Chapter 83: Criticism
Sometimes, the more one could not obtain something, the more tone wanted it.
After Olivia had become Queen, there were fewer and fewer things that she could not obtain—after all, she had an enormous palace and astronomical wealth.
There were large numbers of slaves in her palace, and most of them were young and handsome.
Among them, the best were not any inferior to Chen Heng, and some had even better looks than him.
However, for some reason, Olivia could not get that Knight from back then out of her mind.
Perhaps it was because she knew that she could never obtain Chen Heng, which was why she was so obsessed with him.
Before meeting Chen Heng, she had never thought that such a virtuous person could exist.
The vows he had exchanged with Verna during their wedding still reverberated in her ears.
Moreover, it seemed that he had never gone back on those vows from that day.
"For better or for worse, in sickness and in health. No matter what happens, till death do us part…"
As she walked, she muttered to herself, feeling a sense of admiration, as well as other complicated feelings.
She instinctively wanted to have him, but she did not want to ruin Verna's happiness either.
After all, this happiness belonged to her little sister, not someone else.
In the end, she sighed and raised her wine cup and gulped down the wine.
Chen Heng continued to sit there by himself, silently thinking.
He looked around at the guests around him.
The nobles from afar sat there, and many looked quite weary.
However, if one closely observed them, they would find that many of these people looked somewhat discontent.
It seemed that the nobles had begun to become displeased with Olivia's actions over the past few years.
This was not strange—after all, no one would be content with being summoned back and forth like this, even if this person was their liege.
It was just that because Olivia's power had not gone into decline and she was still strong, they did not dare to express this discontent. They did not even dare to let Olivia notice any slight expressions of displeasure out of worry that she would do something to them.
Over the years, Olivia's temper had become worse and worse.
If anyone dared to offend her, their outcome would be horrible.
As such, they could only feel angry but did not dare to say anything.
However, no matter what, these feelings of discontent would only continue to pile up until they exploded out.
Once the royal family became weaker, there might be an uprising.
However, before that…
Chen Heng thought to himself.
"Everyone, continue to drink."
Above, Olivia raised her cup and laughed, "Don't worry, there is plenty of wine; take your time."
Her face was bright red and gave off a stench of alcohol. It seemed that she was somewhat drunk, and her actions began to become more and more disorderly. She would randomly burst out with laughter, not having the grace or dignity of a Queen.
All around, the nobles forced smiles on their faces. Even though they were unhappy with Olivia, they could only raise their cups and continue to drink.
No one dared to suggest anything to the contrary, because with Olivia's current temperament, if anyone dared to refuse, anything could happen.
In the past, there had been people who had talked back to her, but none of them had good outcomes.
As time went on, no one dared to refuse her.
However, this time, a voice of dissent sounded out.
"Your Majesty, you are intoxicated," a calm voice sounded out from below.
The nobles all paused and felt quite startled.
They instinctively looked towards the direction that the voice had come from, and they saw a young man with a straight posture—it was Chen Heng.
"Intoxicated?"
Olivia looked at Chen Heng and frowned as she said, "I don't think I'm intoxicated."
"Your Majesty has drank enough; there's no need to continue," Chen Heng was calm as he continued to speak, "Moreover, it's enough to just hold banquets like these once or twice; holding too many of them does not serve much meaning."
He looked up at Olivia, "Otherwise it will just be a waste of time and resources."
"Are you lecturing me?" Olivia's smile did not change, but her gaze became sharp as she stared at Chen Heng.
"I'm just speaking the truth," Chen Heng said calmly as he looked at Olivia, "Three years, in just three years.
"In order to participate in Your Majesty's banquets, many people travelled day and night. As such, many of them died in foreign places, and their corpses were unable to even be properly buried…"
He listed the tragedies that happened to many nobles in front of everyone present.
Every sentence he spoke, Olivia's expression seemed to become colder, until it became terrifying.
She stared at Chen Heng with flames of fury burning in her eyes, as if she was about to explode.
"Well said!"
However, some guests inwardly supported Chen Heng.
In the past, because of the pressure from Olivia's power, they did not dare to say anything and could only hold it in.
Now, someone was finally willing to stand up and speak for them.
Because of their fear of Olivia, they did not dare to openly support Chen Heng, but in that moment, they began to feel much more favourable towards Chen Heng.
"Kailin, just what do you want?"
Olivia's eyes widened as she furiously glared at him, "If you don't want to drink, then get the hell out."
"I'm just telling you the truth. If Your Majesty does not want to hear it, that's fine."
Looking at Olivia, Chen Heng did not say much else before directly leaving.
Looking at Chen Heng's departing figure, the people in the surroundings were filled with respect.
Sitting at the main seat, Olivia's emotions were the opposite.
She looked at Chen Heng's back, her expression flickering.
Only after a while did she come back to her senses. She gave a smile and continued to raise her wine cup as she drank with the nobles.
The atmosphere in the hall became lively again.
"Looks like the effects were quite good."
Sensing the gazes from the nobles around him as he left, Chen Heng smiled.
To say such a thing in front of so many nobles, it naturally was not because he was bored but because he had a goal in mind.