Free Web NovelChapter 114: Chapter 114: Missing Council Members
Estelle’s POV
I walked straight to where Benedict was seated, standing there as I looked down at him. He shivered slightly, removing his legs from the table as I approached.
The silence in the room was thick. Benedict’s green eyes darted nervously between me and the other council members. His earlier smugness had evaporated completely under my steady gaze.
“That’s my seat,” I said quietly.
Benedict’s face flushed red. He knew exactly what I meant. The head of the table wasn’t his place anymore, no matter how much he wanted it to be.
He awkwardly straightened in the chair, his hands gripping the armrests. For a moment, I thought he might actually refuse to move. The defiance flickered in his eyes briefly before my cold stare crushed it.
Finally, Benedict stood up abruptly. He made a show of patting the seat clean, as if I were some honored guest rather than his rightful superior. With an exaggerated gesture, he swept his arm toward the chair.
“Please,” he said with fake politeness.
I moved to the chair but didn’t sit. Instead, I pushed it out of the way and remained standing. The position gave me a clear view of everyone in the room and let them know I meant business.
“Good morning, everyone,” I said, my voice carrying easily through the chamber.
My eyes swept across each face. Killian gave me a subtle nod of support from his corner. Walter Frank looked uncomfortable but resigned. Ernest Jones had his arms crossed, clearly preparing for a fight.
Three empty chairs glared back at me. This was the message they were trying to send. They didn’t support me, but at the same time, they couldn’t outright lie and deny that I had brought results and completed their tasks ahead of time. So, instead of showing up to participate in a fruitless fight, they had probably decided to not show up at all.
Or... I met Killian’s eyes across the room. He shook his head.
I let out a cold, knowing laugh that made Benedict flinch.
“Interesting turnout,” I commented.
Ernest cleared his throat importantly. “Actually, Luna Estelle, this meeting has been cancelled.”
He stood up, straightening his jacket like he was delivering some grand proclamation.
“We’re missing half the council members,” Ernest continued. “There’s no point in proceeding without proper representation. This meeting regarding your succession can be delayed until we have better attendance.”
As he spoke, his gaze was shifty. He refused eye contact.
Before I could respond, Caleb slammed his palm against the table. The sharp crack echoed through the chamber.
“There’s nothing to discuss about succession,” Caleb said firmly. “Alpha James Harper himself declared Estelle would be Luna of the Blackmoon Pack. Her authority isn’t up for debate.”
Ernest’s face reddened. “The pack requires stability. If the people aren’t supportive, then the previous Alpha’s wishes don’t carry much weight. It’s about what the pack needs.” He gestured toward the empty chairs. “The absent council members speak volumes.”
I stepped closer to the table, placing my hands flat on its surface.
“Are you saying that as long as the council members show up today, then everyone present would be in my support?” I asked.
Ernest sputtered. “That’s not what I meant—”
“But that’s what you implied,” I cut him off smoothly. “If absent members show opposition, then present members show support.”
Killian nodded from his corner. “She’s right, Ernest.”
Ernest’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. He’d backed himself into a corner with his own argument.
“I suppose... yes, that would be the implication,” he said reluctantly.
I could see the calculation in his eyes. He was probably thinking the missing members would never show up anyway, so agreeing to this logic seemed safe.
Just then, a firm knock echoed through the chamber.
I smiled.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Come in,” I called out. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Noah opened the door from outside, and three figures filed into the room. The missing council members had arrived, looking slightly out of breath.
Ernest’s face went completely pale. His confident smirk crumbled as he realized his trap had just snapped shut on himself.
Benedict lost his relaxed posture entirely. He gripped the back of his new chair, his knuckles white with tension. The lazy grin that he wore dropped immediately when he realized that the missing council members were here.
The three council members took their seats without a word. Each of them nodded at me in acknowledgment before taking their seats.
“Our apologies, Luna Estelle,” one of the council members, Winona, said. She glared hotly at Ernest before adjusting herself on the chair. “We weren’t informed of this meeting.”
“Please pardon our delay,” another council member, Geoffrey, said. Likewise, he didn’t seem too pleased with Ernest.
Ernest sat down heavily, looking like he’d swallowed something sour.
I smiled and nodded. It was like I had guessed. I wasn’t too sure of it yet, but Killian’s expression told me everything I needed to know. Benedict and Ernest probably kept the meeting from everyone. My guess was that Walter had chanced upon the meeting, and Ernest probably had no choice but to let him join.
However, to Ernest’s horror, it wasn’t just the three missing council members who had arrived.
The leaders of the various divisions in Blackmoon were gathered here as well, including Juliet and Edmund. I spotted many familiar faces—even Harold and Nelson, the previous leaders of the agricultural division, were present. There were now so many people present that several younger folk had to stand.
“Well,” I said, looking around the now-full room. My voice carried a note of satisfaction that I didn’t bother to hide.
The power dynamic had shifted completely in the span of thirty seconds. Benedict was no longer lounging at the head of the table. Ernest’s attempt to undermine my authority had backfired spectacularly. The absent council members were present and accounted for.
By Ernest’s own logic, this meant the entire council supported my leadership.
I straightened up with a confident smile.
“Now that everyone is here,” I said, letting my gaze linger on Ernest’s pale face before moving to Benedict’s tense form, “let’s begin, shall we?”
