SWNOVELS Chapter 32
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 the company 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 www.noveljar.com)” 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 tag labeled 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 he composed 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 black slacks who had just come 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 circulating about the King finding his mate at the Lycan- werewolf collaboration 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 explained to the receptionists before. Like the receptionists, they were still shocked. Lucianne offered a small smile in Ella'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 www.noveljar.com) “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 placed 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 exclaimed, “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 glanced 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 www.noveljar.com)We don’t mind waiting for you to complete your discussion with him. The printing would no doubt take longer than that.”
“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, pwetty lady.” 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 placed 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 class.’ 1 Lucianne gasped at the little boy, “You made this at school?”
Russell shook his little head and said, “I-I make it at playtime...at home.” Christian's plan 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 placed him on her lap facing her.(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)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 play 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 to come 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 into laughter, 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 continued laughing 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. Maybe later.” 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."