Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 105: Dismissed (II)

"Dismiss?" Kael retorted coldly. "Do you think you can simply walk out of this palace without taking responsibility for your oversight? If dismissal is your concern, then rest assured, you will not be dismissed. But you will clean up this mess."

Vestor felt a surge of relief knowing his position was still secure. Even death would not have been the worst punishment for him, bringing shame upon his tribe and family would have been far worse.

"I will do everything in my power to resolve Your Majesty’s grievance," Vestor said immediately. "Please tell me what I should do."

"You may keep your position," Kael replied. "But someone must be dismissed, or I won’t be satisfied."

He lifted his chin arrogantly and declared, "Since you claim you’ll take responsibility, your first task is this: dismiss the concubine."

Vestor’s eyes widened.

He had heard the order loud and clear.

What shocked him was not the command itself, but how heartlessly the Beast King delivered it. Kael truly held no affection for Concubine Ruela at all.

The was no sign of pity or even a little bit of regret in his face. He was decisive and even a tad nonchalant, as if he was just dismissing a servant, not a concubine.

It also made it clear for Vestor that Ruela had never been anything more than a tool.

Seeing Vestor’s stunned expression, Kael’s lips curled into a cold smile. "Why that look? You advised me to take a concubine as a figurehead to stabilize the kingdom while I was gone. Now I’ve returned with my son. I have no use for her anymore."

In that moment, Vestor understood.

The Beast King’s heart was truly cold and dead.

Perhaps his capacity for love had been entirely spent on his fated mate who had long since passed away.

"If you still feel unwilling," Kael added casually, "Then compensate her with gold and jewelry from the treasury. Though, judging by how she dressed at the banquet, she already enjoyed unrestricted access while I was away anyway."

Vestor’s body stiffened as he nodded in defeat.

Indeed, he had allowed Ruela to take treasures freely, believing the King had no interest in such things as diamonds, or imported tea and fragrances from the Jing Forest.

"I... understand, My King," Vestor said quietly. "I will go to the concubine’s courtyard immediately and deliver the... news."

Kael nodded, satisfied. "One more thing. After dismissing her, go to the Queen’s Courtyard and instruct the head maid to prepare garments suitable for dressmaking. Sisi is a human, she’ll need many dresses for each seasons and various occasions."

Vestor froze once more. "My King... I was unaware Miss Sisi was residing in the Queen’s Courtyard. Does that mean you have—"

He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, fearing to provoke the King.

"No," Kael replied instantly. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "I do not intend to make her queen. Nor do I intend to mate with her."

There was a hint of hesitation in his two last sentences, as if his mouth was reluctant to even say them.

"Then why place her in the Queen’s Courtyard, My King?" Vestor asked cautiously. "Isn’t that... a declaration?"

"—Of what?" Kael scoffed. "I promised my son I would give her the best, and so I did. That’s all. Nothing more."

Vestor wanted to protest.

Everyone knew the Queen’s Courtyard was the most lavish residence in the entire kingdom. It was well-maintained, but intentionally being kept empty out of respect for the late fated mate of the Beast King. Housing a woman there was tantamount to declaring her the future queen.

Kael, of course, knew exactly what Vestor—and the rest of the palace—were thinking.

They all believed Sisi would become the next Beast Queen.

The thought nearly made him laugh.

Even if he wanted to crown her, she would refuse without hesitation. Sisi was here for Jojo, not for a crown, and definitely not for him.

"They can think whatever they want," Kael said indifferently. "If anyone objects, they’re welcome to challenge me to a death match. If they win, I’ll remove Sisi from the Queen’s Courtyard, and remove myself from the throne as well."

Vestor was silenced once more.

Of course, no one sane would challenge the strongest being the Beast Kingdom had ever known.

Knowing the matter was settled, Vestor bowed deeply. "I understand, My King. Please excuse me."

"Hm." Kael waved him off. "And don’t forget the garments. Find a seamstress in the city once she chooses her designs."

Vestor nodded again and left the throne room.

Only after stepping outside did he finally release a long, shaky breath.

Everything had become far more complicated—Ruela would be dismissed from her position, and Sisi had been installed in the Queen’s Courtyard, both were beautiful women, but one held supreme advantage over the other.

As Vestor made his way toward Ruela’s residence, a twinge of sympathy stirred within him.

Perhaps it was because he admired beauty, but he felt that Ruela’s mistake deserved a lighter punishment. Confinement or corporal discipline would have sufficed, at least she was able to keep her position.

Dismissal, however, meant disgrace.

Once she returned to her family, Ruela would be shunned. A disgraced woman would never find a mate and her family might even disown her.

Besides, it was the king who personally dismissed her, what kind of brave man would want to take her?

She would be forced to leave the kingdom or even forced to kill herself.

Vestor felt partly responsible. After all, he had been the one to suggest choosing a concubine as a figurehead.

Yet he was also angry at Ruela.

Her behavior at a banquet meant to celebrate a child had been indecent and shameful. It made him wonder if someone had been whispering poisonous ideas into her ear.

Standing before the gate of Ruela’s courtyard, Vestor sighed heavily.

"There’s no helping it," he murmured. "I’m sorry, Ruela. At the very least, I’ll ensure you’re compensated fairly."

Thus, the wise owl walked told the guard to announce his arrival to the concubine who would soon leave the palace.