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.

demeanor was a stark contrast to how he usually was, and it reminded Angelica of the time when she first saw

a completely

"Strategist?"

stopped at

in my matters? You should know that even if His Majesty treasures you… you can't

"That's not it."

confusing everyone that

from Angelica and looked at him

Then what is

you to kill her, but the moment that you kill her, the Lust clan will fall

He looked at Angelica.

you understand perfectly what will happen if she were to die at this moment. Can you 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

and while there was no power in it, his words felt very commanding. Almost as if there

can't be having that at this very moment. Not

suddenly squinted, and his

will happen when his Majesty comes to learn of your

"Is that a threat?"

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

didn't waver in the

Angelica's and

"It is a threat."

as his hair fell on top

thought that was

"Ha…"

moment. Her expressions kept changing, and the power that radiated out of her body undulated with a certain ferocity that made it difficult for those within

to calm herself down and

"Very well."

a deep breath, all of the power that was radiating from her

I'll do

hall quieted down at her 'but' and everyone held their breath. Turning her head, Princess Lillith,

let her live, but on the condition that her core gets crippled and she births at least

look

sounds fair,

"That…"

Smallsnake seemed unsure of how to respond.

die than be crippled and give birth to a

choose which option. Either she dies, or I cripple her and have her make

no more compromising.

"Don—"

as the room trembled and everyone felt

Cr… Crack!

appeared, and a hazy black figure walked out of

Tap.

everyone within the hall turned to

entire room fell

"..."

figure came in, and a

overbearing that it even made Princess Lilith

'Ren…'

he looked different than he usually did, Angelica recognized him immediately and breathed in

maybe… maybe

***

I could feel my body barely hanging in there. Despite that, I transported myself directly to where Angelica and the

situation to occur, and thus, even if it broke my body,

her live, but on the condition that her core gets crippled and she

the room,

fair,