Brewing Storm - Chapter 149

Similarly stunned were the three elders that stood up and loudly objected to Ramose’s decision. They rapidly blinked their eyes, unable to believe what they had just heard.

The first to return to his senses was Elder Truim, who looked at Ramose with a disappointed expression.

“King Ramose, how can you dismiss us like this? We spoke out because we were concerned about the Werewolf Clan. We spoke out because we wanted you to see reason and understand the severity of your actions. So how can you dismiss us for giving our valuable advice?”

“Heh…Elder Truim, you are delusional. What makes you think that I want your suggestions? You seem to forget. You are not my Beta Wolves. You are the Beta Wolves of past Kings. Therefore, you have no right to advise me. If anything, that area belongs to my Beta Wolves, which none of you are. So tell me, with what right are you advising me?”

“King Ramose, even if we’re not your Beta Wolves, we are elders of the Werewolf Clan! We…”

“Have no right to speak in my matters! Whether you are concerned for the Werewolf Clan or not, the Ruling Wolf Pack has no right to speak in my matters!” Ramose’s thunderous roar boomed in the purple hall as he banged on his armrest. The chandeliers above his head shook as the black wolves engraved on the wall behind his throne flickered in excitement.

The female beasts shivered and unconsciously stepped back. They had never seen the Werewolf King lose control, and now that he did, they wished to be anywhere else but the hall.

As for the performance troupe, they were too lowly to even make a noise. So they kept their heads down and nervously clenched their fists. They had already forgotten about the promised reward. At that moment, they only wished the Werewolf King wouldn’t slaughter them in a fit of rage.

“Elders of the Ruling Wolf Pack, listen to my words loud and clear. I will not repeat myself a second time. I am eternally freeing the Shapeshifting race from slavery for making my mate smile. This is my decision, my promise, and my rule which will now be the new law in the Nar realm. I am the King of the Werewolf Clan. My words, my promises, and my rules are the laws! Is that understood!?”

The elders wore ugly expressions on their faces as they unwillingly clenched their fists and lowered their heads. They felt unjustly shamed and anger brewed in their hearts.

Their King publicly humiliated them in front of lesser races. How could they not be angry? But his next words chilled them to the very core.

“Of course, if anyone isn’t satisfied with this decision of mine, then they are free to resign.”

Ramose paused and turned to his mate. His fierce expression disappeared and a never before seen adoration and gentleness overflowed from his eyes as he tenderly smiled.

“As for spoiling my mate…I purposely want to spoil her. That’s exactly why I supported her when she made a promise to every race in the realm. It is why I forced the Witches of the Tower to hand over their heirloom to her. It is why I want her to live in the Purple-Radiance Palace. And it is also why I will now release the Shapeshifting race from the bond-slave pledge.”

“For a serpentine, you are willing to go so far? She is your soulmate, true. But that doesn’t oblige you to treat her so indulgently. It doesn’t mean you can disregard the good of the Clan!” Since he got dismissed, Elder Truim saw no reason to remain quiet. He defiantly raised his head and confronted the Wolf King.

“Your actions will turn the Werewolf Clan into a laughingstock!” He roared.

“Yeah, so what?”

“So what? That’s it? So what…? You don’t feel anything at all? Knowing your actions could bring the downfall of the Werewolf clan, you don’t feel anything?” The nonchalance with which King Ramose spoke shook the elder’s heart.

As astounding and as unbelievable as it was, he felt fear.

For the first time since he began speaking with the Wolf King, he felt afraid of him. Because from his tone, he perceived the Werewolf King’s blatant disregard for the Werewolf Clan…

“Elder Truim, it seems like you still don’t get it. To see a smile on my mate’s face, I can do anything, even if it means the downfall of the Werewolf Clan. For her simile, let alone one Shapeshifting race, I can even free all the races under the Werewolf Clan’s slave-bond. For her smile, I can confront the entire Nar realm.” Closing his eyes, Ramose breathed in deeply, before fixing his cold gaze back on the stunned elder.

“If it means it will make my mate happy, Elder Truim, I am even willing to confront the Werewolf Clan. So Elder, do not test my patience. I still haven’t taken your life in consideration of you being part of the Werewolf Clan. However, brand this into your mind and heart. In fact, every beast in this hall should brand this clearly in their mind and heart…”

His sharp gaze swept over all the huddled females, trembling troupe, and spectating King’s Pack, before falling back on the speechless Ruling Wolf Pack.

“…If there ever comes a day where I’ll need to slaughter you all to make my mate smile, then…”

With a sinister smile and cold eyes, Ramose’s shocking words dropped like a hammer on their hearts.

“…I will slaughter you! If it takes severing the head of every wolf in the Underworld Palace to make her smile, I will happily and gladly behead every wolf. So Elder Truim, don’t ever bring up to me again about how my spoiling acts will make the Werewolf Clan a laughingstock. Because if necessary, let alone make the Werewolf Clan a laughingstock, I can even set the entire Underworld Palace on fire, if it means it will make my mate smile! Understand?”

Werewolf and non-werewolf alike felt an unprecedented fear seep into the depths of their hearts as a cold shiver ran down their back. They stood frozen in place, not able to utter a single word, as King Ramose’s thunderous declaration reverberated in their minds.

At long last, the tense atmosphere was broken by the King’s Pack who thunderously responded.

“WE understand, Werewolf King!” The King’s Pack enthusiastically yelled, their faces flushed with excitement and admiration as they looked at their King.

As the closest to the Werewolf King, they knew how much the Serpentine Queen meant to him. Therefore, they were unperturbed upon hearing his powerful declaration.

Standing up, Ramose grabbed the dazed Versailles’s hand and smiled.

“So beasts of the Underworld Palace, you have been warned. If my mate ever sheds a tear or any of you harm, even if it’s by mistake, there’ll be a price to pay. Lium, see to it that the Shapeshifting race gets released from the bond-slave pledge. They made my mate smile. For that, I am willing to grant them eternal freedom.”

“Yes, Werewolf King! I will take care of their affairs.” Lium bowed and turned, walking towards the dazed troupe leader.

“Troupe Leader, our King has declared his decision. From now on, you are free beasts. Follow me and I will help you settle the process.”

“Ah! Yes! Thank you for your grace, Wolf King!”

“Thank you for your grace, Wolf King!”

The performing troupe leader and his kin deferentially bowed to King Ramose and expressed their gratitude. Before they left with the Beta Wolf, they gave a final glance to the Serpentine Queen.

It was because of her that such a day arrived in their lives.

The Werewolf King gave the order for their freedom, but it was because of his deep feelings for the female beside him that he confronted even his own kin. And because of that, they, the lowest of lesser beasts, became forever free.

And for that, they wanted to forever remember the face of the Serpentine Queen of the Werewolf King, the one behind the unexpected grace.

The Ruling Wolf Pack stared at the couple on the platform. The male, garbed in black, was handsome while the female, garbed in resplendent white, was beautiful. As the two stood next to each other holding hands, they looked like a pair made in the seven heavens.

But this pair and this pairing pricked their eyes.

“Werewolf King, the affairs of the Underworld Palace has burned us for a while. I am afraid we are too tired to accompany you any longer. If we may, we will now take our leave.” Stepping in the center of the hall, the Ruling Wolf Pack bowed in unison.

“Hmmm…you make take your leave.”

“Thank you, Wolf King.” Straightening, the elders nodded and turned to leave, their straight backs and raised heads showing their determination and pride.

Ramose’s eyes narrowed as he watched the receding backs of the elders, a dark gleam flashing in their depths.

He wanted to use the tasks of his mate’s assassination, welcoming feast, and fulfillment of her promise to the Nar realm to teach the three elders a lesson. However, plans never proceeded as desired. He ended up dismissing the three before the one-week deadline.

But it was fine. From the unresigned expressions on their faces, he was certain that they wouldn’t sit still.

So what if the old trap went to waste? He can always set up a new one.

Smiling coldly, Ramose looked forward to their next clash.

“Was that necessary? It’s only a dress. I won’t die if I don’t have it.” Versailles finally spoke.

The earlier clash was too heated for her to intervene. Especially when she was a newcomer, interfering in the affairs of the Werewolf King and his elders felt highly inappropriate.

But since the matter began because of her, Versailles could not help but feel guilty. She only arrived recently, but because of her, Ramose and his Pack were in conflict. What would happen going forward?

“Whether it was necessary or not, isn’t your problem to worry about. Besides, it’s not only a dress. It is a dress that made you smile. A dress that brought the brightest smile to your face. A smile that I have ever seen. As such, its worth has no measure and its value no price.” He gently caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing over her delicate lips.

“Light, you are the most beautiful when you smile. Your eyes shine like a thousand stars were contained within their depths. Your lips curl like the gentlest of caresses. Your hair glows like the brightest of flames. And your face lits up like the most delicate of celestial lights. That’s why I love your smile and to see it every warm morning and ice night, I am willing to go to any length.”

It was the smile that stole his heart on their first meeting. Why wouldn’t he love it?

With a deep sigh, he pulled her into his arms and inhaled her scent, his warm breath blowing on her delicate skin as he closed his eyes. Her arms were his haven, her companionship his greatest boon.

She was the gift the heavens sent to him at his lowest point, in his moment of weakness and deep despair.

And he would see to it that nothing ever took her away from him.

Because a Ramose without a father and mother can live just fine. But a Ramose without Versailles was a living corpse.

She was his soul and a body without a soul was nothing but an empty shell.

Since that fateful day when she appeared in front of him, she had been with him in his every dream, every nightmare, every battle, every wish, and every desire.

She was all he could’ve asked for, all he wanted, and all he needed.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Versailles felt the truth in her mate’s heart, pounding as strong and certain as the bond that endlessly vibrated between them. Her eyes teared and she melted into his warm embrace.

Since her rebirth in the Sybil realm, it was the first time that she felt at home.

The dream of home she held dear, closely protected, and then decisively abandoned because of her hopeless situation and bleak future seemed to suddenly be realized in her mate’s embrace.

“Ramose…?”

“Hmm…?”

“It’s good to be home.. Home is warm.”