Chapter 22

Under normal circumstances, Ririka would have easily agreed. But not now.

Ririka's expression darkened. Rudia said,

"Mom wants to pick for you. Okay?"

Ririka's gaze fell to her knees and then rose again.

"Mother."

"Okay."

"I want Laub to continue guarding me."

It was a polite refusal. Rudia was surprised. Her daughter had always been a good girl who followed her mother's words with a "Yes."

'But this one...!'

Rudia glared at Laub, who was standing back.

'He will go bad in a year.'

After being expelled from the royal guard, he lost his mind and went on a rampage a year later, becoming a target for the Wolf family's extermination.

At that time, she had just started to put her foot in the Barat Dukedom and could only hear the story in passing.

There was nothing more enjoyable than gossiping about the Wolf family, who were close to the royal family.

Because of that incident, the head of the Wolf family, Tan Wolf, had to step down from his position as the captain of the royal guard.

So when she heard that Ririka had chosen Laub Wolf as her guard, she rushed over.

'But she doesn't want to?'

Rudia firmly held Ririka's hand and said,

"Mom is worried about you. He's not even a knight. Why him, of all people? Okay? Listen to mom."

"For your own good."

Ririka looked at Laub and then back at her mother.

"I understand what you're saying, Mother. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia pushed away Ririka's hand, which was holding her skirt.

"I don't like it when you don't listen to me, Riri."

Ririka was startled and let go, clutching her skirt tightly with both hands. Rudia hoped that Ririka would surrender.

'I've worked so hard for you—'

Ririka's small hands turned white from gripping her skirt, and she lifted her head with trembling shoulders. Her eyes were moist with tears.

"Mother, I..."

Rudia's expression softened.

'It's better to suffer a little now than to regret it deeply later.'

At that moment, Breen approached and knelt beside Ririka, taking her tightly clenched hand.

He bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, may I suggest you hear the Princess's reasons?"

Rudia felt Ririka's face relax. Her daughter's small hand gripped Breen's tightly.

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Really? Why?"

Rudia was still frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia pushed away Ririka's hand, which was holding her skirt.

"I don't like it when you don't listen to me, Riri."

Ririka was startled and let go, clutching her skirt tightly with both hands. Rudia hoped that Ririka would surrender.

'I've worked so hard for you—'

Ririka's small hands turned white from gripping her skirt, and she lifted her head with trembling shoulders. Her eyes were moist with tears.

"Mother, I..."

Rudia's expression softened.

'It's better to suffer a little now than to regret it deeply later.'

At that moment, Breen approached and knelt beside Ririka, taking her tightly clenched hand.

He bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, may I suggest you hear the Princess's reasons?"

Rudia felt Ririka's face relax. Her daughter's small hand gripped Breen's tightly.

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Are you worried about me, Riri? He's not even a knight. Why him, of all people? Okay? Listen to mom."

"For your own good."

Ririka looked at Laub and then back at her mother.

"I understand what you're saying, Mother. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Are you worried about me, Riri? He's not even a knight. Why him, of all people? Okay? Listen to mom."

"For your own good."

Rudia felt a pang of guilt. Her daughter had always been a good girl who followed her mother's words with a "Yes."

'But this one...!'

Rudia felt a lump in her throat. She didn't want to be the kind of mother who only wanted a well-behaved daughter.

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up. It was hard to contain her anger.

"I'll take care of it."

"Mother, please don't. Okay?"

Rudia took Ririka's hand and said,

"Mother, I understand what you're saying. But I trust Laub."

"Based on what?"

Rudia felt frustrated. She didn't understand why her daughter was suddenly so stubborn.

Where did she pick up this bad habit?

"I like Laub."

"No. Mom says no. Choose someone else."

Rudia stood up