LYDIA'S POV

　　Murmurs of disagreement rose around me, the nobles obviously mocking me for creating a scene during the meeting. But I had decided: if they couldn't accept me as part of this meeting, then there would be no meeting. I would not let them decide the fate of this kingdom without me, especially when I had earned every right to be here. I had the royal blood, I was victorious during my assessments, and after what they had done to my family, they wouldn't decide anything without me. That was final.

　　"Let me... go. You can't do this. This is against the royal laws. You are hurting a noble as a commoner. Remember, you have not acquired the throne yet," Jason reminded me as I squeezed his throat. There was a part of me, the Lycan part, that found satisfaction in his discomfort, more than I had originally intended.

　　I didn't realize my Lycan form had such a sadistic personality.

　　"According to the royal law, I am to be a part of every crucial meeting and decision regarding the kingdom as the royal heir. But you forgot that so easily," I mocked, tightening my grip before finally throwing him away from me.

　　Jason stumbled and fell, gasping for breath. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to me, the weight of my words sinking in.

　　"You are out of line, Lydia!" one of the older nobles barked. "This behavior is unbecoming of a future queen."

　　"Unbecoming?" I shot back, my voice cold. "What is unbecoming is you all conspiring behind closed doors, trying to sideline me. I have fought for this position. I have earned it. And I will not be ignored or disrespected."

　　Unbecoming because I threaten your positions as men, or is it because your patriarchal mindset is unable to accept that a woman can actually lead a pack or a kingdom?" I questioned, my voice steady and filled with contempt.

　　They were speechless for a moment until Jason stood up, his face red with anger. "It is because you are unable to lead! See what you did just now? You interrupted a meeting by throwing a tantrum because your chair was removed."

　　"Exactly!" I shot back. "And why was it removed? In which royal book of laws is it mentioned that a nobody, a newbie noble, has the right to remove the chair in a national affair meeting of a royal heir?"

　　My question silenced him, but just then, many others stood up, trying to raise their voices to silence me, knowing I was right and they were wrong.

　　"You need to learn your place, Lydia!" one of the elders shouted.

　　"No, it's you who need to learn," I retorted. "Learn that times are changing, and so is this kingdom. You can't silence me or push me aside. I have earned my place here, and I will not back down."

　　The room erupted into chaos, with several nobles shouting over one another. Evan stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. "Lydia speaks the truth. The laws are clear. As the royal heir, she has every right to be here and to be heard. Anyone who disputes that is challenging the very foundation of our laws."

　　Brandon added, his voice calm but firm, "We need to focus on what truly matters: the well-being of our kingdom. Petty power struggles and outdated traditions have no place here."

　　"But it's an insult to us and our status as an exclusive and important part of this kingdom," Jason's uncle shouted, his voice ringing with indignation. "By insulting Jason and throwing him like that, you are insulting all of us."

　　I met his glare with calm resolve. "Then you are free to leave," I said firmly. "Just because of your biased reasons, we cannot afford for you to attend this meeting. As part of the council body and the nobles, you should be unbiased in your decisions."

　　Jason and his uncle were speechless, their bluster deflating in the face of my unyielding stance. Seizing the moment, I strode confidently to Jason's chair and sat down, refusing to wait for a new chair to be placed for me. My gesture was deliberate, a statement that I would not be pushed aside or silenced.

　　The room buzzed with murmurs of discontent, but I remained unfazed. The disrespectful accusations from other nobles rolled off me like water off a duck's back. I knew that to secure my place, I had to be stubborn and steadfast.

　　One elder, his face flushed with anger, pointed a trembling finger at me. "You think you can just walk in here and take over? You're just a girl!"

　　"And yet, here I am," I replied evenly, meeting his gaze with steely determination. "I have the royal blood, I've proven myself in the assessments, and I will not back down. If any of you think you can do better, then challenge me openly. But do not undermine me with petty insults and backhanded maneuvers."

　　Despite their harsh words and my own, I knew no one could openly dare to touch me. Challenging them was my next best shot.