Chapter 39 The door slammed loudly as it was kicked open . The palace maids and chamberlains stood off to the side with their heads bowed , not daring to breathe too loudly . It was as if even a single extra breath might cost them their lives . Throughout their time at court, no one from the harem had ever seen the king lose his temper like this . " Your Majesty , please calm yourself ! " Ruth exclaimed as she rushed forward , reaching out to steady him . But before she could touch him , Wilfred raised his hand and struck her hard across the face . Ruth collapsed to the floor , stunned and dazed . Never before , in all her years in the palace , had she ever been struck like this . For a moment , she wondered if she was dreaming . Wilfred had actually struck her . " My lady ! " Anna cried out in anguish and hurried to help her up . But neither mistress nor servant dared utter another word . Anna glanced at the other servants , who caught her meaning and began to lower their heads to slip away quietly . " No one leaves this room ! " Wilfred shouted angrily . " The palace maids and chamberlains trembled with fear , not daring to take even half a step forward . Tears streamed down Ruth's face . " Your Majesty , what have I done wrong ? Must you humiliate me like this in front of them ?" Wilfred's gaze hardened . " Now you care about your reputation ? " He strode over and sat down heavily , letting out a cold snort . " You worry about your own dignity , but what of others ? Is your pride more important than someone else's reputation ? You can't bear being stuck even once , yet the wounds you deal to others with your words are sharper than any blade . " Have you never stopped to think they might break under it too ? Is your life the only one that matters ? What about theirs ? " Ruth opened her mouth to explain , but didn't dare say anything under his piercing stare . Andrew , who had accompanied the king , glanced around the room before saying , " Everyone , go about your duties . 11 Ultimately , this was Wilfred's private affair . But with so many people having witnessed it , would he need to silence them all by morning ? The commotion was too dangerous and couldn't be allowed to go on . At last , the palace maids and chamberlains slipped away . Ruth's voice was hoarse when she said , " Your Majesty , you have wronged me . I have done nothing- " Wilfred fixed her with a sharp , icy stare . " I don't concern myself with the affairs of the harem , but do you truly take me for a fool ? " Her eyes widening in fear , Ruth dropped to her knees . Anna knelt beside her , trembling . Ruth opened her mouth to explain again , but Andrew interrupted , " My lady , I have already ordered an 1/2 Chapter 39 +25 BONUS investigation . The rumors about Lady Campbell and Prince Frederick only began circulating today . " They spread like wildfire . It took no more than half a day before word spread through every street and alley in the capital . The palace is no different . Apart from Her Majesty's quarters in Serenity Palace , every other residence in the harem knows of it . " With each word Andrew spoke , Ruth's heart sank further . She hadn't expected that news released only today would provoke a swift and decisive counterattack from Selena , who seemed delicate and fragile . If she had waited another three or four days , there would have been no proof left at all . Frederick had said Selena was the most formidable strategist he had ever met , and now , Ruth was beginning to understand just how true that was . She swore she would get her revenge on Selena for this ! Ruth clenched her fists in secret , then lifted her head to look at Wilfred , her face filled with sorrow . " Your Majesty , I had no choice . Freya turned on her own kin and helped Fred eradicate the remnants of the Talmar clan . Fred was grateful for her service , so he took her in when she was left with nothing . " But Lena is so narrow - minded . She can't bear to have another woman near Fred . He is a prince of the realm . In the future , his wife will not be the only woman beside him . How can Lena manage the entire estate with such pettiness ? " Tears rolled down Ruth's cheeks , her voice growing even more hoarse as she continued , " I just wanted her to understand that being part of the royal family means you can't always act on your own whims . There are consequences for throwing tantrums . Maybe my methods were wrong , but my intentions were sincere ! Please see that clearly , Your Majesty ! "