Chapter 61: Ch 61. Denial Again

Briella looked shocked to hear Selena’s words and what had happened to Azvia. She still hadn’t expected Selena to resort to this method—where had Selena even gotten the Fox Claw Poison, since she hadn’t asked Briella for it at all?

Vee and Vylen, who were there as well, were also taken aback; it turned out that all along, Selena had let these two foxes talk just to buy time and make them feel like they’d won on their own.

In reality, however, there was something surprising that Selena had been secretly preparing.

"Why are you just standing there?" Selena asked, raising an eyebrow, looking puzzled as she stared at Axov and Azvia, who had gone stiff with tension. "Instead of pestering me to heal you, why don’t you just heal yourselves? Aren’t you doctors, too? You must know a thing or two about poison and how to counteract it, right?"

Everyone in the room swallowed hard upon hearing Selena’s words. But none of them dared to speak, afraid of falling victim to the poison that had, at some unknown point, come under Selena’s control.

"My younger sister doesn’t know how to treat poison—her skills aren’t that advanced yet," Axov said in a voice trembling with panic. "Please, Your Majesty, please heal my sister..."

Selena smiled cynically. "Didn’t you say your sister is a senior doctor in the Fox clan and in Eldoria? Why can’t she even treat herself when she’s been poisoned? Is she a fake doctor?"

Axov knew Selena had deliberately said all that to insult them. Just because she’d been silent all this time didn’t mean she was letting them do whatever they wanted. After her resurrection and gaining the power of the Healer of Extinction, Axov also knew the Beast Queen’s personality and attitude.

She was no longer as weak as she used to be; she could act and do whatever she wanted.

Since Axov didn’t answer, Selena reached out her hand while leaning back. From beside her, Vee handed Selena a book—a book whose cover alone made Axov recognize it, causing him to widen his eyes.

"What book is that, Queen?" Vylen asked curiously, making Selena smile.

"The official records of everyone who entered the Fox Palace during the Old King’s reign," Selena said casually, flipping open one of the pages. "Everything here is very complete—there are even records of who came and went on the day before her death, on the day of her death, and several days after the Old Fox Queen’s death."

Axov raised his head in disbelief, but his face was already too pale, so he didn’t dare say anything as Selena’s gaze felt as though it wanted to peel his skin off.

"It’s clearly recorded here: two days before the Queen’s death, only a few officials came to discuss disaster relief along the coast of the Fox Clan’s territory. The very next day, the palace was quite quiet because people were busy getting to work on several projects that had already been decided upon to address the disaster."

"On the very day of the Queen’s death, the Old Fox King and the Royal Advisor, Lodere of the Besmooth family, were officially recorded as having gone out to train at the hunting grounds. The Old King and Lord Lodere were gone from noon until late afternoon, but one hour later, the Minister of Development, Axov Northern, entered the palace without an invitation or official summons."

"The reason is that his younger sister, Azvia Northern—who is already on the Old Queen’s list of personal physicians and trusted advisors—asked him to come. Of course, there’s power in being able to make sure whatever they want gets done and obtained quickly. That’s why the gates were opened for the Minister of Development, who promised he’d return as soon as he finished meeting with his sister," Selena explained at length, revealing what was in the agenda book and the official permit.

Vylen stared at Axov, who was starting to panic—which meant he really had done it! Vylen’s hands clenched into fists and his expression hardened, but he tried to restrain himself because Selena was now taking the lead.

"An eyewitness told me you gave something to your sister, Azvia, and then the two of you headed to the Old Fox Queen’s palace together. After you entered the Queen’s chamber, an hour later the King suddenly returned in a hurry and announced that he had received news of the Queen’s death."

"But no one admitted at the time who had informed the Old King; the Old King was already in a panic, and the entire Fox Palace was thrown into an uproar upon hearing the news of the Queen’s sudden death. Many details of that day went unrecorded, but one person told me he saw the Minister of Development sneak out through the back gate," said Selena, gazing at Axov, who immediately swallowed hard and shook his head rapidly.

"That’s a lie, Your Majesty... I wasn’t there that day—"

"So you’re accusing the gatekeeper, who records every arrival, of lying and filing a false report?" Selena interjected, silencing Axov.

He looked at Selena, who had raised her eyebrows nonchalantly, while Axov had clenched his fists and seemed to be holding back his emotions.

"That day, there was no one else besides the two of you in the Queen’s chamber for an hour; in fact, Azvia was the first to announce the Queen’s death. There are no records indicating that the Royal Advisor or his wife and children came to force-feed the Old Fox Queen with Fox Claw Poison."

"Furthermore, I’ve ordered the Fox’s subordinates and guards to investigate the circulation of poisons in Eldoria ever since I learned that Briella was dealing in the poison I’ve always referred to as a narcotic. There is absolutely no syndicate or evidence that ’Fox Claw Poison’ is circulating on the open market or being sold on the black market."

"How will you explain all of this, Axov Northern? Just tell me the absolute truth, because I already know the details and am deliberately giving you a chance to save your dignity at the end of your term. Perhaps this approach could lighten your sentence, and neither you nor your sister will be sentenced to death," said Selena with a meaningful smile.

Axov still shook his head stubbornly. "This is all a fabrication! It’s slander! There’s no way I could have done any of that, Your Majesty. The Queen is deliberately framing me because she wants to support that girl," Axov said haughtily, pointing at Briella, who had been unable to speak since earlier, still stunned by Selena’s actions.

"She was still very young at the time; there was absolutely no benefit for me in saving her. In fact, she committed a grave sin by poisoning the current Fox King—who is also the Old Fox King. You don’t need to accuse her, because I will also impose a severe punishment on her right after this," Selena said flatly, causing Axov to glare at her in frustration.

Damn it, why didn’t Vylen Roxy say a single word? Why was it only Selena who spoke just now?! That woman is so annoying!

"If that’s the case, why defend her anymore? She was bold enough to successfully poison both Fox Kings—even though she’s still so young, she already possesses so many skills and cunning ways to spread her poison! Of course, her father is even more formidable—that’s why we’re the ones being accused today! That’s not fair, Your Majesty...

"How can you possibly seek justice for the child of a sinful official? The fact that she was allowed to live—even though she wasn’t executed during the massacre of her family 100 years ago—should have already shown our mercy! Why are some people now defending her and seeking justice for her family?! That makes no sense!" protested Axov, this time losing control due to his overwhelming emotions and fear.

"That’s a different matter; the law and the behavior involved are also different. How can you equate the two when I know full well that you’re a minister with a high level of education," said a man’s voice that sounded closer and closer.

Selena saw the Old Fox King, or Roxyus Verfox, walking weakly, flanked by Kav and Kev. It had taken them quite a while to arrive, but Selena could see that the Old Fox King didn’t look all that well.

The effects of the poison left Roxyus lethargic, weak, and looking utterly exhausted. It also revealed that he was addicted and needed the drug to maintain his aggressive demeanor and composure.

"Old King, please grant my sister and me mercy! This trial makes no sense!"

As soon as Roxyus sat down in his chair, Axov rushed over to him and even grabbed his feet while prostrating himself repeatedly.

"Old King... You know me well enough—I could never do such a thing, Your Majesty. I also could never harm myself or my own position—this is a slander, and that slander is directed at me!" Axov whined, filled with fear.

However, Roxyus possessed a nature even more haughty and cruel than his son’s, which allowed Selena to clearly see how the man pushed Axov away from his feet.

Nevertheless, Axov pleaded again, terrified out of his mind, but Roxyus once more pushed the man away from his feet.

"Honestly, I have no intention of defending a murderer. You’d better confess your actions immediately before my daughter-in-law gets even more upset. If she gets angry, she’ll kill you right on the spot."