Matthew turned toward the window. He saw Helena, who seemed to be walking back and forth in front of the carriage. "The Veritas Kingdom has many talented healers. They must be able to heal your mother's mentality."
Ruby sighed heavily and closed her eyes for a moment before finally writing the sentence. "Then I am willing to be your queen."
• • •
"Your Majesty, are you serious with your words?"
Marquess Barnette gasped in disbelief after hearing Matthew wanted to take Ruby to the Veritas Kingdom and marry his daughter. In other words, Ruby will become the Queen of Veritas Kingdom.
The man repeatedly looked at the Veritas Kingdom insignia on the carriage to ensure that the man before him was not an impostor, but the real Matthew Harelle, the Lycan King of the Veritas Kingdom.
"I never make a joke about something crucial. Do you doubt my words?" asked Matthew. The man stood before Marquess Barnette, his face filled with annoyance and impatience.
Marquess Barnette suddenly lowered his head. "I beg you pardon, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to doubt your words. But I didn't expect you to want to marry my daughter, Ruby."
Marquess Barnette continued, "I mean if Your Majesty is looking for a mate, I also have another daughter who could be a candidate. Her name is Liliana Barnette. She is quite beautiful and much better than Ru-"
Matthew immediately cut off Marquess Barnette's words. "I don't care about other women. I only want Ruby Barnette."
Ruby flinched when she heard Matthew's words. Although the intonation of Matthew's voice sounded flat and unfriendly, the words he said were able to knock on Ruby's heart.
Ruby always became the last choice of everyone. Even if Ruby were the only option left, other people would definitely not be willing to choose her.
Whether it was her father, Greysen, or even her mother, they always ignored Ruby and tended to get her out of their lives.
But Matthew has chosen her.
The man chose Ruby, whom everyone had ignored for years.
Ruby still didn't know the reason behind Matthew's insistence on choosing her. However, whatever the reason, at least Matthew has given new hope to Ruby.
Even though Ruby had to pay for that hope with her own body and give her whole life to Matthew, Ruby no longer cared.
Ruby was willing to do anything as long as she could get a little light in her world 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 Ruby. "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. "Do you want to harm my future queen?!"
Matthew's golden eyes shone even brighter, emitting a dense killing aura that Ruby saw Matthew's entire body shrouded in pitch black.
On the other hand, Marquess Barnette held his breath and didn't dare to move for fear of being scratched by the sword around his neck.
"I … I just want to ask for compensation!"
Matthew, "Compensation?"
"Yes! Wouldn't it be better for His Majesty to give my family a dowry first before taking my daughter?" said Marquess Barnette confidently.
Although his whole body shivered with fear, the greedy man still tried to take advantage of Matthew.
Ruby immediately tried to release her father's hand. She kicked Marquess Barnette's leg, then ran toward Matthew.
"Damn it! Come—" Marquess Barnette didn't continue because Matthew's sword slightly scratched his skin.
Ruby then took a piece of paper scattered on the ground and wrote a sentence using capital letters.
"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER!"
Marquess Barnette's eyelids twitched at the sight of Ruby's insolent behavior.
"You ignorant child! It's good that I took care of you to this extent! I would have thrown you out on the street since birth if it weren't for pity!"
Buk! Buk!
Helena suddenly ran towards Marquess Barnette and beat the man while screaming hysterically. "Don't bother Oscar! Don't kill him again!"
Plak!
Marquess Barnette slapped Helena and pushed her to the ground. "Are you blind? How could she be 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 stroked Ruby's face and said, "Mom already beat up the bad guy who hurt you, so Oscar doesn't have to be afraid."
Ruby immediately hugged her mother and tried to calm Helena, who was starting to get hysterical again.
Oscar's death had left a deep wound in Helena's heart, so she would always lash out whenever she saw something that reminded her of Oscar.
"Oscar, I won't let your father kill you again."
"You crazy woman! I have told you many times that I never killed your son!"
Helena, "Don't lie! I know you must have killed him! That's why Oscar never came home again!"
"Stupid! He's not coming home anymore because he's dead!"
He was annoyed with Helena and Ruby's behavior which looked annoying in his eyes. Marquess Barnette picked up some pebbles and threw that pebbles at them.
"Enough!!" Matthew grabbed Marquess Barnette by the collar and threw him into the street.
"Don't you have any shame?! After hitting your daughter, now you are also hitting the mother of your children!"
Matthew then kicked Marquess Barnette in the stomach hard enough that the man tumbled backward.
Marquess Barnette, who had been overcome by anger, shouted as well. "How dare you kick a nobleman from another kingdom! If His Majesty King Greysen hears of this, maybe he will send soldiers to destroy your kingdom!"
Matthew laughed softly. "If Greysen has the guts to do that, I'll gladly welcome him!"
Matthew added, "But it looks like he wouldn't be willing to waste his resources just defending a trash nobleman like you."
"Trash? You said I was trash?"
Marquess Barnette's eyes suddenly lit up brightly. His human body slowly turned into the figure of a giant wolf covered with thick jet-black fur.
"Grrr …."
Saliva dripped from his mouth. When he opened his mouth, Ruby could see a row of sharp teeth that were capable of tearing a human body apart easily.
Matthew grunted. "Why do werewolves always have little guts? After losing the debate, you immediately turned into a wolf. Do you think you can beat me even though you've turned into a wolf?"
Only a growl escaped from Marquess Barnette's mouth. Matthew then raised his sword, preparing to face Marquess Barnette's attack.
However, unexpectedly, Marquess Barnette turned his gaze toward Ruby and ran to his daughter.
It seemed that Marquess Barnette still didn't accept that Ruby would become the queen in another kingdom, so he preferred to kill his daughter to ease his annoyance.
Ruby tightened her arms around Helena and tried to protect her mother from Marquess Barnette's attack.
"Lady Ruby!" Alger shouted and tried to get to Ruby. However, Marquess Barnette was faster than him, so Alger couldn't protect Ruby.