56

Elena was quite embarrassed when asked. Although Sian's questions were comprehensive, they were high-level questions that required very professional learning.

"I didn't learn much because I wasn't good at commercial talent. But since you asked for my opinion, I will speak my mind."

"I'll listen."

"The current flow of imperial money is closely related to power. The Grand Duke and the Four Great Families intervene in various interests and monopolize anything that makes a profit."

Since the founding of the empire, there had never been a time in history when the nobility wielded such a large vested interest as they do now. The empire had belonged to the imperial family for generations, but it was gradually losing its authority as the aristocracy gained more and more power. A puppet Emperor. The nobles above the emperor, changing even the emperor. This was the reality of the current imperial family.

"You saw it correctly."

"Along with the flow of money, even the pretext for it has been swept away by the aristocrats."

"The Empire must change."

Sian also seemed to be fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. From the earnest look in his eyes, she could sense his will to get rid of the interferences and checks of the Grand Duke and the four families and regain the powerful imperial power.

Elena was very sympathetic to Sian. If he had been blessed with the right times, he would have had the qualities to be a great ruler, but unfortunately, there was no place for such an emperor now. The sight of him was so sad that Elena couldn't help but not leave.

"Get someone capable."

"Human."

Sian still brooded on the word and asked, his eyes glistening.

"Do you mean someone like you?"

"No."

Elena cut the line with a snap.

"I'm not as good of a person as Your Highness thinks I am."

"You're so humble."

Khalif could not participate in the conversation except to froth at the mouth. There was some high level dialogue going on, but it was too sensitive a subject and it would have been better to leave. Elena, on the other hand, was not the least bit upset and maintained a tremendous amount of composure.

"I also had the same thoughts as my lady. However, most of the capable ones are the nobles. They never try to stand on the side of the imperial family."

"…"

She also understood Sian's frustration. Even in the academic institute, most intellectuals who had received a high level of education are to abstain from nobles. In rare cases, some were from commoner backgrounds, but the majority were obsessed with career advancement, so most people relied on the nobility rather than the imperial family.

'The will is there, but the method is wrong.'

Elena saw it clearly. Sian, who dreamed of strengthening the imperial power and tried to reform, failed. The current approach would only repeat the same mistakes.

'If only His Highness could properly read the trends of the new era, it could change.'

A new era is coming soon. If he can read and ride on the bandwagon, there is a possibility that Sian may achieve what he wanted. But Elena couldn't bring it up. When they happened to run into each other in the library reading room, Sian was interspersed with "Monarchism." If he was still dreaming of a strong despotic imperial power, the future of the new era and Sian will conflict.

'Let's not get ahead of ourselves. His Highness will take care of the judgment.'

Elena wanted to help in any way she could to Sian. It was all because of the lingering love and hatred for Sian, who she once lived as a couple with. Yes, that was it.

"May I offer you a word of advice?"

"Advice. I'll take it hard."

Elena gave strength and said as Sian's permission fell.

"There are countless emperors in the Empire who were revered as great men in the past. It's no exaggeration to say that we have an empire now because of their achievements."

"Go on."

"The reason why their achievements are highly regarded is that they have prepared the necessary systems for the times, read the changes of the times and dealt with them appropriately."

Throughout Elena's words, Khalif could not relax. He was nervous that she might offend Sian.

"The times are beginning."

Elena took a small deep breath. It's real from now on.

"The nobles are rotten and corrupt. Nevertheless, the imperial family has no authority or power to press them."

"…"

Sian's expressionless eyebrows wiggled. Elena pointed out the incompetence of the Imperial Household in front of the Crown Prince Sian.

"L-Lucia! Bite your tongue."

The frightened Khalif stepped in and stopped him. Even though that may be said to be true, it was tantamount to an insult to the imperial family to undermine the imperial family. But Elena had no intention of stopping here. No, if she had planned to stop here from the beginning, she would not have said a word.

"The world will change soon."

Even though it may sound uncomfortable and insulting, Sian's expression did not change. Only Khalif, caught in the middle, was restless.

"The change of times never begins above. It starts below."

"Below."

"Commoners."

"…!"

Sian's eyes, where there was no change of emotion, were energized. Since the founding of the empire, the main reformers had been the imperial family and the nobility. The absolute majority of the commoners in the pyramid-shaped status system were just objects that had to be governed and were not considered as reform subjects. Elena pointed out those commoners. She said that the change of times is not from the top, but from the bottom. For Sian, the story came as shocking.

"Whether you are nobility or the imperial family. It doesn't matter to the common people. The nobles are corrupt, and the imperial family lost authority and cannot stop the tyranny of the nobility."

"…"

"The exploited commoners don't see both of them differently. The persecuting one or the one unable to stop it are just the same."

A cold sweat ran down Khalif's spine. Elena's level of words was so high that he was nervous that she might buy Sian's anger.

"Continue. Keep talking."

What was surprising was Sian's patience. Despite being criticized for the incompetence of the imperial family, he showed a willingness to continue to listen to Elena's claims.

"To the imperial family, nobility is the enemy. Are the common people the enemy to the imperial family?"

"No."

"Then who should the imperial family lean against? It's the people."

"Lean on, the imperial family…"

Sian calmly chewed over what Elena said. The imperial family viewed the common people as objects to be governed, but did not give any other meaning. Because of their status, the commoners have been perceived only as such. But now Elena's words were breaking all that common sense.

"The reign of the Emperor is over."

Elena gave strength to her voice and said it clearly. It was time to wrap up the long and lengthy argument.

"The Emperor should not reign over the people, but stand on the people's side and go together."

"…"

"That's the only way you can achieve what you want in an era of change."

Elena's final assertion was full of conviction. It was a future she had seen and experienced firsthand, and so she could say it firmly and unwaveringly.

'This will do. The choice that remains is yours, Your Highness.'

Elena knew. She knew what she was talking about was going to sound ridiculous. Even though she knew that, she hoped that this serious advice would reach him, because of the love and regret she had for him.

"L-Lucia."

As soon as Sian fell silent, Khalif called out anxiously to Elena in a low voice. The longer the silence lasted, the more nervous he became, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Elena waited softly. The long silence signified Sian's troubles. When the worries were over, she was about to end the love and hatred she had by respecting whatever he chose.

"You surprise me every time."

Sian's first words were admiration. There was a surprise from learning about the world from a completely different perspective and knowledge.

"Is that it. Is that the meaning of the Holy Empire books you saw then?"

"…!"

Elena was surprised. She never thought that Sian would remember the books she had read at that time and get the point of what Elena said.

'You really listened to me?'

Instead of getting angry, she couldn't believe what she was seeing in front of him, Sian was thinking long and hard about Elena's story. It was a claim that seemed somewhat outrageous and impossible for him, the Crown Prince and the pinnacle of the status quo, to accept.

In addition, it was very different from the way he didn't listen to Elena in her previous life even when she begged desperately. It might have been more comfortable if he had ignored her as before. But Sian kept listening to Elena's words, which made her even more confused in dealing with him.

"Today's story was very meaningful. I feel like the fog in my head has gone away."

When Sian broke the debate, the happiest person was Khalif. If he could leave this place without any problems, he would sell his soul.

"*My lady."

Sian sang low to Elena.

"It was a very fruitful time. Would you often spend this time with me?"

"… Yes, Your Highness."

Elena replied reluctantly that she would. Even if she didn't want it, she couldn't refuse it in front of Sian. After finishing the story, Elena and Khalif came out of the dormitory. Before she knew it, the sky was dark. Elena felt fatigue as soon as she relaxed.

'I want to rest.'

She could see the dormitory just across the street. It was a stone's throw away, but Elena couldn't go. It was because she had to stop by the library's archives and remove her disguise to return as Veronica.

"*How swollen is your liver really? What are you doing in front of His Highness? What about the imperial family?"

Khalif walked side by side and criticized Elena. In his view, Elena's remarks today were well above the danger level.

"If even that doesn't catch the ear, it's about as good as it gets."

"What?"

Elena closed her mouth with meaningful words. Khalif, who was trying to criticize more, said, "Did you feel that this is not the atmosphere?"