The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171 Turning Into Something Bigger

Princess Margaret’s POV:

Ryken’s gaze made my heart stutter.

It was the look of an Alpha king, sharp and heavy with judgment and pressure.

But I could not back down.

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“She said…” I clenched my teeth. There were no outsiders here, so I might as well go all in. “She said I urinated on Benjamin’s grave. That’s slander. That’s outright defamation. I’m a princess of the royal family. How could I possibly do something so vulgar? She is smearing me and challenging the bottom line of the royal family.”

I turned to Mother and cried even louder. “Mother, you know me. I may have a temper, but I was raised with royal discipline. How could I do something like that? That Cindy woman relies on a bit of military merit and on Adam favoring her, and she thinks she can do whatever she wants. If she dares to slander me today, tomorrow she will dare to walk all over you.”

“Oh?”

Mother set down her cup. Her eyes were cloudy with age, yet sharp enough to pierce straight through me.

“Margaret,” she said softly, and it made my scalp prickle. “Did you really … never do it?”

My heart leapt violently.

“No!” I shrieked in denial. “Absolutely not. Who saw it? That old gravekeeper died long ago. There’s no proof. That’s exactly why Cindy dares to make things up.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Sure enough, Ryken let out a short laugh.

“Margaret,” he said as he leaned forward, his hands clasped on his knees. “If you’re so certain there’s no proof, why are you so nervous?”

“I … I was angry,” I argued stubbornly. “Being humiliated by someone younger like that, how could I not be furious?”

“Fine,” Ryken said, nodding. His tone suddenly turned cold and official. “Since you claim it’s defamation, then we’ll handle it as a defamation case. That’s a serious charge and it requires a full investigation.”

He turned to Morton. “Pass down my order. Have the enforcement unit thoroughly investigate the condition of General Spencer’s grave from back then. The Silverpeak Pack has recently reassembled a group of older wolves. Some of them may be related to the former gravekeeper. Also, if something like that truly happened, there would be residue left in the soil. Werewolf scent-tracking is more than capable of finding traces. While you’re at it, summon Cindy to the palace. I want you to confront each other face to

face.”

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15:16 Wed, Jan 21 M&G

Chapter 171 Turning Into Something Bigger

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“What?” I shot to my feet in terror. “You want to investigate? You want those lowly enforcement officers digging up old history? And you want Cindy brought into the palace?”

“What, Margaret, are you scared?” Ryken looked at me coldly. “If you’re innocent, this is the best chance to clear your name. If it turns out Cindy fabricated everything, I’ll strip her of her title, drive her out of the capital, and make her apologize to you.

“But,” Ryken continued, his eyes turning sharp as blades, “if it turns out to be true, my sister, that you committed such a disgraceful act at the grave of a hero of the kingdom, then even as your brother, I will not shield you. Do you dare to take that bet?”

The hall fell into deathly silence.

I heard my own heartbeat pounding in my ears like thunder.

An investigation?

Absolutely not.

Back then, I had done it purely out of spite. I had people clean up afterward and even had the gravekeeper killed. But the fact that Cindy knew meant the cleanup had not been complete.

And werewolf scent-tracking was infamous for how terrifyingly precise it was. If even a trace remained…

More importantly, once this case was officially opened, even if no hard evidence was found in the end, the rumors would explode among the public.

“Princess Margaret urinated on a hero’s grave.” If that headline ever spread publicly, I would be finished.

My already fragile reputation would be utterly destroyed.

The old noble factions that still supported me would abandon me for “insulting honor.” The military would treat me as an enemy. Even ordinary citizens would throw rotten eggs at my carriage.

I stared at Ryken’s cold, merciless face and suddenly understood.

He’d known all along-and now he was forcing my hand, betting that I wouldn’t dare let this spiral into something bigger.

15:16 Wed, Jan 21 M J