Chapter 4

Queen Victoria and her guards rushed in right after him.

Prince Damien was close behind, his expression fraught with worry.

"Kael!" the queen snapped. "What do you think you're doing?"

Kael's sword was pointed into the room, his killing intent palpable. "I asked, who dares harm my mate!"

His eyes scanned the room, finally landing on my weak form.

"Sera!"

Just then, Damien saw the baby in Liliana's arms.

The fake golden eyes glittered under the crystal lights.

"Gods…" he whispered, stumbling toward Liliana. "Is that… the hybrid king?"

Queen Victoria saw it too. A fanatical gleam lit up her eyes.

"The prophecy! The prophecy has come true!"

She hurried to Liliana's side, cautiously peering at the disguised monster.

"Such powerful energy…" The queen reached out but didn't dare to touch him. "Damien, this is your son! The future monarch!"

Damien took the baby, tears streaming down his face as he stared at the fake golden eyes.

"My son… My king…"

He turned to Kael, his eyes filled with smugness and mockery.

"See, Kael?" Damien gloated, showing off the baby. "Coming to this sacred island was for the best. The lunar array worked its magic. The true king has been born."

Kael gripped his sword, veins bulging on his neck.

"And no one harmed your precious mate," the queen sneered. "You, on the other hand, barging into a sacred temple, disrupting a birth. Have you no decency?"

"I was worried," Kael bit out.

"Worried about what?" Damien laughed. "Worried Seraphina couldn't produce the hybrid king?"

He glanced at the ordinary-looking baby in my arms and shook his head.

"It seems my bloodline is superior after all."

"The second prince's blood is noble, of course," Liliana said with false comfort. "But the prophecy chose my son. It was fated."

I lowered my head, speaking in a soft, weak voice.

"I… I never intended to compete with my sister for the title of hybrid king…"

All eyes turned to me.

"I only ever wanted my child to be safe." I stroked my real son's head, tears welling in my eyes. "Since my sister has given birth to the prophesied one, I am truly… happy for her."

My act—the heartbroken, defeated new mother—fooled them completely.

A victorious smile spread across Liliana's face.

"Thank you, Sera," she said, her tone dripping with pity. "You're a good mother too."

Queen Victoria nodded, satisfied.

"Now that both children have been born safely, you should rest," she told Kael. "As a member of the royal family, you should learn to control your emotions."

Damien held his new son, smug and triumphant.

"We return to the capital in three days. I must report this good news to Father."

They began to discuss coronations, naming ceremonies, and succession, their voices fading as they left.

The door closed again.

Silence fell over the room.

The anger on Kael's face vanished. He sheathed his sword.

He rushed to my side and gently wrapped his arms around me.

"Sera…"

"You did it," he whispered, his voice trembling with relief and pride. "My brave, brilliant mate. You did it."

I saw it in his eyes. Kael had been reborn with me.

Tears streamed down my face.

"Kael…" I clung to him. "We saved our son. We finally saved him."

"Yes." He kissed my forehead. "We saved him."

We held each other and wept, the fear and despair finally washing away.

The baby in my arms slept peacefully, his tiny hands balled into fists.

"From the moment I came back, I had a plan," I said, wiping my tears, my voice growing firm. "If they want a hybrid king so badly, then let them think they have one."

Kael stroked our son's cheek, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Hermes's illusion is perfect, but it will only last a month at most."

"A month?"

"By then, the cursed blood will fully manifest." A cruel smile touched Kael's lips. "That monster will reveal its true form in front of everyone."

I pictured the scene, and a cold smile formed on my own lips.

"There's a piece of information that needs to get out," I said.

"What is it?"

"In my past life, I found a rare book in the royal library's forbidden section. It was about bloodline curses. It said that 'nourishing' a powerful being with the blood of a cursed relative wouldn't purify it. Instead, it would act like a poison, accelerating the curse and creating an even more uncontrollable, deformed monster. At the time, the thought horrified me. Now? It’s the perfect trap."

Kael understood my plan instantly.

"So if Damien feeds that monster his cursed blood… it will make it stronger, and make the curse erupt faster and more violently."

I stroked my son's tiny hand.

"Let them enjoy their dream for one month. One month from now, at the naming ceremony, they will learn what true despair tastes like."