The Beast King, Tharion Kael, has spent half his life on the battlefield, yet he has no heir. So, he summons every woman rumored to be blessed with fertility into the palace.

Favored by fortune and against all odds, I, as a descendant of the Carp Clan, conceive.

To keep me safe during my pregnancy, Tharion hides me away in a remote, deserted palace, guarded in secret by his Nightguards.

But just as I am about to give birth, I unexpectedly crossed paths with the Vixen Consort, Lyra Swifttail, who wanders into the Forsaken Wing by mistake.

She swishes her tail playfully, eyes sparkling with amusement as she looks at my round belly. Her smile is utterly captivating.

"I didn't expect to find a little carp having an affair here…"

With a spell, she drags me away, forcing me into my true form. Then, one by one, she scrapes the scales from my body until I am raw and bleeding.

She has her catfolk attendant pour scalding oil over my wounds and orders guards to violate me until I am left broken like a rag.

When I finally lose consciousness, she slashes me open with a claw and rips the stillborn child from my womb. She presents it with both hands to Tharion, who has just come to visit.

She says, "Your Majesty, what perfect timing. I caught a carp sneaking around the Forsaken Wing. This is her illegitimate child!"

Fall was setting in, and the air had grown chill.

Not long ago, Eldric Turtman, the healer, came through the secret passage to check my pulse. The baby was strong, well-nourished, and thriving.

The corners of my lips lifted faintly. I was just about to tell my maid, Lily Blossom, to shut the windows when I noticed her hand frozen mid-air, and her brows knit tight.

"Well, well… I didn't expect to find a little carp having an affair here…"

A coy, taunting voice drifted in from outside. I steadied myself with one hand on my stomach, only to see Lyra Swifttail standing before me.

She smiled, her ruby-red eyes gleaming with mischief.

I knew trouble had come knocking.

Lily panicked, rushing in front of me to shield me. She leaned in close and whispered, "My Lady, that must be the newly appointed imperial consort. I've heard she inherited the Vixen Clan's charms—her enchantments are unmatched."

Though I had been staying in the Forsaken Wing for months to safeguard my pregnancy, I still knew enough of what happened beyond these walls.

Ever since the High Priest persuaded Tharion Kael, the Beast King, not to announce my condition, he had continued—at least publicly—to summon women of good fortune into the palace.

And among them, Lyra stood out. Born to a powerful family, her enchantments ensured she was the favorite.

I signaled Lily with a glance, telling her to fetch the Nightguards.

Lyra didn't stop Lily. Her eyes, however, never strayed from my belly. "Judging by the size, you're eight… maybe nine months along?

"'The Beast King is frantic for an heir, yet somehow, a whore in the Forsaken Wing dares to sneak around with a lover…"

I scowled, cradling my stomach with one hand while snatching up a candlestick with the other. "Watch your mouth!"

She smiled coyly before striking me across the face. I collapsed onto the floor as she spat at me.

"You dare betray His Majesty under his very nose? Why shouldn't I expose you? Wasn't your maid running to call for your lover? How pathetic."

Her tails swayed behind her, playful yet menacing, as she pressed down hard on my stomach.

"How about I help you deliver right here? I'll present this illegitimate child to His Majesty myself. If it amuses him, maybe he'll name me Beast Queen."

Her smile turned cruel as she flung the candlestick from my grip.

I hit the ground hard, pain shooting through my tailbone. Still, I clutched at my belly, refusing to let go.

Just then, Lily stumbled back into the room.

My eyes lit up with hope, desperate. But her face was pale, and her forehead was beaded with sweat. She said, "My Lady, forgive me. I couldn't find the Nightguards…"

The spark in my eyes dimmed, and I bit my lip hard.

At first, the Nightguards had been diligent, watching over every detail of my daily life. But the Forsaken Wing was deserted, and over time, with no threat in sight, they had set a date each month to go out drinking and playing cards.

And it had to be today, of all days, that not one had stayed behind.

A cold dread hollowed me out.

Lyra seemed to read my thoughts. "Your lover would never dare take someone from His Majesty. He'll never come for you. Still playing the victim, are you? Pathetic."

Her words dripped with disdain before she drove her foot hard into my side.

My hair came loose, scattering across my face. My cheeks and chest burned with searing pain.

Frantic with fear, Lily lunged forward and shouted at Lyra, "Do you even know who my mistress is? Stop right now, or you'll deeply regret the price you have to pay!"

Lyra only smiled. With a flick of her wrist, she cast a spell and severed Lily's tongue in one clean move. She mocked, "How dare a petty little fish with a mere hundred years of cultivation like you bark at me? Don't you know how to address an imperial consort?

"Your mistress is an adulteress. Why should I fear her?"

I stared at Lily as blood poured from her mouth. My body lurched forward instinctively. At that moment, I couldn't care about the High Priest's orders to keep the baby's identity a secret until it was born.

"Stop!" I shouted, my voice sharp. "I have not been unfaithful! This child belongs to—"

But Lyra never let me finish. She shifted forms and raked her claws across my face. Warm blood spilled down my cheek.

The searing pain made my vision blur. As I looked down at the red staining on my hand, I nearly fainted.

She sneered. "Pathetic little carp, you have weak cultivation and no manners. How dare you talk back to me?

"I only meant to drag you before His Majesty for a small reward. But since you refuse to confess, you'll learn what happens when you defy me."

She pulled a bone whistle from her clothes and blew on it.

In less than a breath, four catfolk attendants—each with 500 years of cultivation—appeared, kneeling reverently before her.

"Your Ladyship," they said in unison.

She gestured lazily. "Get up and beat this wretch until she learns her place. No one threatens me. Not ever. I didn't expect to wander into the Forsaken Wing and stumble upon a little surprise…"

The catfolk attendants grinned wickedly as they approached.

Carps were born with a fear of cats, and I was no different. Terror coiled in my chest as I shielded my belly with trembling hands. "Stay back! I'm the daughter of the Carp Clan's chief! The child in my womb belongs to His Majesty! Lay a hand on me and he'll make sure you suffer for it!"

The catfolk attendants faltered, hesitation flickering in their eyes. Their steps slowed as they glanced back at Lyra, awaiting her command.

She crossed her arms, a mocking smile curling her lips. "You don't actually believe her, do you? His Majesty bathed in blood to seize the throne, surviving a brutal struggle among nine heirs. Even the High Priest declared he would never father children.

"Yet this lonely little carp dares claim her illegitimate child belongs to him? If His Majesty had an heir, he would shout it to the world. Do you see any such proclamation? Tell me, is that not the funniest thing you've ever heard?"

The catfolk attendants chuckled darkly, emboldened, and closed in again.

"You almost fooled us," one jeered. "You think just saying it makes it true?"

"You expect us to be that stupid?"

Their rough claws tore at my clothes. One cat attendant, unsatisfied, sank its teeth into my arm and gnawed with relish.

"Mmm… Tender. Just as I thought—a carp's flesh is exquisite!"

I shrieked in agony, thrashing against their grip, but they were too strong. I couldn't break free.

Lyra clapped with delight at the sight, her laughter ringing cruelly. With a flick of magic, she forced Lily back into her true form and tossed her like a morsel to the cat attendants that were tearing into me.

"Well done," she praised.

The attendant beamed, fawning, "If not for Your Ladyship, when would I have ever tasted carp in my lifetime?

"Your beauty is unmatched, and now that you've caught this woman carrying an illegitimate, surely the title of Beast Queen is yours!"

His flattery lit her face with glee.

I could only stare, horrified, as he swallowed Lily whole, then belched with satisfaction.

"No! Don't!" I let out a piercing scream.

Lily had been at my side for decades, a constant presence with her chatter and her loyalty. I had long grown used to her being there.

And now, she was gone.

Numb with grief, I broke free of the cat attendants for one desperate instant and hurled myself at Lyra, sinking my teeth into her.

"I belong to His Majesty! The child I carry is his! He will never forgive you for this! Nor will the Carp Clan!"

She yelped at the sting, then kicked me hard, sending me sprawling. Her laughter rang out, wild and merciless.

"You think I fear a wanton slut like you? You dare insist this illegitimate child is His Majesty's? What are you besides a pretty face?

"Countless consorts with lucky fates have warmed his bed for decades, yet none conceived. And you expect me to believe it's you who succeeded? How ridiculous!"

Lyra's words cut through me, and I shut my eyes in despair.

She took my silence as proof she had uncovered the truth. With a wave of her hand, she forced me back into my true form and dragged me to her chambers.

…

"Hey, wake up. You didn't really think it was over, did you? That little scene earlier was just an appetizer."

I blinked groggily awake to see Lyra standing over me. Her chin was tilted high, and she was brimming with excitement.

A shiver ran through me. My lips parted, but no sound came out.

Sweat beaded along my forehead as I realized the truth—I wasn't just bound, but silenced by a spell.

Lyra smirked at my futile struggle, clearly entertained. She lifted a pale, elegant hand and gestured. "I need two guards here. Since this carp has such a reputation for craving men, I'll let her enjoy herself one last time before she dies. Call it mercy."

The catfolk attendants who had just been rewarded chuckled, flattering her endlessly. "Thank you for the generosity, Your Ladyship!"

An elderly maidservant, watching from the side, couldn't bear it. She stepped forward and said in a trembling voice, "Your Ladyship, she's still His Majesty's consort. This isn't right. You may have his favor, but doing such a thing would be dangerous."

My head was heavy, and my vision blurred. Yet, I turned toward her, gratitude filling my eyes.

Lyra paused and considered, then laughed lightly. "You're right, Mary. Two isn't enough. Make it four. His Majesty won't punish me. Just the other day, he promised me a luminous pearl from the Sea of Dusk as a gift."

Her tone brooked no argument.

My body went cold, and all strength drained out of me.

The four chosen guards stepped forward. Their eyes were gleaming, and their tongues were sliding across their lips as they stared at me like prey.

I could do nothing but clutch my stomach with both hands.

One sneered. "Forgive us. But don't worry, we'll treat you well."

They closed in and then forced themselves on me, crushing me under their weight.

A single tear slipped from the corner of my eye.

I forced myself to block out what they were doing, clinging to one thought over and over—nothing mattered but protecting the child.

With the last scrap of my power, I sealed my womb in a protective spell, holding the life inside steady.

Meanwhile, the whispers of the other maids around me kept seeping into my ears.

"The High Priest said His Majesty would never have an heir. How dare she claim her illegitimate child belongs to him? No wonder Your Ladyship is so furious."

"Exactly. She deserves this."

I didn't know how long it went on, but just when I thought I was about to die, they finally stopped.

Lyra stepped closer, her disdain plain on her face. "Tsk! How filthy. This is the price of infidelity. Do you understand?"

I bit down on my lip, refusing to say a word.

"What's the matter? Still defiant?"

She sneered and slapped me hard across the face, then forced me back into my true form. "Bring me a blade!"