"Dad, I already told you, I don't want to inherit any noble title. Why did you insist on calling me back?" Nicholas, who had just returned to Genovia, questioned his father.
"You don't have a choice in this. Who do you think funded your studies abroad, allowing you to achieve what you have today? Now it's time for you to give back…" Mabrey stared at his son, frustrated by his lack of ambition.
However, deep down, Mabrey was actually very satisfied with his son. He had studied in America since childhood, and over the years, he not only got into an Ivy League university but also earned a PhD. in Mechanical Engineering.
Such an achievement, for backward Genovia, was simply a dimensionality reduction attack.
It's worth noting that Princess Mia, who is beloved by the people today, only earned a high school diploma after returning from her studies in America.
The comparison between the two was enough to demonstrate Nicholas's excellence. It was equivalent to a golden phoenix flying out of a chicken coop.
"Alright, I will use my knowledge to benefit Genovia. However, can we discuss the noble title later?" Nicholas, who had studied abroad since he was young, didn't have much emotional attachment to Genovia, but seeing his father's expression, he still chose to compromise.
Nicholas, having just graduated with his PhD., still possessed some scholarly idealism.
Changing his perspective, he also realized that helping a backward small country develop would bring a significant sense of accomplishment.
Of course, if circumstances allowed, he would still prefer to stay in a developed country to display his talents.
"How can you do that without power?" Although Mabrey was pleased with his son's reaction, he still said, "It's very difficult to change a country. Knowledge alone is far from enough. We also need to wield power, a very, very great power…"
"Uh-huh, so what do we need to do?" Nicholas casually humored his father, seeing his enthusiastic demeanor.
"Not 'we,' but 'you,'" Mabrey said, hinting at something. "I want you to propose to Princess Mia and become the Kingdom's Duke, completely taking control of this country. Otherwise, we can only stage a coup, overthrow the Queen's rule, and become King ourselves to change this country."
"Are you crazy?" Nicholas exclaimed in surprise, not expecting his father to be so ambitious. "I haven't even seen the Princess's face. I don't want to marry a woman I don't know…"
"Also, staging a coup is even more impossible. Although I haven't lived in Genovia before, I know that the people here have very high support for Queen Renaldi."
"If we mess up, we'll all be doomed!!"
Nicholas's tone unconsciously rose by three octaves, seemingly due to his immense surprise.
"Of course I'm not crazy. If it weren't for the force of circumstances, I wouldn't want to stage a coup either," Mabrey said frankly. "So, the choice is still yours. As long as you can marry the Princess, things won't be that complicated…"
"Moreover, this isn't a disadvantage for you. Although Princess Mia acts strangely, it's undeniable that she's very beautiful and is quite suitable to be our family's daughter-in-law."
Nicholas, knowing his father was planning "rebellion," no longer cared about whether the Princess was beautiful. After calming himself down, he said, "With my knowledge and your position as Minister of Finance, we are fully capable of slowly guiding this country to develop. Why must we resort to extreme measures?"
As expected of a highly educated talent who had studied abroad, Nicholas immediately grasped the crux of the problem.
"I said, I don't want to either. But times are developing, and women's personalities determine that they are not suitable as leaders. Have you ever heard of any powerful country being run by a woman?" Mabrey said with a chauvinistic tone, "So, even if you eventually marry Princess Mia, I hope you can sideline her… Only we are the future of the Kingdom."
Speaking of Mabrey, as the Minister of Finance, although his noble title was not high, he was definitely the richest person in Genovia.
After gaining wealth, he naturally desired power.
Although he spoke grandly and tried to appear as if he was wholeheartedly for the country, everything was actually in preparation for usurping power.
"Is that really so?" Who wouldn't want to control a country and be King? Nicholas, having calmed down, was also a little moved, but he still said, "How come I heard that Queen Elizabeth managed her country quite well?"
"Queen Elizabeth is an exception. How can our Queen compare to her?" Mabrey quickly glossed over the question and continued, "It's settled then. I will organize a banquet later to create an opportunity for you to propose to the Princess. You must seize it…"
"Isn't that too rushed?" Nicholas, who had just returned from his PhD., felt a slight resistance to being forced into something.
"If you still want to save this country, then marrying the Princess is the gentlest method," Mabrey said with a serious expression. "Otherwise, if it really comes to a coup, the people and we will only lose more."
Yes, Mabrey had made the most thorough preparations to usurp power, even going so far as to introduce external forces.
Once Nicholas's proposal to the Princess failed, he would launch a military coup.
And his reliance was the Volturi Family living in Washington State, a powerful pure-blood Vampire family.
Of course, Mabrey also knew that this strategy of "betraying the country for glory" was not suitable to be revealed to his son at this time.
After all, young people tend to be a bit hot-blooded.
Saying too much would only affect the final plan.
The next day, the royal family members and ministers of Genovia all received banquet invitations from Mabrey, celebrating Nicholas's return from his studies.
"I heard that Mabrey's son graduated from an Ivy League university. He's truly an extraordinary young man…" At the main table of the banquet, Queen Renaldi expressed her satisfaction with the emergence of an excellent young generation in the country.
Then, she turned to her granddaughter and said, "Mia, you can interact more with that young man named Nicholas in the future and see what his thoughts are."
One thing at a time, although Mabrey had a poor reputation in Genovia, Queen Renaldi did not look down on Nicholas because of it.
Instead, she was considering the country, seeing if her granddaughter could bring Nicholas, this talent, into her own faction to contribute to the country's development.
"Uh, I know…" Princess Mia, whose mind was wandering, was suddenly called upon and was still a bit slow to react.
In her haste, she probably didn't even know what she had said.
However, Queen Renaldi merely smiled and shook her head at her granddaughter's disrespectful behavior, not dwelling on it too much.
After all, the Queen was also an experienced person and knew that her granddaughter had reached the age of romantic feelings.
The fact was just as Queen Renaldi had guessed. As the Kingdom's October banquet approached, Princess Mia was indeed considering how to get Mike to propose to her.
'If all else fails, I'll just take the initiative and confess to Mike…'
This was Princess Mia's current thought. As for the Minister of Finance's son, named Nicholas, Princess Mia hadn't paid much attention to him.
If Queen Renaldi hadn't dragged her along, she might not even have attended this celebratory banquet.
Speaking of Mabrey, as the Kingdom's Minister of Finance, although his reputation was not very good, he was undeniably wealthy, and thus, many nobles and ministers were willing to associate with him.
This could also be seen from the seating arrangements at this banquet. Apart from a few neutral parties, the number of nobles and ministers surrounding Mabrey was almost equal to the number of people on Queen Renaldi's side.
In the banquet hall, the attendees were subtly divided into two factions.
Finally, as the appointed time for the banquet arrived, Mabrey stood up and went to the center of the hall. After a slight bow towards the Queen, he said, "Queen Renaldi and Princess Mia, please allow me to formally introduce my son—Nicholas."
"Having graduated with a PhD. in Mechanical Engineering from Ivy League, he has voluntarily returned to this land where he was born and raised, out of concern for the Kingdom's development…"
In an opening speech resembling a eulogy, a tall young man dressed in Genovian attire slowly walked in from the main entrance.
His strong features earned him many admiring murmurs.
Especially the ministers who wanted to curry favor with Mabrey, they praised Nicholas to no end.
Even though Nicholas had been somewhat resistant to this kind of scene before, he felt a little light-headed at this moment.
It was only when his father tugged at him that Nicholas realized he needed to greet the Queen and the Princess now.
"Respected Queen Renaldi and Princess Mia, Nicholas sends his greetings—"
Nicholas, having come to his senses, bowed slightly, mimicking his father, displaying the proper etiquette of a noble.
At the same time, he didn't forget to subtly observe Princess Mia.
Princess Mia was wearing an elegant white long dress today, and combined with her noble temperament, she looked so beautiful that she seemed to glow.
This sight made Nicholas pause slightly, and his resistance to his father's suggestion was not as strong as before.
"Welcome home, Nicholas. The future of Genovia needs young people like you—" Queen Renaldi welcomed Nicholas's return to the country.
"Queen Renaldi, taking advantage of this auspicious day, I have a matter of double happiness that I would like to obtain your permission for," Mabrey seized the opportunity and stepped forward again.
"Oh, what other good news is there?" Queen Renaldi put away her smile and turned to look at Mabrey, wondering what trick he was going to play.
"It's like this: my son's return from his studies to help Genovia develop is one joyous occasion. As for the other joyous occasion, please allow me to keep you in suspense and let him speak for himself." After Mabrey finished speaking, he didn't forget to signal his son with his eyes.
"Uh, I've long heard that Princess Mia is beautiful and lovely, but seeing her today, I found she's even more beautiful than in the legends. So I want to propose to her, and I ask all of you to bear witness." Nicholas showed some sincerity, looked at Mia with 'deep affection,' and said, "May I have this honor, Princess Mia?"
"No, I already have someone I like," Princess Mia immediately retorted.
She, who had no feelings for Nicholas to begin with, now found him "detestable."
Above, Queen Renaldi's face was also very displeased, staring at Mabrey, waiting for an explanation.
Six months ago, Mike had visited Genovia once, and Princess Mia had specifically gone to greet him. Then, the rumors of this "golden couple" spread throughout the kingdom.
At that time, the royal family did not come forward to clarify the rumors, which was considered an implicit acknowledgment of their relationship.
Mabrey, as the Kingdom's Minister of Finance, naturally knew about this. Now, he was still pushing his son to propose to the Princess. If he wasn't confused, then he must have ulterior motives.
"My son is a top student from an Ivy League university and holds a doctorate. There is no young man in Genovia more outstanding than him, so it is most fitting for him to marry the Princess," Mabrey said confidently. "And with a marital relationship, Nicholas can also help the Princess better develop our country."
In his righteous words, the general sentiment seemed to be on Mabrey's side.
Those sycophantic ministers and nobles also took the opportunity to praise how well Nicholas and the Princess were matched.
"I will not interfere with Mia's romantic affairs, nor will I force her…" Queen Renaldi suppressed the clamor and said, "Ultimately, who she marries is entirely up to her own will."
After speaking, the Queen looked at her granddaughter, handing over the right to speak.
"I said, I already have someone I like. We will be engaged at the royal family dinner this year," Princess Mia publicly stated her position, not even sparing Nicholas a second glance.
As for Nicholas, he didn't have much affection for Princess Mia to begin with, and upon hearing the clear rejection, he was about to retreat gracefully.
However, before he could step back, his father pulled him close.
"Your Majesty the Queen, as long as the Princess and Nicholas get engaged, the Volturi Family will wholeheartedly assist her…" Mabrey seemed to have completely ignored the Princess's statement and continued to lobby Queen Renaldi.
At this, everyone realized Mabrey had ulterior motives, and the atmosphere of the banquet suddenly grew heavy.
Even Mabrey's supporters hadn't expected him to be so bold and finally dared not speak up in agreement anymore.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Queen Renaldi sat up straight, staring intently at Mabrey and his son, her eyes glinting with coldness.
Having been Queen for over forty years and single-handedly supporting Genovia's development, Queen Renaldi was certainly not a fool. At this moment, she sensed a different meaning from Mabrey's attitude.
"I want to say, Queen Renaldi, you're advanced in years, and the country will sooner or later be handed over to Princess Mia. At that time, without anyone to support her, are you sure she can manage the Kingdom well?" Mabrey revealed his true colors, saying, "Of course, with the support of the Volturi Family, the situation will be different…"
"Presumptuous!! Mabrey, are you trying to usurp the throne?" Just as Mabrey was demonstrating his worth and making treasonous remarks, the royal butler, Joe, who stood beside the Queen, interrupted him.
At this, Mabrey's hidden intentions were brought into the open.
The tide had turned, and it was no longer up to him.
"Usurp the throne?" Mabrey laughed and shook his head. "I don't like that term. If I had to say, I'd prefer to describe it as cooperation. The Princess marries my son, and we help the Kingdom develop."
"What do you think, Queen Renaldi?"
Mabrey, now completely uninhibited, stared directly at the Queen with an implied threat in his eyes.
"Guards, seize Mabrey—" Queen Renaldi responded, "I want to see how much the Volturi Family has contributed to the Kingdom all these years."
The implication of a reckoning was already clear.
The connection between the Minister of Finance and the richest man in the Kingdom meant that the Volturi Family could not withstand scrutiny.
Many ministers who supported Mabrey, with flickering eyes, were already considering how to distance themselves from him.
After all, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
However, Mabrey, as the person involved, showed no fear on his face. Instead, he became even more arrogant, retorting, "Queen Renaldi, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Arbitrarily conscripting citizens for mining, yet pocketing the profits. Plus secretly colluding with and sheltering Kingdom ministers, wantonly violating Kingdom laws…" Queen Renaldi began, "With these countless crimes, what more do you have to say?"
It turned out that Queen Renaldi had long known of Mabrey's crimes. The reason she hadn't immediately punished him was that she was waiting for a suitable opportunity.
So as not to punish one person and cause unrest in the Kingdom.
Now that this extremely powerful Minister of Finance had exposed himself, wasn't this the best opportunity?
"The Volturi Family has served the Kingdom for hundreds of years. What's wrong with making some money and enjoying ourselves? Also, you say I sheltered and colluded with ministers. If it weren't for us, could you manage the country well?" Mabrey was still arguing, showing no remorse, clearly having gone mad.
His appearance startled Nicholas, who was standing nearby.
"Forget it, it's useless to say so much to you all. I will prove with actions that the Volturi Family is the future of the Kingdom—" After delivering his impassioned speech, Mabrey shouted towards the door, "You can make your move now. I will fulfill my promises to you afterwards."
This was a coup!
The fact that the guards summoned by the Queen hadn't appeared for so long had already made many "smart people" sense that something was wrong.
At this moment, everyone looked towards the door.
And just then, three mysterious figures in black robes slowly walked in from the banquet entrance.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that their black robes were stained with specks of blood.