Chapter 168


    After delivering the verdict, Judge Cook stood, exchanged bows with the attendees, and left the


    courtroom. The prosecutor then informed the royal family that her team was not done with the ministers


    yet because they could now charge all of them for perjury when they chose to lie on the stand, which


    wouldmit them to another seven years in prison and a fine of a few thousand dors. They were


    also going to charge Belle Price for helping Marie Martin fabricate evidence so that the public would be


    well aware of the consequences of going against thew.


    The cousins were controlling their excitement and tion with the verdict and the further charges against


    the ministers as they left the courtroom with their mates. When they reached the parking lot with less of a


    crowd, Christian was so ecstatic that he pulled Annie into a kiss.


    Xandar was so much over the moon that he lifted his surprised mate up into the air before pulling her


    back into his arms to nt a deep kiss on her soft lips. When he released her, he muttered, “I love you.”


    Her sparkling eyes matched his relief and happiness as she whispered, “I know. I love you, too.”


    Since the case was settled without excessive mental exhaustion, the four of them decided that they


    would attend dinner.


    ###


    That night, as soon as Xandar and Lucianne stepped foot into the dining hall, the room fell silent as


    usual. Then, every prevailing minister, temporary and permanent, walked up to them. The sound of their


    shoes pacing was ring in the quiet but crowded space.


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    Annie and Christian were approaching them with smiling eyes as well. When the Duke, Duchess and


    ministers stood before the bewildered King and Queen, Lucianne threw her best friend a puzzled look,


    her way of asking him what was going on. Toby was of n o help when he did nothing but smirk in


    response.


    Lucianne studied one minister after another. She then said, “Judging by the smiles, I’m guessing that it’s


    good news?”


    Their smiles broadened, and Toby’s voice echoed through the hall when he offered a slight bow and said,


    “It’s an honor to serve with you, your Highnesses.” And all the ministers echoed ‘serve with you’ as they


    offered their highest rulers a respectful bow with a gleaming smile.


    Everyone else in the hall followed suit, saying ‘serve with you’ while they held their heads low. Lucianne


    and Xandar exchanged astonished expressions, and the King followed his Queen’s lead in returning the


    bow.


    When she and Xandar stood, so did everyone else. With her signature gracious upward curl of her lips,


    Lucianne spoke in her authoritative voice that rang loud and strong, “It is OUR honor to serve alongside


    you, ALL of you.” Her hand gesture showed that her message was not only directed to the ministers but


    also to every other leader, warrior and expert in attendance.


    The simple sentence spoke volumes. They heard the depth of her gratitude and appreciation, and felt the


    sincerity and rawness from her being, which was everything that they could ask for from a Queen.


    Xandar held his mate close to him by her waist as he said, “We look forward to many more decades and


    centuries of working together, and we thank all of you for choosing to continue offering your skills and


    expertise to create a better future with us.”


    Xandar signaled a waiter, asking for wine sses for himself and his mate. After handing one to


    Lucianne, the King raised his ss as he proposed a toast, “Here’s to creating a better future together.”


    “A better future together.” Everyone cheered in unison before drinking from their sses.


    It was a great night. Whatever Xandar and Lucianne said made every Lycan and werewolf feel belonged,


    respected, appreciated and enthusiastic about the future.


    As their subjects, they willingly conveyed their loyalty and gratitude to their rulers after reading the joint


    statement from the royal family about the corruption debacle. But they didn’t expect their rulers to convey


    the same loyalty and gratitude to them. They felt seen, heard and included, and their hearts were moved.


    Throughout the night, whenever Xandar and Lucianne weren’t speaking to someone else, his thoughts


    ravelled around his mate. H e served for almost two decades as King, and he had never gotten his


    people to pledge their loyalty so willingly. Even his ownte father never managed such a thing. 1


    The respect and love Xandar just felt from their subjects when they bowed tonight was, for once, without


    fear or obligation. His mate gave him that. She guided him, and showed him through her words and


    actions how to be a better ruler, a better person.


    As these thoughts engulfed his being, a smile would inevitably grace his features, and he would end up


    pecking sweet kisses on the back of her hand, her forehead or temple, uttering ‘you’re amazing’ right


    after he did it each time.


    Lucianne blushed every time he said it, and became especially embarrassed if some of the attendees


    who heard him threw her teasing looks. But she was not immune to her own urges to return his kisses by


    pecking on his cheek or chin before whispering a sincere ‘so are you, darling’ in response.


    ###


    For some people, like Kelissa Kylton, it was not the happiest of nights. In all frankness, the heiress was


    having one of THE WORST days in her one hundred and sixty years of life. The photos her men took


    were only a good thing to look at if she wanted an increase in blood pressure and stress hormones.


    She sat alone by the firece. The heavy rising and falling of her chest was getting more and more


    obvious, and her eyes had long tumed onyx as she glowered at the photograph in her hand.


    Lady Kylton came from the spa room, and ced a hand on her daughter’s shoulder as she whispered,


    “That won’t be for much longer, Kelly, dear. You should tum in for the night. You know how important


    sleep is for your wlessplexion.”


    Knowing that her advisors were already in their rooms on far sides of the mansion, Kelissa hissed


    without holding back. “What does Xandar even see in this thing, mom? Look at her!”


    She handed her mother one of the photos, showing Xandar holding Lucianne on hisp in the court


    cafeteria. The resolution of the picture was so high that no one could deny the King’s affectionate gaze


    on the very flustered Queen-to-be as she leaned into his chest. The sight was a disgusting and


    nauseating one for Lady Kylton.


    Her Ladyship sighed in despair as she noted, “It’s a good thing thete King and Queen have passed.


    This affair itself would bring them to a premature grave.”


    Her daughter continued to rant, “T’d rather they remained alive when Xandar met her! At least then, they


    would’ve forbidden their son from pursuing this…NONSENSE! THEY WOULD HAVE MADE HIM


    REJECT HER!!” 2


    “Shh, dear. Xandar has always been a stubbom one, and I’m sorry to say this, darling, but he doesn’t


    make the best decisions at times.”


    “THIS IS HIS WORST DECISION YET!!”


    “Which is why he needs YOU to hold his hand and lead him back into the light. He needs you, Kelly,


    despite him not knowing it yet. Once he sees that you were the one he should crown all along, this


    anger, hurt and betrayal you’re feeling right now will fade into nothing but a bad memory.” 6


    Kelissa internalized her mother’s words, which managed to calm her a little. “Yes, I mustn’t give up.


    Xandar needs me. But, I swear, when I get him, I’m going to make him apologize for this for the rest of


    our years together.”


    “Perhaps not too early, dear.”


    “Yes, yes, of course, mom. I’ll wait until after we’ve marked each other. I’m not reckless. It’s better to y


    it safe.”


    After a moment of watching the crackling fire in silence, Lady Kylton asked, “Is the Duke cooperating?”


    “Yes, he offered good views in the brainstorming session today.”


    Another short moment of silence, then her mother asked, “Does he know about the…contingency n?”


    Kelissa turned to look at her mother in disbelief. “Of course not! Mom, I’m not stupid!”


    “I’m not saying that you are, dear. I just want you to be careful with what you—”


    Kelissa’s nostrils red when she yelled, “I AM CAREFUL! I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING! I’M THE


    FUTURE QUEEN!”


    Lady Kylton tried to get her little girl to calm down, “Yes, I know, dear. I know. That crown has been yours


    ever since you were born. We all knew it. It’s time that Xandar knew it as well. As long as the Duke is


    kept in the dark about the contingency n, I’m sure we’ll have his full support and loyalty.”


    Silence ensued before Kelissa muttered, “If Xandar won’t reject her, then we’ll have to make her reject


    him. If and when we send rogues to her pack to kill every living creature there, the message we leave


    there must make the wolf so guilty that she would feel obliged to reject Xandar, because it was their bond


    that is going to cause the genocide. Our Duke here can NEVER know our contingency n to annihte


    the wolf’s pack if it’s necessary. Both Dukes are as blind as the King himself at the moment,


    unfortunately. As one of the few who can see clearly, I have a duty to shed the light for the good of the


    Kingdom.”


    Lady Kylton’s eyes glistened with pride as she pecked a motherly kiss on her daughter’s cheek before


    she dered proudly,” Spoken like a true Queen.”


    Kelissa smirked cockily as she burnt the photograph with a lighter and threw it into the firece while


    saying, “The rightful Queen.”


    Little did Kelissa know that Greg had installed voice recording devices all around the mansion, one of


    them being near the firece.