Chapter 178: The brainless daughter-in-law.

The queen spit tea out of her mouth. Which was very unladylike! Sienna on the other hand blinked, unable to respond to her daughter for a few seconds.

Honey Thunder buzzed indignantly.

Eli patted its back. "Don’t worry Thunder, I will not let that glutton eat you." He glared at his sister. "She is our friend. You don’t eat friends."

Ali frowned. "You eat cows. Aren’t they friends?"

Eli snorted. "I don’t have any cow friends."

Ali raised her hand. "I do. I know the names of all the cows great grandpa Corven brought back from hunting." She lowered her eyes, counting from her fingers, "There is Bessy, Jessa, Muimui..."

Sienna groaned. "Ali please."

The queen raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "Your daughter asks interesting questions. Perhaps she will grow into a philosopher."

Sienna muttered under her breath, "Or a menace." She put spicy rice cakes on a plate and slid it towards the queen. "We got off track because of the children. I would like to return to the office of fox beast women and children affairs. Did you tell Lady Cadelaria to give me keys?"

The queen stabbed a fork into a rice cake gently. As she replied, she nibbled on it curiously, "Yes."

"Why?"

Serenya smiled. "Because, there is a season for everything and Cadelaria simply refuses to admit that hers is over. It has been over for a long time. I suggested that she hand reigns to Cyra two years ago, and she said she would, but she did not do so. I didn’t bring it up again. But after I saw how you handled the Stykes couple issue, I realized that you are capable of handling the office yourself. You have to establish yourself Sienna."

Sienna’s mouth curled upwards. "At the cost of Cadelaria showing up everyday to fight me? I don’t know if taking her position is worth it."

The queen wiped her bottom lip. "It is worth it," she said, a little too forcefully. She had to push Sienna into that office. How else would the trap work? "You are Elias’s wife. You are the lady of the tribe. The position is yours rightfully, whether you want it or not. It is time to stop being holed up here in your cottage seven days a week. You have to go outside and handle fox business."

"I am not the biggest fan of office jobs in the crowded city." Sienna put her fork in the bowl, grimacing.

The queen tipped her head back. "Who says you must work in an office? Buy another cottage here or rent a floor or a couple of rooms in the hotel and use them as your office. The burden of the cost is on the royal family anyway. There are also office buildings near the trade market and harbor, not more than an hour away from here on foot. Don’t worry about that, I will take care of it."

Sienna smiled. "Thank you." She lowered her head, wondering what was driving the queen to make this offer. She seemed a little too determined to kick Cadelaria out and shove her in the position.

"Don’t stress yourself about the work as well." The queen added, "I will have Yaya find you the right assistant from among the many foxes that will be vying for the position. You have to be very careful with them. I am sure your mother-in-law will want to squeeze in her own people to spy on you.

The team you surround with has to be loyal to you and excellent in their work because knowing you, they will be doing 90% of the work. You will probably be here flexing your pan and playing with your bees most of the week."

Sienna nodded along, letting the queen carry the conversation. From what she could tell, the queen was determined to have her way. This was not something she could avoid.

Suddenly, Ali burped loudly, followed by a triumphant cheer. "Ten! I ate ten cakes mama!"

Sienna gave her a thumbs up.

The queen laughed outright, "Don’t forget the bowl of porridge and two buns. You have quite the adult appetite for a small cub."

Ali patted her chest and replied proudly, "I have my papa’s strength in eating."

Sienna and the queen laughed. They both wondered what Elias would say if he had been there. The fox lord’s face would probably have darkened in a deep scowl. Maybe, he would have even flung the cub away.

When the queen finally departed, relatives surged back to the table, chattering and reaching for the rest of the cakes. Sienna slumped in her chair, exhausted.

Numia leaned over, eyes bright with schemes. "So, what did you talk about? She was laughing and smiling so it must have been something good. Did you mention Corven Junior’s name a few times? He grew two inches this summer. I heard that royals have specific height and weight requirements for their partners. I think he matches them perfectly. I took some pictures when he was surfing two weeks ago with Soren. I am going to send them to you and you cans send them to the queen so that....." She fell to the ground, cut off abruptly.

Sienna covered her mouth in shock.

Grandma Byra stood over her daughter-in-law, stern look on her face. "If Elias can toss his daughter away when she is being a nuisance, I can push you to the ground when you are being one. How many times must I tell you not to pry into the affairs of the royal family or try to marry Corven into the lion tribe?"

Numia sniffled, looked aggrieved. "Mother, that hurt. Did you have to push me?"

"Yes I did." Grandma Byra said firmly, "I have tried to use my words over and over and you are not listening. I am tired Numia. I am tired of having a brainless daughter-in-law like you. Sometimes I want to pluck all your feathers off. You sneakily took pictures of your son when he was shirtless and you want Sienna to send them to the queen! Are you trying to get all of us killed by the king?"