Side: Sheila

“Your Majesty, why would you do such a selfish thing? Thanks to you, the parliament is in a disarray.”

Ignaz, who was close to my father, sighed as he treated me like a toddler.

Up until recently, I had no qualms about that. I was the princess while he was my father’s close aide.

But now, things had changed. I was the queen while he was my subordinate. I didn’t want things to remain as before.

…Well, since I had known him since I was little, I guess I could excuse him just that once. Old habits die hard. I’d keep an eye on the situation for a while, and if things didn’t improve, I’d consider changing my aides.

Suddenly and abruptly imposing changes on someone was an awful thing to do. Everyone deserved a chance to start over.

“Are you listening, Your Majesty?”

“I am. I mean, I don’t see the issue? I made such a proposal because I thought of this country in my own way. Besides, everyone agreed with it.”

“That’s because the Duchess of Lowenberg offered to take in the residents of the slums—the biggest hurdle to enforcing your policies. Otherwise, this would have never gone so smoothly.”

What is that supposed to mean—!?

Why is Iris getting all the credit? I was the one who proposed it!

“Why do you bring her up? She is merely giving lazy people a job, yet she’s demanding money! Moreover, she’s also exempting them from taxes for three years, which is beyond greedy!”

If anything, how can anyone agree to such a selfish argument!?

“…Do you honestly think those from the slums are just lazy?”

Ignaz’s gaze was freezing cold, leaving me at a loss for words.

Ignaz was scary when he got angry. Even scarier than my father. Although, my father never got mad at me.

“Are you saying that they choose to live in the slums? To live a life where they are constantly teetering on the brink of death? Just because they’d rather die than work? Of course not. Use your head a little!”

“Ignaz, watch your mouth. You’re speaking to your queen. How dare you speak with such uncouth words?”

“Because I’m a loyal subject who cares about my country.”

“As if! Otherwise, you’d have supported my proposal, which I made with this country in mind. A loyal subject who cares about his country? Ignaz, you are neither. You just don’t like me. To involve your personal feelings into your work, how unprofessional.”

“I refuse to bow down to incompetent and irresponsible people.”

—And I am neither of those. So why does he insist on obstructing me?

Ignaz must’ve been looking down on me because I wasn’t my father. As I thought, Ignaz was no good. He was a political opportunist who prioritized his own gains. He was also trying to manipulate me behind my back.

My mind wandered to the parliament; of the several people who understood my good intentions and expressed their support.

Although they did agree with Iris’ proposal after that, they are still better than someone like Ignaz.

With Ignaz around, the country I envisioned wouldn’t come true.

“Enough—! This discussion is over. I have a lot of work to do.”

Ignoring Ignaz, who still seemed to want to say something, I got up from my seat.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to have a tea party with my friends.”

“You still have paperwork to do.”

“That’s a man job.”

Good grief, what is he talking about?

---

***T/N: Wow the princess’ is someone who takes criticism really REALLY well!

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