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

a

"Strategist?"

that was seeping into her body stopped at his voice, and

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

"That's not it."

shook his head, confusing everyone that was within

moved her hand away from Angelica and looked at him with a serious

what

but the moment that you kill

He looked at Angelica.

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

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

that's the same as seeding chaos within the Clan of Lust, and I can't be

squinted, and his voice

you think will happen when his Majesty comes to learn of your actions

"Is that a threat?"

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

he didn't waver in the

and everyone else's

"It is a threat."

hair fell on

that was obvious

"Ha…"

at the moment. Her expressions kept changing, and the

herself down and nod her

"Very well."

a deep breath, all of the power that was radiating from her body calmed down, and the

I'll do as they've

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

that her core gets crippled and she births at least

turned to look

sounds fair, doesn't

"That…"

unsure of how to

crippled and give birth to a

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

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

"Don—"

room trembled

Cr… Crack!

appeared, and a

Tap.

everyone within the

entire room fell

"..."

of a few people lit up the moment the figure came

overbearing that it even made Princess Lilith

'Ren…'

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

him here, maybe… maybe things could be

***

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

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

her core gets crippled and she births at

room, I heard

fair, doesn't