"Hey! Did you read today's paper?!"
"I did! Is that stuff really true?"
"No way…"
"So that's why there were soldiers everywhere and the gates were sealed!"
"I can't believe it…"
"Yeah, those bastards are truly disgusting!"
Kenny and his men had kept watch all night. The newspaper staff didn't dare slack off or pull any tricks—they neatly organized everything and handed the papers to the newsboys early the next morning.
While the three military branches were storming the palace, the newspapers—compiled entirely from Lillian's dictated content—were already circulating, seizing control of public opinion before anyone else could react.
But inside the palace council chamber, no one knew this yet.
They stared at Lillian in shock, unable to understand why he would say that—why he would reject the plan.
The proposal was solid. Every issue had a solution. Why oppose it?
And more than that—his attitude, as if exercising a one-vote veto, infuriated them.
Who did he think he was?
"Easy there—don't do anything stupid," Kenny said with a lazy grin, his eyes sweeping over several visibly angry soldiers.
"I wasn't joking earlier about blowing heads open."
"..."
"Lillian," Erwin asked calmly, keeping his emotions in check, "why do you oppose this?"
Pixis was far less polite. "What—do you think having two Titans here means you can threaten the lives of us old men and do whatever you want?"
"No," Lillian said, glancing at him. "To be honest, killing everyone here wouldn't even require Titans."
"What?!"
"What did you just say?!"
"You bastard—how dare you—!"
"But that's not my intention," Lillian said coolly, ignoring the soldiers' outrage as he answered Erwin. "My reason is simple. I don't want Historia to become queen. And none of you bothered to ask her opinion."
He turned to look at Historia behind him. She stood straight, eyes red, staring back at him.
"Is it really right to force someone to become queen without asking what she wants?"
Lillian continued. "Or do you all believe you have the right to decide other people's lives for them?"
"…"
After Lillian finished speaking, everyone fell silent.
Indeed, although their discussion just now had revolved entirely around Historia, not a single person had asked for her opinion or given her a chance to speak.
"Historia, I owe you an apology," Erwin was the first to speak, his expression serious.
"We shouldn't have ignored your thoughts. So now, could you please tell us how you feel about this?"
"I…"
Historia parted her pale lips slightly, but she didn't know what to say.
Just as Lillian had said, while they were discussing her earlier, she hadn't spoken a single word. On the surface, it seemed like she couldn't find a chance to join the conversation—but in reality, it was because she had long grown used to a life where everything was decided for her.
Her environment, her identity… whatever others arranged, she simply followed.
Her own wishes… seemed insignificant.
"After all, this is the queen," Zachary said.
"The true ruler of the world inside the walls. Think about it—if you became queen, you'd surely be able to do many good things for the people, wouldn't you?"
Yes… if I became queen, I'd have great power. Then children like me—those abandoned by their fathers—could grow up happily. Someone could teach them how to read and write, and no one would throw stones at them…
"Do it," Pixis said. "Your bloodline determines that you should ascend the throne."
"I…"
She looked toward Ymir beside her. Ymir knew this was an important decision and didn't interfere, remaining silent.
Then she turned her gaze to Lillian.
"Lillian… what do you think?"
"Didn't I already say it?" Lillian replied with a smile. "I don't want you to become queen."
Then his expression grew serious. "But this is your decision, not mine. Historia, listen to your own heart. Remember—you have the right to refuse."
"The right… to refuse…"
"Yes. Whether it's them, or me—you can refuse any of us. Don't listen to nonsense like 'bloodline.' If you don't become queen, there are plenty of others who can. And if you do choose to become queen, I'll support you with everything I have. I won't let anyone bully you."
Lillian paused. "Make your choice."
Hearing his words, Historia felt her heart tighten. She closed her eyes and recalled the moment when she had ridden alone beyond the walls to search for Ymir.
She remembered that as she crossed the plains and searched through the Giant Tree Forest, the resolve she had made was simple—
I want to live for myself.
"I want to live for myself," she said, opening her eyes and looking firmly at everyone.
"I refuse!"
I don't want to be any queen at all.
I just want to keep fighting together—with Ymir, with Lillian, with everyone.
She took a deep breath and shouted loudly,
"Who would want to be some fake queen who just sits on a chair all day putting on an act?!"
In an instant, everyone stared at her in shock.
She actually… rejected the throne.
That was… the throne itself.
"You…" Pixis was completely at a loss for words. Her single "I refuse" had shattered what was supposed to be the perfect plan. Now, how many more complications would this cause?
"Do you realize how much trouble this will create, Historia?"
"What does that have to do with me?!" Historia shouted back without backing down, glaring at Pixis.
"If that's the case, it just proves you're incapable! Otherwise, why would you place all your hopes on a single girl?!"
"Pwahahahahahaha!"
Hearing this, Lillian immediately burst out laughing, pounding the table as he did.
"Hahahaha, Historia—what you said was amazing! I'm dying laughing!!"
"Exactly!" Kenny doubled over with laughter.
"Dumping everything onto a little girl really is the behavior of useless trash!"
"Kenny!"
"Historia, I like you even more now!" Ymir said, pulling her into a hug without caring about anyone else watching.
Even Annie, standing nearby, spoke up rare approval. "She's right."
Everyone on Lillian's side was laughing happily. Meanwhile, Pixis, Erwin, and even Zachary all looked grim.
Anyone would have a hard time swallowing being told, at their age, that they were "relying on a little girl."
But the truth was just that—although Historia carried royal blood, that alone was never a reason she had to become queen.
And the more happily Lillian laughed, the worse everyone else's expressions became.
Finally, when Pixis was about to lose his temper, Zachary stepped in, his face darkening as he spoke:
"Then in that case, Lillian, can you offer a better solution? Since you object to her becoming queen, who do you suggest instead?"
"Oh, that?"
Lillian stopped laughing, though a sincere smile still lingered on his face. Historia's bold words had proven she'd stepped out of her past shadows and was willing to live bravely for herself—and as someone who cared deeply about her, Lillian was genuinely happy for her change.
As for Zachary's question—
"A replacement?" Lillian said. "Why does there need to be one?"
"If they're all just puppets anyway, why bother changing to a new one?"
"You mean…"
"Kenny."
Lillian raised his hand, and Kenny immediately, in perfect coordination, pulled a newspaper from his coat and placed it into Lillian's hand.
"Everyone, take a look."
He spread the newspaper across the table. The moment they read it, their faces turned pale with shock.
"The king made the wrong decision due to being deceived by his ministers?"
"Corrupt officials lied to the king, claiming that only twenty thousand people participated in the 'Wall Maria Reclamation Operation'?!"
"This…"
"The date is today!"
Everyone stared at Lillian in shock. No one had any idea when he had taken it upon himself to have the newspaper publish something like this…
The article completely portrayed the king as an ordinary, mediocre ruler who had been deceived and misled by his ministers—not the puppet king they had planned to reveal to the public.
In other words, Lillian's goal was to make the people believe that the ministers were the true villains, while the king himself was merely an innocent victim of manipulation.
Did this mean that from the very beginning, he had never believed Historia would become queen?!
Erwin frowned and asked, "Lillian—was this part of a plan you prepared long ago?"
"What difference does it make?" Lillian replied casually. "Whether I planned it early or thought of it on a whim last night—does it change the result? The outcome's the same."
"You actually dared to act on your own in a matter this important?!" Pixis slammed the table and stood up abruptly. "It seems you don't hold us old men in any regard at all!"
"No," Lillian said lightly. "I just think your method was too troublesome."
That indifferent attitude only fueled everyone's anger—some even looked like they wanted to punch him on the spot.
Of course, with two people who possessed Titan powers standing behind him, and even if it were just Kenny alone, no one dared to make a move.
"Then, Lillian," Erwin said calmly. Once he realized the situation was irreversible, he immediately shifted focus. "Are you suggesting that the puppet king should simply continue ruling?"
"Yes," Lillian nodded. "What difference does replacing him make? If you install a new king, are you going to give up some of the power you hold to him? You won't, will you? In that case, why bother changing anything at all?"
As he spoke, he stood up.
"So my plan is very simple. It can be summed up in three words—and those three words will also be our explanation to the people."
He raised three fingers, lowering one with each word.
"Purge. The. Courtiers."