Chapter 78 Gunshot
Melissa stood among the council, her face contorting into a small smile as she stood still facing the bunch of cameras aimed at them. She tried controlling herself as the photographers took several photos. She was fed up with the whole ceremony. It was already a heck of trouble traveling from the Capital to Moonbeam town. She was already so tired.
Richard didn't say anything much as he stood behind her all the time, she glanced back at him with a smile. He didn't even act like he could see her. She knew he was focusing his entire senses, so that nothing would surprise him. But Melissa couldn't help but steal glances from time to time because he looked dashing in his outfit.
Normally, Melissa didn't think much of Richard's appearance, he was attractive, in fact very attractive but that wasn't what drew her to him. Today, though, she was really into how he looked, in his suit and lovely glasses. His hair had been blended and shaved and also jelled. The make-up man did overdo them.
She also couldn't deny she looked pretty good in the royal attire, it was a long fitted gown that had a split on one side to her thigh. A series of pretty stones ornamented its design and on her head was an actual tiara. It was just a crown to signify she was queen. It wasn't their real crown. That wouldn't be given to her until she was officially crowned.
"Good evening," she greeted one of the dignitaries from the Vance pack. A series of journalists flooded the area, taking pictures as they shook hands. She discovered every gesture she made was newsworthy, this sickened Melissa to the gut.
When she was getting ready for this meeting, she hadn't thought much of it, but now when she saw the scale, she almost wanted to run back home.
"Good evening your ladyship\]," the dignitary said. "I am Counselor Beckman, I am here with our humble ambassador," he pointed towards the man that was behind him. "Dr. Dearmond," he said with a smile.
"A pleasure, " she said, as she shook both their hands. She made a note not to introduce herself, she was the Luna, sure they knew who she was.
"What do you think, the weather is quite clear today, a good way for a sensitive meeting like this to go," Mr. Dearmond said.
Melissa wasn't necessarily interested in any chit-chat with any of them, so she nodded a reply to his comment. "You are right," she said with a fake chuckle. "Let me introduce you to my main council team. She is Prof. Beatrice and Dr. Greyhound," she added the titles on purpose, so they know she was surrounded by smart folks.
The thing was, Melissa realized that she couldn't take all the council members and she was supposed to have two of her personal council members and three of the regional heads join up. So she’d selected Greyhound and Beatrice and from the Regional elders she chose, The Infernal, Arabella, and Vinael Dunham.
The Infernal had been surprised she'd chosen him and he'd even asked twice over the phone. The thing was Melissa in a way was starting to feel at ease with him. He might not agree with her much and his ways are archaic and might have also been the one who wanted to kill Beatrice, but still, she felt it was good to always have someone like that in a team. Someone who would always see her mistakes and point them out. The other person who followed her was her Beta, Avalors.
"Your majesty," an attendant called to her. "The stage is set," she said.
Melissa nodded and followed her up to a small area with a small tent and an architecture podium placed there. She was going to address the crowd before the meeting began in secret.
She glanced at the delegate from Vance's pack and smiled, walking up to the tent as she waved and the entire crowd went crazy with claps. She almost asked them if they meant the clap. None of them knew her and they were clapping, like she was some big celeb.
"Good evening, my people," she said. "We have guests from a different kingdom, it's been almost ages since we had visitors," she said. "Welcome, Dr. Dearmond and his delegates, hope you do not find Dunhamna a little too hot?" she said with a smile.
Then she began her real speech. "Many of you do not know me, many of you are not used to having someone as young as me addressing you. Or someone as beautiful," she announced and the crowd laughed. "Yes, I know the weight ruling brings and I have given my all for you guys, and I will continue doing that," she smiled.
"As we welcome our friends from afar, let us make sure we make the kingdom a comfortable place for them to stay and…" she paused as she watched Richard leave from behind her.
She heard him say. "There is a shooter somewhere, I can hear the clicks of their gun, but I don't know where they are," he rushed, his emotions fluctuating, he was between nervous and disturbed.
Melissa smiled and continued her speech. She also had a comm in her ear and she heard all that Richard was saying.
"We should also put lots of good food in their bellies. My father used to say, a man's mood is determined by his stomach." She said.
She ranted on and on about many things but all her attention was on Richard. He was tracing the shooter, he could now affirm the gun was a sniper weapon.
"Stay calm, Melissa," he said, trying to put her at ease. Melissa couldn't say anything so he rushed forward.
"I got him," Richard said, running at a very high speed. Before Melissa could even process the information, a loud bang rang across the entire area