Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 136: A Hint of Gold (II)

"Something for me?" Jojo’s ears perked up and twitched. He looked at Sisi with eyes sparkling with excitement. "What is it? Is it because I’ve been a good boy? Is it food? Something else? I want your roasted mushrooms again, Sisi!"

Sisi laughed at how excited he was—his tail was already wagging left and right. "It’s a surprise. It’ll be done in about a week."

"Aww, but I want to know now..." Jojo pouted, hoping it would soften her enough to reveal at least a hint.

"No chance," Sisi giggled. "Don’t worry. You’ll like it. Consider it an early gift for your upcoming birthday, alright?"

"Then will you give me another gift on my birthday too?"

"You want two gifts now?" Sisi sighed exaggeratedly. "How greedy can you be?"

Then she smiled. "But fine. I’ll prepare something for your birthday as well."

"Yay! Sisi, you’re the best!" Jojo hugged her waist tightly and nuzzled his cheek against her stomach.

Sisi patted his shoulder, unaware that a faint glimmer of gold flickered briefly in his eyes.

’Sisi is the best!’ Jojo thought. ’I want her to stay. Even if I have to do something bad... Sisi has to stay with me.’

Jojo spent the rest of the morning eating breakfast beside Sisi as she worked on her new dress. He kept glancing between her hands and her face, growing bored as she focused quietly while giving Jojo absentminded answer whenever Jojo wanted to grab her attention.

Jojo hopped off his chair, he wanted to do something else while Sisi was busy with her needlework. He thought that wandering the garden would be nice. But before he could do that, he spotted the familiar owl rushing toward the pavilion.

"Oh! Uncle Vestor!" Jojo called out. "What are you doing here?"

Vestor was short of breath, having hurried all the way from the throne room. He was terrified that if he wasted even a moment, Garou might already be dead.

"M-My Prince," Vestor said as he dropped to one knee, "may I know where Mistress Sisi is? I must speak with her—this is urgent."

"Oh! Sisi—!" Jojo ran back toward her to relay the message.

Sisi frowned, set her needlework aside, and stood.

She approached Vestor, who was still kneeling outside the pavilion. "Is something wrong with the King?"

She assumed this had to do with Kael, since Kael just couldn’t give her a break after having to climb up and down a summit just to wake the sleeping wolf.

"M-Mistress," Vestor said urgently, "the King is about to engage in a death match with one of his warriors at the training grounds!"

Sisi’s frown deepened.

"There was a misunderstanding during the morning court," Vestor continued. "A panther warrior defied the King’s authority."

Sisi straightened as she was relieved that it didn’t involve her this time.

She had already decided she would not involve herself in the Beast Court. All she wanted was to care for Jojo, watch him grow, and then leave.

"That is not my concern," she said calmly. "The Beast Court has its own laws. I trust that the King is wise enough to enforce the rules he created."

She added evenly, "Defying a king’s command is punishable by death—even in human kingdoms. That warrior must have greatly offended him to be given a death sentence."

Vestor froze.

He hadn’t expected such composure from the Mistress.

Sisi wasn’t acting on emotion at all, she was frighteningly rational despite showing a great care for the little prince. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Knowing that half-truths would only worsen the situation, Vestor finally confessed, "Mistress... the court believes you are a witch."

Sisi didn’t react.

"And witches are considered our natural enemies. Garou is just a young man who became wary of your power. He spoke out because he didn’t want you near the palace," Vestor continued. "The King took offense and decided to kill him to make an example."

Now that changed things.

Sisi had no desire to involve herself in the court, but she refused to be the reason someone died.

And after hearing the cause of the death match, she realized Kael was overreacting.

So what if they feared her? She was a witch. She had never intended to be liked—by anyone other than Jojo in this kingdom, and she was more than willing to leave if she had to.

"Then what do you want me to do?" Sisi asked.

"Mistress, please stop the King," Vestor pleaded. "Garou idolizes him. Killing such a loyal subordinate will shatter morale within the court."

Sisi exhaled slowly. "Alright. Take me to the training grounds. I’ll stop him myself."

She turned to follow Vestor, but Jojo suddenly tugged at her skirt.

"Sisi," he said, "why do you have to go? Daddy is right..."

"Your Daddy is overreacting," Sisi said gently. "He’s taking a life over me. Besides, I am a witch. that panther named Garou wasn’t wrong to be cautious."

"But you never hurt me!" Jojo protested. "Daddy is protecting you! They shouldn’t be scared of you!"

"This isn’t about fear," Sisi sighed. "It’s about your Daddy killing someone because of it."

She crouched slightly. "Jojo, go rest in my room. Call Diane if you need anything."

"No!" Jojo shook his head fiercely. "I want to go with you! Daddy isn’t wrong. He’s defending you!"

Jojo’s stubbornness left no room for argument. Sisi didn’t want Jojo to throw a tantrum while she was away.

So, she turned to Vestor. "Has the match started?"

"N-Not yet, Mistress. But if we don’t hurry—"

"Then lead the way," Sisi said decisively as she lifted Jojo into her arms. "Let’s go."

"Yes, Mistress!"

Jojo clung tightly to her neck.

Despite his bravado, he was scared.

He didn’t care if his father killed the panther. In his mind, anyone who opposed Sisi was a threat.

Daddy always said enemies should be eliminated before they grew dangerous.

Wasn’t this the same? His father wanted to kill that panther for insulting Sisi!

If Jojo had the strength, he would also do the same!

For the third time, a brilliant flicker of gold flashed in Jojo’s dark blue eyes.

And vanished after a second.