Hugrey was not completely unable to understand the tribe’s anguish and hesitation regarding the possibility of war, and there were parts that he could predict to some extent.

Hugrey himself found this absurd situation preposterous. The lion cub had gone mad, and even though he knew it was an absurd situation, he had no choice but to make inevitable decisions.

However, even so, the fact that the tribe did not obey the Alpha’s orders meant that they no longer considered him their Alpha.

“He is criticizing Lady Chloe for being an unprepared mate. Although she is a tiger shapeshifter, it has become known that she was helplessly attacked by the assassination squad, casting doubt on her abilities as a shapeshifter and even whether she can give birth to an Alpha.”

Hugrey glared at Joyce. Even though he knew Joyce was doing his role of reporting the results of the wolf shapeshifter tribe’s meeting, it was difficult to quell his anger.

“If Chloe dies, I will die too. So does my tribe want the Alpha’s death? Do they want a change of Alpha?”

“That doesn’t seem to be the case. Your Highness is stronger than any Alpha so far…”

“It doesn’t make sense. They deny my mate while acknowledging me as the Alpha. I cannot accept their contradiction. So go and tell them. Denying my mate is denying me. And if they don’t change their stance, tell them I will act as a mere wolf shapeshifter before being an Alpha.”

Gloom rose on Joyce’s face.

“If they don’t come to rescue my mate, I will go alone to save her. The peace treaty between shapeshifters and the position of Alpha no longer hold any meaning to me. Convey that and bring back their answer. Tell them I’m giving them one last chance.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Joyce left the outer palace with a darker face than ever before, Hugrey returned to Chloe, paying closer attention to the attack routes and escape routes within the imperial palace that he had always considered.

Just as Reina Tilbes predicted, Hugrey abandoned the tribe and chose Chloe. It was natural. He had chosen Chloe over the tribe even when he knew her as a man. Even before he knew it was imprinting.

Joyce’s face was incomparably dark as he returned to Royzen.

The Duke declared that he would abandon the wolf shapeshifter tribe and choose his mate. In any case, the Duke was a being who could not live without a mate, so in a way, it could be considered a natural declaration. Telling a wolf shapeshifter to abandon their mate and choose the tribe was the same as telling them to just die.

Nevertheless, Joyce was angry. At the fact that his lord chose Chloe Liden without any hesitation or anguish.

He was no longer loyal to the wolf tribe.

Following the Duke in the first place was a natural choice given to him like a family business. However, as time passed with the Duke, his loyalty to him became sincere. Because his lord was perfect both in terms of ability and character.

Chloe Liden was an unsuitable mate for such a lord. A mate who was originally a cross-dressing servant. Of course, it was later revealed that her original status was a tiger shapeshifter princess, but the fact that she was a tiger shapeshifter was just as unpleasant.

There were quite a few ancestors in his family who were killed by tiger shapeshifters. As a result, the rejection and hatred towards tiger shapeshifters felt like emotions engraved in his genes. Just thinking about them made his teeth grind, but of all the tribes, a woman from that tribe became his lord’s mate.

Nevertheless, Joyce tried to be loyal to Chloe Liden as well. Because the Duke could not do without Chloe Liden. Protecting Chloe Liden was the same as protecting the Duke.

Even while giving such instructions, Reina Tilbes did not show determined will, but was as nonchalant as someone getting rid of a bothersome step. As if she already knew what answer Joyce would bring back and would move on to the next step as soon as she heard that answer.

Joyce could not attend the meeting of the wolf shapeshifter elders, and the results of the meeting were kept strictly confidential, so he could only hear and convey the results. However, judging from Reina Tilbes’ attitude, it was clear that some other important words were exchanged at the meeting.

What would be the next step?

He couldn’t know, but he could vaguely guess. When conveying the meeting results, Reina Tilbes only said they could not accept the mate, but never mentioned replacing the Alpha.

The Duke took the two as having the same meaning, but would that really be the case?

Until now, he had never reported falsehoods or concealed the truth from his lord. But this time, he did not convey his doubts and vague premonitions to the Duke. Because as he was now, he could not judge which side would be better for the Duke.

And one more thing.

He also did not convey the fact that Reina Tilbes’ subordinates had been inquiring about something in Bergen, where Chloe Liden used to live, before the coronation banquet of the Traskan Emperor. He even dulled his lord’s sharp intuition with talk of King Tuscan and Reina Tilbes’ marriage. Because if his lord tried to kill Reina Tilbes now, nothing would help him.

He was not on the side of the wolf shapeshifter tribe or Chloe Liden, but only for Hugrey Ulpaz, his lord. So for what would happen in the future, he had no choice but to act according to his own judgment. He would choose the path that could keep his lord as he should be.

Reina Tilbes looked at Tuscan Staxton and swallowed her disgust, forcing a smile.

“So the wolf shapeshifter tribe will kill my cousin sister instead of me?”

As if knowing or not knowing such Reina, King Staxton’s face was already filled with satisfaction.

“Yes. But since it breaks the taboo of the wolf shapeshifter tribe, it will be officially announced that the Tigrium King killed her. You only need to remain silent on our announcement.”

“Honestly, it’s not a bad offer for me, but then what does the wolf shapeshifter tribe gain?”

As expected, he would ask like this.

“We want a change of Alpha. After imprinting on an unqualified woman, Hugrey Ulpaz said he would abandon our tribe and choose that woman. We cannot have an Alpha who abandoned the tribe as our leader.”

Reina smoothly laid out the answer she had already prepared.

“So since it’s difficult to kill the Alpha, you’ll kill his imprinted partner instead, is that it?”

“You catch on quickly. If the imprinted partner dies, the Alpha won’t be able to use his strength anyway.”

“How do you plan to kill that woman? Even I failed.”

“I’ll take care of that. Your Majesty, you can get what you want by just watching silently and keeping quiet on our announcement.”

“You’re a scary woman.”

“If you don’t like me because I’m scary, you can take back your marriage proposal. I don’t care.”

Reina Tilbes immediately retorted, tired of acting to please this king’s taste.

“No, I like scary women.”

What a pervert.

Reina had to clench her molars to hold back her face from contorting as she looked at the old Tuscan’s face.

“Then I’ll take the negotiation as settled and be on my way. I have a lot of work left to do.”

“But you know, there’s one more thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it this time?”

Reina Tilbes was irritated by King Staxton nitpicking at a done deal.

“About the Alpha. Who will become the next Alpha of your tribe? When Duke Ulpaz dies, that is.”

“…Who knows. We haven’t decided that yet.”

Why is he curious about another tribe’s Alpha? Reina Tilbes, who had no intention of killing Duke Ulpaz or changing the Alpha, was at a loss for words at Staxton’s sharp question.

It was also because she couldn’t think of a suitable person to even roughly mention. After all, Duke Ulpaz’s overwhelming presence was no joke. Who could replace such a person?

“If there is a wolf shapeshifter among the children born between you and me, that kid could become the next Alpha, but until then, there needs to be a suitable Alpha to lead the wolf tribe. Before they all go extinct, I mean.”

That crazy bastard king!

Reina Tilbes had to try her best to hold back the urge to blast away Staxton’s face as he carelessly uttered what was close to a curse.

Moreover, a child born from marrying that old man. Just imagining it made her want to vomit.

This king seemed to dream of his bloodline devouring not only the tiger shapeshifter tribe but also the wolf shapeshifter tribe.

His dream was not just meticulous, it seemed like he was going senile. Honestly, he shouldn’t be that old yet.

‘The child born between me and Duke Ulpaz will become the next Alpha, and until then, you won’t even be able to see your own child and will only worry about the extinction of the tiger shapeshifter royal family, you old tiger bastard!’

However, she could only swallow her blatant true feelings. In any case, it was more convenient in many ways to humor this King Staxton for now.

“What a reasonable plan, Your Majesty. However, regarding the next Alpha, I will need to discuss it with the elders of our tribe. It is not something I can decide alone.”

“Hmm… Beautiful Reina Tilbes, I wish you good luck. I hope you can finish the work as soon as possible and start preparing for the marriage with me. I am getting old, you see.”

“Yes, sir.”

Reina Tilbes didn’t want to be with this king for even one more second. Thinking it would be best to answer quickly and leave, she replied without further ado and hurriedly left the Tigrium royal palace. Now she had to go to Lyon, where the imperial palace of Elaion was located.

From now on, it was time to be wide awake. The Duke’s mating season was about a week away. She had to wrap up everything within that time.