SWNOVELS Chapter 36
Chapter 36
In the dining hall, after having dinner, Lucianne and Xandar were speaking to Juan and the others when Xandar got confirmation that the rogue Lycan was up but rather light-headed because of lack of food and water. He wouldn't be fit enough to be interrogated yet so they had to wait for the medical team to give the okay.
Lord Yarrington came up to Lucianne, and asked if there were anymore werewolves who had an opinion in education because he found his previous discussion with the three wolves she introduced to him very useful. 1
Lucianne knew of two more, and she told the education minister that there are many who would want a say in the matter but are, sadly, not Alphas, Lunas or Gammas so they weren't a t that particular collaboration. She got him to take down the contact details of a few others she knew of, and promised to get in touch with them first to give them a heads-up on the minister's call. (This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)Xandar later told Lucianne that he had never seen Yarrington so excited about
government affairs. 1
“Excuse me, your Highness.” Pierre Whitlaw's voice came from the side when Lucianne had just finished speaking to Yarrington.
Xandar and Lucianne turned to see him with another minister, who looked about the same age as him. Xandar's voice was stern as he addressed the deputy minister, “Yes, Whitlaw?"
The old man looked at Xandar and said, “Oh, I was referring to the Queen, my King. Apologies for the miscommunication.”
Lucianne put on an emotionless face, “What is it, minister?”
He faked a smile, “I wanted to apologize. If the Queen is willing, I'll do my best to make amends.”
Lucianne started pressing him, “For what?”
Whitlaw's fake smile fell, replaced by genuine surprise, “Pardon?” Lucianne explained simply, “You mentioned you would make amends, but for what in particular, minister? Is it for not doing your job, for what you said to me as a Gamma for the past few years, or merely for what you said to me as the King’s mate this morning?”
Whitlaw began to feel uneasy, "Uhh..well..."
Lucianne was not backing down, “So the apology is for the King. It's not really for me, is it? Or i s it not for the King either. It's just for whoever sits on the throne?” 1
Whitlaw was still lost for words. Lucianne faked a small smile and said, “You seem a bit
confused, minister. Tell you what, I'll tell you the same thing I told Greg Claw — I will believe i t when I see it. Until you act like an actual minister and look after the people you're supposed
to, don't expect me to believe that you are making amends.”
His confidante, the other old man suddenly bowed and spoke cautiously, “Forgive my intrusion, your Highnesses. But the deputy minister was going to express his concern for you, my Queen.” He then smiled and said, “My Queen, allow me to introduce myself, I am..." “You're Lord Caunterberg, the Minister of Health and Welfare, I know.” Lucianne responded nonchalantly.
He seemed encouraged, “Well, it's an honour to be known by the Queen herself before an introduction.”
Lucianne remained unperturbed, “I wouldn't call it an honour if I were you, minister. (This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)! will explain how I came about knowing you. But seeing that you were so supportive of Whitlaw expressing his concern, I shall let you speak first.”
The two ministers glanced at one another before Lord Caunterberg spoke, “We didn't see your Highnesses at tea. Was anything the matter?”
Xandar wondered if the two ministers knew something about their visit to the audit department but when he saw his unperturbed mate, he decided to appear equally emotionless.
Lucianne gave a faint nod and said, “Yes, there was. I had to attend a doctor's appointment to have my condition checked after the incident at the Jewel Pack. Thankfully, everything is fine.”
The two of them glanced at each other. Both tried to hide their surprise with her answer but were too slow to mask their true expressions. Lucianne smirked and asked, “Ministers, is there a problem? You two seem like I've just said something unexpected, though I cant fathom why. Everyone knows that I was in the alliance, and that I was the most injured. A doctor's appointment would be anything but unexpected.” “N-No, my Queen. We...we just expected you to say that you were spending time with the King, perhaps.” Lord Caunterberg tried to make up a viable excuse but even Xandar could see through his terrible attempt to act.
Lucianne gave a small smile, “Well then, I'm sorry to have disappointed you. But the King was with me during the check-up so I suppose you're not completely wrong. Now, let me tell you how I know you, Lord Caunterberg.”
“Well, if the Queen insists.” Caunterberg smiled graciously but Whitlaw was already having a bad feeling about what was about to happen next. Lucianne smiled with a murderous glint in her eye and said, “You came up to me last year when I attended this very collaboration as a Gamma. Do you remember what you asked me at that time?”
Caunterberg's eyes widened in shock, his face turned white but his feet couldn't move.
Whitlaw observed his friend freeze in fear, and could only pray that he himself would be spared from Lucianne’s wrath.
Lucianne observed the old man and said, “Your silence is quite worrying, Lord Caunterberg. Let me refresh your memory. You asked me how much I charged for, in your words, “a night of action.” Xandar's lilac eyes turned onyx almost immediately, glaring straight at Caunterberg. Lucianne pressed her hand over his that was secured at her waist, hoping to calm him down for a few more moments. 1
She then continued, “And, I just want your Lordship to know that I don't take it personally.” She waited for that glimmer of hope to appear in the old man's eyes before she crushed that hope by saying, “Because you've said it to more werewolves than I can count. There were even numerous times where you asked a Luna! But despite the sexual harassment complaints we submitted, you're still here, alive and well, standing as our Minister of Health and Welfare. Well, (This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)l guess you can't really expect welfare complaints made against the Welfare Minister to be taken seriously by the Welfare Minister himself.” 7
Caunterberg looked like he was going to faint, while Whitlaw had already gone to the side to seek refuge with Cummings, leaving Caunterberg all by himself.
Lucianne felt Xandar's radiating anger. He was about to lose it. As that thought came to her, Xandar growled louder and fiercer than he ever had before. The room fell silent. Some of those in attendance dropped their glasses that they were holding, shuddering from fear and shock at the sight of their King starting to shift. The wolves were especially petrified, knowing full well that once a Lycan shifts, their species have little chance of surviving an attack.