The Dragon Queen and her mates.
Chapter 251: Placing trust in her

Chapter 251: Placing trust in her

The officials had no answers to Bree’s questions as they stared at her like fools. Though a few of them wanted to say that they didn’t need to do anything as they were the heirs of the heroes who had laid down the very foundation of this land, they somewhere knew that it was way too humiliating and embarrassing.

"It seems like no one has to say anything," Bree stated when she saw the crowd getting silent. She smiled at the officials before saying to them, "There is no need to look so downcast, my dear officials. Don’t worry; I am not a selfish and dishonest ruler. Since I dared to push forth this decree, I am going to see through it till the end."

"That is to say that you are not the only one who will be putting down your title and positions; my consorts will be doing the same." She raised her hand in Yakov’s direction before stating in a calm voice, "My dear consort has put forth his title of chancellor and the rights to inherit the dukedom on the line as well."

"So, think outside of the box. Maybe if one of you is more capable than my first consort, you might become the next chancellor of the nation?"

Once she finished speaking, Bree got to her feet and glanced at the officials who were now filled with just as much greed and desires as they were filled with anger and justice in the start.

Her lips curled up in a disdainful smile and she walked away from the court, leaving the officials to discuss the newly released information.

"What do you think? Should we agree to give up on the title?"

"Are you crazy? What will we do after giving up on the title? Do you think that gaining the title back will be easy? You are forgetting that these exams are open to the low-rank officials as well. If they do better than us, what are we going to do?"

"So what, even if you don’t give up on your title, the empress will still take it back from you in one way or another."

Someone in the crowd couldn’t help but say, "But even the first consort relinquished the position of chancellor. If we don’t let go now, then the empress will become suspicious of us. Even the highest-ranking official is willing to agree with her plan but not us—won’t we stick out like sore thumbs?"

While the officials were discussing the new decree, Marquis Cyrus was also lost in his thoughts. As the leader of the supporting faction of the empress, he felt guilty for not supporting the decree that was passed down by Bree almost at once.

But it was not his fault, as he was not the only one in the faction. He needed to discuss this decree with the rest of the supporters, though what Bree said did sound somewhat unreasonable and farfetched. He had to admit that it was a good way to deal with officials who took their position for granted and didn’t do the work that they were supposed to finish.

However, at the same time, it was quite risky as well. Unless it was carefully monitored, things could go awry rather easily.

However,

’I feel upset for not being able to stand up in support for the empress when the first consort and Lord Dion did,’ thought Marquis Cyrus.

He recalled the memories of Bree’s childhood when she wistfully looked at her father and brother, who squandered away the fortune of the treasury of the royal family and told him that if she were to take the throne, then she would never follow the same path as her brother.

But instead she would bring this nation to glory. This was what she had told him and he had to admit that he had been proud of his student.

"It seems like we have gone back to the past," Count Theodore walked up to Marquis Cyrus and remarked with a smile. "I still remember when her majesty used to tell us all those little plans that she had when she was young. She would run around with those sparkling golden eyes and say how she was going to do this and that."

"Isn’t that why we have followed her for so long?" said another man with a deep chuckle.

"I have to agree with that."

Marquis Cyrus’s smile turned a degree softer as he thought of the past. When he thought about how Bree was drugged and the reign was almost snatched by someone undeserving, his heart was filled with anger and worries.

However, even if someone were to bring up the reign period where Bree was not in the right state of her mind, they need to also think about the past where she had once led this nation to glory and brought victory after victory to the nation before expanding this small nation to one of the biggest power forces.

"I will put down my title and reclaim it back after giving the exam," announced Marquis Cyrus as he turned to look at the rest of the supporters. "Even if I cannot reclaim it, I will be at ease that the position was taken up by someone who is far more worthy than me."

When the others heard his words, they frowned and wanted to stop him but before anyone could pour cold water on his enthusiasm and trust that he had placed on Bree, Marquis Cyrus said to the rest, "Isn’t this what we were supposed to do? If we do not show our trust in her majesty, who will?"

He turned around and glanced at the little crowd standing behind him and chuckled, "Are we going to depend on them?"

The rest of the supporters turned around and looked at the officials who were brandishing their claws and snarling at others like wild shifters.

"We will do it," Count Theodore nodded as he turned to look at Marquis Cyrus and agreed with him. "You are right; if we do not trust her majesty, who will?"