Chapter 32 Weakness
Richard's POV:
Unfortunately, Rufus came before I could do anything.
He grabbed Cherry's hand and snapped her bones. Then, he effortlessly crippled my two attendants. After assaulting our people, he took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around the disheveled slave, pulling her into his arms.
He pursed his lips and glared at us, trying not to reveal his emotions. I could tell that he cared about his slave a lot.
"Hello, Rufus," I greeted him.
Rufus glanced at me with piercing coldness which sent a shiver down my spine.
But I didn't stop. I walked up to Rufus and deliberately provoked him, "You know this slave? She seemed very disobedient."
"Richard!" Rufus' face darkened. I could see the anger blazing in his eyes.
"Rufus, I think you must have misunderstood me. I didn't know that she was your slave." I stepped closer and looked him in the eye. "But it's true that she made trouble in front of the Royal Military School. Father handed me the most important task of taking charge of the Royal Military School. I can't ignore the chaos, can I?"
I pretended to be helpless. Rufus looked at me and remained silent.
Hearing my words, the werewolves began to
echo with me.
"That's right, Prince Rufus. It's a misunderstanding. We didn't know she was yours."
"Yes. Besides, this slave is so strong and powerful that she overturned many werewolves at once."
"Yes. She has hurt several werewolves."
"If we knew she belonged to you, we wouldn't have fought back."
The law couldn't punish many offenders. As long as everyone gave a unified testimony to blame the ignoble slave, Rufus had no choice but to endure the loss regardless of how angry he was. Rufus glared at everyone. The other werewolves quieted down in an instant. They held their breaths and dared not to look up.
Finally, Rufus turned around and looked at me. "Don't do it again."
With that, he picked the slave in his arms and left, not bothering to look back at me.
I was in a good mood, so I didn't care about his attitude.
I looked at his back as I saw him walk away, holding his slave in his arms. My heart bubbled with excitement and joy because I found that the omnipotent Prince Rufus finally had a fatal weakness. Sylvia's POV:
Rufus carried me in his arms. I buried my head in his chest and didn't utter a word on the way. I hadn't recovered from the humiliation. Although my anger had subsided, I was still confused and depressed. Surviving in this world wasn't easy.
I closed my eyes and let the tears tumble down my cheek. I quickly turned my head to make sure Rufus didn't notice I was crying.
"I'm sorry," Rufus said.
I didn't respond because I didn't know what to say. He didn't do anything wrong. It was all my fault. Being weak was my greatest sin.
"It was my fault this time. I'll make sure no one bullies you in the future," Rufus promised.
My mind was in a mess; I didn't know how to react. I leaned closer and nestled against his chest.
Rufus carried me into the room and gently put me on the bed as if I were a fragile porcelain doll.
"I want to be alone for a while." I pleaded.
Rufus nodded. "My room is right next door. Call me if you need anything."
He reached out to touch my head but immediately withdrew his hand. There was undisguised restraint and forbearance in his deep eyes.
"Rest well."
He left the room.
I took a deep breath and tried to vent my emotions. Tears streamed out of my eyes like a torrent.
I couldn't suppress the sadness building in my heart. I clamped my mouth because I didn't want Rufus to hear me cry. I was already embarrassed today and didn't want him to sympathize with me. "My dear, don't cry. I feel bad too." I could hear Yana cry in my mind.
"It's nothing. I want to vent my emotions." A burp escaped my lips. I couldn't understand why Yana was crying more miserably than me.
"My heart breaks when you cry." Yana hadn't stopped crying. Her voice seemed to have become husky from all the crying.
"I'm not crying now. You stop it too, okay?" I coaxed her helplessly.
"I... I want to be stronger. Those who bullied you deserve to die," Yana sobbed.
"Besides, Rufus cares a lot about you. He was so nervous that he didn't notice his disheveled clothes and hair when he came to you. He is the forever elegant Prince Rufus. No one would believe even if we told them he had done such a thing."
Yana started chattering again.
I rubbed my temples and let out a weary sigh. "It looks like I have become a burden to him. The incident today made me realize how weak I am. Even though Rufus protected me this time, others would continue to regard me as a slave whom they can trample on at will."
"They went too far this time. You didn't provoke them in any way," Yana barked.
"The law of the jungle applies to the whole world. I will get into trouble even if I don't provoke anyone, simply because I am weaker. Avenging my mother's death seemed like a distant dream now." I couldn't help but laugh at my incompetence.
I stroked my long hair as I remembered how my mother gently combed my hair and took care of me when I was a child. I used to have silky golden locks. But they had turned rough and lifeless after years of neglect.
I got up from the bed and asked softly, "Yana, do you want to be stronger?"
"Yes!"
I went to the table to pick up the scissors.
"Sylvia! What're you doing? Calm down," Yana screamed in horror.
Just then, Rufus pushed the door open and stormed in.