Chapter 1338 - 1256: Charlie Rescues His Mother

Chapter 1338: Chapter 1256: Charlie Rescues His Mother

"I strongly advise you not to do this." In the King’s study, Lorenzo didn’t know how many times he had dissuaded him.

As for Charles, while writing military orders himself, he replied without raising his head: "My mother is besieged, and I am to stand by and watch, does that resemble a monarch?"

"Your actions are ruining Falan’s long-standing political tradition. Mobilizing the military without the Royal Council’s consent will have immeasurable consequences."

"The capture of the Queen Mother would equally lead to immeasurable consequences!"

Contrary to the impression, Lorenzo, who was rumored to have an affair with the Queen Mother, was now desperately trying to dissuade Charles.

And Charles, who was said to be at odds with his mother, was now the one supporting the military intervention to save her.

"Have you really thought it through?" For the first time, Lorenzo blocked Charles VIII’s path, barring his way, "Behind you are countless subjects of the Falan Kingdom."

Although blocking the door was considered normal behavior for the Holy Alliance, it was not so in Falan.

The monks of the Holy Alliance often slammed tables and swore or laughed and joked around in offices, blocking doors without giving a reason was very normal behavior.

But Falan, as a country with a long tradition, always placed importance on rules and etiquette.

For a high-ranking official like Lorenzo, forcefully blocking the King’s door and not allowing him to leave was extremely rude.

"What do you want me to do? What do you think I can do?" Charles VIII stared into Lorenzo’s eyes.

"You must consider Falan’s ancestors and the Royal Family, as well as your countless subjects of Falan!"

"What’s in your heart, just tell me."

"This is exactly what I wanted to say!"

"No!" Charles VIII, rarely angered, pressed his chest against Lorenzo’s chin, "I know what’s in your heart. Say it out."

"......"

"Not saying it? Fine, I’ll say it." Charles VIII stepped back, "You’re all thinking that with the Royal Court’s army already here, I am putting on a show of risking life to save my mother, only to be stopped by you, letting her die in this way, right?

The Queen Mother is the biggest traditional force in the court blocking the rise of new nobility, opposing you at every turn, hindering reform, and can change my mind, right?

It’s perfect that Golden Fleece Beach has been breached; she can’t be saved, and it just happens that my mother is on vacation at the hot spring palace, getting killed by the Royal Court’s army. It’s not all bad news, right?"

"Watch your language, Your Highness." Lorenzo’s face was equally flushed as he held the door handle firmly, "Is this how you assume your loyal ministers, your faithful subjects, think?"

"Loyal ministers? Subjects? Those forcing me to let my mother die, where is the loyalty?"

"Your Highness!"

"How many people think this way? You all think this way, don’t you? Everyone, right?"

With trembling hands, Lorenzo adjusted his glasses, his face slowly losing its flush. He stood silently at the door: "You need to calm down. As the kingdom’s Prime Minister, I can’t allow you to make decisions in a fit of passion."

Staring at Lorenzo, aside from the attendant and guard in the corner bowing their heads, not daring to breathe loudly, only this king and prime minister’s heavy breaths could be heard.

Stepping back a few paces, Charles VIII, with a stern face, walked to the window with his hands behind his back.

Silence, like a flood, instantly engulfed the entire room.

Not knowing how long it lasted, perhaps thirty seconds or ten minutes, the not-so-young king finally spoke:

"If I were to evaluate my mother, I would say she is definitely not a clever empress dowager, but certainly a foolish good person.

She always cared for everyone around her, even if that person was just a servant.

She would sulk over a servant’s deception, and the largest punishment she would impose was intentionally not speaking to the deceitful servant, but it usually didn’t last more than a week.

Festive balls and banquets were her favorites, especially loving life; she feared pain, feared death, and feared all terrifying things, including war."

Through the reflection in the glass window, Charles could see Lorenzo’s melancholy face.

"I know you are angry at me for being deferential to her, and you think I’m too obedient to my mother, and I know that’s unwise.

She quarreled with me to maintain traditional nobility, yet later cursed that aristocrat in her room, saying he deliberately tore the Royal Family apart, never wanting to see him again.

Then she brought out my childhood toys to plead for my forgiveness; I forgave her, and she forgave that noble.

I know she never meant it, because this is what Falan and the Royal Family owe her.

She was forced to leave her homeland, her true love, and her family, and marry someone who didn’t love her, giving birth to her only relative."

Charles turned around, looking resolute beyond measure.

"Yet this is the woman who protected me, allowing me to grow up like a normal person, maneuvering with my father who didn’t love her.

She used foolish methods, never letting me out of her sight, ensuring no other royal or noble took me away.

Please don’t blame her for being overly controlling; she’s already accustomed to it.

Without her, I wouldn’t be here today, and if she were here instead, she would undoubtedly save me at all costs.

All my life, I’ve been like a cold political machine. I demoted those I liked who weren’t beneficial to the new policies, and promoted those I disliked who were.

This time, let me be willful, just this once in my life, my first and last time."

Finishing his words, Charles strode towards the door, intending to gather the reorganizing troops and call the officers together.

But this time, Lorenzo didn’t stop him. It wasn’t until Charles brushed past him, opening the door and walking out, that he sighed.

Sometimes, he wished the nation were ruled by a cold-blooded killer with no feelings.

Always calm, always correct, like Charles said, like a cold political machine.

Yet the reality is, as long as there’s a King, this person with all the power exists, it’s impossible to always make the best decisions for the country.

The nation’s actions and policies will always rest on individuals, whether foolish, wise, or obstinate, because they bear a good surname.

Even an enlightened monarch like Charles has his obsessive and impulsive side.

Perhaps the correct choice is not to have a King, but to be ruled by a group of the country’s elites.

"Oh, damn."

The rare curse from the Spider Prime Minister made the guards focus their eyes on their noses and noses on their hearts, pretending they had seen nothing.

As for Lorenzo, lost in thought, perhaps the republican system of the Holy Alliance is the best?

Discarding this absurd idea, Lorenzo walked slowly to the window, looking out at the square below.

In the square, His Majesty the King, unable to wait for the carriage, casually grabbed a horse and headed towards the Military and Political Knight Hall.

There, he would ring the bell, summoning ministers, nobles, and officers to announce the King’s military intervention plan.

This is the survival tactic left by monarchs for their descendants, allowing them to bypass the Royal Council to forcefully issue orders and laws.

Charles knows that if he presents this proposal to the Royal Council, even if Lorenzo lets him leave now, he would use all sorts of means to prevent it from passing.

Lorenzo suddenly started to pray inwardly, but at the end of his prayer, he wasn’t sure whether to pray that the Queen Mother be safe or not.

"God bless the Falan!"

With three fingers extended, the Prime Minister piously traced the Chinese character ’屮’ ("bless") across his forehead.