Chapter 143


    The Kingmanded the attention of the room as he spoke, “To be honest, I was going to push for a


    permanent appointment of ministers today. Seeing that it is unwise to do so when the verdicts of the


    arrested ministers have not been reached yet, I must withdraw my prior intention. It is also an


    indisputable fact that a more democratic nomination and appointment would require a notable period of


    time. As many of you have pointed out, time is something we don’t have. We need creatures to stand in


    now.”


    “But clearly, not all of us agree with who we shall appoint for the vacant positions, so, as always, this


    matter shall be put to a vote. Yes, Alivia?” Xandar noticed Alivia’s raised hand so he granted her


    permission to speak.


    Alivia smiled pretentiously and said, “Your Highness, don’t you think it is unjust to put such matters to a


    vote when a significant number of our colleagues are absent as they fight off corruption charges?”


    The King responded without needing to think, “It is their absence that made today’s meeting necessary,


    and a vote necessary as well. These are temporary measures. If they can be proven innocent, their


    positions will be restored.”


    Xandar could say this so calmly because he knew it was unlikely that those four ministers would get a


    get out-of-jail gift card from the court. The evidence piled against them would undoubtedly destroy them.


    Harold then said, “With much respect, my King. Perhaps we should keep the right to vote among


    members who have been serving for the past five years.” That meant Lucianne and Annie would not be


    allowed to vote.


    Xandar tried to focus on his mate’s small thumb as she stroked his hand when he asked, “What reason


    do you have for preventing the Queen and Duchess from voting, Harold?”


    The atmosphere in the room became tense. Harold didn’t seem bothered by that fact when he


    exined,” Well, for one, the Duchess has not been with us in almost two decades. Forgive me for


    suggesting this but her sudden presence seems to be for tactical purposes. It is as if she is merely here


    because her vote is needed. As for…”


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Christian cut him off, “If that is so, minister, why do you think my Duchess didn’t tum up to vote every


    other time before today?” He red down at Harold before he said in a low voice, “If I wanted to use her


    to win a vote on any issue, I would’ve done it from the very beginning. Most of you in this room know why


    m y wife has refused to join us for a long time. I’d suggest you rethink the past before you use me of


    harbouring tactical intentions.”


    Before Harold coulde up with a response, Xandar said, “You may also want to rethink what you


    were going to say about our Queen while you’re at it.”


    Harold snorted before he said, “That’s the thing, your Highness. She is not our Queen. Well, not as of


    yet, that is. I don’t recall attending a coronation ceremony. And this is clearly her first time in,”


    Xandar’s low growl, followed by those of Christian’s, Annie’s, Weaver’s and Yarrington’s, halted Harold in


    his speech. Xandar challenged, “Under which particr provision ofw can the King’s mate not exercise


    her right as Queen?” 1


    Harold answered without hesitation, “It’s not a writtenw, your Highness. More like a convention. A


    tradition, an unspoken rule, if you will.”


    “Where is this unspoken rule found?” Xandar continued to press.


    “It’s there asmon knowledge.”


    “Perhaps it’s because I’m the most senior member here. It’s a very old rule that’s not normally mentioned


    since no Queen has ever entered through those doors before being crowned.”


    It was Lucianne’s tum to speak, “I’m sorry, minister, but I’m confused. If it’s not normally mentioned, how


    could it bemon knowledge? If it’s a tradition, why is it that the generation after yours is unaware of i


    t? And if it’s not discussed, don’t you think it has already be obsolete?”


    Harold tried to look at Lucianne with as little spite as possible when he said, “Lycans started the tradition,


    your Highness. I believe it is best for Lycans to say whether it is obsolete.”


    Weaver didn’t have to think twice before he said, “Fine. Lycans, let’s put it to a vote and settle this here


    and now. Those in favour of rejecting the convention that no one has ever heard about?”


    Harold eximed, “No! You can’t just vote as such!” The hands that shot up clearly showed that Harold


    had lost. Even Riven voted against him.


    Xandar spoke again, “Since that’s been settled, both the Queen and the Duchess can exercise their right


    to vote. Let’s nominate the candidates we have in mind and decide who’s the best we have for the job,


    starting with the Defence Ministry.”


    Christian snorted and yfully suggested, “Can the Queen be our Queen and our Defence Minister?”


    This garnered muchughter from those in favour but only got forced smiles from those who didn’t like


    the proposition. They didn’t even like her being their Queen, let alone both a minister and a Queen!


    After everyone has thrown in names, which were, surprisingly to Lucianne, many members of the


    alliance, save for a few Lycans. They voted and their choice of temporary recement was Gamma


    Tobias Tristan as Defence Minister, and the Lycan warrior Phelton as his deputy. 4


    Next up was the Finance Ministry. This one took a little more time because Lucianne got more questions


    from everyone around the table about the wolves she nominated. She spoke in a neutral manner, giving


    them scenarios about how her nominees handled financial crises within their own packs and even those


    o f their allies


    Lucianne talked about their respective strengths and weaknesses as objectively as possible. For some


    reason, Marie Martin’s other son, Henry Martin, was nominated as well. His credentials? He has a


    degree i n Finance and has shadowed his mother with his brother for years.


    It wasn’t much of a surprise when the vote ultimately made Luna Lovce the temporary Finance


    Minister, with Alpha Tate as her deputy. 1


    As for Health and Welfare, Luna Hale was deemed to be the most suitable candidate for the position,


    and Pam nominated her fifteen-year personal assistant, Keh, who spends any leisure time in


    hospitals and blood drives as a volunteer,


    Gamma Benedict was made Deputy Minister of Education,


    After the decisions had been made, Xandar dismissed everyone and thanked them again for making the


    time to attend the meeting. Of course, Alivia, Harold and Cora were not happy with how things yed out


    but everyone else didn’t stop them from storming out of the room as soon as Xandar gave the greenlight


    for everyone to leave.


    When Alivia was out of sight, Weaver couldn’t help but startughing as he reyed the King and


    Queen’s sarcasm from earlier. Yarrington smiled as he rolled his eyes at his mate’s uncontroble


    chuckles and dragged Weaver by his arm as he said, “Come now, dear. You can continueughing in the


    car.”