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 different

"Strategist?"

was seeping into her body stopped at his voice, and her mother turned her

know that even

"That's not it."

confusing everyone that

Princess moved her hand away from Angelica and looked at

Then what is

not that I don't want you to kill her, but the moment that you kill her, the Lust clan will fall

He looked at Angelica.

all of the elders from

there was no power in it, his words felt very commanding.

Lust, and I can't be having that at this very moment. Not when his Majesty is about to complete his long and

eyes suddenly squinted, and his

will happen when his Majesty comes

"Is that a threat?"

his words. The room started to tremble as power seeped out of her body and she headed

in the slightest and stared

the moment… in Angelica's and everyone else's eyes, he looked

"It is a threat."

hair fell on top

thought that

"Ha…"

kept changing, and the power that radiated out of her body undulated with a certain ferocity that made it difficult for

managed to calm herself down and nod her

"Very well."

the power that was radiating from her body calmed down, and

the strategist has spoken, I'll

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

core gets crippled and

to look at Smallsnake

sounds fair, doesn't

"That…"

his mouth, Smallsnake seemed unsure of how to

crippled and give

You choose which option. Either she dies, or I cripple

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

"Don—"

room trembled

Cr… Crack!

a hazy black figure

Tap.

the hall, and almost everyone within the hall turned

entire room fell

"..."

the moment the figure came in, and a dreadful

even made Princess Lilith wear a

'Ren…'

he looked different than he usually did, Angelica recognized

him here, maybe… maybe things

***

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

if it broke my body, I chose to teleport myself

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

into the room, I heard faint

sounds fair, doesn't