Matthew turned his gaze toward the window, where Helena could be seen pacing in front of the carriage, mumbling to herself and tugging at her clothes like a restless child.
"The Kingdom of Veritas has many skilled healers," he said calmly. "I'm sure they'll be able to help restore your mother's mind."
Ruby sighed heavily and closed her eyes for a moment. Her heart felt heavy, but she slowly opened them and reached for his palm again.
She wrote with determination. "Then I'm willing to become your queen."
Without another word, Matthew looked at Alger and nodded. "Inform the Marquess."
Alger nodded, and it didn't take long before Marquess Barnette's shocked voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Your Majesty, are you serious?" he asked in disbelief.
He looked between Matthew and the crest on the carriage again and again, as if trying to convince himself the man before him was not an impostor, but the real Matthew Harelle, the Lycan King of the Veritas Kingdom.
"You intend to take Ruby … my Ruby … to Veritas? To make her your queen?"
Matthew stepped out of the carriage and stood before the Marquess with a face that showed neither humor nor patience. "I don't joke about serious matters. Do you doubt my words?"
"N-no, of course not!" Marquess Barnette bowed his head quickly. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to question you. I just … never imagined you'd want someone like Ruby."
He hesitated, then smiled nervously. "If Your Majesty is looking for a mate, I do have another daughter. Liliana. She's quite beautiful. Graceful. A far better candidate than—"
"Enough." Matthew's voice cut through his words. "I'm not interested in your other daughters. I chose Ruby Barnette. No one else."
Ruby flinched when she heard Matthew's words.
He chose her.
Although the intonation of Matthew's voice sounded flat and unfriendly, the words he said were able to knock on Ruby's heart.
For so long, she had been invisible, overlooked, and forgotten. Even when she was right in front of them, no one ever chose her.
Whether it was her father, the Alpha, not even her mother, who lived inside memories of her dead brother.
But now, someone had chosen her.
She didn't understand why. She didn't know what Matthew truly saw in her, or what he expected.
But whatever the reason, this ruthless Lycan King had given her something no one else ever had—hope.
Even if the price was her body, her freedom, or her future … she would give it all for this small light in her dark life that was always filled with misfortune.
"Since I have nothing more to say, I will go with Lady Ruby." Matthew then opened the carriage door for her. "Please, Milady."
Just as Ruby was about to step into the carriage, Marquess Barnette grabbed her hand and pulled her so violently that she almost fell. "Wait!"
Matthew and Alger sharpened their gaze when they saw Marquess Barnette's lousy attitude toward Ruby.
"What are you doing?" Matthew took the sword, then placed the sharp blade toward Marquess Barnette's neck. "How dare you lay a hand on my future queen?"
His golden eyes gleamed with fury, and in that moment, Ruby saw his entire body cloaked in a thick, black aura.
The color of pure killing intent.
On the other hand, Marquess Barnette didn't move. Didn't breathe. His lips trembled, but he dared not flinch with the blade so close to his skin.
"I-I … I didn't mean any harm," he stammered. "I just … I just wanted to ask for compensation."
Matthew's expression didn't change. "Compensation?"
"Yes!" Marquess Barnette swallowed hard, trying to smile. "Surely, before taking my daughterv… it would be proper for Your Majesty to offer a dowry. After all, it is a royal marriage."
Although his whole body shivered with fear, the greedy man still tried to take advantage of Matthew.
Even though his whole body was trembling with fear, the greedy Marquess Barnette still dared to push his luck with Matthew, hoping to gain something from the situation.
But Ruby had had enough.
She pulled her arm from his grip and kicked his leg hard, making him stumble.
Then, without looking back, she ran straight to Matthew's side.
"Damn it! What—" The Marquess couldn't finish his sentence. Matthew's sword moved slightly, grazing his skin just enough to silence him.
Ruby spotted one of the papers she had thrown earlier still lying on the ground. She picked it up and quickly scribbled a sentence in large, bold letters.
"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER."
Marquess Barnette's eyelids twitched at the sight of Ruby's insolent behavior.
"You ungrateful brat!" he snapped. "I raised you out of pity! If I had known this is how you'd turn out, I would've left you in the streets when you were born!"
Smack! Smack!
Suddenly, Helena came running, her chains clinking as she moved, and began hitting Marquess Barnette with all the strength she had left.
Her voice cracked as she screamed, "Don't touch Oscar! Don't hurt him again!"
Slap!
The Marquess slapped Helena hard across the face, making her fall to the ground with a cry. "Are you blind? That's not Oscar!"
Ruby quickly ran to Helena and helped her mother to get up. She also checked Helena's body and saw minor scratches on her hands and ankles.
"Oscars! Oscar, are you all right?" Helena whispered as she stroked Ruby's face lovingly. "Mother fought off the bad man. You're safe now, sweetheart."
Ruby pulled her mother into a hug, trying to calm her as tears welled up in her eyes. She rocked Helena gently, trying to calm Helena.
"Oscar, I won't let your father kill you again," Helena whispered.
"You insane woman!" Marquess Barnette growled. "How many times do I have to tell you, I didn't kill him!"
"Liar!" Helena yelled back. "You did! That's why Oscar never came home!"
"He didn't come back because he's dead, you fool!"
Marquess Barnette, unable to stand the scene any longer, grabbed a handful of stones and began throwing them at Ruby and Helena.
Matthew had seen enough.
"Enough!" he roared, his voice thunderous.
He strode forward, grabbed the Marquess by the collar, and with one powerful shove, threw him into the dirt road in front of the mansion.
"You shameful creature," Matthew growled. "You beat your daughter. You hit the mother of your children. Do you have no honor left?"
Then he kicked the man hard in the stomach. The Marquess groaned and rolled backward.
"You dare strike a noble from another kingdom?!" he shouted. "If King Greysen hears of this, he might send his army to crush Veritas!"
Matthew laughed. "If Greysen has the courage to do that, I'll welcome him at my gates."
He narrowed his eyes. "But I doubt he'd waste his soldiers defending a pathetic excuse for a noble like you."
"Pathetic?" Marquess Barnette's voice cracked.
His eyes began to glow. His skin shimmered.
Before anyone could react, his human body shifted. His bones were cracking, fur bursting through skin until a massive black wolf stood in his place, snarling with rage.
"Grrr …."
Saliva dripped from his open jaws. When he growled, Ruby saw rows of jagged teeth capable of tearing through flesh in seconds.
Matthew didn't flinch. He simply sighed. "Why is it that werewolves always shift when they run out of arguments?" he muttered. "You think turning into a beast will help you win against me?"
The wolf didn't respond, only growled deeper, lowering himself to pounce.
Matthew then raised his sword, preparing to face Marquess Barnette's attack.
However, instead of charging at Matthew, the wolf turned toward Ruby.
He bolted straight toward her, his growls echoing across the courtyard.
His fury wasn't just toward Matthew, it was toward her.
He couldn't stand the thought of her becoming queen in another kingdom. Therefore, he thought that if he couldn't control her, he'd rather destroy her.
Ruby's eyes widened. She clutched Helena tighter and turned her body, trying to shield her mother.
"Lady Ruby!" Alger shouted as he lunged forward, but he was too far.