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

a

"Strategist?"

was seeping into her body stopped at his voice,

you meddling in my matters? You should know that even if

"That's not it."

everyone that was

Angelica and looked at

Then what

to kill her, but the

He looked at Angelica.

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 not speaking to you as her acquaintance;

his voice deepened, and while there was no power in it, his words felt very commanding.

and I can't be having that at this very moment. Not when his Majesty is about

eyes suddenly squinted, and

when his Majesty comes to learn of your

"Is that a threat?"

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

pressure, he didn't waver in the slightest and stared at

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

"It is a threat."

as his hair fell on top

that was

"Ha…"

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

eventually managed to calm herself down and nod

"Very well."

deep breath, all of the power that was radiating

I'll do

held their breath. Turning

core gets crippled and she births at least one successor for my

look at

sounds fair,

"That…"

mouth, Smallsnake seemed unsure of how to respond. Angelica's expression distorted

crippled and give

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

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

"Don—"

as the room trembled and

Cr… Crack!

a hazy black figure walked out

Tap.

almost everyone within the hall turned to

room

"..."

eyes of a few people lit up the moment the figure came in, and a dreadful aura suddenly enveloped every

so overbearing that it even made Princess

'Ren…'

he usually did, Angelica recognized him immediately

maybe… maybe things

***

of me hurt, and I could feel my body barely hanging in there. Despite that, I

occur, and thus, even if it broke my

but on the condition that her core gets crippled and she

into the room, I heard

fair, doesn't