<h4>Chapter 66: The Best Candidate</h4>
At the Throne Hall, South Pce
The morning assembly of the royal court was as restless as Gavriel had expected. The hall buzzed with discontent, voices rising as ministers and councilors voiced their displeasure over his sudden decision to strip Lord Thanos of his position as Minister of Justice.
“Your Majesty, Thanos has long served the court with loyalty,” one minister argued.
“Without him, the bnce of ourws will be disrupted,” another added.
Gavriel leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze sweeping across the hall. He let them speak, let theirints echo and grow, before finally rising to his feet. The hall fell silent at once.
“You call it loyalty,” Gavriel said, his voice calm but edged with steel, “but what I have seen is betrayal to the veryw he swore to protect.”
He motioned for Simon, who stepped forward carrying sealed scrolls and records. One by one, the documents wereid out for the council to see. Each piece revealed how Thanos had twisted thew for his own advantage—favoring allies, silencing rivals, and bending justice to line his pockets.
Gasps and murmurs filled the air as ministers read the records for themselves. Some paled, others lowered their heads in shame.
“This,” Gavriel continued, his tone colder, “is why justice in my kingdom has been mocked. This is why the people whisper of bias and corruption. Tell me now—would you still defend him?”
No one dared to speak.
After a tense silence, the discussion shifted. Now the question was not whether Thanos should have been removed, but rather who would rece him.
“Your Majesty,” Minister Leoric of Finance finally said, stepping forward with a bow, “such a post must not be taken lightly. Perhaps it is time to hold an exam and a fair vote among the council. Let us judge the candidates not by family name alone, but by merit.”
Several voices quickly agreed, and names were brought up—men and women known for their knowledge ofw, their sharp minds, or their long service to justice.
Gavriel listened withoutment until one name caught his attention.
“Kael Moore of Ashborne Pack,” a minister suggested confidently.
At that, Gavriel’s brow lifted ever so slightly. His eyes narrowed. “Kael Moore,” he repeated slowly, his voice low as if testing the sound of it.
Gavriel’s expression hardened. He didn’t need to hide his dislike—the weight of his silence was enough to make the ministers shift uneasily.
He remembered Althea’s words from that night when he first took her virginity, words that still burned in his mind.
“You can have me, body and soul, if that’s what you want. But there’s one thing you’ll never have.”
At the time, Gavriel told himself it was her heart she meant. A heart that, perhaps, belonged to Kael Moore—the man she had been so concerned about, the one she had grown up with, the one who had been her childhood sweetheart.
The memory made his jaw clench as he stared at the ministers before him.
“Your Majesty,” one of the older councilors said carefully, “Kael Moore may be young, but his knowledge ofw is remarkable. Many believe he is the best candidate for the position.”
A murmur of agreement spread across the chamber.
Gavriel’s eyes narrowed. “Best candidate, you say?” His voice was calm, but every syble wasced with restrained contempt.
The minister straightened. “Yes, Your Majesty. Though young, his insight and dedication—”
“Enough.” Gavriel cut him off, his tone sharp. “If this court values fairness, then there will be no easy appointments. Every name put forward will be tested. Every candidate will prove their worth before the throne.”
The hall grew silent again. Ministers exchanged looks, unsure if they had pleased or angered the Alpha King.
“Let the exam and vote be conducted,” Gavriel dered. “And let the results decide who is fit to carry the weight of justice in this kingdom.”
Though his words were fair, his heart seethed. If Kael Moore dared step into his court, Gavriel would make certain the man learned just how ruthless the North’s Alpha King could be.
The discussion about the exam ended, but the court was far from finished. One minister cleared his throat and stood.
“Your Majesty, there is still the matter of Lady Ava,” he said cautiously. “Many in the pce are waiting to hear what judgment you will pass on her, especially after the evidence against her father.”
Murmurs rippled through the hall. Some nodded in agreement, while others cast uneasy nces at Gavriel, wary of how far they could push, knowing Ava was his unofficial mistress.
Gavriel leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. His voice was calm but edged with ice as he spoke.
“Lady Ava’s actions are under close watch,” he said. “Unless she is proven guilty of a crime or betrayal against this kingdom, her ce in the pce remains unchanged, as Royal Eventmistress under my Queen Mother’s authority.”
The chamber fell quiet. None dared to question him further.
But then Marius, bolder than the rest as usual, stepped forward. “Your Majesty,” he said with a bow, “may I also raise one concern? The kingdom prospers best under a Queen Luna. The people are restless, waiting for the day you choose one to stand beside you. When should we proceed with the Luna and Queen Alpha Selection?”
The words hung heavy in the air. A few ministers shifted eagerly, as though they too had been waiting to hear this.
Gavriel’s expression darkened, knowing ot was his mother who was behind this question from his godfather Marius, who was like a second father to him. His fingers tapped once on the arm of his chair before he answered.
“The time wille,” he said slowly, his tone making it clear the matter was not open for debate. “Until then, focus on the duties before you. This court is dismissed.”
The ministers bowed quickly, filing out one by one, none daring to linger under the Alpha King’s heavy stare.
One of his warriors stepped forward and whispered a report, and Gavriel’s expression grew even darker.