Chapter 32


    It was a short drive to the department. When the three of them entered the building, the receptionists, all


    three of them, were clearly in shock. They weren’t expecting anyone beyond thepany personnel to


    enter the office building that day, let alone the King and the Duke.


    When they pulled themselves together, they bowed and uttered, “Your Highness. Your Grace.” The King


    and Duke bowed in return, sending over a second wave of shock among them so their heads were


    partially lifted with their mouths gaped at the scene and their knees were still bent, even after the cousins


    stood.


    Xandar then smiled, “Please, stand when we stand, my people, because we stand through every


    prosperity and hardship together, as our Queen has taught me.” With his arm around Lucianne’s waist,


    he looked at her on his side with overflowing love and affection.


    Lucianne smiled at the receptionists, and bowed before standing again, “It’s a pleasure to make your


    acquaintance.(This novel will be daily updtaed at .noveljar)” Their mouths were still gaped until


    Lucianne said encouragingly,” It’s alright. It’s not a trick. You can stand when we do.”


    Seeming to have finally snapped out of it, the three stood but their mouths were taking time t o close.


    One of them, with the name tagbeled as ‘Edward’ stammered, “W-Well, uh…to what do we owe the


    pleasure, your Highnesses and your Grace?”


    Xandar spoke, “I need a detailed audit on all financial transactions of every minister for the past 18


    years, who should I see for this matter?”


    Edward’s eyebrows shot up but heposed himself before saying, “That would be Ellia Morgan, my


    King. I can make a call to tell her about your request and send all of you to her thereafter?”


    “Yes. Please.” Xandar nodded with a smile.


    After a short call, Edward came out from behind his desk and with a low hand gesture, he smiled and


    said, “Right this way, your Highnesses, your Grace.” They took the elevator to the seventh floor and


    when the doors opened, Edward led them to a woman dressed in a white blouse and ck cks who


    had juste out of her personal office. Around them, everyone in cubicles dropped whatever they were


    doing and stood. When Ellia Morgan stood before the three of them, the whole office bowed and said in


    unison, “Your Highness. Your Grace.”


    Edward, on Ellia’s side, muttered, “And the Queen.”


    Ellia looked up in shock with her knees still bent, and lowered her head once more, “My Queen.” There


    were gasps in the office. They heard rumours circting about the King finding his mate at the Lycan-


    werewolf coboration but they didn’t know how much of it was true. Ellia herself knew it to be true but


    she didn’t expect to meet the Queen so soon. She thought the woman next to the King was a soon-to-


    be-sworn-in minister or deputy ministero fa new government branch.


    The three of them bowed in return, and Xandar asked everyone to stand, just like he had exined to


    the receptionists before. Like the receptionists, they were still shocked. Lucianne offered a small smile in


    Ellia’s way, “Ellia, it’s alright. Please stand.” Lucianne reached for her shoulder from the side and lifted


    her to prompt her to stand.


    She blinked a few times to get herself out of the daze and stood upright, “Of course. Of course. Umm…


    your request. Right this way, your Highnesses, your Grace.”


    “Thank you, Edward.” Lucianne said in his way, and he offered a slight bow and a smile before leaving.


    When they entered Ellia’s office, they heard the sound of printing in the corner of her office. Ellia then


    said,(This novel will be daily updtaed at .noveljar) “I hope that you could give it a while, your


    Highness. I found the archives when I received the call and I’m printing them now. Seeing that it’s every


    minister and for


    eighteen years, this may take some time.”


    “It’s alright. We can wait.” Xandar said.


    She gestured to the two chairs in front of her and at the office couch at the back. “Please have a seat,


    your Highnesses, your Grace.”


    The cousins said in unison, “Thank you.” And Christian fell on the couch and sighed, diving into his


    thoughts.


    Lucianne was drawn to the floor-to-ceiling window. She stood there in silence as she took in the view of


    the city from Ellia’s office. Xandar ced his hands on her shoulders as he muttered, “A penny for your


    thoughts?”


    She offered a small smile, “Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve just never had a view of the city from anywhere beyond


    the airport and the hotel room so this is…new.”Xandar smiled at her innocent response and kissed her


    on her temple.


    At that moment, Ellia’s door opened without a knock and in walked a man with two kids, a girl and a boy.


    Everyone turned, and Lucianne’s smile turned into a surprised grin.


    Lucianne’s cheerful voice filled the space in Ellia’s office as she eximed, “Ben! What are you doing


    here?”


    Christian linked Xandar, ‘Ben?’


    ‘Hotel guard. The one who called yesterday.’


    ‘Ah.’


    The hotel guard, Benjamin, was surprised to see the three of them and nced at his wife before he


    bowed and greeted, “Your Highnesses, your Grace. I didn’t realize…I apologize for interrupting.” He was


    about to usher his kids out of the door.


    Lucianne continued to smile as she said, “Ben, you don’t have to reschedule your appointment. We’re


    just waiting for the printed documents. You can have Ellia.”


    “Oh, uh…” he was looking at Ellia hesitantly so Lucianne looked at Ellia and said, “Really, Ellia. (This


    novel will be daily updtaed at .noveljar)We don’t mind waiting for you toplete your


    discussion with him. The printing would no doubt take longer than that.”


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    “Your Highness,” Ellia began awkwardly, “This is actually my mate and husband.”


    Lucianne’s eyes widened in surprise, “Oh! So, you’re Ellie?! Oh, my goddess. It’s such a pleasure to


    finally meet you. Benjamin has told me a lot about you. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon!”


    Ellia was a little embarrassed that her mate called her name so intimately before the Queen, and she


    blushed while she said, “That’s very kind of you to say, my Queen. I didn’t expect to meet you this soon


    either. I’ve heard about you, from Ben, but I never expected you to be this…


    different, in a good way, that is.”


    Lucianne looked at the children who were by Ben’s side, clinging onto his legs, “And these must be Rita


    and Russell.” Ellia was shocked that the future Queen knew her kids’ names but Ben was moved that


    she remembered. He brought his kids closer to Lucianne, and Lucianne bent down to meet the dark-


    haired girl with sparkling eyes, “Hello, Rita.”


    “H-hello, pwettydy.” She muttered nervously.


    “Oh, darling. It’s just Aunt Lucy, okay?” Lucianne said encouragingly.


    She then looked at the boy, whose hair and eyes matched his sister’s and Lucianne smiled and said,


    “Hello, Russell. Is your knee better?” Ben and Ellia were surprised and touched that their Queen


    remembered their son’s injury and asked about it.


    “Y-yes. A-Aunt Lucy.” Russell stuttered shyly.


    “Can you show Aunt Lucy?” Lucianne smiled and asked the little boy.


    He looked up at his father who muttered with a nod, “Go on, Russell. It’s okay.” The little boy let go of his


    father’s leg and bent down to pull up his pants, showing her a slightly scratched knee. Lucianne looked


    at it for a moment before lifting the little boy’s chin up gently with her hand as she whispered, “You’re


    such a brave and strong little boy. You’re healing so quickly.” He smiled, showing his dimples and small


    teeth.


    Lucianne then said, “Russell, your dad says you like to build toys.” He nodded with a smile and, to


    Lucianne’s surprise, took her by her hand and walked her in his adorable little legs to the couch where


    Christian sat at the other end. Like Xandar, Christian was silently observing Lucianne mingle with the


    child.


    Russell patted on a seat twice to motion Lucianne to sit and after Lucianne sat down, he tried t o climb


    onto the high cushion himself. But he only made it when Lucianne lifted him up by his armpits and ced


    him right next to her. He unstrapped his backpack and pulled it to his side before unzipping it and taking


    out a slightly deformed toy car. He then sat cross-legged and put the car in front of him, pressed a button


    on top before the car started moving slowly on the couch.


    Christian’s eyes widened in shock and he mind-linked Xandar, ‘Cuz, they teach this in kindergarten?! I


    don’t remember making a car.’


    ‘I don’t remember either.‘


    ‘Can I go back to make one?’ 1


    ‘Sure. Give me a copy of your notes after you’ve taken the ss.’ 1


    Lucianne gasped at the little boy, “You made this at school?”


    Russell shook his little head and said, “I-I make it at ytime…at home.” Christian’s n was crushed. 2


    Lucianne then gaped in shock, “You built this all by yourself?”


    Russell nodded proudly and smiled. Lucianne then said excitedly, “You’re such a smart boy! Did you


    show this to your friends at school?”


    Russell’s smile faltered and he looked at his car sadly while he said, “My friends say it’s stupid. They


    laughed at me. They threw my car when I showed them. My teacher told me to stop making it. She said


    studying was more important.” 2


    Lucianne was heartbroken. She took Russell and ced him on herp facing her.(This novel will be


    daily updtaed at .noveljar)She then looked at the sad little boy and said with a soothing voice,


    “Russell, don’t listen to your teacher. You have to be very special to know how to make this. Your teacher


    is just jealous. H


    m?”


    The little boy looked up at her and sadness was disappearing from his eyes and Lucianne continued,


    “And you can always make new friends. A lot of little boys and girls will love to y with your car. Okay?”


    His dimples showed and the sadness was gone. He threw his arms around Lucianne’s chest, taking her


    by surprise. Xandar stiffened as he stood next to where she sat.


    ‘Cuz, you’re not jealous of a five-year-old right now, are you?’ Christian linked him. 1


    ‘Shut up, Christian.’ 3


    Christian chuckled to himself as he continued to watch. The little boy released her from their embrace


    when his fingers felt Lucianne’s scar on her arm. He looked at it with his furrowed eyebrows and asked


    innocently, “What is this, Aunt Lucy?”


    Lucianne said, “Oh, this. Aunt Lucy was fighting bad guys one day. And one bad guy gave Aunt Lucy this


    scar.” The little boy’s eyes were glistening, which made Lucianne panic so she cooed, “There there,


    Russell. Shh…No bad guys are going toe for you. Aunt Lucy killed them, okay? You’re safe. You’re


    safe.”


    He then hugged Lucianne again before he said, “I want to kill bad guys for Aunt Lucy.” Lucianne’s heart


    melted. She thought the little boy was about to cry earlier because he was


    afraid that he would be hurt the same way she was. But he was crying because she got hurt.


    Lucianne smiled and said, “That’s very sweet of you, Russell. You’re a brave little boy.” She then pecked


    a kiss on his forehead, making him smile again.


    Xandar then mind-linked Christian, ‘Fine. I’m jealous of the five-year-old. Who does he think he is?! And


    how is he going to protect her? Roll on the battleground and trip the rogues over?’


    Christian burst intoughter, garnering everyone’s attention. Lucianne’s voice turned back into the way


    she normally spoke to him, “Christian, what’s the joke?”


    He lifted up a finger, asking for a minute while he continuedughing at his cousin’s mind link. When he


    was done, he said, “Apologies, my Queen. I uh…just thought of something funny and couldn’t help


    myself.”


    “Do share.”


    “Uh, no. Maybeter.” He chuckled again.


    Lucianne was still confused, oblivious about how Xandar was reacting by her side when she interacted


    with the child in her hands, “Okay, if you say so.”


    It was when she was about to turn back to Russell that she noticed Ellia and Ben mind linking each other


    with worried and fearful looks. She assumed that it was family affairs so she did not intrude. When she


    opened her mouth and was about to speak to Russell again, she heard the sound of window blinds being


    pulled down. Her head lifted, and she saw that it was Ben doing it. When it was done, Ben went to Ellia’s


    side and nodded once in encouragement before Ellia lifted her head up to the three of them.


    Ellia swallowed a lump in her throat before saying, “Your Highnesses, your Grace. There’s something


    you should know.”