Chapter 296

296 Gossips

Selma Payne’s POV:

I usually didn’t care about people gossiping about me behind my back. For one, I was too busy to deal with these minor details. Secondly, not everyone was ‘qualified’ to talk to me.

It was a bit impolite to say this, but the fact was that some young people who were self-aware of their status didn’t even have the right to take the initiative to talk to me if we were to get serious. Such people were like Tom, Dick, and Harry to me. Who would care about them?

To make me look up, even if not a demon on the level of Azazel, it should be a famous villain like Adele, who could do something bad.

That was why I was happy to have a reputation for being tolerant and not being calculative about those petty people who didn’t deserve my attention.

However, being tolerant didn’t mean that I was deaf. The lounge was only so big, and it would be too impudent to say such things in front of everyone.

Sighing helplessly internally, I put on a cold expression and gestured for Jordin to invite the boy behind the screen who was ‘imagining’ my teenage love history over.

To my surprise, this boy looked quite familiar.

“What’s your name?”

The boy bowed stiffly and said, “Your Highness, my name is Casti Woof Anka.”

I was even more familiar with this name now. I asked, “Who is the former Elder Eric Woof Anka to you? ”

“He is my grandfather, Your Majesty.”

“I see. No wonder.”

No wonder I thought he looked familiar. He was the grandson of an old acquaintance.

Ever since Elder Eric was forced to ‘recuperate’ at home by my father, the once arrogant Woof Anka family had learned to tuck their tails between their legs. They seemed to have just realized that even though their family had more than two hundred years of history and had produced countless elders, they could not surpass the royal power and summon the wind and rain. They finally understood the principle that ‘a tall tree attracts the wind, and one should retreat at the peak of one’s strength’.

In the face of the well-behaved Woof Anka family, my father also revealed his intention to reconcile. After all, even if this family had no credit, they had worked hard. Arranging for Casti Woof Anka to join my concierge team was a political signal.

It was just that the genes of this family were not very good. The grandfather in power was arrogant, and the grandson sent out to make peace was also brainless.

Looking at the cold sweat on Casti’s forehead, I coldly asked, “What were you talking about with your companion just now? Can you tell me about it?”

I could see how flustered Casti had become. He had always been arrogant and despotic because of his family’s influence. It was his bad luck that he had run into me today.

“It’s just... it’s just a joke, Your Highness. It’s a complete waste of your time to hear it.”

“I’ll decide whether it’s a waste of time.” I waved my hand and stared into his fear-filled eyes. “Now, I want to know what you just said.”

Casti was already unable to suppress his panic. As long as he wasn’t an idiot, he would understand what I meant and would be able to predict the ending that would befall him.

Seeing that he didn’t say anything, I motioned for Jordin to invite the other boys and girls who were pretending to be invisible behind the screen over.

The lounge was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone knew that there was no way to settle this peacefully. No one wanted to be involved in this mess, and they wanted to become mute immediately.

The trembling children were ‘invited’ by Jordin to face me. They and Casti didn’t look very old, about fourteen or fifteen years old. They were in their foolish and self-righteous puberty.

I’d been through this stage before, so I knew how much of a jerk a child of this age could be. Being a b*stard didn’t always mean that they were evil, but more of a combination of stupidity, entitlement, and self-righteousness.

“Tell me, what were you guys talking about just now? You were smiling so cheekily.” I was like a dean who had caught a student making a mistake, leisurely waiting for the students to walk into the trap.

No one answered me. No one dared to answer me.

Silence was always helpful in the face of interrogation. I saw a few of the children pouting, thinking they were hiding it as if they were certain I would easily let go of their mistakes like their elders.

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t let them have their way. These people dared to slander me, which meant their families didn’t respect me much. That was why these children dared to be so presumptuous with the protection of their influence. I understood that I could only get some people’s support at a time, but those who take advantage of others would not have my mercy.

“Looks like you are not willing to tell me.” Facing the silent crowd, I pretended to be sad. “What a pity. So you guys don’t want to be friends with me because you think I’m older than you all, and there’s a generation gap?

“Those who know me know I’m never a person who forces others. Since you don’t want to get close to me, don’t worry. I won’t force you to do something you don’t like.”

I waved at Jordin and said, “My dear Countess, would you be so kind as to send these lovely children away on my behalf? There are too many people here today. Please send them back to their parents in person to avoid any accidents so their family members won’t worry.”

Jordin nodded in agreement and said to the confused children rather arrogantly, “Everyone, please follow me.”