In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 86 Helping my daughter deal with some insects

"Snapped!"

"what!"

With a crisp thud, the pitiful cry of the Empress of this empire echoed clearly from the top of the tower.

However, even this empress, who stood at the pinnacle of power and possessed unparalleled beauty, could not help but cry out in anguish.

Among those who witnessed this scene, the most powerful and influential people in the empire, not one dared to step forward and stop her.

After all, the person who is now pinning the Empress down on his lap and teaching her a lesson is none other than the Emperor himself, who once held true supreme power over this land.

Not to mention, he is Viviana's father.

Such a relationship, such a power imbalance, left Her Majesty the Empress with no choice but to obediently endure this belated punishment, without any rescue whatsoever.

"I'll teach you to be lazy and negligent in your duties! To delay government affairs!"

"Snapped!"

Chen Qi swung his hand down without holding back, and the crisp sound of applause echoed once again.

"what!"

Even through her skirt, Viviana, whose buttocks were already red and swollen from Chen Qi's beating, once again cast a pleading look at her family members who were nearby.

However, this time, it was not just the mace, Gertrude, or Hildegard, but even Viviana's biological mother.

No one paid any attention to Her Majesty the Queen.

It is conceivable that although Viviana is the empress, she has been increasingly evading political affairs in recent years.

Everyone, exhausted both physically and mentally by this sometimes exceptionally capricious empress, tacitly agreed.

Her Majesty the Empress certainly needs to be taught a lesson.

"I let you watch East Kazimierz secede, and you still give me the assist, huh?"

"Snapped!"

"Help, help me, Mom? Madam? Gertrude Mom?"

Viviana was on the verge of tears.

"You're still letting Vina go to Victoria? You're handing over the rightful heir to Victoria to those dukes?"

"Snapped!"

"You haven't even sent troops to suppress this? Are my guards and iron torrents just decorations in your hands?"

"Snapped!"

"Your Majesty, please show mercy."

Finally, it was Viviana's birth mother who, out of love for her daughter and unable to bear seeing her continue to suffer, cautiously pleaded with Chen Qi, who was laughing in anger:

"As Empress, Viviana has indeed failed in some aspects of her duties."

"However, Viviana's personality is also related to our lax discipline. Please calm your anger, Your Majesty."

“She’s right, Qi.”

At this moment, Gertrude, who also doted on Viviana like her own daughter, also stepped forward.

Faced with this emperor who had come back from the dead, whom she admired most, Gertrude did not unilaterally side with Chen Qi. Instead, she solemnly said:
"Moreover, the fact that Letania has become like this is not entirely Viviana's fault alone."

"In the end, it's because your death was too sudden. Otherwise, Viviana wouldn't have needed to become empress at such a young age."

"If we're really going to talk about it, dear former Emperor, aren't you the one who should bear the most responsibility?"

"...Qi, Viviana has really had a tough time."

At this point, even Hildergard joined in, firmly standing on Viviana's side.

"She is not you after all. She has her own helplessness and difficulties in many things."

"Now that you've vented your anger and done what you've got, why don't you ask Viviana why she did it?"

"Oh?"

However, seeing that these ministers who were once his staunch supporters had all now sided with Viviana, Chen Qi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Of course, Chen Qi felt more gratified than anything else about this scene.

From this perspective, Viviana did not have as much control over her subjects as she did over herself.

However, she still adhered to the principle of trusting those she employed and not employing those she did not trust.

As an empress who ascended the throne at the age of eight, it is truly remarkable that Viviana has been able to maintain her trust in those closest to her for over a decade.

Throughout history, there have been far too many young emperors who, upon growing up, ruthlessly murdered the powerful ministers who had once supported them.

Thinking of this, Chen Qi's anger subsided somewhat, and he finally released Viviana from his thigh.

"Alright, let me hear what troubles my precious daughter has."

Chen Qi also found some value in Vivian, who was clutching her buttocks and on the verge of tears. He softened his expression and asked:
"Then tell me, why do you want to reduce the military, Viviana?"

"I'm entrusting Hildegard to you so that you can control the army, which is a nation's most important source of strength."

"Although Letania is vast, it was still beset by internal and external troubles when I died. Yet you want to reduce your army. Is there some difficulty you have in mind?"

"Father..."

However, Viviana, who hadn't shed a single tear despite howling in pain after being spanked by Chen Qi, suddenly broke down in tears upon hearing her father's concerned inquiry.

Large tears welled up in the eyes of the empress who had ruled Letania for more than a decade.

In no time at all, the Empress, who was seen by the world as dignified, elegant, and stunningly beautiful, was now weeping uncontrollably.

Now, she has completely lost any of the airs that an empress should have.

Standing here is just a helpless girl who has suffered countless grievances and is crying to her father.

"Father...I'm sorry...but I really can't...I really can't..."

Viviana wiped away her uncontrollable tears, sobbing intermittently as she spoke:

“After my father passed away, I knew that there was likely to be unrest in the Kazimierz and Victoria regions…”

"Therefore, I want to recall several army groups to consolidate the rear..."

"But, but the generals of the army group, they simply don't listen to my orders!"

“They all say that Father’s last wish was to flatten Ursus, and they will never return until Father’s last wish is fulfilled…”

"...Later, it was only by forcibly issuing the order that I was able to barely subdue these army group generals."

Mentioning these generals who followed Chen Qi on his campaigns, were arrogant about their achievements, and only respected Chen Qi, Hildergard chimed in with a helpless expression:

"But even if Viviana and I work together, we can only transfer half of our forces from the front lines back to the rear."

"Neither the steel trenches you've built on the front lines in Ursus, nor the mobile city that's nearing completion, require an army of this size to be stationed on the front lines."

"The large number of troops that have been stationed at the front for a long time has put enormous pressure on Leitania's logistics."

"Even after Viviana signed an agreement with the Ursus Emperor, and Ursus was nearly torn apart, we still couldn't recall this army."

"Later on, these army commanders even clashed with the Ursus border several times, intending to create conflict and forcibly launch a war."

"Viviana had to reduce the military so that we wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the Ursus military aristocracy."

"...Viviana has exhausted all means to implement disarmament in order to avoid causing internal strife."

As the head of the intelligence department, Gertrude, who had been transferred back from Bolívar in the early days of Viviana's reign, knew better than anyone the efforts this young princess had made.

"You probably wouldn't believe it, but in order to win over more generals who support her, this princess is following your example and asking me to use every means to help her gain supporters."

"Although the army is now only half the size it used to be, Viviana has indeed successfully regained control of the army."

Before Chen Qi could ask again, Gertrude, who had already guessed what he wanted to ask next, continued:
"As for the matter of Kazimir."

“Ever since your death, the once peaceful remnants of the Kazimierz people have started to cause trouble.”

"Many Kazimierz survivors have established underground organizations to resist our rule in various ways, and even want to start a civil war."

"According to my intelligence, they have the covert support of Colombia and Victoria."

"Viviana also realized that the situation was not good, so she wanted to expel all of these poisonous blood before it spread."

"Although the final result was not ideal... she still managed to preserve 20% of the Kazimierz people and 70% of the knights you recruited." "Although East Kazimierz is independent, it does not have a commercial association, and the eastern lands have been ravaged by Ursus. It is unlikely to make any waves for the next thirty years."

"As for Vina—that's entirely her own fault!"

"Hearing that something had happened to Victoria, she was afraid that she couldn't persuade Viviana to use force to suppress the situation, so she volunteered to take her own guards to Victoria to negotiate with those dukes."

"As a result, she is now being held captive by several dukes, and Viviana cannot send troops to launch a full-scale attack to protect her from being killed, which has led to the current situation!"

"—Gertrude Mama, that's enough."

However, before Gertrude could continue arguing for her daughter...

Having composed herself, Viviana gave a bitter smile, her eyes still red, and whispered:
"In the end, it's all because of my incompetence."

“I am the Queen of Letania. I enjoy this supreme power, and therefore I should bear all the responsibilities.”

After saying that, Viviana also turned her tearful gaze to the silent Chen Qi in front of her.

Viviana, in the manner of an empress, bowed humbly to her most revered father, who was also the greatest emperor of Letania.

"...I'm sorry, Your Majesty the late Emperor. I'm sorry, Father."

"Have I disappointed you?"

"……Ugh."

Ultimately, she thought she was about to lose the heavy burden of being "Empress" due to disqualification.

What Viviana received was a sigh from Chen Qi, who had been silent for a long time.

“…Lift your head, Viviana.”

"I'm sorry, I didn't understand your difficulties, it's my fault."

"Father?"

When Viviana heard her father's apology, her heart skipped a beat, and she looked up in surprise.

However, Chen Qi, who understood the meaning behind his daughter's look, simply responded with a smile:

"What's wrong? Do you think it's strange that I would say something apologetic?"

"If I were the emperor, I certainly wouldn't, and couldn't, admit that I was wrong."

"But now, I am no longer the emperor. Here, I am just an ordinary father."

“My father misunderstood his daughter and apologized to her. It’s not something I’m ashamed of.”

Chen Qi slowly stood up and personally helped his daughter, who had to bear too much because of his death, to her feet.

At that moment, his eyes were filled with apology, guilt, and pride for his daughter.

"Stand tall, Viviana."

"Now, you are the Empress of this empire, the ultimate support in the hearts of millions of people, and the embodiment of their confidence and dignity."

"You are the heir I recognize, the empress I recognize."

"Be confident, and don't let your enemies, let alone your people and subjects, think you are a weak person."

"Father..."

Viviana gazed tearfully at her father, who was so close to her, smiling and encouraging her. For a moment, she even thought she was dreaming.

In her dreams, Viviana saw her father's tall and resolute back countless times, standing proudly far ahead of her.

In her dreams, she repeatedly tried to chase after her father's back, repeatedly wanted to go ahead of him, and seek his help and guidance.

She hoped that her father, whom she considered absolutely right like a "god," could answer her.

Is everything she's doing now the right thing?

She longed for her father's approval to quell her inner turmoil.

But no matter how hard she chased after him in her dreams, she could never keep up with her father's pace... She could only watch as he ignored her calls and drifted further and further away from her.

Until she was awakened from her dream.

Now, Viviana has finally received the recognition she has always longed for.

At that moment, two clear tears slid down Viviana's face.

Along with it blossomed a genuine, childlike smile from Her Majesty the Empress.

"Thank you, Dad."

After saying this, Her Majesty the Empress deliberately and forcefully rammed her body into her father's arms, as if she were being coquettish.

Her moose-like antlers kept rubbing against her father's arm, as if only by doing so could she feel his patience and doting affection for her.

Just like it was more than a decade ago.

And those present, whether it was Viviana's biological mother, or Hammer, Gertrude, and Hildegard who treated the princess as their own daughter.

They simply watched this scene with quiet smiles, enjoying this precious warmth that came after countless pains and hardships.

—Until a voice shattered this quiet happiness.

"Her Majesty the Queen."

"Who?"

The moment she heard the voice, Viviana almost reflexively snapped out of her reverie and replied in a calm but gentle voice.

Perhaps it was her father's approval that truly helped Viviana regain her confidence.

For a fleeting moment, this empress, whose blood did not flow with Chen Qi's blood at all, seemed to...

Between her brows, she revealed an extremely similar regal air to her father.

"—Your Majesty, the Duke of Normandy and the Duke of Cactus of the Duchy of Victoria have come to see you as scheduled."

"They came in the name of Her Highness the Princess, claiming to be here to discuss the independence of the Duchy of Victoria with you."

"...I understand. Please leave."

Only after the Golden Law Guard left did a troubled look reappear on Viviana's face.

After all, Viviana was truly powerless to change the situation.

She dared not gamble with Vina's life.

Fortunately, Viviana had someone she could rely on by her side at this moment. She quickly turned her pleading gaze to Chen Qi and asked in a low voice:

"Father..."

"What's wrong?" Chen Qi, who had seen through Viviana's thoughts, replied with a strange smile:
"You are now the Empress of Letania, Viviana. How dare you ask me for help? Is this how an empress should behave?"

"But, as long as it achieves the goal, asking for help isn't shameful, is it?"

Viviana, clearly prepared with her own words, responded with a playful and charming smile:
"As long as it benefits the country, I can accept it even if it involves relying on the power of others."

"Moreover, the person who helped me would never harm me, much less this country, even the late Emperor."

"—Hahaha! Okay, Viviana, you're right."

Amused by his daughter, who only becomes quirky and mischievous in front of him, Chen Qi, who had already made up his mind to help Viviana solve her troubles, readily agreed.

“You may be different from me. You are kind and compassionate, and you understand better how to prevent the people from bearing the burden of war.”

"But, as the empress, you must never show your weakness, and you must never let anyone see your vulnerability."

"It's a pity I didn't have time to teach you these things before I died... but now, the time is just right."

"These two defeated opponents are perfect as teaching materials."

As he spoke, a cold smile, which had not been seen on Chen Qi's usually approachable face, reappeared.

"Let me, as your father, help you solve this little problem."

The moment Chen Qi finished speaking, everyone present felt the familiar confidence and domineering aura emanating from him.

With that arrogant, domineering air, he was letting all the petty scoundrels and insects who dared to spy on Letania know—

The emperor who made this land tremble has never left.

(End of this chapter)