About two hours later, Trig hurriedly arrived at the Ashworth mansion and came before Law Freya. How could he not be anxious when such a major incident had occurred?
In fact, when Trig first arrived, Duke Ashworth had whispered a suggestion to him, “Should we just kill that little girl right now?”
Although Law Freya was a high-rank extraordinary, Duke Ashworth guessed she was most likely Rank Five. Rank Six extraordinaries were simply too rare, and he knew the names and faces of every single one of them—there was absolutely no one like Law Freya among them.
Although Rank Five was already considered among the ranks of the powerful, it shouldn't have been difficult for Trig to eliminate her silently.
But Trig rejected the idea. Shaking his head, he said, “Since she dared to come here so openly, it proves she must have something to rely on. How can you be so sure she isn't Rank Six? What if there's someone else behind her? Since she's willing to talk, I will go speak with her. Initiating a direct conflict right away is the most foolish option.”
A moment later, Trig and Law Freya sat face-to-face in the parlor. A servant placed two cups of freshly brewed tea on the table, bowed slightly, and departed, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Law Freya didn't hesitate and went straight to the point. “Regarding the coup d'état you are planning, I want to cooperate with you.”
It had to be said, this was incredibly direct. Even Trig's lips twitched slightly. He had spent a long time carefully planning every single step of this coup d'état, yet here it was, being brought up so casually and directly by someone else. Anyone in his shoes would have struggled to keep their composure.
However, by the time Law Freya showed up at the Ashworth mansion demanding to see him by name, Trig had already mentally prepared himself. He asked, “How do you propose we cooperate?”
Law Freya replied, “I will do everything in my power to help you succeed in your coup, but in the end, I must be the one to sit on the throne.”
Trig frowned slightly. Anyone else hearing this would likely have lost their temper on the spot. Why should he do all the preparation only for someone else to reap the rewards? Did she think the throne was hers for the taking?
Yet, he didn't lash out. Instead, he said, “Continue.”
Law Freya said, “I am the biological daughter of the current King, and royal blood flows through my veins. In theory, I do have the right to inherit the throne. Therefore, having me ascend the throne is far more legitimate than you usurping it.”
There was no denying that Trig had the power to pull off the coup, but once he took the throne, the country would inevitably plunge into a period of instability.
Although the Kingdom of Tarapaca was not particularly strong under the current King's rule, it remained one of the great powers of the world. A starved camel was still larger than a horse. If one only looked at the ordinary citizens of the Kingdom of Tarapaca, many of them lived in misery, but compared to those in smaller nations, their lives were practically luxurious.
Thus, many commoners remained fiercely loyal to the King. In fact, the poorer and more uneducated they were, the more loyal they tended to be, because their ancestors had lived in this land for generations under the rule of the Lawrence family.
Simply put, all the common people wanted was 【stability】. Even though their current lives were difficult, there was still a glimmer of hope.
But if Trig were to successfully take power, the commoners would only hear that some complete stranger had slaughtered the royal family. They would naturally fear this unknown entity. If he could wipe out the entire royal family, wouldn't he be even more ruthless to ordinary folk?
Since no one knew what kind of decrees Trig would issue next, the commoners would inevitably harbor rebellious sentiments.
But if Law Freya ascended the throne, the situation would be entirely different. The commoners would only hear that the King was in poor health and had to retire early, followed by the coronation of a new ruler. As for why an illegitimate daughter like Law Freya succeeded instead of the other princes or princesses? That was none of their business. Besides, the other royal siblings didn't object, did they?
Under those circumstances, life would simply go on as usual for the average citizen, completely unchanged.
Law Freya continued, “And once I take the throne, I won't interfere with the running of the country at all. I can delegate all authority to you, allowing you to do whatever you wish. If you don't trust me, we can sign a contract.”
Trig frowned slightly. “It is indeed an enticing proposal, but I don't understand. What do you gain from this?”
On the surface, this partnership essentially made Law Freya a puppet monarch, offering her no real benefits whatsoever.
Law Freya pondered for a moment, then said, “Perhaps... to make this country a better place.”
She certainly couldn't admit that she was doing this just to save her own skin—that would be far too embarrassing. Thus, she added, “The current Kingdom of Tarapaca is like a terminally ill patient. While this illness might not kill it, it allows any passerby to kick it while it's down. I don't want to see this country continue on like this.”
“Therefore, I believe this nation needs change. You are capable and have the means, so just think of me as someone who has come to help you.”
Trig fell silent for a moment, then asked, “May I ask, if you truly want to make this country better, what reforms would you implement if you were in charge?”
Law Freya thought back, finding the question strangely familiar. Hadn't Trig asked her this exact same question during her previous simulation when she was acting young and innocent?
Back then, she hadn't answered in order to maintain her harmless persona. But this time, Law Freya spoke up: “If it were up to me, I would first find a way to integrate the Church of the Earth so they can serve the nation. I would bring them into the upper echelons of the state, have them assist with agriculture to boost crop yields, and even... integrate them into the military to provide support and healing for our soldiers.”
“Secondly, I would expand the military. Might is the foundation of any nation. The Pentagram Alliance has been eyeing us greedily; we must show them that we are no pushovers. If they want a war, we will give them one! Even if we must bleed to the last drop, I will never yield a single inch of our land to outsiders!”
“And finally, if possible, I think the western Fanipaca Empire would be an excellent target. As a brother nation, I would theoretically have a legitimate claim to inherit all of its territory, wouldn't I?”
This was another major advantage of having Law Freya on the throne. Her becoming monarch gave her a legitimate claim to the Fanipaca Empire, whereas Trig taking power would grant no such leverage.
After all, anyone could talk big. Beside, everything Law Freya had just proposed was simply what Trig himself had already accomplished in the timeline ten years in the future. She was merely reciting his own future achievements back to him.
Rate on N.U.
