Rufus‘s POV:
The queen‘s hall was brightly lit.The servants were on their knees, fearing that they would be
implicated.I casually walked in.
Just then, a teacup shattered at my feet.
"What‘s making you angry, mother?" I smiled at her.
"How dare you question me?"
My mother dramatically slumped on the sofa with a grumpy look on her face.I walked over and sat
beside her, ignoring her tone.
Like my father, my mother, too, liked smashing things when she got angry.
"You can leave now." I waved my hand, gesturing for the servants to leave.
My mother glanced at me and waved the fan in her hand to get some air.
"Get rid of that she–wolf."
"She has a name.It‘s Sylvia."
I stretched back and cracked my knuckles without taking her words seriously.
"I don‘t care what her name is. She is a slave, after all." My mother snorted and threw her fan aside.
"You are a prince of the royal family.Protecting a lowly she–wolf like this will only ruin the dignity and
reputation of our family."
"Sylvia is my mate. I‘ve accepted her," I said frankly.
My mother‘s face darkened even more.I arched an eyebrow and examined her face.
She was seething with rage.I poured her a cup of warm tea and slid it toward her.
"Mother, I hope you understand." Laura threw the cup onto the floor.
"Ridiculous!" She sprang to her feet and scowled at me.
The corner of her mouth sank, revealing the wrinkles.
"I will never allow a she–wolf of humble status to be your mate.My daughter–in–law must be a she–wolf
from a noble bloodline." I sneered at her.
I had never expected my parents to accept Sylvia like I do.
After all, bloodline and status were more important to them than anything else.
But it didn‘t matter because I didn‘t need their approval.
"You are the heir to the lycan king.Do you want such a she–wolf to lead all the werewolves with you in
the future? Everyone will laugh at you!"
My mother‘s chest was heaving with rage.She took deep breaths and turned to look at me.
"Richard has become more arrogant and aggressive off late.He has even begun to interfere in political
affairs.If you don‘t marry a mate from a powerful background, he will trample you!"
My heart sank at her words.
I felt sorry for my mother because she didn‘t know the truth.
She didn‘t know that I was cursed, nor did she know that my father had decided to give up on me and
let Richard inherit the throne.
But I didn‘t intend to explain anything to my mother because it would only make things worse.
"Alina is a good choice.I want you to marry her.Her father is an Alpha and belongs to the lycan
bloodline as well.Only such a she–wolf deserves you," my mother tried persuading me to marry Alina
yet again.
"Mother, stop it! Don‘t try persuading me.I only want Sylvia in my life," I said, staring into my mother‘s
eyes.
When I said that, my thoughts instantly wandered to Sylvia.If she heard what I said, she would panic
like a little rabbit.
"But don‘t worry.I‘ve promised father that I won‘t make our mate bond public until we prove that Sylvia‘s
mother is innocent," I continued, ignoring my mother‘s reaction.
"You’ve already made up your mind, haven‘t you?" Her face turned livid, and her lips trembled.
I could tell that she was trying her best to control her emotions.
"Yes.So please quit persuading me and send Alina back."
"You!" My mother shook her head fiercely.
"Prince Rufus!"
Just then, a piercing scream from the hallway caught our attention.
Maya ran in breathlessly.
"What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?" I asked, frowning.
"Please save Miss Todd.A group of werewolves at the Royal Military School have besieged her.I… I
couldn‘t stop them.They were all bullying Miss Todd…"
Maya cried anxiously.
My heart leaped to my throat.
Before Maya finished her words, I immediately stood up and rushed to the Royal Military School.
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