Chapter 236
1401words
Great! Just my luck!
I almost wanted to cursed when the man came in. He was wearing an arrogant smirk with his face covered with his tacky gold Venetian half mask. It's Kendrell, the former manager of Wakeland!
Of course, he wouldn’t pass this opportunity to step on my ego and showcase his undying hold over the loyalty of the Wakeland’s population.
“Alpha, this is…” Sapphire was about to remind me who this gentleman was, but I extended my arm and gestured her to stop.
Letting out a force smile, I took a step forward and greeted, “Welcome, Krendell!”
Seeing his presence here, I couldn’t be more certain that he caused the emptiness of this hall. He probably spread some rumor or something similar to make sure no one would attend my inauguration ball. How childish!
He’s only showing though that he feared I’d bring a great impression to the people.
Acting innocent, he approached me with a bright smile and mockingly bowed slightly toward me. Glancing briefly at the nice weather outside, he vaguely said, “The weather isn’t so promising today, Princess. Everyone will be a little late. But don’t worry about it.”
“What nonsense is he on? It’s so bright outside! The weather is probably at its best right now!” Trisha angrily noted.
Tilting my head, I raised me brows and pointed out, “It’s sunny outside but not too hot that it burns.”
Shrugging, I meaningfully added, “Is the fact that the guest aren’t arriving have anything to do with you?”
Krendell let out a sneer and spread his arms wide to gesture around. The empty hall. Shrugging his shoulders, he sarcastically went on, “It’s not my fault if they didn’t want to attend because they didn’t want an ‘Omega Princess’ to lead them when she degraded herself to such level merely for a man.”
“Princess, how can you angry with me when I’m in no control of their thoughts?” he asked with a ridiculous expressions, which clearly let me know it’s all his conspiracy.
“Mind your language!” Sapphires firm and authoritative voice immediately echoed through the hall, almost deafening.
She even took a step forward as if she’s ready to fall in a fight at my signal.
Unfazed though, Krendell nonchalantly shifted his gaze to Sapphire, and uttered with distain, “I remember you… Sapphire, isn’t it? A royal beta with a criminal record…”
He intentionally poke so slow as if his every words were a sword being poke onto us, before he let out a mocking laughter.
Looking at Sapphire, I saw how she froze on her stand and her breathing seemingly hitched. Though she might appear unaffected to others, I’ve observed her long enough to know her inner feelings.
She’s a strong and talented she-wolf, but her past and criminal records were the most damaging things that could happen to her.
Hence, as soon as I heard Krendell say those things aloud, I couldn’t help but stay focused and worriedly pay attention to her reaction, as I feared she might lose control and attack him.
But seeing her clench her jaw and tighten her fist together, I sighed with relief and pride that she had managed to surprise her emotions.
“You must be forgetting something, Krendell. No matter who you were here before, things change.”
Crossing my arms and standing upright, I continued, “Now, I am your superior, your Princess. If you have any thoughts concerning Wakeland’s management, you can directly communicate with me. You don’t need to use backhanded measures, now should you?”
He laughed pretentiously.
“Don’t put blame on me now, Princess. I meant no such things,” he clarified.
He gestured toward the empty hall and gave me a sympathetic look.
“The reason no one came today is because of your own doing. First, you lowered yourself for a man’s sake. Secondly, you handed the management of Wakeland to Albert when the Wakeland is at most danger from the Rogues while you hid in the Dark Moon Pack to fight for what? Alpha Kylian’s love and attention that’s obviously in his fated mate?”
I was left speechless. How could I rebut to that when it was all true?
Hearing those truths only pulled strings in my heart, causing me pain and regret. Indeed, others probably saw me as an incapable Princess, probably the worst they’ve seen.
“Stupid! Defend yourself! You’ve been helping Albert handle the Wakeland’s affair remotely. You might not be physically there, but you contributed a lot!” Trisha pointed out, angered by how I was silenced by Krendell.
But how could I voiced those out? I wouldn’t change the fact that I wasn’t physically there.
Sighing in my heart, I replied, “What’s the use of saying it? No one would believe me anyway. All I can do now is prove myself in action rather than by words. Sooner or later, the people will see for themselves that I’m far from what the rumors had made me to be.”
Feeling victorious from my silence, Krendell claimed his voice and pitifully advised, “Don’t mind them. Everyone makes mistakes, and even the princesses are no exception from that.”
“What do you say?” he suggestively asked, “should I give you a chance to make amends?”
Give me a chance? When will it be Krendell's turn to give me a chance?
Although I thought it was ridiculous, I just raised my eyebrows and looked at him.
I wanted to know what his intention was.
Obviously, my reaction gave Krendell great confidence, and a hint of pride squeezed out of his greedy eyes.
“As long as you appoint me as the financial director and give me back the account book, I’ll allow you to be the manager of this land.” Giving me a knowing smile, he added, “And I guarantee you, this hall will be filled with people in just half an hour.”
Allow me? That’s a very bold word. I’m the princess, and I OWN this land. How dare he think I had to ask him for permission for anything?
It’s lawfully all mine.
But because he’s so scheming, he’s using his prior power to tie my hands and threaten me into giving what he wants so he can continue corrupting this place.
Turning around, I looked at the corner where the reporter from the Wakeland Times was stationed.
For sure, if this hall hadn’t been filled today, this humiliating news would have spread around the entire kingdom like wildfire.
When that happened, not only the Wakeland and I would be affected, but the entire kingdom and the Lycan family would also be affected.
I’m the heir and the future Queen. If everyone thinks I’m incapable of handling a small matter like the Wakeland, how could the other packs trust me to manage the entire werewolf kingdom in the future?
That would cause a huge stir that’s beyond irreversible, but if I give in to this madman, I’ll always be tied down and won’t have actual power in Wakeland.
Besides, giving him the accounting would surely result in embezzlement of all of the kingdom’s allotted money for Wakeland, and all of the people here would suffer greatly. I need those records to properly investigate their past accounts and punish those people related to those crimes.
“Are you giving it to him?” Trisha asked worriedly.
“No!”
Albert fought hard and dispatched an army just to get those account records back into our hands. There’s no way I’ll let all his efforts go to waste by handing it back to Krendell.
“So, what do you say?” Krendell asked again, his huge smile plastered on his annoying face.
I took a deep breath and thought deeply as I hesitated about which thing was best to do.
But while I was deep in my thoughts, Krendell kept on urging, “The party is about to start in fifteen minutes. If I don’t get the right answer from you before then, I assure you, Princess, the Wakeland Times will truthfully report everywhere that no one attended your inauguration ball.”
He smirked. “I wonder what the Lycan King and Prince will think about that.”
I pursed my lips as I had the urge to knock the life out of him.
Just as I was about to open my lips and say something to provoke him further, a tall shadow lingered before me.
Shifitng my gaze, I found a man walking into the door…
