At Lyra's command, someone quickly handed over a gleaming kitchen knife.

She clutched me tight, dragging the blade slowly across my body. My protective scales peeled away one by one under the steel. Blood soaked my skin as she smiled with pride, slicing until my flesh was raw and mangled.

"Next comes the oil, right?" she mused, casting me a sidelong glance.

The catfolk attendants obeyed without hesitation, rushing to heat a cauldron of oil until it hissed and sent up waves of scalding steam.

Weakness consumed me, as though I were tumbling into a bottomless pit. I couldn't protect the child anymore.

I lay in a pool of blood, barely clinging to life as I stared at the boiling oil set before me.

Mary gasped and grabbed at Lyra's arm. "My Lady, please, enough!"

Two catfolk attendants dragged her back, while Lyra brushed off the plea with a careless wave.

"Don't fret, Mary. She won't die. I just can't stand that pitiful look on her face, as though the whole world has wronged her. It's just a little scarring, nothing more. His Majesty won't blame me. After all, the Vixen Clan is my shield, isn't it?"

Mary sighed and said nothing more.

Lyra seized the pot and flung the oil across my face.

A hoarse, guttural scream tore from my throat.

Drops of scalding oil splattered onto Lyra, making her curse as she stepped back. Then, she started to savor the sight of me writhing in agony.

The pain burned straight through my chest; it felt as if my face were melting away. My eyes were swollen shut, and the searing heat was unbearable.

The catfolk attendants licked their lips, drool glistening as the rich scent of carp flesh filled the chamber.

"How hideous," Lyra drawled, sticking out her tongue with a playful smile.

"Well then… It's time we deal with the illegitimate child in your belly. You've guarded it so fiercely that I almost hate to ruin the fun."

She laughed as she leaned over my nearly lifeless body. One swipe of her claw tore my abdomen open.

"Oh? You even placed a protective spell? But that's such a flimsy trick. How pathetic!"

The ripping pain jolted me back to awareness. I watched through tears as she yanked a lifeless, fully formed fetus from my womb.

"Wow! What a heavy little thing!" she said with a mocking laugh.

"Your lover would be thrilled to see this."

Her shrill laughter echoed until a figure cloaked in imperial yellow stepped through the doorway.

"Lyra, what are you so amused about?"