Joanna had long hair now. She had delicate facial features and a gentle temperament. She and Harry were really a perfect match.
Grinning from ear to ear, Harry said, “Joanna and I have been looking for you! It turned out you were hiding here, at the very front.”
“It’s too crowded over there,” I complained. I instinctively kept my distance from them both, worried that we’d look too familiar with each other. After all, I should have only just arrived here. Even if I made some new friends, we couldn’t act as though we had known each other for years.
Joanna seemed to have understood what I was up to, so she gently pulled Harry’s arm and whispered, “Stop being so enthusiastic. There are too many people here.”
Upon hearing this, Harry immediately stopped smiling and nodded at me seriously. Then he stood beside Joanna and fell silent.
Joanna gently smiled at me and then turned to focus on the stage.
Rufus’ speech was wonderful. Listening to his pleasant voice, I felt like my thoughts began to wander again. I kept staring at Rufus unblinkingly. Only at this time could I let my guard down.
I was lost in my own thoughts when Rufus suddenly locked eyes with me from onstage.
I looked away in a hurry and felt very nervous. Did he sense me staring at him?
Crystal’s POV
I felt relieved when Rufus’ gaze finally shifted elsewhere.
After the speech, the parade resumed, with different phalanxes appearing one after another. This familiar scene brought back memories of the past. Harry had been right there with me at that time. He was high-spirited, swearing to be loyal to the empire. Many years had passed, and we all now had our own lives. But in truth, we never changed. We would always remember our vows-it was for the people, for the empire, and for peace.
Lost in thought, Joanna took my hand and led me forward, saying, “You can have a better view here.”
I nodded and thanked her.
The crowd was massive. Harry held Joanna’s hand tightly, afraid she would get lost. Looking at their happy faces, I felt joy from the bottom of my heart. Harry and Joanna were both affectionate and loyal people. Whether for love or friendship, they were always sincere.
I stood quietly behind them and watched the grand parade. Suddenly, I realized how much I had gained from this trip to the imperial capital. The best part was that I could see the people I wanted to visit and know that they were happy.
The parade lasted for another hour before it came to an end. The past few years of Rufus’ leadership were clearly the most productive of his life. There was widespread adulation for the king among both the nobility and commoners alike.
For this, I was also proud of Rufus. He deserved all the praise.
Rufus then returned to the podium to announce the closing of the ceremony. It was almost noon, and nearly four hours had passed since I left the palace. The potion and the special perfume used to mask my scent could wear off at any moment now. I couldn’t wait to go back. Staying outside any longer would increase the risk of exposure.
I reached for my perfume bottle and sprayed a few spritzes on my wrist. It wasn’t as effective as the magic potion, but it would do the trick as long as Rufus didn’t get too close.
Joanna looked at me for a moment before handing me her sachet. “There are jasmines in it, which can cover your scent.”
“Thank you. ” I took it and held the sachet in my hand. At that point, I felt relieved and waited for the procession to end.
Rufus’ epilogue was about to end. Just when everyone thought they were going to leave, Rufus abruptly shifted the conversation by highlighting the many accomplishments of each Alpha.
I had a bad feeling. Sure enough, Rufus mentioned me soon.
“You’ve all seen Alpha Crystal of the Border Pack before, have you? Well, you’re lucky enough to meet her today.”
After saying that, Rufus motioned with his hand, and the cameras captured me from the crowd. The next second, I was shown on the big screen-a she-wolf wearing a white metal mask, with her whole body wrapped up. In the crowd’s eyes, I probably looked very strange.
I just stood there, bewildered. Thankfully, the mask and hat I wore concealed my panic.
Rufus also praised me for my excellent abilities, my loyalty to the crown, and my love for the people. His tone was flat. Although he was praising me, it sounded insincere.
Everyone had their eyes on me. Harry stared at me in surprise and muttered to me in a low voice, “Why do I feel that the king is against you?”
I agreed with him. Rufus was obviously targeting me.
It seemed that he was trying to force me to face the public. I didn’t dare to nod to Harry, so I forced a smile. With my head held high, I looked directly into Rufus’ piercing eyes and proclaimed, “It is my duty to serve the empire.”
Rufus’ POV
Seeing the panicked she-wolf on the big screen, I felt satisfied. Even though she was wearing a mask, her panic was obvious. I smiled, looking forward to her next reaction.
This she-wolf seemed to have been trying to blend in with the crowd. On the surface, she pledged her loyalty to me, but I knew that she was hiding something. After all, she had kept to herself at the border for so many years. Perhaps she was plotting against me in secret. Otherwise, why was she so afraid of being exposed?
Just now, I keenly sensed a burning stare. As soon as I turned my head, I met the intent gaze of this she-wolf. She was probably up to no good.
I could just tell that Crystal wasn’t simple. She had many secrets, and I was determined to expose them all.
I refused to let her hide in the shadows. If I exposed her now, she wouldn’t be able to scheme against me.
I’d made up my mind to find an excuse to keep her in the imperial capital before I found out what she was hiding. It had taken a great deal of effort to summon her to the capital in the first place. How could I just let her go so easily? Letting the tiger out of her cage was just stupid.
Thinking of this, I praised the she-wolf again. She seemed to be very embarrassed. Harry was close to her, and he whispered something to her which made the she-wolf look up at me. The embarrassment and anger in her eyes were obvious. It seemed that she was smart enough to see that I deliberately targeted her.
I sneered inwardly. It was really strange. When did Harry become friends with this she-wolf? Even his mate, Joanna, was standing close to her, as though they had known her for a long time…
As far as I knew, although Harry was extroverted and easygoing, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was proud and discreet in nature, and he wouldn’t make friends with just anybody. As for Joanna, she was always cold to pretty much just everyone. It was rare for her to show intimacy with a person she just met.
The more I thought about it, the more intrigued I felt. I suddenly realized that it wasn’t that bad to have some surprises in a peaceful life.
Smiling, I gestured at the masked she-wolf and invited her onstage. “Alpha Crystal, please come here and share your experience in managing the pack with us.”
The crowd burst into applause. Curious, they all looked at Crystal and whispered to each other.
Over the past five years, this was the first time that the Alpha of the border pack had appeared in such a public place. It was only natural everyone was very curious about her.
Crystal didn’t move, as though she didn’t want to come up. She was likely cursing me in her heart now.
Although I only met her recently, I knew her well already. She was stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat. She was aggressive and never took royal power seriously. She was more unbridled than a wild cat in the woods. She needed someone to stomp on her neck to be obedient.
“Alpha Crystal, did you hear me? Please come onstage when you’re ready,” I said to the she-wolf patiently.
Only then did the she-wolf drag herself onstage.
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