Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby
Chapter 138: Kingdom First!

Chapter 138: Kingdom First!

After declaring the name, Baron John Constantine paused for a moment, then added, "I know Baron Chapman has declined several positions in the past. But his father was once a minister of this kingdom, and his forefathers served in various prominent capacities throughout our history. This is the time he must step up and fulfill his family’s legacy. If we hope to win the next election and restore the reputation of our party, then as co-chairman, it is his duty not to shy away. He is the most suitable candidate I can think of to lead us to victory. I formally request both the house and Baron Chapman himself to consider this proposal."

Anthony, who had been suddenly thrown into the center of attention, smiled bitterly. He had attended every session of tonight’s meetings but had not spoken a single word. It was nothing unusual for him. Anthony Chapman had always been the silent presence in party meetings. His position as co-chairman was granted not because of any political ambition but due to the weight of his family name. His ancestors had built their legacy through decades of loyal service, and Anthony inherited not just that legacy, but also an enormous fortune.

Because of his wealth and silence, he had always been well respected... neutral, uninvolved, and thus, untouchable. He had turned down multiple chances to gain political office, showing no interest in power or influence. Yet, here he was... nominated to be the next leader of the party, and potentially the next Prime Minister.

As the murmurs of agreement echoed around him, his thoughts suddenly drifted back to his strange encounter with that black clothed man a few days ago. The memory sent a chill down his spine.

That man’s cold voice echoed in his mind again:

"You don’t have to do anything. Just accept what’s being offered to you. Your party is going to nominate you as the leader. All you need to do is accept the honor gracefully. Later, they’ll name you the next candidate for Prime Minister. You just have to smile, campaign, and win. My boss will handle the rest."

The memory of those words made Anthony shiver. Despite sitting comfortably in his study, dressed warmly, and with the room heater humming quietly, he felt a chill creep up his spine. A cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

"The entire political structure of the kingdom is being manipulated by this mysterious ’boss’... just to fulfill his wish? Who has this kind of power?"

He thought back to how this scandal had erupted. It started with a tip about an MP... someone without much standing in the party. Yet somehow, that single MP had access to enough evidence to bring down dozens of powerful figures. MPs, ministers, advisors... names that had once seemed untouchable were now being paraded through headlines. The authorities looked like they had been too lucky to struck a gold mine.

Anthony clenched his fists under the table. "Only I know the truth. Or maybe the chairman and a few others who were unusually proactive tonight," he thought.

But when he thought about the daughter he had never met, his heart hardened. The DNA test he had personally conducted left no room for doubt... she was his daughter. And yet, he had no idea what she was doing under the wing of her incredibly powerful boss.

"How much power does someone need to orchestrate something this massive?"

"Will they truly keep their promise and let me meet her after all this?"

"Who are these people... unknown, unseen... yet capable of toppling an entire kingdom just because they want to?"

These questions swirled in his mind, each one heavier than the last. But no matter how hard he searched for answers, he found none.

His heart hardened. He had avoided power his whole life, but now it seemed he had no choice.

"Who are these people? How can they control the kingdom without anyone even knowing their names?"

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, he completely missed the final part of Baron Constantine’s speech.

Baroness Angela Dodson of Kesteven, co-chairman of the Opposition Party, spoke as soon as Baron Constantine finished his speech. "I support the chairman’s proposal. If anyone here has a different candidate in mind, please come forward now. Otherwise, we will proceed with the next item on our agenda."

She paused for nearly a minute, giving everyone a chance to speak. No one did.

"As you all know," she continued, "tonight’s events have shaken the nation. Several of our MPs have been arrested, and more may follow. But in the midst of this crisis, we, as a party, have gained something greater... renewed public support. Our popularity is now at an all-time high. Given the arrests and the public anger surrounding the Stockport Scandal, we believe the time is right to demand an early election... for the good of the kingdom."

She paused again for effect.

"We have already prepared our slogan: ’Kingdom First’. This will be our rallying cry. After tonight’s meeting, we should formally declare Baron Chapman as our Prime Ministerial candidate and go public with our demand for early elections."

Angela turned to Anthony, her tone gentler now. "Baron Chapman, do you accept this responsibility?"

There was a moment of silence. Every eye in the in the meeting looked at Anthony, who had been lost in thought just moments ago. Then, his voice echoed through the virtual meeting room... steady, but with a trace of hesitation.

"I accept," he said.

Several leaders let out quiet sighs of relief. Given the party’s current state and the shifting sands of national politics, they all agreed... Baron Chapman was their best hope.

Anthony continued, his voice more confident now. "Although I never envisioned myself as a minister, let alone Prime Minister, I realize this is not the time to shy away. I am not yet prepared to lead in the traditional sense, but if the party... if all of you...

stand by me, then I will do my best. I agree with what has been said tonight. In these turbulent times, I must fulfill my duty... to the party, and more importantly, to the kingdom."

He paused, then added, "However, if anyone believes there is someone more suitable than me, I would be just as happy to remain where I am."

But no one spoke. The silence that followed was not uncomfortable—it was reassuring.

One senior MP spoke up, "We trust you, Baron Chapman. And we stand with you."

Others nodded, murmuring in agreement.

Baroness Angela smiled. "Then it’s settled. We’ll draft the public statement now and send it to the media outlets. At sunrise, the nation will know that ’Kingdom First’ is more than just a slogan. It is our promise."

Anthony leaned back in his chair, trying to process everything. Behind his calm demeanor, his mind was still racing.

"Who is the mysterious boss? What does he want? And how far is he willing to go to get it?"

Tonight’s event shown him that there was no limit to that boss’s power. But for now, he had to play his part. The pieces had been arranged. The kingdom was watching. And he needs to meet his daughter as soon as possible.

***

All media outlets exploded with breaking headlines. Baron Anthony Hayward Chapman had officially replaced the former Leader of the Opposition, who was found complicit in the Stockport Scandal. Alongside this announcement, Chapman was also declared the Opposition Party’s candidate for the next Prime Minister. In light of the scandal that implicated a significant number of MPs, the party demanded an early general election.

Every major news network received the opposition’s new campaign platform, headlined with the slogan: "Kingdom First!" It included a list of promises the party vowed to uphold if Anthony Chapman were elected Prime Minister. What should have remained the top story of the day... the Stockport Scandal... was swiftly overshadowed by the rise of Anthony Chapman.

Print media scrambled to roll out preplanned cover pages featuring a large portrait of Baron Chapman. The front pages were dominated by two faces: Oliver Brown, exposed as the ringleader of heinous crimes, and Anthony Chapman, heralded as the face of reform rising from the ashes of the scandal.

Some online outlets published detailed timelines chronicling the night’s events. They outlined everything... from the emergency opposition meeting to the explosive revelations of the Stockport Scandal, culminating in Baron Chapman’s dramatic ascension.

Biographical articles about Chapman and his noble lineage began to surface, adding fuel to the public’s growing curiosity. In just a few hours, he became the most talked-about person in the kingdom. Anthony Hayward Chapman was trending.

***

But the true instigator behind it all, Eleanor Elizabeth Raynor, was sleeping peacefully in her bed. Her phone kept on silent mode.

It was the night of Ethan’s duel and Baron Chapman’s rise to power, yet she had no concerns about either. Ethan had assured her he would win... and not only that, he had promised to prolong the duel for at least two hours to give her time to execute her works without interruption.

She had only casually asked him to keep the duel going longer if he could. Ethan, confident as ever, pledged two full hours. If only he knew why Eleanor needed the delay!

Fiona’s name flashed on Eleanor’s screen, but no sound came from it. After two unanswered rings, Fiona redirected her call to Sebastian, hoping to uncover what Eleanor had done to utterly destroy the Brown family.

Sebastian calmly explained that the Browns’ downfall had been inevitable... from the moment Eleanor decided that Baron Chapman would be the next Prime Minister. In truth, their destruction had been ready weeks ago. The only reason it had been delayed was the duel. Eleanor had chosen to wait... just to have a little fun on dueling night.

When Fiona heard Juliette Blanc was assisting Eleanor in her political maneuvering, she was stunned into silence. Everyone in the kingdom knew Juliette’s reputation: if she was involved, success was guaranteed.

Realizing the magnitude of the situation, Fiona decided to inform her dear friend Sarika with a simple message:

"It has nothing to do with the Greymoore Clan. Eleanor set her eyes on the next PM."