Alpha's Rejected Mate Returns as Queen

356 Sincere And Fake

Selma Payne’s POV:

Finally!

From the moment he entered the room, we’d been waiting for this moment.

“Look at what you’re saying. I’ve never laid my hands on the Evaria Family, and you say you’re here to visit?” I asked back with a smile.

Earl of Marlowe’s face turned serious, and he said sternly, “I know that you’re not someone who likes to argue, and I’m not someone who likes to waste my breath. Please believe that I’m here today with utmost sincerity and want to have a frank and open talk with you.”

My face also darkened as I asked expressionlessly, “What do you want to talk about?”

“You suddenly took away a few of my people last night,” said Earl of Marlowe. “I understand that last night’s situation was extremely urgent, and it was inevitable that you were angry. However, I can guarantee that these people have never colluded with the enemy. Perhaps their behavior is a bit out of line, but seeing that they have not made any contributions, I ask you to be magnanimous and let them go!”

“Do you think they don’t have the intention just because you say so? It’s a pity that I don’t think so. Be it the time, place, or related personnel; it’s too coincidental. It’s so coincidental that I can’t help but suspect them.

“Moreover, they were the people in charge of the finishing work last night. Your words can’t offset such a big mistake. A dereliction of duty is inevitable. Or do you think they’re used to escaping punishment without restraint and will return home safely without paying any price this time?”

I wouldn’t fall for this old man’s tricks. Taking credit and acting pitiful wouldn’t work here. Besides, what hard work could those people have done? I looked at their information last night. During the rotation of the person in charge, they didn’t neglect their duties and didn’t work for many days. Was his hand tired from counting his salary?

Earl of Marlowe could see that I was impervious to his words and helplessly gave in. “At least let them go home first. Can’t you send them to court after all the evidence is gathered? You suddenly asked people to take them away and even put them in the palace’s dungeon. Their families are all uneasy and don’t know what mistakes their relatives have made. Early in the morning, they came to the palace restlessly to ask me for an explanation. I almost couldn’t stop a few agitated young people. I was also in a difficult position.”

“Are you threatening me with the Evaria Family?” I sneered and stared into his old eyes. “You mean to say, if I don’t let him go, the next ones to come to the palace to make a scene will be your other clansmen? Ha, this is interesting. I’ve never seen a noble perform acrobatics before. Could you pass on a message for me? He told those impassioned young people to come quickly and let me broaden my horizons.”

This old man dared to threaten me, so I didn’t have to play nice. He said that one shouldn’t hit a smiling person, but was a threat with a bitter face, not a threat?

What was the Evaria Family? It should be known that the change of power was only a matter of time. Any family could replace the Evaria Family’s position because they had gotten it wrong. They were just one of the many carriers of power, not power itself.

However, Earl of Marlowe was indeed an old crook in politics. After seeing that I was angry, he immediately retracted his probing and respectfully said, “What are you saying? This is just a little complaint from an old man like me. I don’t have any complaints about you.”

I waved my hand to signal him to stop his useless flattery and said bluntly, “In short, I can’t let the people in the dungeon go. But you can rest assured that I don’t have a hobby of killing people for fun. If they are innocent, I will never let them suffer injustice because of my selfishness.

“On the contrary, even if they had little to do with last night’s attack, I would not tolerate anyone. As for the Evaria Family, don’t worry. I’ll only work on this issue and won’t vent my anger on anyone else.”

With my resolute and decisive declaration, no matter how much Earl of Marlowe wanted to say, he could only keep it in. He was silent for a few seconds and then sighed tiredly, saying, “You’ve surprised me, Your Highness. I apologize for my underestimation of you before.”

“Young people always receive all kinds of contemptuous looks. Your attitude is nothing. I don’t care.” I said arrogantly, “I accept your apology and understand your motives. After all, we’re all serving all werewolves to make us better people, right?”

Earl of Marlowe nodded silently. He did not stay any longer and immediately left.

After he left, I asked Dorothy to inform the Intelligence Department to increase the surveillance on the Evaria Family and record any news of their private meetings with the Council of Elders and unknown people.

Then, I informed Benson, who was far away on the mobile patrol, and got him to secretly lead a small team to each pack to investigate the officers and merchants who belonged to the Evaria Family, their in-laws, and their friendly clans. I wanted to see if they had any contact with the wanderers suspected to be from the Azazel faction.

Earl of Marlowe’s performance was flawless, but politicians were excellent actors. I couldn’t believe his sincerity because he was not willing to give me that kind of thing.