in the name of the queen

Chapter 20 Help me, Mr. Roland!

If you were faced with the most beautiful girl in the world, and she looked up at you with pitiful eyes, and asked you for help in a soft voice, would you agree?

Roland won't.

He was never obsessed with beauty.

But he still decided to help Sif.

Because he is probably Sif's only friend besides the Queen, he cherishes this pure friendship that has not been contaminated by class differences.

The queen is too far away, and accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger, and the tigress is especially scary.

Sif has a simple mind and is close to her, so she is more likely to be his noble person across classes.

He also wants to improve.

"Okay." A simple and clear answer.

Sif breathed a sigh of relief.

There was really no one available to her.

Teacher Wald is mature and prudent, and is stricter than her father when teaching her. From a certain perspective, he can be regarded as her other father.

It is true that I can rely on my old father, but there are some things that I cannot speak freely.

Best friend Sylph
  Although it was better to seek help from others than to seek help from yourself, she was at her wits end.

If it is about art and etiquette, you can ask Teacher Mary for advice, but she also knows nothing about politics.

Her expectations for Roland were not high at first, but this guy actually got three times the extra benefits through Byron's hard and soft tactics, and even set up a trap to trick him.

At least he has performed very well in the basic qualities of a politician called "thick-skinned".

Since Roland is willing to help, Sif is not polite and tells the truth.

After listening to Sif's explanation, Roland asked calmly: "Let me be clear first, what is Her Majesty the Queen's true goal?"

"I know this. She doesn't have many thoughts about the position of emperor. It would be best if she can continue to be the queen. If it is not possible, it would be good to return to the territory and become a little earl."

"Her county of Munster is not big, but the scenery is very beautiful. It is a famous summer resort."

Roland looked at Sif and didn't know whether to praise her for being naive or scold her for being naive.

He felt relieved when he thought that Sif had been a pampered aristocratic girl since she was a child, the kind who could sting a pea under her velvet quilt until she couldn't sleep.

The Queen's political level is probably about 50-50 equal to Sif's.

No wonder the teacher was so angry.

Roland knew that Sif was doubtful about him and had to establish trust as soon as possible, so he kept saying harsh words without surprising anyone.

"If Her Majesty the Queen entertains such thoughts, she will die very abstractly."

"Maybe you will fall from a high place like a bird without wings, maybe you will accidentally suffocate to death while playing hide and seek, or you may even be so beautiful that you die when you look in the mirror."

Roland paused briefly and concluded calmly: "If she abdicates, she will definitely die."

Sif felt a chill in her back as she thought of Teacher Walder's furious look.

The teacher's thinking is mature and steady, while Roland's ideas are wild and unconstrained.

They were on the same page, so that must be true.

Xif's fair face fell instantly.

"Roland, help me!"

She pretended to be calm and explained: "If something bad happens to Her Majesty the Queen, I can't run away. Her fate is related to me."

Roland thought for a moment and said in a deep voice:
  "Even if Her Majesty Sylph abdicates, there is still a possibility of restoration. In political struggles, it doesn't matter whether you have the will or not. Having the ability is a potential enemy."

Very simple truth.

Sif suddenly realized.

No wonder Teacher Wald was so angry that she became incoherent and scolded her for being naive.

It's a pity that the teacher fainted so quickly that he didn't even have time to explain these principles, so Roland took care of this lesson.

Countless famous historical scenes flashed through Roland's mind and he said slowly:
  "Your Majesty has no way out. She can only walk forward on thin ice, either to the other side or drown in the sea."

Sif's rosy face turned pale. She is afraid of water and can't even swim. She doesn't want to drown.

Roland looked through the window and saw the last ray of the setting sun dyeing the clouds red.

He looked at the scarlet red clouds and said calmly: "If you want to wear the crown, you must first bear its weight. As the monarch of a powerful country, Her Majesty the Queen is destined to never have peace in her life."

“Either you dye someone else’s crown red with your own blood, or you decorate your scepter with someone else’s blood, there is no choice.”

These words were similar to what Walder said. Sif's heart was beating wildly and she didn't dare to raise her head.

She lowered her head and whispered: "Then what should she do?"

"Hide your capabilities, bide your time, accumulate strength, and become bigger and stronger!"

Roland pointed out unceremoniously, "Her Majesty the Queen is now a puppet without real power."

"Who, who said that?"

Sif was a little dissatisfied.

Roland chuckled and said: "Every three-year-old child on the streets of Sussex knows that national power is in the hands of the cabinet. Who said that?"

Sif didn't want to hear a word of this, but she knew it was the truth.

If you have power, you don't have to go out of the palace to find an 18-year-old writer to ask about national affairs.

She nodded and said helplessly: "Then does she have a chance to regain power?"

"Yes, but it's difficult."

Roland said frankly: "Power is like a hallucinogenic drug that cannot be quit. Once you have tasted its sweet taste, you can never leave it."

"The cabinet ministers may still be somewhat loyal and intend to return power to the Queen, but they simply cannot do it after enjoying absolute power."

Sif's face looked ugly.

She wanted to defend herself, saying that the ministers were all loyal, but she couldn't say such self-deceiving nonsense.

Power is addictive and simply impossible to quit.

There was a cute cat next to her father. She liked it very much when she was a child, so she played with it and borrowed it to play with when her father was on tour.

After her father returned to the palace, she cried and shouted but refused to return the cat.

She couldn't even give up the right to use a kitten, so why should she let the cabinet minister spit out the power he had obtained?
  Sif was a little discouraged.

"Your Majesty has nothing, neither military power nor financial power, and even only a very small portion of personnel power. How can you fight with them?"

She looked up at Roland, her eyes slightly red, "Mr. Roland, do you have any idea?"

"Naturally there is."

Roland smiled and said:

"Your Majesty is not without advantages. According to you, she is as beautiful as you. Are you really not exaggerating? I don't believe anyone can compare with you."

"Thanks for the compliment, but she's really pretty."

Sif looked at Roland speechlessly, biting her lip and asked: "Is good looks useful in political struggles? This is not a marriage! Even a marriage is based on status rather than beauty."

"Have."

Roland said seriously: "Your Majesty's greatest advantage is your royal power. Although the imperial power is divided among the ministers, the people don't know it."

"Many ordinary people always have a beautiful illusion. They think that the emperor is wise and has good policies, but it is unscrupulous officials who are enriching themselves."

Sif was stunned.

This was the first time she heard this statement.

Teacher Wald didn’t say that either.

She asked softly: "Really?"

"Seeing is believing, you can see for yourself. Your Majesty cannot leave the palace easily. You can walk more for her and listen to their voices."

"Okay, I believe you!" Sif said hurriedly as if grasping a life-saving straw.

(End of this chapter)