The reason the birds were startled was not just because of the gasp, but the burst of mental strength which accompanied it. Sienna had not thought to strike anything, but a tree fell to the ground, causing the ground to vibrate.

"Grandfather, not funny." She shouted.

The old man laughed none the less. Loudly at that.

What neither of them realized was that on the next cliff, nestled in the branches of a towering birch wood tree, the queen and king were watching.

The royal couple sat side by side on a large branch, cloaked in a shimmering shield of mental strength projected by six guards. The shielding was so precise that not even grandpa Corven’s sharp senses could detect them. The queen leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as Sienna celebrated the fall of the tree.

"Impossible," she whispered. "When Lenard summoned us, I thought he was joking. She has no beast gene. And yet she is training in thought strike!!"

The king’s lips curved into a faint smile. "My friend is a sly fox that is keeping more interesting secrets from me. And the old man, on his own, he has blocked out all sound so we cannot hear what they are talking about. That is not a skill someone with ’A’ level mental strength can muster. Paris Rocland’s family has more secrets than the royal family. I don’t like it. I feel like I am losing a competition."

The queen arched a brow. "Is that all that is important to you?"

The king chuckled softly. "Yes. I lose to Elias in coolness, I cannot lose to him in any other department. You have seen his wife’s tongue. She mocks princesses, outwits nobles, frames enemies, tames bees, beats people with pans, offends beast men every time she opens her mouth. It’s like a rogue fox married a villainous human and they are competing with us for most awesome couple in my own empire. Now their family wants to win ours in terms of secrets. They were born to be our rivals."

Serenya almost kicked her husband out of the tree.

The king yawned. "She is not an ordinary human, no wonder she is arrogant. If arrogance were a bloodline, she would be competing with Elias for the position of heir."

The queen stifled a laugh, covering her mouth. "Careful, husband. If Elias hears you, he will demand compensation for some kind of mental blow that has been inflicted on him."

The king shuddered. Elias was a petty fox. "By the way, I forgot to ask why you want her to take office. She is human Serenya."

The queen tapped her knuckles on his head. "She took one stroll around a school and a rebel sympathizer revealed himself. Who knows who else Paris told about her and her brother? If she is in a position of power, backed by the royal family, do you think those people in hiding will not be tempted to reach out to her?"

The king leaned back against the branch, his voice low. "As expected of my wife, you have thought of everything."

The queen’s gaze softened. "I like Sienna. I will do my best to protect her in the dark. But, I like this kingdom more. As the queen, I have to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety and stability of our people. Besides, she handled that matter of the woman with the broken tail well. I think she is ready for the office which legally and politically belongs to her."

The king watched another stone shatter. "Well, at least she has mental strength, so, her humanity will not be used against her."

Meanwhile, Sienna and grandpa Corven got ready to leave. He changed into a falcon, and flew her to the sea shore. She bought some fish and they walked back home side by side, talking about the history of the kingdom. Just as they reached the gate, a figure rose from the bench nearby.

Her mother-in-law, Lady Cadelaria, straightened her pink beach dress with deliberate slowness, eyes gleaming like a hawk spotting prey. "Sienna," she said, voice dripping with frost. "I have been waiting for you."

Sienna sighed. "Of course you have. You are always looking for a way to make my life more miserable than usual. What is it that you want now?"

Lady Cadelaria ignored the tone. "Are you aware that that the queen wants me to hand over the office of women and child affairs of the fox tribe to you? To you! To a human! Do you expect me to believe that she came to this decision without your chubby tongue whispering in her ear?"

Grandpa Corven was about to defend her, but Sienna stopped him.

She blinked, then laughed. "Me? Whispering in the queen’s ear on such important matters? Lady Cadelaria, the queen has never raised such a thing with me. When we are together, we only discuss irrelevant and personal matters. If I had the kind of influence you imagine I did, I would have already outlawed at least ten laws of the fox tribe and permanently banned you from this city like an unwanted pest."

Her grandfather coughed, trying not to laugh at Lady Cadelaria’s darkened face. "Do not mock me. That office is mine. I have served for over three decades and I have served well. And now, suddenly, the queen wants to hand over to you--to a human woman with no beast gene, no proper background. Clearly, you schemed."

Sienna crossed her arms. "Schemed? I have been busy recovering from my injuries. When I met the queen, she escorted us on a tour around Glory Academy. Your husband was there and he can verify that I was too busy trying not to start a scandal and hoping that my daughter would unlearn the bad things she learned from you. I was also trying to make sure that the queen was not harmed in our company. If that counts as scheming, then yes, I am guilty."

Lady Cadelaria’s voice rose. "You think this is a joke? That office controls the welfare of mothers, the discipline of fox beast women, the care for our cubs, justice for them. And you--chubby charms--are unfit to wield it."

Sienna’s eyes narrowed. "Ah, there it is. The nickname. You know Lady Cadelaria, if insults were currency, you would be the richest beast woman alive. Sometimes I wonder if you call me that because you are jealous that I can be this fat, cute and lovable while you are slim and bitter."

Grandpa Corven coughed again, hiding his laughter.

Her mother-in-law’s nostrils stretched. "Go to the queen and tell her that you don’t want the position. Right now. I am commanding you."