514 Times Have Changed
Selma Payne’s POV:
Aldrich and my time alone lasted for a day. The next day, I had no choice but to leave the land of gentleness and return to being that all-conquering princess.
I was very reluctant when I left, but Aldrich didn’t ask me to stay. Although his eyes told me not to leave, he still understood my responsibility and gently watched me return to the surface.
After being stationed in the Spring Rain Pack for a long time, even if the army followed the palace’s orders from the top to the bottom, Aldrich’s inexplicable departure and the empty position of the commander still stirred up some speculations.
This wasn’t a big deal, and it was far from uncontrollable. However, being sick for a long time would reduce a lot of trouble in the future if we could suppress the bad signs early.
Since Aldrich had already woken up, the arrangements for this army should be on the agenda. They could not evacuate, as this was an essential force to defend the border and the Spring Rain Pack.
After discussing it with my father, we believed we could let Aldrich ‘successfully complete the secret mission’ after he had recovered and then let him ‘recuperate from his injuries’. This way, the bad rumors circulating in the army would gradually dissipate.
Secondly, it was about the new commander of the army. Previously, it had always been under the direct jurisdiction of the royal family. On the one hand, it was because of the power struggle over the Lycan pack. To a certain extent, controlling this powerful military force was a deterrent to the fence-sitters.
On the other hand, the Spring Rain Pack’s geographical location was special and involved many things. With Aldrich hiding here, I couldn’t feel at ease to hand over the military power – not even to someone I trusted.
Now that the difficulties in the way ahead were solved, this huge military camp could finally welcome a wise and brave new leader.
The Spring Rain Pack had always been highly efficient, even in the suburban military camp. The soldiers had already built a strong and towering camp orderly, set up precise and pervasive fortifications, and all the conditions a military camp should have.
As a princess, I went to the camp to inspect it. The soldiers were very happy. Any novel event in the boring military life could make them talk about it for a long time. The military officers were even more astute. For me to suddenly come and inspect them at such an ordinary time, they started to guess the meaning of this trip secretly.
In addition, I went to inspect the work of the Spring Rain Pack as usual. When the forest grew bigger, it would attract more birds and beasts. The development of the Spring Rain Pack was not smooth, and there were many discordant incidents during the period.
However, not every spokesperson who stood out from the people would always think for the people — just like all the political organizations in the world, corruption and power play finally happened in the autonomous committee of the Spring Rain Pack.
This did not mean these corrupt officials were not loyal to me or the Spring Rain Pack, but loyalty and betrayal did not conflict.
Because of that, Jordin often complained to me in private. This girl, who had unknowingly been polished from a raw stone to a glittering gem, would occasionally feel heartache for the transformation of her like-minded partner.
“Back then, the Spring Rain Pack was just starting out. He was so hot-blooded, and Wania liked him very much.” Jordin was a little drunk. “He even proposed to Kira; the wedding was set for next summer!
“So, when the prosecutor presented the evidence, everyone’s first reaction was disbelief. Ten million dollars. He had embezzled so much after only being the project leader of a medical apartment project for three months! Only god knows that before everything was exposed, we thought he was unwilling to take up an official position because he was focused on constructing the Spring Rain Pack. Now, it seems the grassroots can only give him more ways to corrupt!”
“Kira was heartbroken and knew he was not a good man. After confessing to his crimes, he canceled the engagement with Kira. Mate relationships, in this era where myths and legends are gradually fading, how romantic was it to find one’s chosen one? Unfortunately, they’re not fated to be together!”
I remembered Kira, the girl with the same name as Emma, Jordin’s assistant.
The fall of her business partner seemed to have hit Jordin hard. She asked me in confusion, “Is everything going to change? The ambitious young man who once vowed to contribute everything to the Spring Rain Pack quickly fell under the corruption of money in a few years. He forgot his ideals and mutated into a parasite on the Spring Rain Pack.”
I clinked glasses with her and consoled her, “The past can’t be changed, who can say for sure what will happen in the future? Life’s journey has always been lonely, and it is a very lucky thing to find a lover and a confidant. But I don’t think we can always pin our hopes on others because everyone is changing. You can see that others are changing, and others can see that you are changing.”
“Everything will change...” Jordin stared in a daze at the ice in the glass and suddenly asked, “What about you? Selma, will you change?”
I was stunned momentarily before I laughed and sighed. “I can’t escape the ravages of time either. However, I think that no matter how much I change, there will always be a small place in my heart left for the past – that submissive little girl from the small town. She was the beginning of everything.”
