"Disgusting." Matthew sneered, his tone filled with disdain. "Your Alpha keeps bragging that his kingdom is the most prosperous in the Raeludin Empire. But from what I've seen? Nothing but empty words."
Marquess Barnette's face turned pale. That single sentence was enough to make him realize he had just made a terrible mistake.
He immediately fell to his knees and bowed low. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't mean any offense. I was only trying to discipline my dau—"
"Shut your mouth," Matthew cut him off sharply. "I'm tired of listening to your nonsense."
The Marquess snapped his mouth shut. He didn't dare breathe too loudly, afraid the Lycan King might kill him right there. Everyone knew Matthew Harelle didn't tolerate disrespect, and certainly not lies.
Ruby, however, couldn't take her eyes off the man inside the carriage.
She was stunned. No one had ever stood up for her. Not once. When Marquess Barnette hit her, people would turn away, pretend not to see, or worse, clapping their hands.
However, this ruthless Lycan refused to turn a blind eye and stopped him without hesitation.
Suddenly, Matthew moved his gaze toward Ruby, so they looked at each other for a while.
Even though the inside of the carriage was dim because some of the windows were covered by curtains, Ruby could still see enough to catch a glimpse of the man.
But what drew her attention most wasn't his face. It was the strange swirl of colors surrounding him.
[What color is that?] Ruby wondered silently, her brows furrowed.
Unlike everyone else, Matthew didn't have just one or two emotional colors.
The colors were a chaotic mix of red, gold, blue, black, all tangled together.
No order. No clarity. Just raw, overlapping emotions, swirling like a storm.
It was rare, and dangerous.
People who carried that kind of emotional energy usually couldn't control themselves.
"Lady Ruby, I don't have much time," Matthew said suddenly. "Will you come inside?"
His deep voice pulled her from her thoughts. Ruby blinked, startled, and instinctively stepped back.
Before she could write something to respond, Alger had already opened the carriage door, making it clear that hesitation wasn't an option.
Ruby looked around. She had no home, no protection, no way out. And now, the most dangerous man in the Empire was inviting her in.
She took a deep breath, and with caution, Ruby climbed into the carriage.
Her body stayed tense, every sense on high alert. If she did the wrong thing, if she moved the wrong way, she knew it could cost her life.
But the moment she sat down and saw Matthew clearly, all the fear paused, even just for a heartbeat.
The rumors had painted him as a monster, who was cruel, had no heart, and could kill anyone in a second.
But no one had said he was this handsome.
He wore a white silk shirt with a ruffled collar, tucked beneath a black suit embroidered with gold.
A long robe draped over his broad shoulders, giving him an air of power. He didn't just look strong, he looked untouchable.
His sitting posture looked elegant and noble, showing as if he was an invincible ruler.
The sunlights that passed through the window, cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and cheekbones.
His golden eyes were intense, like a wolf ready to pounce on its prey, but somehow, there was also a softness on his face.
A kind of silent gentleness, hidden beneath the layers of his terrifying figure.
This face was a perfect amalgam of the divine holiness and devilish cruelty. The kind of face that could make someone forget to breathe.
"I've heard what happened to you," Matthew's low voice rang in Ruby's ears and stunned her for a few seconds.
"As a noble lady, I imagine you must feel like your kingdom has stripped away every last bit of your dignity,"
Matthew said, resting his hand under his chin. His golden eyes never left hers. "If you wish to protect your pride … then I have a proposal. One that could benefit us both. Would you like to hear it, milady?"
Ruby nodded without a second thought. If this man, this powerful king, could save even a sliver of her pride, then she was willing to listen. What more did she have to lose?
Matthew reached into his coat and pulled out a folded piece of paper, handing it to her. "Give me an heir," he said calmly, "and I will make you the Queen of Veritas."
Ruby froze.
The paper trembled in her hands, her fingers barely able to hold it still. Her round eyes locked onto Matthew's face, trying to read some sign that he was joking.
[This can't be real.]
The thought echoed again and again in her mind.
[A king ... wants a crippled woman like me?]
Ruby pinched her arm hard. The pain immediately ran through her arm and made Ruby wince a little.
It suddenly made Ruby realize that she wasn't dreaming.
"Milady, what's your answer?" Matthew's question made Ruby gasp.
Ruby snapped out of her daze and instinctively searched for a piece of paper, something to write her response on.
But then she remembered she had thrown all her written pages at Marquess Barnette just minutes ago.
When Ruby was panicking, suddenly she saw a palm stretched out in front of her.
"If you need to say something, write it on my hand," Matthew said, his tone surprisingly calm.
Ruby's eyes widened. She quickly shook her head. [Someone like me can't touch a king's hand …]
But Matthew didn't wait.
He reached forward and gently grabbed her wrist, placing her hand on his palm. "Go on. I don't have all day."
Under Matthew's fierce gaze, Ruby slowly began to write on his skin. "Your Majesty … I don't have the qualifications to be your queen."
Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
Ruby blinked, confused. Isn't it obvious?
She carefully wrote again. "I'm disabled and weak. I can't shift into a wolf. I can't speak. I'm—
Matthew closed his hand, stopping her. "Where is the problem? Are you mentally disabled?"
Ruby shook her head.
"Do you understand human language?"
She nodded.
"Then what's the problem?"
His voice was clear and calm. He wasn't mocking her. He truly didn't care about the things she thought disqualified her.
"If you become my queen," Matthew continued, "you will be under Veritas' protection. I don't need a warrior. I need an heir. If you can give me that, then your past doesn't matter."
Ruby looked down, her heart pounding. Her hand was still resting on his.
After looking down for a long time, Ruby finally dared to raise her head again.
But to her surprise, The swirl of chaotic emotions that had wrapped around Matthew earlier, slowly turning white.
Ruby immediately looked down again and realized that her hand was still on top of Matthew's.
No wonder Matthew could be so patient when talking to her. It turned out that her magic accidentally stabilized his emotions.
Ruby didn't expect the magic ability she had been hiding all this time would come in handy.
[If his heart is calm, maybe I can ask for more.]
She took a deep breath and started writing again. "Before I give you my answer … I have a request."
Matthew didn't hesitate. "Go ahead."
Ruby writes fast. "If I agree to give you an heir, will you help heal my mother?"