Chapter 52 Candlelight Flickering

In the slightly dark room, there were candles on the small cake. The warm light swayed, reflecting Lily's face, and warm tears slowly fell down.

"Why are you crying again, idiot Lily."

"No, I just feel a little nostalgic for the past." Lily said softly, wiping her tears.

"Okay, it's okay now."

"Then close your eyes and make a wish. You used to want to be a queen, and this wish has come true. Do you have a new wish now?"

"Yes." Lily closed her eyes.

I don't want to be a queen anymore, I just want a simple and peaceful life. She chanted silently in her mind.

But this wish is too willful. He has obviously enjoyed the glory and power of the queen, but now he wants to escape irresponsibly. So please allow me to bury this wish deep in my heart.

"What wish did you make, Lily?" Ye Ling asked curiously.

"No, it's nothing, a very simple and willful wish." Lily shook her head.

"Hey, is it still a secret?" Ye Ling said disappointedly.

"Well, I am no longer a child, and I can no longer speak out my wishes without any scruples like before." Lily shook her head slightly.

"Why, why can't you say it." Ye Ling folded his hands in front of his chin.

"Because I realize that some wishes are destined to disappoint and hurt others." Lily said silently.

"It's so complicated, I can't understand it."

"Haha, it's better for Eidolon to be an Eidolon. You don't need to know everything." Lily burst into tears and smiled.

"Is that so? No matter what, let's eat cake." Ye Ling suddenly stood up again.

"The knives and forks are ready." Lorraine Hill waved his fingers, and several knives and forks made of magic crystal slowly fell down.

"I'll cut the cake." Lily said.

"Here." Lorraine Hill handed her a crystal knife.

Holding the slightly cold knife, Lily looked at the cake in the candlelight. She was stunned for a few seconds. Then she came back to her senses. She pointed the knife at the part with her name and cut it open, revealing the soft inside. Pastry and cream.

Then he cut the piece into small pieces and handed them to Lorraine and Eidolon.

"Can you eat it?" Ye Ling held the cake and was eager to try it, then looked back at Lorraine Hill who was standing aside.

"Let's go together."

"Um."

The three of them were sitting at the small table, eating cake and talking about the past.

After Lorraine Hill and Bumantha graduated, Lily stayed at the school for a few more years, during which time she saw off Eidolon, Letis, Aliena, and Nia, before finally leaving school herself.

"It's a pity that I couldn't advance to fifth grade and get my diploma." Lily said embarrassedly.

"My talent is average, and I don't work as hard as Niya, so I only entered the fourth grade in the end."

"After returning to my hometown, I helped clear out a few weak monsters in the family territory, and then lived a leisurely life. Because I was the youngest among the brothers and sisters, my parents did not ask for much, and there were several older brothers and sisters. They take care of it.”

"So I was very happy during those days. I even went to the south to play with Alena. Unfortunately, after the war, I came back." Lily's eyes showed a touch of nostalgia.

"After that, I met His Majesty the Emperor during the banquet at the Paskar family."

"At first, I thought he was also a young man from a small noble family, because he looked really young and not very impressive. At that time, I wanted to kick him."

"Who would have thought that he confessed to me later, which shocked me. Because in the empire, many people respected and feared the emperor." Lily shook her head slightly, then lowered her head to eat the cake.

"But that's all in the past."

"Two years have been like a dream, and now there is only cold reality." Her voice became deeper again.

"Huh, Lily." Ye Ling came over at this time, held Lily's head, and comforted her.

The two whispered a lot more in whispers before slowly separating.

"Do you have any plans or ideas in the future?" Lorraine Hill also walked over.

"Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?" Lily gave a wry smile.

"It feels like it's in danger now. The center of power is like the eye of the storm, full of intrigues and killings."

"In fairy tales, it is always said that the prince and the princess lived a happy life together."

"But few people think about what happens next. Will this prince definitely inherit the throne? And, even if he inherits the throne, will he be able to do it well?"

"A king who cannot bring prosperity and victory will only be abandoned and despised by others, while a cruel and cruel king will be forgiven for all his sins as long as he can help the country continue to win."

"Everyone attributes their weaknesses and shortcomings to the king's failure because the king has brought misfortune to the country. But in fact, when a person sits in that position, he will no longer be himself, but will become something more. Complex existence.”

Lily slowly talked about her personal feelings over the years. Although she rarely participated in the empire's decision-making, she also understood and saw the truth behind many things under the influence of Amanke.

If the Seven Kingdoms of Xuehua were not attacked, the grievances and conflicts that had accumulated within the empire for many years would have reached a critical stage. It was only with the help of this grievance and dissatisfaction that Amanke was able to gain the support of the military and launch a coup to ascend to the throne.

If the Ansel brothers are allowed to ascend the throne and continue as they are, resentment that has nowhere to vent will burst out, and an upheaval will occur within the empire.

rebellions and uprisings.

Other nobles in the empire did not understand the ideas propagated when Cranthia was founded, but Aimank knew very well how attractive such thoughts were to the people at the bottom. He even talked to Lily that if it were delayed a few years and this trend of thought spread, the empire itself would be divided even if there were no external enemies.

"All I can do is to drive this chariot and extinguish the ignited flames. Either it will be flattened and the empire will continue to unify the continent, or it will fail and the chariot of the empire will fall apart."

"Is there no other way?" Lily once asked him.

"No, Lily. If you read the sage's works, you will know that all issues were settled very early. This is an irreconcilable contradiction."

"The other party's existence seems to be to prove its own mistakes. If Crancia gradually becomes rich and powerful, then doubts will slowly arise within the empire, whether it is because of our system and various unreasonableness that we are weak and backward. "

"And if the empire defeats Clancia, then the people of Clancia will have to admit that noble blood is indeed better than everything, and the glorious aristocracy is effective."

"So the two sides will start a war sooner or later, and I just started this war in advance when the empire is strong."

"This is not necessarily a bad thing. If the empire wins and gains vast land and wealth, the problems within the empire will be greatly alleviated, and there will be at least 200 years of prosperity and peace." He said to Lily.

"What about after this?"

"In the future? Then let the people in the future figure out a solution. There is no absolutely perfect system in the world. You always adapt slowly, or you continue to make changes when you have no other choice." Emmanuelle gently stroked Lily's forehead and replied. .

In the dimly lit room, Lily recounted some of the things she had heard over the past two years.

"I can't change his mind, and he can't change the trend of this era." Lily sighed.

"Now that he is gone, I can only guard my child and hope that he can grow up safely. It is best to stay away from the throne."

"But this idea is still a bit naive, and I have become more and more aware of this recently."

"There is no retreat in the struggle for power."

"I'm a little sad, Lily." Ye Ling also felt depressed and worried about Lily.

"If we talk about my future plans, I hope to be able to retire from this position with my children. I am not a person who is good at sitting in this position. I am not cruel enough or decisive enough."

"But this kind of thing is very difficult, because it is too sensitive. If it is not too serious, it will cause a huge shock in the country." Lorraine Hill slowly stood up and looked out the window at the bright lights of thousands of houses, the streets on both sides of the street. The museum buildings are arranged along the streets, gorgeous and neat, and the tops of many houses are shining with the fluorescence of alchemical creations.

"Yes, I realize this too." Lily took a deep breath.

"I am no longer a child and can no longer be as willful as I used to be. Although I ended up in this position due to an accident."

"But no matter what, since you are here, you can't just throw away your responsibilities."

"Even if you are going to be assassinated again at any time and have to be ruthless to get rid of those who stand in your way, can you still keep going?" Lorraine Hill looked back, his pure eyes like warm ruby.

"I think I can learn to do it." Lily closed her eyes.

"How are you going to clean up the situation left by Amanke? Now in the empire, I heard that many people are turning towards Edlon."

"Should I fully delegate power to him, or should I struggle to retain some of my own power?"

"Then it's better to struggle. Although it's a bit stupid, there is still some hope and sense of security." Lily said with an embarrassed smile.

"Hoho, this is right, Lily."

"What are you going to do next?" Lorraine Hill asked again.

"I am prepared to comfort families who have lost loved ones involved in the war."

"This requires a lot of money, and some of the money may not be in their hands." Lorraine Hill tilted his head.

"This..." Lily bit her lip.

"I..." She suddenly lowered her head.

"Actually, I don't understand anything, and I don't know how to restore everything that Aimanke left behind." A few tears fell to the ground.

"Don't be sad, you will find your way to the future slowly. Also, aren't we here to see you?" Lorraine Hill touched Lily.

"If you want to solve various problems within the empire, you can't do it alone, or even the current system." Lorraine Hill hugged Lily and said slowly.

"So, you don't have to put such a big burden on yourself."

"Although it is shameful to escape, it is not impossible. There are always things that people cannot face. It is better to escape and live than to die sadly."

"Until then, you just have to do your best."

"Find trustworthy people, bring some money, find local people with good reputation and reputation, build some orphanages, try to raise the children who have lost their families, and place those injured or disabled due to war in the vicinity of the orphanages, so that both It can play a certain role in helping and protecting, and it can also conveniently organize people to do some handicrafts to support themselves."

"In this way, even if the empire no longer exists, they can continue without suddenly collapsing."

“You can’t give them every day’s bread, but at least you can give them the ability to earn every day’s bread.”

"More problems cannot be solved by you alone. It will take an entire era and the struggle of countless people to change everything." Lorraine Hill hugged Lily and helped her analyze it in detail.

"Don't push yourself into a corner, Lily. Although what I said seems very simple, in fact, it is not easy to truly achieve these two points. At that time, you can leave this position with peace of mind and return to A peaceful place to spend the rest of your life.”

"But... I still feel very sorry for many people." Lily recalled the people who got married to each other in the Imperial Capital Square that year under the witness of her and Aimanke.

"Yes, because you are the queen of the empire, you are destined to bear the corresponding sins."

"However, if you fall here, you will never have a chance to atone for your sins. Moreover, you will also give up power to those who are more greedy."

“It’s better to do 100 right things after doing 10 wrong things than to never take a step forward.”

"Do you want to be a morally perfect person? Pursuing a guiltless life is not the path to happiness. It will only make you miserable."

"So, be firm. Since you have gone wrong ahead, you should turn around in time and take the road below."

Lorraine Hill recalled what Sister Sander had said to comfort her in the past, but she did not expect that she would say it to another person today. And this is not what I am saying to myself.

Although she now holds two crowns and has the ability to determine the future, she has always restrained many of her thoughts.

Because I am afraid of taking the wrong path and causing pain and misfortune to everyone.

Although he clearly saw various problems within the empire, all kinds of decay and misfortune, he still refused to overthrow it, and luckily found peaceful ways to improve it.

If one day, she is like Lily and causes pain to many people because she did something wrong, can she face herself like this calmly? Can she accept herself who made mistakes calmly?

Having a sensitive body and mind makes people prone to sympathy and kindness, but this kind of kindness sometimes forms invisible constraints to restrict many of her thoughts, even if her reason tells her that this is indeed right.

Perhaps, I need to be stronger and more determined. Even if I am criticized, insulted, misunderstood and doubted by others, I still have to stick to the right path.

People understand because of similarities, but when an individual exists for longer and longer, her views and opinions on the entire world will slowly change, and she will eventually become incompatible with the world.

Perhaps this is also the reason why witches have strange personalities.

I hope that even if I spend a long time, I can still maintain some understanding and sympathy for ordinary people and not become that kind of cold-blooded and cold-blooded witch.

Lorraine Hill comforted Lily, staring blankly at the candlelight, and her thoughts drifted to the endless distance.

I am just Lorraine Hill, not a witch.