NOVEL NEXT Chapter 213: Cultural Victory
Sophia is waiting for an opportunity.
Even though today her mother twisted her ear harshly and then pulled her into a room for a scolding after the crowd dispersed from the garden, she fortunately hid a bottle of Healing Magic Potion and headed straight for Ethan's room as soon as she could walk.
Sophia hid outside the door, one hand covering her bottom that still throbbed despite taking the Healing Magic Potion. If her mother saw her in this posture, she would surely order her to study "Court Etiquette 2.0" again.
When Ethan and others started talking about the film, Sophia knew her time had come.
From her observations, her mother always valued Ethan's opinion highly. A flash of inspiration hit, as if the God of Wisdom had climbed onto her back at that moment—if she followed Mr. Ethan, wouldn't this allow her to somewhat restrain her mother?
This was evident from Ave's situation. Though she still got beaten when she should, once it involved matters like cabinet meetings, her mother would allow Ave to temporarily break the grounding rule, and she always felt Ave's beatings were slightly lighter than hers.
Sophia thought this move could be called "Using Old Sen to Command the Queen Mother."
"Can you take me along?"
She was filled with determination when she entered the room.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
"Don't call me Princess, just call me Sophia from now on! ... About the film project."
"I want to know the reason."
Ethan brought a chair for Sophia, but the Princess seemed a bit odd today. She crossed her arms on the chair back, slightly on tiptoe, and her right hand occasionally reached behind her, then stiffly moved elsewhere as if reminded of something.
Rowena, experienced in setbacks, saw through it.
The Princess must have gotten a pretty serious beating.
Sophia, resolute, uttered a bold statement in front of the three of them, "Because, knights have no future anymore!"
"You shouldn't say such things carelessly outside!"
Ethan still remembered last time when Rowena expressed similar remarks at the consulate, she got into a lock move called "Embracing the Girl with the Killing Arms" by Bi'an, begging for mercy endlessly.
"It's true, I heard these remarks at Neseriel Sanctuary!" Sophia argued, "After the Kingdom Army restructured, many knights had nowhere to go; either they stayed secluded in the sanctuary like the academy's Elemental Shapers or served as guards for noble families."
And she, as the dignified Empire Princess, could hardly choose these two paths.
Rowena hinted, "Can't you also inherit the throne?"
The girl didn't appreciate her fortune, not knowing that successors to the throne have always been knights of the Neseriel Sanctuary, a glorious tradition passed down by the Henry Clan. The Empire's founders hoped their descendants would uphold knightly virtues to rule the country righteously.
As far as she knew, Princess Sophia was the only legitimate Neseriel Holy Hall Knight among the three heirs, giving her a natural advantage in the throne competition, which clearly made Queen Margaret pay more attention to Sophia.
"But my qualifications are still shallow, I can't convince anyone! If I could study and train with you, I would surely gain everyone's approval!"
Sophia's gaze was firm, thinking herself a genius for coming up with such a grand and plausible excuse in an instant.
But this was a lie.
Her real intention was to find a way to lift the grounding order. If she got involved in the film project with Ethan and the others, surely her mother would also give them some face.
Sophia seized the moment and added, "Didn't Mr. Ethan say that war is no longer aligned with the future development trend of the Empire?"
Ethan had to admit, Sophia's words hit the nail on the head for him, and if this matter was spearheaded by the royal family represented by Princess Sophia, it could avoid many trivial problems.
Lindong also looked at Sophia in a new light, surprised that this little girl, though not tall, spoke with such confidence and sophistication, perhaps she could really learn some of Ethan's skill in spinning tales.
Ethan said, "Sophia, it's not quite so; war won't disappear, it has just evolved into another form."
"Another form?"
"The so-called film is not merely a simple entertainment activity, its impact can be more profound than the church's doctrine; it is a war in the realm of cultural ideas."
He saw the light of wisdom in Sophia's eyes, perhaps this little girl who seemed like a savage playing in the garden could really lead the Empire towards a different future.
"It is a gentler, less noticeable way."
This time, even Lindong and Rowena perked up their ears, knowing from their understanding of Old Sen that he was about to expound a theory that might sound absurd at first, but upon reflection, bore some truth. Rowena, as the current leader of "The Root," had to record the ensuing conversation to relay it to Ave, so she could compile it into "The Truth of the Empire."
And as an old player of the Civilization series, Ethan had always advocated for a cultural victory development route.
Now they were at a vital stage of ideological transformation, "Compared to the iron-handed methods of the church, entertainment plants the Empire's intended messages into people's minds in a form they enjoy and accept. In the past, the Empire adopted a dual strategy of iron chariots and church. For civilizations resisting the Empire, the Neseriel Sanctuary's chariots would breach their Royal Capital, and then the priests of the Life Church would transform the faith of the locals."
"This was the strategy set by Henry III..."