Now that Ruela was slumped before the Beast King and Sisi like a disgraced woman, she found it difficult to breathe.
Fury burned in her chest. It was an anger at the injustice she believed she had suffered, and resentnt toward the Beast King for discarding her simply because he had found soone prettier.
Her chest felt tight as she continued glaring at Kael and Sisi, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence.
Kael made no effort to hide his displeasure. He had already been interrupted twice today, and this woman—with her theatrics—was nothing but an eyesore.
"Tell ," Kael said coldly, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What do you want now? I’ve dismissed you and ordered Vestor to compensate you properly. What more do you need?"
"I don’t want that gold!" Ruela declared. "I just want to stay by your side, My King! W-why would you dismiss over a single mistake?!"
"Because it was not a small mistake," Kael replied calmly. "You behaved vulgarly in front of my son. He is my priority, everything about him is worth more than anyone in this kingdom. Any mistake involving him will be punished severely."
Ruela’s anger faltered.
That explanation... made sense.
Everyone knew how desperately the Beast King had searched for his son—how he sent countless search parties, how he conquered tribes around Rantel Hill just to gain more followers to aid in the search.
Everyone knew the little prince was everything to him.
’Then why did I ever think about replacing the prince with my own child?’ Ruela wondered in horror. ’Where did that thought even co from?’
She had never needed more than her status as a concubine. It was already an honor to restore her family’s lost dignity with her status.
Even if she had no offspring with the Beast King, she was already a temporary figurehead, so nobody would dare to shake her position.
So why had she ruined everything by dressing provocatively at the banquet?
As she retraced her mories, a single figure surfaced in her mind.
The servant girl.
The one who had constantly praised her.
Who told her she deserved everything.
Who insisted the Beast King would never refuse her if she tried hard enough.
Before Ruela could dwell on it further, Sisi spoke.
"It’s quite rude to remain silent when the King is willing to hear you, Ruela."
The way Sisi addressed her—Ruela, not Concubine Ruela—stabbed her heart.
Ruela lifted her head and darted her eyes towards Sisi, unable to hide the hatred burning in her eyes.
She had always been expressive, easy to read, and often absentminded. Even the wolves in her pack often called her an airhead.
But wasn’t being simple better than being a cunning fox who bewitched everyone?
At least she hadn’t sched to ruin anyone’s life!
Kael’s gaze darkened the mont he saw that unfiltered hatred directed at Sisi.
He knew that whatever Ruela had in mind could not be good. She might truly try to hurt Sisi in one way or another.
Seeing this, his instincts kicked in, and an overwhelming urge to protect Sisi by whatever ans necessary forced his body to move.
He rose from his seat, intent on ending the problem permanently by executing the ungrateful wench, but Sisi caught his arm and shook her head.
"I know how to handle this," she said softly. "Trust ."
"Hmph," Kael sneered as he sat back on his seat. "Do whatever you want with her. She’s dismissed anyway. And I won’t accept any more concubines. They’re nothing but trouble."
Vestor nearly stumbled.
The Beast King sounded deadly serious.
’Then what does that make Mistress Sisi if he doesn’t want her as a concubine?’ Vestor wondered uneasily.
After receiving Kael’s tacit permission, Sisi turned back to Ruela.
Ruela was still glaring at her with raw hatred, like a girl who had been severely wronged and ready to attack just to relieve herself.
But Sisi wasn’t scared.
Instead, she chuckled lightly.
Ruela wasn’t clever, just like when she’d tried to seduce Kael at Jojo’s banquet. But to glare so openly, without even attempting to hide it?
She was the most transparent person Sisi had ever t.
Wearing her usual polite, amiable smile, Sisi asked gently, "I’ve just learned from the King that you’ve been dismissed. Tell , Ruela, do you believe I had a hand in it?"
Sisi made sure to land her shot perfectly, knowing Ruela would be caught off guard by her question, so she could get her most authentic reaction.
"Do you think I influenced Kael to dismiss you?"
Ruela gasped.
She hadn’t expected such bluntness.
Her prepared tears and accusations faltered under the sudden spotlight. She could only glare weakly before her eyes dropped to the ground in sha.
Leah frowned as this wasn’t how her plan was supposed to unfold.
If everything had gone as intended, Ruela should have scread, accused, and cursed Sisi like a madwoman.
Better yet—she should have attacked Sisi outright and injured her face, ruining that devastating beauty forever, so Leah could have a chance with Kael.
But instead, Ruela shrank into herself like a defeated turtle.
Her weakness and idiocy irritated Leah to no end.
This idiot pawn of hers was supposed to do her last move before she got executed for insulting the royal!
Leah got a bit impatient seeing Ruela’s fear. So, she nudged Ruela’s leg discreetly with the tip of her shoe.
However, Sisi noticed this subtle movent.
Her eyes flicked toward Leah for a brief mont—sharp, assessing—before she returned to her gentle smile.
Finally, urged by Leah’s push, Ruela stamred,"I-I d-don’t want to be d-dismissed. I-I’ll be a disgrace..."
Tears stread down her face as her bleak future resurfaced. She looked at Kael while pleading for her life.
"Please spare , My King," Ruela sobbed. "Even with the gold, I’ll be shad! My family will disown ! I’ll be mocked and bullied until I’m driven out of the kingdom—w-where am I supposed to go then?!"
"Even if your tears flooded the river, my decision stands. You are dismissed," Kael replied coldly.
Ruela collapsed into sobs once more, but no one comforted her.
Vestor remained silent, while Kael looked away in disgust
Only Sisi continued observing, her gaze lingering on the quiet maid behind Ruela.
After a mont, she turned to Kael and spoke calmly.
"Since you’ve dismissed her, then how about you give her to ?"
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