Chapter 5

I made it inside the mountain palace and met Kael Stormwind face to face.

He wasn't as old as I'd imagined. Even though a hooded black cloak covered most of his face, he gave off the feeling of a cold, aloof young man. He was distant, keeping me at arm's length, only telling me to help care for those disabled beastmen.

But I believed this was a good start. As long as I never left the mountain palace, Lily's schemes against me would fall apart on their own.

And Lily moved even faster than she had in my past life. The very next day, I felt a wave of pregnancy energy enter my belly. My dear sister sure worked fast, having an affair on the very first day of her new marriage. I sensed it, this time she'd been with a ratman. She'd clearly chosen the beast that could reproduce the fastest, wanting to get me thrown out of Lord Stormwind's side as soon as possible, before he actually took an interest in me.

I activated my Bloodline Evolution talent immediately. If nothing went wrong, what I'd birth this time wouldn't be an ordinary ratman, but a griffin.

Over the next few days, I stayed on edge, wanting to tell Lord Stormwind the truth, but afraid he'd kick me out before I could give birth. Luckily, he didn't pay much attention to me. Even when my belly started to swell slightly, he didn't seem to notice.

But ten days later.

Lily and Tyron showed up at the mountain palace with a troop of beast soldiers. Ratmen had a very short gestation period, only ten days. Lily had clearly timed it perfectly.

She shouted from outside the palace gates. "Oh, my dear sister, what am I supposed to say about you? A few days ago I saw you sneaking off with a ratman, and now I sense you're pregnant. You didn't actually get knocked up by some lowly ratman bloodline, did you?"

Lord Stormwind, who'd been nearby, instinctively looked at my belly. When he saw the slight swell, his brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't question me.

Lily kept yelling outside. "Seraphina, get out here and let me check. I can't let you embarrass all of humanity!"

Soon after, Tyron's voice joined in. "Lord Stormwind, I'm going to check whether Seraphina is pure or not! If you don't bring her out, I'll have my soldiers storm the palace!"

Tyron, arrogant in his position as the wolf alpha heir, clearly didn't take Lord Stormwind seriously, thinking he was old and weak.

I couldn't let them catch me. I had every reason to believe that once they saw my pregnant belly, they'd cut me open to see what beast I was carrying. And the baby inside hadn't evolved yet, still a ratman. I'd have no way to defend myself.

I looked at Lord Stormwind in desperation, tears welling up in my eyes. I pleaded, "Lord Stormwind, please believe me. I haven't done anything wrong. It's all because of our human system talent—"

Before I could finish, he raised a hand to stop me. He walked straight to the palace gates.

When Lord Stormwind came out alone, Tyron immediately demanded, "Where's that whore Seraphina?"

Lily chimed in right beside him. "She's definitely carrying some lowborn beast and doesn't dare show her face!"

The moment the words left their mouths, two sharp cracks rang out. Lord Stormwind had raised his hand and slapped each of them across the face.

Tyron, always proud, froze for a second, then roared at him. "You... you dare hit me?"

Lord Stormwind's voice was cold and absolute, brooking no argument. "I haven't stepped down. All of you are still my subjects. My queen is none of your concern. Anyone still here in three breaths will die."