Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 186: Ruela’s Reward (I)

"Then you must have something to say to me. Isn’t that right, Ruela?" Sisi shifted her gaze to Ruela, who was still sulking, full of grievance.

It was improper for a servant to show any emotion other than obedience in front of their Mistress, so Diane was about to scold her for it.

However, Sisi wasn’t upset by this reaction. She glanced at Diane, shaking her head as a sign not to disturb the conversation.

"Tell me what’s on your mind, Ruela," Sisi ordered, and Ruela finally opened her mouth.

Her voice wasn’t as sweet as it used to be. Sisi still remembered how Ruela’s voice had a hint of innocent seductiveness that would definitely charm many men.

But now, after getting her throat slit, her voice had become hoarse like sandpaper, and a bit breathy.

She could still speak normally, but it was far from her usual sweet girl voice. She had lost one of her most potent charms, and Sisi couldn’t help but sympathize deeply.

"Mistress, I’ve saved the little prince’s life with my life on the line. I’ve lost the woman I saw as a sister, and I lost my position as a concubine. I am nothing but a broken woman now."

Ruela paused for a while as her eyes began to pool with tears. She wiped them and continued:

"Mistress—no, Sisi, I want a reward for saving the little prince," Ruela stated, dropping the honorifics as she faced Sisi as the savior of the little prince rather than as a servant.

"And what do you want, Ruela?" Sisi asked.

She specifically summoned Ruela because she wanted to give her a reward, and it needed to be a big one, since what she did was an incredible feat.

Had it not been for Ruela interfering with Leah’s plan, both she and Jojo would’ve died by now.

Sisi was ready to return Ruela’s title if she truly wanted it, because she deserved to be a concubine with her merit. She had shown that her protectiveness toward the future king was genuine.

"I’ve realized that I do not fit to live in the palace. There are too many dangers. All I want is to live comfortably and in peace somewhere, even if I don’t get to keep any title..."

At this point, Ruela had given up on her ambition to bear the Beast King’s cubs. On top of that, she had also lost her ambition to maintain her concubine status.

She didn’t care if she would be kicked out of the palace in disgrace, because none of it mattered once she had stood at death’s door. All of her past endeavors seemed laughable when she could have died at any moment.

"I don’t want to live in the palace anymore. Please free me from my duty as a sweeping maid, and help me leave the Beast Kingdom safely," Ruela said. "Please help me settle somewhere safe. I don’t want to get murdered by my own family because I’ve failed them."

"... Is that truly what you want?" Sisi asked.

"Yes," Ruela confirmed without hesitation. "Maybe Leah was right. I am far too stupid to live here. I don’t want to risk my life just because there might be another Leah lurking inside this palace, or maybe in the future there will be someone who wants to assassinate you again. I don’t want to be part of this dangerous place."

Sisi was genuinely impressed that Ruela’s request was all about self-preservation. She thought Ruela would have asked to become a concubine again.

Maybe that life-or-death situation truly changed her mind.

"Are you sure?" Sisi asked again. "I can give you anything you want, because you deserve it, Ruela."

Again, Ruela shook her head. "I just want to live without worry."

"... Do you think leaving the Beast Kingdom and settling down like a hermit will give you that ’peaceful life’ you dream of? The forest is dangerous even for a beastman," Sisi warned. "You have no training for battle, Ruela. You’d die out there—either from starvation, cold, or getting mauled by a beast."

"But I really don’t want to stay in this palace. This is not my place, Sisi," Ruela insisted. "I... I don’t even know if I can marry another man at this point with this voice, but it doesn’t matter now. I just want to keep my peace..."

"... Alright, I’ll help you, but with better conditions," Sisi sighed. "If I send you into the forest, you’d die in a matter of days. So, I’ll fulfill my promise to send you out while maintaining your dignity."

Ruela held her breath as she wondered what Sisi was about to do. Was it even possible to leave the palace without being laughed at by everyone at this point?

"Diane, tell Garou to come in," Sisi ordered.

"Yes, Mistress."

Diane rushed out of the main chamber and returned with the young panther, who kneeled immediately upon facing Sisi.

"Are you calling for me, Mistress?"

Sisi looked at Garou, who had voluntarily stood at the entrance of the main building, acting as the main guard even though Sisi had already told him there was no need to do so.

But Garou stated that guarding Sisi with his life was his punishment for failing to keep Leah in the underground prison.

Though Sisi noticed that Garou seemed to be in a great mood while guarding the door, which made her wonder if this was truly a punishment or a reward.

"Remember my message, Garou: Go to Vestor after this and tell him that I want to bestow a Medal of Honor upon Ruela for her merit in saving the Crown Prince’s life.

On top of that, I will also bestow upon her the title of ’Ruela, Lady of the Dawn.’ With that title, she will be freed from her duty as a concubine in this palace and will be given compensation in gold and her own house in the capital city."

Everyone was shocked upon hearing Mistress Sisi’s statement just now. Bestowing such a title was a great matter and required the Beast King’s approval.

But then again, Mistress Sisi would be the future queen, so nobody dared to question what she was doing.