would have been dismissed as a mere decorative piece meant for an arranged marriage.

But as time trickled by and the crucial golden hour for rescue passed, Lilia's situation took a sharp downturn.

If not for the fact that everyone present were seasoned veterans who knew the meaning of "the dust has not yet settled, so do not kill," and that "the enemy of my enemy is my ally," Lilia would likely have already been placed under house arrest.

However, some who had no other recourse or who wished to seize an opportunity began to speak up courageously.

For instance, "Princess Lilia is still young and lacks experience in caring for the elderly; she did not take good care of the Queen."

"The Queen is also old; it is time to confirm an heir."

"The Queen has ruled the country for so many years. Once she passes, the country will undoubtedly fall into turmoil. We must have someone with authority, means, and a good reputation."

"Prince Murphy is benevolent and enjoys an excellent reputation both domestically and internationally. If he were to preside, I believe the Kingdom could flourish."

"The current situation is unstable, with constant friction between the Crimson Cloud Empire, the Morning Star Alliance, and the Dawn Alliance. Having lost the market of the Dawn Alliance, some countries are already in disarray. Just in case, we need a commander who understands warfare and is skilled in battle to lead the country."

Although he had occasionally lent Lilia a hand before, seeing that the Queen was on the verge of misfortune, the Second Prince and his faction, in casual conversation, were already planning to oust Lilia. This was truly a turn of events.

Meanwhile, Lilia, covering her face with both hands, looked utterly dejected. Ultimately, her foundation was too shallow. Despite inheriting her father's legacy and being adept at diplomacy, she had not yet fully realized her potential. Now, facing a sudden crisis, she looked around and found no one willing to speak up for her.

Her few remaining supporters, seeing the disparity in strength, remained silent, even mentally preparing to join the Third Prince's ranks – it was better to secure their own interests than to be left out in the cold.

"Grandmother has always been healthy; this is merely a temporary bout of the common cold. Everyone can discuss their concerns after Grandmother awakens," Lilia said, not addressing Queen Eliza as "Queen" but as "Grandmother." She paused for a moment before continuing, "However, I do find what everyone is saying to be reasonable."

"Although I have not yet been involved in state affairs, Grandmother occasionally chats with me, mentioning that there have been constant frictions and frequent skirmishes recently, and it is highly possible that a major war is brewing."

"Thanks to Second Uncle and everyone's efforts in the previous world war, the Hundred Flowers Kingdom suffered relatively little damage. Furthermore, because we are coastal and benefited from the reconstruction efforts, we might become a target for all, just as the Crimson Cloud Empire's saying goes."

"Although we have signed peace treaties with other countries, treaties are not always effective. The Bahrin Kingdom has also torn up treaties numerous times. Just recently, they agreed to a truce one moment and then sent troops the next, citing dissatisfaction with the reparations. It is truly difficult to trust or rely on them."

"Lilia asks for nothing more than for the Hundred Flowers Kingdom not to be dragged into war. I do not wish to see the children of the Hundred Flowers Kingdom lose their parents before they even turn ten..."

These were clearly inflammatory remarks, not even bothering with much subtlety. Everyone present could understand the incredibly obvious subtext.

But some things, though obvious, were effective.

As Lilia spoke, the temperature in the waiting room seemed to drop by eight degrees, as if the oxygen in the air had suddenly become incredibly precious, requiring conservation. Everyone had to breathe cautiously, and those who had been undermining and contradicting each other were suddenly silenced, as if their throats were constricted.

"Heh," Prince Walker said slowly in this atmosphere, "Niece, rest assured. The Kingdom's army is like a sharp sword, constantly honed in my hands. As for a mere Bahrin Kingdom, their courage is no bigger than a mouse's; they would not dare to face the sharp sword of our Hundred Flowers Kingdom head-on."

"Thank you for your reassurance, Second Uncle. Lilia is relieved," Lilia said, tilting her head slightly at a thirty-degree angle, with what appeared to be teary eyes. "It's just that the Bahrin Kingdom gets easily blinded by small gains. Taking a little from them feels like cutting flesh, and they tend to act preemptively based on things that haven't even happened yet. It truly makes one worry that they might impulsively make a mistake."

"However, with Second Uncle here, I'm sure you will make them pay for their mistakes before they even happen. That truly puts my mind at ease."

"Brother, you're always so aggressive. Your sword may be sharp, but the Bahrin Kingdom's sword isn't dull either," Murphy interjected before Walker could respond. He had only spoken a few times to help Lilia. "Besides, I've been doing some business, and I have good relationships with some nobles in the Bahrin Kingdom. I understand them quite well. They won't start a war casually. They might bully smaller nations, but they wouldn't dare to challenge a major power; after all, they don't want a river of blood."

"Then I am truly relieved..." Lilia seemed to relax completely and fell silent. She had been about to say something more but suddenly exclaimed with surprise as if she had discovered something.

Creak.

The emergency room door opened, and a middle-aged doctor in a white coat slowly emerged. "Why are so many people here? Everything went smoothly. Her Majesty the Queen is in good health and only needs a few days of rest..."