Regarding the mastermind behind the scenes…
The first to come to Wendy’s mind was the George Family.
Although General Sera appeared loyal and even the current head, Grand General Claudia, had been placed under house arrest by the Veid Family, making them seem like powerless victims unable to intervene in the upcoming power struggle, things should never be judged by appearances alone.
The ancestors of the George Family were guardian knights who fought alongside the first generation of heroes.
Who could guarantee they hadn’t inherited some Divine Relic or Treasure powerful enough to turn the tide?
It’s not entirely impossible for them to suddenly emerge at the last moment and reverse everything.
Moreover, from a motivational perspective, as a military family, watching the Kingdom gradually decline under the rot of old nobles, seeing the nation’s defenses wither, and eventually succumbing to Despair—turning “black” and attempting a sweeping purge through iron and blood—seems entirely reasonable.
However, Wendy quickly dismissed this suspicion.
In the game , he had farmed all the quest rewards related to the Ruins of Valoran Kingdom, and most were standard equipment with decent attributes or some honor titles, but there was never any truly high-value Divine Relic.
Given how game developers operate, if such a trump card existed, it would never be hidden away and not used as a selling point.
Therefore, the George Family—eliminated.
The second was the Klein Family.
Out of the corner of his eye, Wendy stealthily glanced at the “Rival in Love” watching the show nearby.
This woman not only held the Recording Crystal that could cause his social downfall, but also had the soul-binding “Thorn Kiss.”
To some extent, she already possessed the qualifications to control him at will and, by extension, indirectly manipulate Astreia.
And her mother, Layana Klein, was the powerful head of the Mage Academy Central Continent Branch.
If she secretly supported her daughter, manipulating the Little Queen and staging a “mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole follows behind” scenario, it wasn’t impossible.
By then, as blood flowed on Astreia’s side and the nobles of the Royal Capital were slaughtered, they could control the Little Queen to stab the princess in the back at the victory banquet, causing both sisters to perish together.
In the end, the Klein Family could ascend the throne without shedding a drop of blood and conveniently claim this “top-class beauty” prince renowned across the Continent.
Hiss…
This theory was so dark that Wendy himself got goosebumps.
But then he thought again—something was off.
Would the dignified head of the Mage Academy Central Continent Branch, wielding the continent’s finest Magic resources and connections, really covet a broken kingdom like Valoran, already ruined by old nobles?
The ambition seemed too petty.
He recalled how Layana Klein had shown an almost fanatical research passion for Astreia’s abnormal Magic attributes upon meeting her, and in the game, how Laxana’s love for Astreia bordered on pathological obsession…
In the end, Wendy abandoned this suspicion.
The minds of academic maniacs and love-obsessed people usually ran counter to common sense, and trying to judge them from a political perspective would likely lead to the wrong conclusions.
Then the only one left…
Was that “Old Fox” called by Laxana—the Prime Minister and Cardinal Allison Visseran.
A truly terrifying theory slowly formed in his mind.
What would happen if the Veid Family and their vassals were completely wiped out tonight?
The collapse of the Veid Family would certainly grant Astreia, the George Family, and the Klein Family higher status and prestige.
But at the same time, they would inevitably bear the “Butcher” stigma for this bloody purge, becoming objects of collective fear and exclusion by all surviving nobles.
At that point, a huge power vacuum would emerge in the Royal Capital.
The systems of finance, commerce, and local administration would instantly fall into chaos.
Then, who could step forward the fastest and most rightfully to fill this power vacuum?
There was only one answer.
The Civil Officials’ Faction, who had long managed the kingdom’s government affairs and knew every law, tax, and the state of each province like the back of their hand!
And their leader, the Cardinal, Allison Visseran, was the very person who had “driven” Astreia out of the Royal Capital and sent her to Sunset Fortress to “avoid disaster.”
But what if, back then, she drove the elder sister away precisely to better control the younger Queen?
The possibility made Wendy shiver to his core.
If not for his unexpected involvement, this entire chessboard might have already been set the moment Astreia was sent away!
This was a near-perfect reshuffling of power!
Using the Little Queen’s “Despair” and wielding the Northern Army as a “blade,” she could uproot her greatest political enemies.
Then, under the banner of “cleaning up the aftermath” and “stabilizing the country,” she would naturally take over all authority.
In the end, the entire Valoran Kingdom would fall under the control of that Cardinal.
And the pitiful Queen Yekaterina would transform from a puppet of the Veid Family into a puppet of Prime Minister Visseran—perhaps even feeling grateful to her new master.
As for Astreia—a war hero carrying the “Butcher” stigma and rendered powerless by the entire Civil Officials’ Faction?
Her fate would be a hundred times more tragic than remaining the “Lioness” of the Northern Region.
What a move—”drive the tiger to swallow the wolf”!
What a woman—Allison Visseran!
Wendy almost wanted to applaud this unseen “Old Fox.”
Understanding everything, he looked at Yekaterina again, a hint of pity in his eyes.
This poor girl probably thought she had found a lifeline, not realizing she had merely escaped the wolf’s den to fall into the fox’s lair.
“Wendy?”
Astreia saw her beloved remain silent, his expression changing, and couldn’t help but call out softly.
She didn’t want Wendy to agree with such a cruel approach.
Prince Wendy snapped back to reality, meeting the worried, curious, and amused gazes of those around him.
“Her Majesty the Queen’s determination and courage are admirable.”
This sudden statement left both the Little Queen and Astreia momentarily stunned.
Then, changing his tone to gentle, he casually posed a question.
“For such a swift and decisive plan, I’m sure Her Majesty the Queen has considered every angle. But there is one thing I do not understand and would like to ask.”
“After all those disobedient ministers are removed, who will fill the positions they leave behind—such as Minister of Finance, Minister of Military Affairs, and the Department Chiefs in charge of the capital’s food, taxes, and security?”
He leaned forward slightly, the test in his peach blossom eyes carefully concealed.
“Or perhaps, does Her Majesty the Queen already have a list of successors in her hand?”