The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 162: King Ryken's Scheme

Omniscient POV:

As Princess Margaret's birthday banquet came to an end, news of the event spread like ravens taking flights, quickly through the upper circles of the capital.

The noble Omega ladies only wanted to gossip. They chatted about how Cindy looked prettier than everyone else, how her sharp words made the powerful Princess Margaret look bad and the Queen's shocking announcement.

But for the alpha men who held real power, they smelled a massive shift in the political world.

In the capital, inside a hidden private club, smoke filled the air.

Several high-ranking nobles gathered together, the glow of their cigars flickering on and off.

"Prince Adam is going to form a contract with Cindy. It's basically a done deal now." An older count blew out a puff of smoke, looking serious. "King Ryken is playing a deep game."

"Why would Adam accept this? Cindy was already marked by another male wolf. How can a woman like that become our queen?" another noble complained.

"Don't look down on her," another marquis said as he tapped the table. "Don't forget, Cindy isn't just the daughter of the former Duke of Silverpeak. She's also a student from that place."

When he mentioned that place, the air in the room seemed to freeze for a second.

It was that academy.

It was a mysterious school located in the far north of the kingdom, built deep inside the frozen ground.

Though it was called an academy, in truth it was a terrifying force that existed outside royal authority.

"Cindy's senior brother is Oliver. He's very famous among both the werewolves and the vampires," the marquis said in a low voice. "And the Dean of the Academy, Lord Dross is from a side branch of the royal bloodline. He's a wandering Ryken who went into exile after he lost the fight for the throne to the previous King."

In this werewolf kingdom, those who lost the fight for the throne usually ended up dead.

But Dross not only lived, he also built a school that looked like a fortress on the border. He took in many gifted outcasts and monsters.

For many years, the royal court and the academy had maintained a delicate balance, staying out of each other's affairs.

The royal court even allowed graduates from the Academy to join them and work for the kingdom.

"Now, King Ryken is letting his heir marry the favorite student of the Academy's Dean." The earl narrowed his eyes, a sharp light shining in them. "Is he sending a peace signal to Dross? Or does he want to use the academy's power to do things that he can't do openly?"

At that thought, a chill ran down everyone's backs.

If that was the case, then Cindy being marked and then dumped by James meant nothing. Next to such huge political benefits, her past wasn't even worth a speck of dust.

"It seems there'll be a huge change," the marquis said as he stubbed out his cigar. "From now on, when you see this Duchess of Silverpeak, behave yourself. Behind her stand two great beasts."