"What!" Mencken's face changed suddenly, and he stood up with a "poof", "Did he bring any soldiers?"

"......No," the butler shook his head, sweat still on his forehead, "Her Royal Highness the Princess and Count Jericho only brought the coachman and a few servants, and did not bring any guards. ”

Mencken frowned, then looked at Pete.

"Could it be that Jericho found out about what we were here......"

"It shouldn't be possible. The former Prime Minister Pitt shook his head, his tone was firm, at least giving the others some confidence, "You go up and deal with it first, we can't stay here any longer, since it's a banquet, we have to make it a little bit more like." ”

Guderian and Broken Hill and others nodded in agreement with Pitt's words.

"I see. Mencken sighed slightly, "You can avoid it, don't let Jericho know you're here." ”

He said this to Thressi, but when he turned his eyes, he found that Thressi's figure had disappeared from the room.

——————————————

Swain and Caterina sat in the Menken's living room, and although they were exclaimed by the guests when they entered, Swain ignored the socialites of the imperial capital and led Caterina to the quiet parlor.

"Count Jericho. It was a long time before Mencken entered the drawing-room, but his expression was not very good-looking, and he did not have the formulaic smile that he used to wear on his face as foreign secretary.

However, he deliberately nodded to the eldest princess. "Hello, Your Highness Princess. ”

"Menken......" Swain raised his eyes and paused deliberately, "sir." ”

The corners of Mencken's eyes twitched slightly.

Still, he managed to hold his anger and sat down across from Swin and Katarina.

"What about the others?" Sven looked at Menken with a blank face, without even a superfluous greeting, and cut straight to the point.

"Who do you mean?" Menken didn't bother to look at Swain, and simply turned his gaze to Katarina.

"Former colleagues of yours, of course. Swain glanced towards the door, "Even if there are too many of them to appear together, at least you should invite a few of them, after all, Her Royal Highness is here." ”

"About this," Mencken's finger tapped on the armrest of the couch, and the look in his eyes suddenly changed, "I have a question. ”

Swain stared at Menken for a moment. "Say it. ”

"I didn't ask you, Count Jericho. Menken kept staring at Princess Celestia and said, "Your Highness Princess, in the last cabinet meeting, due to some unexpected circumstances, there were some items that were unwillingly interrupted, and I would like to take this opportunity today to resolve these issues." ”

"Say it. Katerina smiled, not as rigid as Swain.

"According to what was announced in the last meeting, the post of prime minister of the next cabinet will be held by Marshal Rudolph, but at present, the marshal is still in the south, and it will take some time to return to the imperial capital, so who will take over the cabinet functions during the period before the marshal takes office?"

"You have been too worried, Mr. Mencken, our Siliur Empire has always relied on His Majesty the Emperor to govern the country, and the cabinet provides only auxiliary duties, even if the cabinet cannot perform its functions for the time being, we can still govern the country well. ”

Caterina's smile was kind, but Mencken's smile was unreal, he had seen it too many times, because he had this kind of smile on his face when he was foreign secretary in the past.

"However, now His Majesty the Emperor is not in good health. When Menken said this, he couldn't help but move his gaze to Swain, looking at the man who admitted that he had beaten the emperor into a vegetative state, "Although our country's system is governed by His Majesty the Emperor's overall power, but in the current situation where His Majesty cannot govern the country, the cabinet should assume greater responsibilities and obligations to help His Majesty govern the country." ”

"Mr. Mencken. Katerina's smile still didn't change, but the light in her eyes became dangerous, "Are you questioning my ability to regent on behalf of Your Majesty and assist Your Majesty in governing the country?"

"No, I mean......" Menken lowered his head and avoided Katarina's gaze, "I mean, Your Highness, you are still young after all, and the imperial capital has experienced several civil strife, and it is the time when stability is needed, so ......"

"So you want to beg me for mercy and another official position, don't you?" Caterina's voice suddenly rose, "It's too ugly, Mencken, you were once the Minister of Foreign Affairs, why can't you learn from your predecessor, the Marquis de Metternich?" ”

Mencken bowed his head deeply, hiding his expression.

"That's not what I meant, Your Highness......"

"And what do you mean?" Caterina didn't give up, her eyes stared at Mencken, although she didn't deliberately make a stern expression, but the majesty she showed really made Menken finally realize that this princess was the real regent, not just a puppet and plaything in Swain's hands.

"Please don't embarrass Otto, Your Highness. The voice of the former Prime Minister Pitt sounded at the door, and the three people in the room looked up to see that Pitt had already walked in.

The old man walked up to Caterina first, bowed slightly, and then said solemnly: "Your Highness, although each of us has different determinations and ways of being loyal to the Empire, we are all dedicating ourselves to this country. Maybe Otto can't be as good as Oliver, but it's unfair to compare him to Oliver. ”

Mencken's lowered face had a complicated expression, although Pete was speaking for him, but there was obvious praise and disapproval in his words, as if he was saying that he was inferior to the Marquis of Metternich and had no qualifications to compare with the Marquis of Metternich.

"William," Caterina smiled again, "you're here too, should I say it's a coincidence?"

"There is no need for this, Your Highness. Pete glanced at Swain, who had been silent for a while, "As Count Jericho said just now, although we have been removed from our positions, since you are here, we should still come and pay a visit." ”

"Then why didn't the others come out?"

"Because I don't think you want us to make it too big, do you?"

Katerina pursed her lips slightly, and did not speak immediately, but in a few words she could feel that the former prime minister was completely different from the former cabinet minister sitting next to him, and there was a very obvious difference in the aura on their bodies.

"Since you're here, it's the best. Swain spoke, "I would like to ask you why so many former cabinet ministers are gathering here, and the curfew law I just amended should prohibit such gatherings." ”

"A rally? oh no, how can this be a rally?" Pete laughed, "it's just a banquet, just like the one you had in Govélenburg before. ”

Pete paused, his eyes darkening a little.

"Although you didn't show up at that banquet at all. ”

Mencken squinted his gaze at the expression on Pete's face, but even he, who had been foreign secretary, couldn't tell what Pete was thinking.

"Really?" Sweyn replied lightly, "Well, what are the former cabinet ministers doing when they are not in the banquet hall?"

"Please don't overthink it, Count Jericho. Pete stared at Swain, although there was a polite smile on the corner of his mouth, but the indifference in his eyes did not mean any smile, "Since you revised the curfew law, there have been a lot of bad rumors in the imperial capital, and people like us who have served in the cabinet will inevitably be asked some sensitive questions once they appear in the social arena, and in order to avoid trouble, we naturally have to avoid those occasions where journalists may appear." ”

"You said there were bad rumors, does that mean there is something wrong with my curfew laws?"

"I have no right to judge, and I am not in his position and not in his position. ”

"How about judging your status as a former prime minister?" Swain still didn't give up, "just ...... Shoot the breeze. ”

"Small talk?" Pete glanced at Katarina.

"Yes, small talk. Caterina nodded, "We didn't receive an invitation, but I think Mr. Mencken will treat us as guests, so you should be chatting with the juniors." ”

"In that case...... Pete lowered his eyes, "I'd love to talk to you both, but not about curfews." ”

Mencken's expression froze slightly, and then he quickly lowered his face.

"I'd like to talk to you about something else, like...... The affairs of His Majesty the Emperor. ”

Pete stared straight at Swin and Katarina, and the look in his eyes finally stopped being hidden.

"Why?"

"Huh?" Sven tilted his neck and looked at Pete with a blank expression.

"Why do you want to do this?" he first asked Swain, "I don't understand why you did this? Since you came to the imperial capital, Deweide and even this country have begun to be in chaos, as if the Jericho family, which has been silent for so many years, has suddenly burst out of the energy that has been hidden for thousands of years, you are different from your grandfather, and those Jericho Counts of the past generations, your behavior is too eye-catching." Why the hell are you doing this, why are you so hard to do with Ernest, what is the purpose of your ambitions?"

"I don't understand your words. Swain shook his head and didn't reply.

"I want you to answer me as openly as you did in the last meeting. Pete didn't give up, his eyes seemed to be burning, and the momentum contained in it seemed to be glowing, "You dare to admit that you have made His Majesty the Emperor into the state that he is now unable to govern, don't you dare to answer my question?"

"There is no need to deny the facts. Swain's expression was calm, "But I don't need to answer your unclear question. ”

"Hmph-" Seeing that Swain didn't answer, Pete snorted coldly and turned his gaze to Caterina again, "What about you, Your Highness Princess, why are you in the same league with this demon? Your Majesty Alexander is your father!"

"Father?" Caterina's expression turned cold, and even her smile seemed to freeze, "I heard that after my mother was killed by my father, it was you who gave him the idea, and you were also responsible for the follow-up affairs. In that case, don't you understand why I chose that? ”

Pete's expression froze suddenly, and it took a long time for him to sigh and relax.

"Is it really because of this...... I admit that this matter is the fault of His Majesty Alexander, but he is your father after all, and you should give him a chance to repent......"

"Chance?" Caterina stood up abruptly and glared at Pete condescendingly, "So, did he give me a chance? He wanted to kill me all at once! Why should I forgive him? Is it because he is the emperor that he is infinitely qualified to be forgiven for his mistakes!"

Katerina's expression had become a little hysterical, and Pete had nothing to say in the face of her anger.

"I am truly sorry for your loyalty. Caterina took off her gloves and threw them on the case, "I would like to ask you why you should serve someone like my father." If you understand what kind of person he is and continue to be loyal to him, then your foolish loyalty is meaningless. If you don't know what kind of person he is, you should see him by now, right?"

"But even so, Your Highness," Pete looked at Caterina with the sadness in his eyes completely dissolved, "even so, it is too much to treat Your Majesty like this—he is your father anyway!"