NOVPUBThe Palante royal family and Prime Minister sharing lunch is not a fixed tradition of the empire, but it is one of the forms of informal meetings within the Palante Empire’s constitutional democracy.
A private lunch provides an informal environment that allows the Emperor and the Prime Minister to discuss national affairs and policy issues in a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
In the constitutional system of the Palante Empire, Empress Kexiya, the current monarch, plays an important ceremonial role, while the actual executive power is mainly concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister and his parliament.
Nevertheless, Empress Kexiya still maintains a profound interest and influence on national affairs.
It is part of the political tradition of the Palante Empire for the Prime Minister to report on government affairs to the Emperor regularly.
The Palante capital, Shalem Palace.
Originally a large urban residence built for a certain Duke, it was later acquired by the royal family and gradually expanded into the palace it is today.
Lanci’s footsteps echoed in the palace.
He walked forward steadily under the lead of the attendant.
Today, the building is not only the residence of the Palante Empire’s monarch but also a symbol of the nation’s identity and royal tradition.
After leaving the Congressional Building, Lanci was escorted by his secretary to meet with the Empress at the Shalem Palace.
It was now lunchtime.
Soon, he arrived inside a lavish dining room, filled with the subtle fragrance of classical furniture; tall windows admitted soft natural light, illuminating the delicate tablecloths and silverware.
"Lord Wilford, please take a seat."
Empress Kexiya, noticing Lanci, gestured for him to sit with her hand.
Her demeanor was dignified, noble, and coolly aloof.
"Thank you, Your Majesty Empress Kexiya."
Lanci sat on the opposite side of the long table, looking up.
The young Empress opposite him exuded a sense of humility, her satin-like brown hair woven into intricate knots and studded with sparkling jewels and pearls. Her eyes were bright, the vivid blue indicating intelligence and insightfulness.
But she seemed slightly nervous and cautious.
The two of them remained silent for a while.
It was as if they were waiting for the attendant to serve today’s lunch, or as if they were both deep in thought.
Apart from the Prime Minister’s inauguration ceremony, the two had hardly interacted before.
Today was their first lunch together.
Theoretically, luncheons or similar private meetings provide a platform for the Empress and the Prime Minister to exchange opinions, where the Prime Minister can introduce the parliamentary policy directions, developments in major domestic and international events, as well as potential challenges and decision-making considerations. For the Emperor, it is also an important channel for understanding the operations of the government and the state of the nation, so it is usually the Prime Minister who should speak first.
Besides, such meetings help maintain the personal relationship between the Emperor and the Prime Minister and keep smooth communication between the parliament and the royal family. Although Empress Kexiya does not directly participate in political decision-making, as a symbol of the nation and unity, a good relationship with the ruling Prime Minister is of great importance to national stability and public trust.
The problem is, Empress Kexiya actually still harbors a reluctant attitude towards electing Wilford as Prime Minister. 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
In her eyes, Wilford is a man with a not-so-clean track record, indecisive positions, and inscrutable, with many around her calling him a madman.
Yet besides him, no one else dared to take on this significant responsibility at this time.
"By the way, are you hungry now, Your Majesty Empress Kexiya?"
Lanci suddenly asked.
The question caught Empress Kexiya off guard.
The Cat Boss in the shadows of Lanci was also stunned.
Do you treat all girls like Tata?
Hey, this is the Empress you’re talking to; at least switch to a different opening topic when you chat with her!
"Lord Wilford, are you not feeling hungry yet?"
Empress Kexiya pondered the motives behind his question for a moment before replying.
"No, I am very much looking forward to having lunch with Your Majesty as soon as possible, the morning’s work has left me quite dizzy."
Lanci shook his head, revealing a somewhat weary smile,
"I just feel that Your Majesty probably doesn’t like to talk while eating, and if I don’t strike up a casual conversation with you now, our entire lunch may be quite silent later."
Sometimes, asking a question unrelated to the current affairs can greatly ease the atmosphere and distract the other party.
Especially effective with a certain lady.
"Indeed."
Empress Kexiya nodded.
She indeed wasn’t the type to enjoy talking while eating, and it seemed Wilford was accustomed to the same. By agreeing on this in advance, both parties could quietly eat their own meals later without any awkwardness.
"In fact, regarding the situation of Palante Empire, I think Your Majesty is quite informed, so I won’t dwell on the tedious details that you are already aware of. If there is anything you are curious about, please feel free to ask me anytime, and I shall spare no effort in answering."
Seeing the Empress’s posture relax a little, Lanci continued to speak slowly.
"..."
Empress Kexiya nodded silently, gazing at the other party,
"Lord Wilford, as a friend rather than an ally, you are more approachable than I had imagined."
What was expected to be a grueling lunch had become much more relaxed; it was possible to stay silent or only talk about topics she wished to discuss.
Finally, she had a moment to closely observe the man with black hair and green eyes sitting opposite her.
However, what she hadn’t expected was that this man she dreaded seemed to regard her with equal awe.
Although he was dressed in a neat suit, presenting respect and etiquette on the outside, his eyes still betrayed humility and sincerity, clearly showing he placed great importance on this private meeting.
"If possible, I hope I never have to wield my talents, that a Palante Empire that doesn’t need me, is the best Palante Empire."
Lanci said frankly.
"Do you know? The conservatives now greatly regret having elected you as the new Prime Minister, because of your speech this morning."
Kexiya could see that, unlike most imperial elites, he had a sense of responsibility but lacked ambition, which might also be the reason for some people’s envy and ostracism against him.
Of course, many people had predicted this, that once Wilford helped them through the empire’s crisis, he wouldn’t cling to power and could soon be ousted.
"But expressing my true thoughts was imperative."
Lanci replied firmly.
"You shouldn’t mislead the public."
Empress Kexiya hadn’t intended to bring up this potentially divisive topic during their meeting, but now she felt that Wilford wasn’t a petty man, and it seemed more appropriate to have an open discussion with him.
She referred to Lanci not revealing to the public that the Honing Empire had officially attacked the northern border of the Briss Kingdom the night before, and instead had conveyed that if the Honing Empire began to threaten them, the Palante Empire would counterattack with full force, never allowing the Honing Empire’s reach to invade the territory that their forefathers had guarded for generations.
"But this way, it can inspire the people and incite a will to resist. We cannot yield without a fight."
Lanci’s tone softened a notch as he spoke to Empress Kexiya.
"..."
Intending to continue questioning him, Empress Kexiya found the words stuck in her throat.
She saw Lord Wilford speaking the harshest words but doing so with the demeanor of a child admitting fault, which made Empress Kexiya feel an unexpected pity for the humble, isolated figure striving to support the heavy load.
To blame him now would only make his difficult path even harder.
Upon reflection, he did have a point, having essentially resolved to prepare for a determined resistance.
"I apologize, Lord Wilford, for not considering your position."
She looked into Lanci’s weary eyes, and a sense of guilt welled up inside her.
Cat Boss: "???"
In just a few minutes, it could no longer sense the initially cautious stance Kexiya had toward Lanci.
Even the opposite seemed true; she had started trying to close the distance between them.
Without Hyperion, it began to improvise, fearing that this master of Northern Continent’s peak powers had already recovered half of his strength!
