The Author's POV

"Akhhh!"

Feeling something stab her in the abdominal area, Angelica let out a sharp wail. The pain was unbearable, and when she looked up, she was met with two mercilessly cold eyes that seemed to disregard her completely.

Such gaze…

They weren't something she was unfamiliar with. This was how she had been looked at throughout her entire life.

'Yes… This is how it should be.'

It was only now that she felt comfortable looking back at her mother.

What she was seeing was the mother she grew up seeing.

"You've finally shown your real self."

"Still talking?"

"Akgh."

Feeling something pull at her hair, Angelica felt her body rise from the spot, and her expression distorted out of pain. Still, she tried her best to keep her gaze locked on her mother.

"The… kh… only reason you even bothered 'caring' about me is because everyone else died, right?"

In reality, Angelica wasn't the only one that her mother had given birth to. She used to have seven other siblings, all of whom were more talented than her.

The key word was 'used to'.

They were no longer here.

"The only reason… you even cared about me in the first place is because I'm the only one left, right?"

Her word seemed to have struck a chord with her mother, as Angelica suddenly found herself smacked against one of the pillars once again.

Bang—!

She felt the wind get knocked out of her, and an intense pain radiated to her chest. Even so, she didn't let it show on her face as she continued.

"You're desperate… You're clearly aware that the other elders are trying to covet your position, and without a succ—"

Bang—!

She was once again smacked against the pillar. This time, with more force, the pillar crumbled down.

Rumble—!

Dust rose within the sturdy halls, and Angelica finally felt her mother let go of her. When everything settled, Angelica struggled to raise her head, but when she did, she was met with two eyes that seemed to disregard her completely, and an open palm slowly reached out for her.

"Since you don't wish to keep your life, then I don't see why there's a need for you to keep it."

Something dreadful suddenly manifested on the palm and was directed right at Angelica. In that short instant, Angelica understood that her life was coming to an end, and she closed her eyes.

Instead of feeling sad, she felt rather liberated.

She had finally managed to say what she wanted to say to her. Although she wouldn't get to live much longer, she knew that 'he' would settle everything for her soon.

The energy approached her and slowly crept into her body. Angelica slowly felt her existence crumble apart, but just as she was about to lose consciousness, she managed to hear a couple of faint words from the distance.

"Stop."

It was a voice she was familiar with, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Smallsnake staring at them with an expressionless look.

how he usually was, and it reminded Angelica of the time when she first saw him

looked like a

"Strategist?"

power that was seeping into her body stopped at

should know that even if His Majesty treasures you…

"That's not it."

head, confusing everyone that was within

from Angelica and looked at

what is

but the

He looked at Angelica.

really keep all of the elders from revolting against you after her death? Can you really stop them from coveting your seat of honor? I'm not speaking to you as her acquaintance; I'm

and while there was no power in it, his

I can't be

eyes suddenly squinted, and his

think will happen when his Majesty comes to learn of

"Is that a threat?"

at his words. The room started to tremble as power seeped out of her

the slightest and stared at

and everyone else's

"It is a threat."

his hair fell on top of

that

"Ha…"

was beyond furious at the moment. Her expressions kept changing, and the power

managed to calm herself down and

"Very well."

that was radiating

the strategist has spoken, I'll

her 'but' and everyone held their

let her live, but on the condition that her core gets crippled

to look

sounds fair,

"That…"

unsure of how to respond. Angelica's expression

die than be crippled and give

further. You choose which option. Either she dies, or

understood that there was no more compromising. Neither option was good, and

"Don—"

room trembled and everyone felt

Cr… Crack!

a crack suddenly appeared, and a hazy black figure walked out of

Tap.

echoed within the hall, and almost everyone within the hall turned to

entire room

"..."

few people lit up the moment the figure came in, and a dreadful aura

even made Princess Lilith

'Ren…'

different than he usually did, Angelica recognized

here, maybe… maybe things could

***

in there. Despite that, I transported myself directly to where Angelica and

another situation to occur, and thus, even if it broke

on the condition that her core gets crippled and she births at least one successor

room, I heard

sounds fair,