They don't want me to try anymore.

"Hehehe!"

[Because you unexpectedly landed in your opponent's home base, after the initial shock, hundreds of people immediately surrounded you. Even if you reacted and ran away at the first moment, it seemed that you still couldn't escape death.]

Ugh, this is a rip-off!

I don't want to become Caesar!

Richard covered his face in embarrassment, then rallied his spirits.

You think you can catch me so easily?

You can't treat me like this! I've served Vanderbilt, I've shed blood for the royal family, I want to see the Queen!

Having served as prime minister for many years, your body has begun to age. Yet, you are now possessed by Doraemon, frantically throwing out various magic scrolls and alchemical tools as you run. Surrounded by countless sparks and lightning, you finally break through the encirclement.

You have arrived at the palace where Alice resides.

However, the palace itself is already surrounded by rebel forces, and under the illumination of countless magical lights, even if another dragon came, it would be difficult for you to escape.

If you can't escape, then don't try to escape!

it's time.

You used a secret passage to break into the palace, arrived at Alice's bedroom, helped the queen, who was still half asleep with a flushed face and drooling, to get up, personally dressed her, and carried her outside the palace to face all the rebels.

Seeing that the Empress was in your hands, the rebels indeed stirred up a commotion.

[You recognize that many of the rebels are people you've followed before, from the faction that sympathizes with the Queen.]

At this moment, you hear Alice whisper to you, "Stop, Richard, it's not too late. I can make sure you're safe."

You shook your head, shoved a letter into the other person's arms, and then faced the rebels.

You laugh loudly, denouncing their foolishness and shortsightedness, their indulgence in pleasure, and their blindness to the impending war. Finally, you claim to have placed a forbidden spell beneath the palace, capable of killing everyone with a single move.

Your words have stirred up hatred and fear among the rebels, but they dare not act rashly.

Alice impatiently tugged at your sleeve, trying to continue persuading you.

But your slight smile activated a hidden mechanism.

[The ring you once gave to Alice suddenly burst forth with blinding red light, unleashing a deadly elemental torrent towards you.]

[You were struck, your entire body disintegrated under the raging magic, leaving only your clothes scattered on the ground.]

In the square in front of the palace, everyone believed that Alice had "personally" killed you, ending your "sinful" life and all of Vanderbilt's hatred.

This simulation has ended.

Card, the finale...

In the present world, Richard opened his eyes, weary but relaxed.

This time, he chose the script of Wu Qi Garlush.

Given Vanderbilt's current state, without reform, he will never be a match for the empire!

However, historical lessons show that reform itself can be a source of chaos, especially reforms personally led by the royal family, which can easily lead to their own demise if they are not careful.

Richard knew that if he rushed forward recklessly, he might drag Alice down with him.

Since that's the case, why not try a different approach...

I actually placed the Empress under house arrest, took full responsibility for all the conflicts, and then moved forward, moving forward by any means necessary!

I'll do all the bad things. When the final obstacles are cleared and the conflict is about to erupt, I'll carry all of Vander's hatred and die, so that Alice can regain power cleanly!

After that, the conservatives were decimated by their own fighting, and the newly formed interest groups after the reforms also grew up completely. At this time, Alice came to power and said that we would not lift the roof but only open the windows, which should be promising, right?

Of course, Richard couldn't say with 100% certainty that it would succeed; nothing in this world is 100% guaranteed to succeed.

But this is the most dramatic way to do it!

Throughout history, there have been countless instances of powerful ministers usurping the throne, but those who acted like Yi Yin and Huo Qubing were far fewer.

Shang Yang's talent was used to do the things of Yi and Huo, and in the end he concealed the truth and died to repay the king... Hmm, that's enough for Hanoi Ichiro to make two seasons of anime!

"I'm exhausted, it's about time I went to sleep..."

Richard opened his eyes and saw that Katyusha had just finished showering and was about to clean up.

The maid's little leather shoes made a clattering sound on the floor, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of a young girl after a bath, which was very comforting.

He closed his eyes quickly.

Alice on the other side... well, it's a long story.

Why, why did it end like this again?

Is this necessary? Is this really necessary, Richard...?

She temporarily lost the ability to think, and was just subconsciously clicking on the options.

[Upon Richard's death, everyone in the square cheered.]

You have become a hero in the eyes of the people, the only candidate acceptable to the remnants of the conservatives and the reformist rebels, and have regained power with unprecedented prestige.

At the first day of the imperial council, countless people hoped that you would issue a statement to definitively establish Richard's crimes, including violating the legitimate rights of the nobles, imposing heavy taxes, recklessly preparing for war, and worsening relations with the Roland Empire...

But just then, a messenger arrived with news.

The Holy Roland Empire has mobilized its entire army and is invading southward!

Ah.

Alice felt only irony looking at the dumbfounded ministers at the meeting.

She announced a pause in the meeting and began reading Richard's suicide note.

"My love, by the time you read this letter, I will likely be dead. But please do not grieve. My mission is complete. I have cleared all obstacles from your path. Now, it is time for your era to begin..."

In the letter, Richard explained his reasons for doing so, gave Alice three suggestions as usual, and ended with a short sentence.

This person came into my life, I loved, and I have no regrets.

Before she knew it, tears were flowing down Alice's face again.

Sure enough, he had wronged him once again, and all the Vander people had wronged him once more...

But why did he choose this path?

We could have grown old together...

You accepted Richard's advice in its entirety.

[You united all the political forces, personally led the army to resist the empire, and after five years of bloody fighting, finally drove them out of the border, making Vanderbilt great again.]

Richard's previous arrangements all came into play, making people feel awkward when they talked about him. Gradually, he became a taboo subject at Vanderbilt.

But you still remember him.

Now that Richard is gone, Vanderbilt means nothing to you anymore...

[The wheels of history turned once more. Many years later, as the legendary Empress of Vanderbilt, you placed the crown upon the fruit of your love deep within the palace, before choosing to retreat to a monastery to live out your days in solitude.]

This simulation has ended.

Do you want to receive memory details during the simulation?

take over!

In her grief and regret, Alice relived decades of her life.

She asked herself that question again.

Why did Richard do that?

Yes, the empire is bound to move south, and reforming and strengthening the military is essential. However, reform will inevitably bring bloodshed, and one wrong step could lead to total defeat...

He orchestrated everything so that I wouldn't be buried with him.

but……

Is this inevitable?

Chapter 47: Can I borrow the protagonist template for a rebirth story?

No, this can be avoided.

If she's strong enough...

Alice's gaze gradually hardened.

Yes, it's because I'm too weak and have no power!

This weakness is multifaceted, encompassing strength, intelligence, tactics, and awareness...

If she had successfully broken through to legendary status instead of being confined to her bed, if she had had the prestige to suppress the various forces that obeyed the legacy of her father's era, if...

If she could do all of the above, Richard wouldn't need to be so cautious and timid during reforms, nor would he have any reason to go to extremes.

So, how can one become stronger?

Alice revisits decades of memories inherited from simulations.

Richard's policy agenda, new technologies for the next few decades, the names of Vanderbilt's talented individuals and corrupt officials, and all his experiences in rising to the top ranks of the gold medal...